New Delhi. Tukdo ji Maharaj was involved in social reforms in the rural regions of Maharashtra, including construction of roads. He wrote Gramgeeta which describes means for village development. Many of the development programs started by him have continued to work efficiently after his death. Tukdo ji Maharaj once attended a World Religions and World Peace Conference in Japan.
He received spiritual initiation from Samarth Adkoji Maharaj of Warkhed gram. Early in childhood, Saint Tukdo ji Maharaj performed rigorous penance and spiritual exercises in self-realisation. He also was a great orator and a musician who composed more than 3000 bhajans (spiritual poems) in Hindi and Marathi. He has also written many articles on Dharma, society, Nation and education.
In 1941 he performed individual satyagrah and he took part in the mass upsurge of the ‘Quit India’ movement. He strongly opposed the inhuman repressive measures, adopted at that time by the British rulers. He was arrested in 1942 and was imprisoned in Nagpur and Raipur Central Jails. After the dawn of Independence, Sant Tukdo ji concentrated on rural reconstruction. He established the ‘All India Shri Gurudev Seva Mandal’ and developed many programmes for integrated rural development. His activities were so impressive that, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of Bharat at that time, bestowed the title of ‘Rashtra Sant’ on him.
He was one of the founder Vice Presidents of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He worked on many fronts for National cause – at the hour of the Bengal famine (1945), at the time of the China war (1962), and aggression of Pakistan (1965), the Koyna earthquake devastation (1962). Rashtra Sant Tukdo ji Maharaj went with his mission to help the affected and organised constructive relief works.
