Ravishankar Maharaj
A commemorative postage stamp on ‘Muksevak‘ Borinvala Maharaj, an Indian freedom fighter, social worker and Gandhian from Gujarat :
Issued by India
Issued on Dec 24, 1985
Issued for : The Department of Posts is privileged to issue a commemorative stamp in honour of late Ravishankar Maharaj, one of the leading freedom fighters and national leader of the country.
Description of Designs : The 50 P. multicolour stamp has been designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The First Day Cover designed by C.R. Pakrashi shows the portrait of Ravishankar Maharaj. The cancellation has been designed by Nenu Bagga.
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Multicolour
Denomination : 50 Paise
Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 cms.
Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 cms.
Perforation : 13 x 13
Paper : Unwatermarked P.G. matt coated paper
Number printed : 15,00,000
Number per issue sheet : 40
Printing process : Photogravure
Printed at : India Security Press
Name : Ravi Shankar Vyas
Born on Feb 25, 1884 at Radhu, Kheda district, Gujarat, India
Died on Jul 1, 1984
About :
- Ravishankar Maharaj, a humble servant of the people was born in Radhu Village of Kaira Distt. on Feb. 25, 1884, on Mahashivaratri Day.
- Ravishankar Maharaj dropped out of school after the sixth standard and thereafter came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi. His association with Mahatma Gandhi brought a drastic change in his vision of life. He actively participated in all the movements launched by Gandhiji and played a leading role in carrying out his constructive work. In 1920, he established Rashtriya Shala in Sunav for imparting national education to the youths aspiring to dedicate their lives for the country. During the course of Borsad Satyagrah in 1923 he extensively toured many villages and awakened the people against the injustice of foreign rule. He made fervent appeals to the people not to pay “Haidia Vero”. In 1928 he was arrested and sentenced to six months imprisonment for participating in the Bardoli Satyagrah along with Sardar Patel. In the satyagrah of 1930 too, he was jailed for two years. In 1941, when communal riots broke out in Ahmedabad, he moved fearlessly in the disturbed areas and played an indispensable role in restoring peace and communal harmony. He was jailed again by the British Government in the wake of the historic “Quit India Movement” of 1942.
- After independence Ravishankar Maharaj concentrated his entire energy on carrying out constructive work for the welfare of the people of Gujarat. He worked all through his life for the uplift of the backward and down-trodden people of Gujarat.
- Ravishankar Maharaj also took active part in the Bhudan and Sarvodaya Movements of Acharya Vinoba Bhave and undertook several padyatras for this noble cause. He moved from village to village organising relief works for the aid of the victims of natural calamities like cyclone, floods, draughts etc. and made permanent arrangements for the implementation of relief work in view of the repeated onslaught of such natural calamities in Gujarat. The most noted worthy work of Maharaj’s life was the reformation of a number of notorious desperadoes in Gujarat.
- Ravishankar Maharaj also launched the new state of Gujarat in 1960. This silent servant and great son of Gujarat announced his retirement from public life and issued a special appeal to the people not to raise any funds in his name, nor to raise any memorial in his name.
- Ravishankar Maharaj, the tallest Gandhian of Gujarat and a “Muthi Uchero Manvi” (a man first above the rest) breathed his last in hospital at Borsad on the morning of 1st July, 1984 at the age of 101.
