THE SARVODAYA SAMAJ AND BEGINNING OF BHOODAN MOVEMENT

In the Post Independence era there was drastic fall in the economic condition of Indian people due to the moral degradation of the political leaders and misappropriation of public property. The rich became richer and the poor became poorer. The poor people suffered on account of social discrimination and exploitation made by the rich, influential and powerful people. To eradicate this problem of socio- economic disparity Gandhiji convened a conference at Sevagram on 13th March 1948. But unfortunately Gandhiji was assassinated on 31st January 1948. So the conference was presided over by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. In this conference Vinoba Bhave advocated for the formation of an organization named ‘Sarvodaya Samaj'. The Samaj was to be comprised of true Gandhian workers. It was to work for the execution of Gandhian constructive programs for the socio- economic uplift of the Indians. The main aim of the Sarvodaya Samaj was to establish a classless society and to bring communal harmony. The first conference of this Samaj was held at Rau in Madhya Pradesh in 1949. The second conference was organized at Angul in Odisha in 1950. Vinoba Bhave launched the historic Bhoodan Movement in April 1951 at Pochampalli in Nalgonda district of Telangana. Gopabandhu Choudhury and Rama Devi of Odisha joined this movement whole heartedly for the socio- economic well being of the people.