Ravishankar Vyas, also known as Ravishankar Maharaj, was an Indian independence activist, social worker and Gandhian from Gujarat. He also known as second Gandhi of Gujarat or Father of Gujarat.⁣
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Ravishankar Vyas was born on 25 February 1884, in Radhu village (now in Kheda district, Gujarat, India). He was influenced by Arya Samaj philosophy. He met Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 and joined his independence and social activism.⁣
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He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and along with Darbar Gopaldas Desai, Narhari Parikh and Mohanlal Pandya, the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s. ⁣
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He founded Rashtriya Shala (National School) in Sunav village in 1920. He left his rights on ancestral property against wish of wife and joined Indian Independence Movement in 1921. He participated in Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and protested against Haidiya Tax.⁣
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He also participated in Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and was imprisoned by British authority for six months. He joined Gandhi in Salt March in 1930 and was imprisoned for two years. ⁣
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In 1942, he also participated in Quit India Movement and also tried to pacify communal violence in Ahmedabad.⁣
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After independence of India in 1947, he devoted himself to social work. He joined Vinoba Bhave in Bhoodan Movement and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In 1960s, he organised and supported Sarvodaya Movement.⁣
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Ravishankar Maharaj inaugurated Gujarat state when it was created on 1 May 1960. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat visit him for blessings after taking oath of office. ⁣
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He died on 1 July 1984 in Borsad, Gujarat.⁣
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Ravishankar Maharaj Award for social work, worth ₹1 Lakh, is instituted by Department of Social Justice, Government of Gujarat in his honour.⁣
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