The Literature of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj

 

Rahtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj left behind a vast and varied literature which comprises of prose as well as poetry. It is estimated that his poetic works number to more than 15,000 composed in Hindi and Marathi. These include Bhajans, Abhangs, Ovis, ‘Lahar ki Barkha’, Sadvichar pravaah, Shlokas, Mangalashtakas, Powadas, Prarthanas etc. Apart from these, his writings in prose, both in Hindi and Marathi include around 1200 articles, many of which were published between 1943 and 1968 in magazines such as ‘Srigurudev Sevak’ ‘Swarajya’, ‘Purushartha’ and ‘Goswami.’

The literature shows that Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj is able to clothe the highest and most complicated philosophies and religious thoughts in simple and down-to-earth words. In this regard, he is truly a part of India’s rich tradition of Sant Sahitya. Like the saints who preceded him, Maharaj did not care about presenting complex ideas in order to establish his intellectual supremacy, rather he was concerned with inspiring those who read or heard his words. The whole aim of his literature is to inspire readers and listeners to think deeply and act for the common good.

Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj was not a highly educated person as his formal schooling did not go beyond a few primary classes. And yet he started composing Abhangs from the age of eight years. The literature that he composed as a child was treasured by his follower Bajirao Patil. Similarly, his compositions at Neri (district Chandrapur) were collected by Mahadev Bhanuji Vairagade. These were eventually edited by Shri Sudamji Savarkar and published in two volumes namely Abhangavali Part I and II.

In his youth Maharaj studied the Vedanta manuscripts written in Modhi script and even wrote a commentary on it. This shows that the lack of formal schooling did not come in the way of his way of reading texts and gaining education in the true sense of the word.

The literature of Rashtrasant gained him instant acclaim. The common people loved hearing his bhajans and flocked around him to hear his speeches. He claimed that the power of words came to him through the blessings of his spiritual guru Sadguru Adkojibaba.  In his autobiography, Maharaj wrote:

The writings were so powerful that even the most depressed persons were forced to act. This what he meant when he claimed that his words could wake the dead:

All words are with me

I can wake the dead with words and

Destroy the inauspicious with words alone.

These strong words convey immense confidence in the power of his words to move people, into the path of action, towards material as well as spiritual progress.

In 1929 Maharaj’s first book namely Shri Tukdyadas Bhajanavali comprising of 302 bhajans was published in Chimur by Shri Balwant Harne. At this time Maharaj was barely twenty years old. Two books namely ‘Anandamrut’ comprising of 15 chapters and ‘Atmaprabhav’ comprising of 9 chapters were already written in 1927. Lahar ki Barkha was completed in 1934, Anubhav Prakash, Anubhavsaagar Bhajanvali, Abhang Shatakavali were all published in 1935. In 1936 the Anubhavamrut Abhangavali Part-I was published at Mojhari and thereafter Part-II was published in 1949.

Between August and November 1936, at the age of 27 years, Maharaj wrote his autobiography ‘Majhi Atmakatha’, composed in the Abhang poetic meter.  In 1941 he published ‘Sfurti-tarang’ and in 1943 a book of prayers ‘Prarthanashtak’ was published in Akola. In three days (16 to 18 1944) he composed 366 Shlokas and in 1945 published ‘Adesh-Rachana.’

Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj was imprisoned for his role in the freedom movement against British colonial rule. While in Raipur prison, he composed 818 ‘Suvichar’ which were published after his release in 1944. In 1945 he published Jivanjagruti and in 1949 books were published including Samajsanjivani, Dnyankunj, Bhaktisudha, Navajagruti, Vachavalli, Visheashantiyog, Yugprabhat etc.

