Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

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three days and so the associate declared that he was undergoing fasts for Samaj Shuddhi. Some sober elements of the village thought that it was shameful for the whole village that an outsider would go on fast for improving the social conditions of their village. One villager declared that he would also join the fasts.
The story about all the events including the undertaking of fasts spread in the round about villages. So one group of sympathisers of an adjoining village came there with Ram Dhun to express sympathy for the fasting persons.
Police also could not ignore these events. Since they knew that this peaceful movement was going on under the inspiration of Santbal, they approached him to tell him that they would start investigation in the reported case of theft. However, Santbalji explained to them his theory and line of working and told them how his work would be frustrated if they interfered in the matter at that stage. The police understood and did not proceed further.
On 15th day of the movement, some of the members of the gang approached Santbal and admitted various misdeeds done by them in the past, expressed their regrets and assured him that they would not misbehave in future. They, however, told him that they were not concerned in the theft at the widow's house. Santbal admired their courage to admit their past crimes, but asked them to reveal the identity of the persons who were responsible for theft at that poor widow's house. They did not oblige.
Chaturmas of Santbal in the adjoining village was now over and hence he could move to another place. He, therefore, went to the village where the movement was still going on. After seeing the situation there, he declared that if the identity of those responsible for theft was not revealed, he himself would go on indefinite fasts. This was revealed by him in a well attended public meeting. This had an electrifying effect. He declared that
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