Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

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it was a part of his duty as a religious leader to see that people follow the right path. He would pray to God that those who were responsible for theft were endowed with good sense and voluntarily came forward to acknowledge.
Next day after morning prayers Santbalji's fasts started. On that day just before noon time, one person approached the Mukhi of the village and admitted that he was responsible for theft and was ready to acknowledge the same, but the stolen goods were already disposed of. The man was produced before Santbal. He admired having committed the theft and also agreed to pay compensation as fixed by Panchas because the stolen goods were already disposed of. Panchas fixed the amount of compensation which was paid to the widows and the matter came to a happy end.
The whole movement for busting the gang of the rowdies by the process of Shuddhi Prayog took senventeen days. Police investigation could have taken several months and other several months might have been taken in court proceedings, and ultimately, even if one or two persons were convicted for theft at the widow's house the whole gang of rowdies would not have been put on right tract and the village people's sense of public duties would not have been aroused. Court conviction and sentence would have left a lingering sense of animocity and frustration in the family members of the convict. All these factors reveal the efficacy of Shuddhi Prayog and futility of the legal proceedings from social points of view.
Land Allocation to Anjar Oustees:
Some time after independence, there was severe earthquake in Kutch. Houses of Anjar town were demolished. Pandit Nehru visited Anjar and assured people that new township would be
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