New Delhi, September 11, 2026 : Commemorating the 131st birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Acharya Vinoba Bhave—who dedicated his life to truth, non-violence, Sarvodaya, Gram Swaraj, and social equality inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, and who led the nationwide Bhoodan-Gramdan movement to provide land to landless and impoverished people—a grand tribute was paid today at the Delhi Central Press under the auspices of the Acharya Vinoba Bhave Bhoodan Bhoomula Raithu Parirakshana Foundation.
Speaking to the media on this occasion, the Foundation’s General Secretary, Smt. Shashirekha N., emphasized that true tribute to the legendary figure lies not merely in garlanding portraits, but in protecting the Bhoodan lands collected for the poor.
Recalling the history, she noted that starting the Bhoodan movement in Pochampally on April 18, 1951, Acharya Vinoba Bhave undertook a 70,000-kilometer foot march (padayatra) across the country, laboriously and altruistically gathering millions of acres of land voluntarily donated by landowners. “There was no weapon in his hands… no hatred in his words… no violence in his path… no political or official power…” Armed solely with the values of truth, non-violence, love, humanity, and Sarvodaya, he toured India on foot with the noble mission of securing land for impoverished, landless families.
Governments must recognize their historical responsibility to safeguard these sacred lands donated by donors and carry forward Vinoba’s ideals. However, Smt. Shashirekha expressed deep anguish that Bhoodan Yagna Boards have remained non-functional for decades in several states, with central and state governments deliberately rendering them defunct. Therefore, Bhoodan Yagna Boards across the country must be immediately reconstructed and reformed.
Pointing out that even after 75 years, clarity on the accounting of these lands remains absent,
All illegal encroachments, fraudulent revenue entries, unlawful transfers, and unauthorized possessions occurring on these lands must be completely eradicated.
Strictest action must be taken against illegal encroachers who have alienated these sacred lands meant for the poor. Governments must proactively reclaim alienated lands and hand them over immediately to the Bhoodan Yagna Boards. Along with surplus lands remaining undistributed through the boards, all reclaimed lands must be distributed without delay to eligible, genuine landless poor farmers through the Bhoodan Yagna Boards.
This is not an individual’s problem, not a single organization’s problem, nor a single state’s problem. This is a nationwide social issue. In its first phase, the Foundation will submit memoranda addressing these grievances to the President, Prime Minister, Governors, and Chief Ministers. She firmly warned that if governments fail to take concrete action within a stipulated timeframe, a nationwide public movement will be launched through the Foundation on behalf of the people, entirely through non-violent, constitutional, democratic, peaceful, and legal means. Emphasizing that achieving success in this comprehensive social cause requires the full cooperation of the media in bringing it to the attention of society and the people, she announced that the Foundation will soon reconvene a press meet with a detailed action plan for this public movement.
“The Foundation’s struggle is not for personal gain or land—it is for justice for the landless poor farmer.
The Foundation’s path is not violence—it is truth, non-violence, law, and democracy.”
Smt. Shashirekha made an earnest appeal that the protection of Bhoodan-Gramdan lands is not an issue limited to any single individual, organization, or region; it is a national responsibility and a matter of social justice tied to the rights of the nation’s impoverished farmers. She urged print and electronic media to bring this historical issue to the forefront and extend full cooperation to ensure justice is served to the poor.
Issued by:
Smt. Shashirekha N.
General Secretary
Acharya Vinoba Bhave Bhoodan Bhoomula Raithu Parirakshana Foundation,
2-A/3, S/F, Front Side, Asaf Ali Road, Turkman Gate,
Darya Ganj, New Delhi – 110002, Delhi.
Contact Phone: 81211 27776