In 1937 the Shri Gurudev Dharmagranth Prakashan Mandal was established at Varkhed. At first the offices were located in the premises of the ginning factory at Mojhari but within a year these were shifted to Varkhed. The President of the Mandal was Mahaaraj himself and the editor was Sudam Savarkar. Since 1938 Savarkar initiated the task of compiling, editing and publishing the works of Tukdoji Maharaj with full serious and remained committed to this task till the end of this life. He also wrote the biography of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj in eleven volumes, which continue to remain a valuable resource for scholars and followers of Maharaj. The name of the Mandal was later changed to Shri gurudev Prakashan and it was brought under the aegis of the Akhil Bharatiya Sri Gurudev Seva Mandal

One of the most valuable works written by Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj is ‘The Gram Geeta,’ published in 1955. It contains the essence of Maharaj’s commitment towards rural India. It is perhaps the only literally work dedicated to the farmers of this country, elevating them to the status of God who nurtures the universe. Pained at the sufferings of the farmers and the village community in general, Maharaj presents a carefully delineated plan for rural development through spiritual awakening. The Gram Geeta has 41 chapters divided into eight sections with five chapters each. The last chapter titled ‘Granth Mahima’ is not included in the sections, but it indicates the centrality of this book in Maharaj’s conception of the ideal village society.  However, Maharaj is not limited to rural society, rather his literacy gaze sweeps the entire spectrum from the welfare of the individual to the upliftment of the community to world peace and solace for the entire humankind. Although the poorest of the poor living in forgotten villages is his first concern, Maharaj’s encompasses the entire world.

Although dealing with deep and serious matters, the Gram Geeta offers insight into Maharaj’s  humorous side, his ability to reach people’s hearts through his simplicity, as much as his sharp wit. In the Gram Geeta, he narrates the story of a pious man who came to him and said “I have been reading religious texts since the last twelve years. I have read the Upanishads, the epics and the Puranas yet I have failed to achieve Brahma – Darshan, the glimpse of the Absolute. What should I do?”

Tukdoji Maharaj said to him, “Do one thing – go home and tear up the texts, grind them into a powder and every morning swallow a pinch with milk or water.”

A few days later the man returned and said, “Maharaj I have followed your instructions. I have powdered the books and swallowed a pinch every morning. How many days more should I continue this? And in which direction should I face while swallowing the text – powder?”

Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj did not approve of blind reading of texts. He did not consider this of any use at all. Rather he placed maximum emphasis on the right action – the smallest selfless act taken in the spirit of human welfare was more important to him than a hundred volumes of religious texts. Although a man of religion, Maharaj would openly embrace an atheist – a nastik – whose actions were ethical and selfless.

The Gram Geeta offers an insight into the terrible social and economic conditions that prevailed in the rural areas in the early years of independence. It also gives us a glimpse of a compassionate person attempting to find solutions to human sufferings, not merely material poverty but spiritual wisdom. Instead of abandoning the villages as cesspool of inhuman practices, the Gram Geeta tries to offer an alternative perspective – one that does not depend on state-centric development programmes, but believes in the inner power of human consciousness to bring about changes in lives of oneself and others.

How can we measure the worth of a text like the Gram Geeta? One way of doing so would be to realise its immense importance in the lives of men and women who continue to read it and try to live by it. The Gram Geeta and Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj’s other literary works continue to live in the hearts of people. It is spread through the hundreds committed volunteers of Gurudev Sewa Mandals across Vidarbha and elsewhere in the country and his bhajans are sung by farmers and women in rural villages.

Sant Sahitya is a cultural and literary treasure of Indian society. Saints have been read and sung in all languages and in all parts of the country over centuries. From Lalan Dedh in Kashmir, Meerabai in Rajasthan, Bulleh Shah in Punjab, to Sant Tukaram, Sant Namdev, Sant Janabai in Maharashtra, to the Baul Fakirs of Bengal to Akka Mahadevi in Telengana and many others, the literary contribution of spiritual leaders in India is vast. The works of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj is a part of this endless ocean of Sant Sahitya.

This article is part of a series on Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj.

 

• Paromita Goswami

The writer is a social worker and author