Nationalist of Raigad, Gandhian Shanti Devi

- Distance - Raksha Shukla

The edge should be with the flower

There is a ghazal, it should be stretched

Dream, will live in one eye?

It should double the space

Kodak will come and build the building

We must lay the foundation

I do not worship

Coke should be such a demand

As a child learns the word first

That is how Gujarati should be studied

-Chirag Tripathi

A newborn chimpanzee has been abandoned by his mother at a zoo in Russia. Concerned about her future, a zoo employee took the innocent cub to her home, where a bullmastiff bitch was already living with her four cubs.

The bitch adopted the orphaned little chimpanzee as her own child. The puppies also befriended the chimpanzee. They had fun together. Not only that, chimpanzees considered themselves puppies and ate and drank just like them. Cases of such philanthropic instincts of animals are frequently encountered which awaken us, our dormant humanity, by mildly hurting them and motivating us to do good deeds.

With the recitation of Sahir Ludhianvi's song 'Teri hai jamin, tera aasmaan, tu bada meharban, tu bakhis kar ...' Even sincere people like Prakash Kaur and Kamali Sauren have been sent to earth who are like angels for these children. These dignitaries have cast a shadow over the lives of many orphaned children, shaping their lives, devoting their entire lives to re-establishing them as acceptable citizens in the society. Amla Ruia, who was born in Uttar Pradesh, has changed the fortunes of more than 215 villages in Rajasthan in the 'Karmaveer Special Episode' of 'KBCID' directed by Amitabh. Droughts of 19, 2000 and 2006 shook the existence of Amla. Amla Devi arrived in Rajasthan after reading the news of the drought in a newspaper. He then set up the Aakar Charitable Trust to solve the water problem. Amla built numerous check dams with water harvesting system and solved the water problem of more than two lakh people. Later Amla Devi is known by the nickname of Jaldevi.

Today, one such great man, social activist and Gandhian leader of Odisha, Shanti Devi, is honored by being awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India on the eve of Republic Day 2021. This honor has been conferred on him for his outstanding contribution in the work of social service. His social work is not limited to Raigad district but is also famous outside the state of Odisha. After receiving the Padma Shri award, Shanti Devi said, "It is natural to be proud and happy to receive a prestigious citizen award like the Padma Shri. But I'm not too excited about that. By choosing me for this award, the nation has really given this award to orphans. This award is in honor of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave. People should follow his ideals. Only their way will uplift the society '. Shanti Devi, born in 18, left a developed city like Balasore after her marriage in 191 and moved to a backward area like Raigad to complete her husband's work. Which was in a very inaccessible area. Shanti Devi was originally associated with the Bhudan movement and the Satyagraha movement. Later orphans became 'mothers' for children. She has not only given shelter to 121 orphans, but has given love, care and care like a mother.

The late Dr. Bhudan movement leader. Ratan Das was the husband of Shantidevi. They were both famous as a social service couple in Koraput district. Even after her husband's death, Shantidevi did not give up. He continued social service and other activities. For the Goddess of Peace, who is honored with many prizes, the happiness seen on the faces of orphans and poor children is the most important thing which gives her immense satisfaction. It is well said in Sanskrit that 'Paropkar shunyasya dhik manusyasya jivitam, jivantu pasvath yesha charmapupakarishyati'. He has opened an orphanage at Gunupur in Raigad for orphans and helpless children. In addition to good upbringing and education, it also imparts moral education to children. So that when they grow up, those children will live with dignity in the society. How many orphan girls get married and give family intimacy, security and happiness. Since moral education is in their basic upbringing, those children are doing important work in various fields and in famous institutions. "The heavenly Father is the Father to the fatherless," says Laila Gifty, author of "Think Great, Be Great." That is why God may have sent great characters like Goddess of Peace as his representative to the orphans. Which is eager to serve the welfare of living beings as well as the omnipotent.

Shantidevi was greatly influenced by Saint Vinoba Bhave. From an early age he had the strength and courage to protest against the tyranny and injustice of the society. In later life too he was influenced by Gandhian philosophy and ideas and joined Gandhi Ashram. In 161, Shantidevi went to Koraput district with relief materials to help the victims during the severe famine. During this time he met Vinoba Bhave and a new turning point came in his life and this tribal area became his karma bhoomi. He joined the land movement in Koraput district on the 19th. He struggled hard to get rid of the tribal lands which had been taken away from him by the landlords. He later joined the Bhudan movement in Bolangir, Kalahandi and Sambalpur districts. He also trained Bhudan workers in the ashram at Gopalanwadi. In the meantime, he worked with the governor to secure the release of some 40 tribal people who were serving life sentences. In the 19th century, he set up a 'Seva Samaj' at Gobarpalli in Raigad to help the tribal people. Where poor and orphaned children are sheltered and taken care of. Leprosy was also served in the ashram. He is also known as 'Koraputia Gandhi' for his service to the community in Koraput and for spreading Gandhian ideas.

For the last seven decades, Shantidevi has devoted herself to various social service works in backward rural areas. In all these works she got the full cooperation of her husband. The Goddess of Peace believes that girls today need to be empowered and adventurous. He must learn to speak out against injustice. The girls should now become independent and educate themselves and also the family. In 191, Shanti Devi Utkal became the secretary of Navjivan Mandal. He has also been the President of Odisha Rehabilitation Congress and is associated with many Gandhian organizations. He has also been the Vice President of 'Agargami Gavang Body' from the very beginning. The Goddess of Peace is best known for her significant contribution to peace, especially in the Maoist-affected areas. This Gandhian social worker has won the Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 19th. He has also received the Radhanath Rath Peace Award for his efforts to maintain peace. He has received numerous awards and honors nationally and internationally.

There is nothing in this world that can take a man with him after death or stay with him. So if it comes along, it is only the good deeds of the man that make him remembered with love, whose fragrance remains intact even after the death of the man. Such works should be selfless. There are very few people who dedicate their entire lives to the service of others. Parmarth is that which is absolute, without any discrimination. Gandhiji made it clear that "the highest result is achieved only if the purpose of truth is objective, socially oriented and humanity oriented without any kind of discrimination". Min Piasi wrote in one of his poems that ...

'God will ask first,

Did you ask for someone's happiness or sorrow?

Going into a world full of pain

Someone wiped away the tears' You?

Ghe ghe fen fen karte kehesho hain

- Yes - What? What? What? '

But when God asks such a person like Shanti Devi, the whole universe will say without any hesitation that 'Yes, Shanti Devi wiped away the tears of countless people'. The Goddess of Peace is a great personality like a tree. The tree itself gives shade to others by basking in the sun ... 'Shadow is another kurvanti, tinti swayamatpe' ... Nature irrigates man in some form or another at absolute price and selflessly. Come, let us be like trees.