Vinoba Bhave, 1895-1982, Gandhian and social reformer from India.

"Widely regarded as Gandhi's spiritual successor, Vinoba Bhave continued Gandhi's work of spiritual and social enlightenment after his assassination, and became a beacon of hope to millions of impoverished Indian people. Saint, scholar, sage, social reformer and spiritual master, his radical activism was driven by his beliefs, and compassion was the inspiration for his social and economic reforms. He is best known for founding the Bhoodan or land-gift movement: motivated by the plight of the landless poor, he walked all over India persuading wealthy landowners to part with a portion of their land. In all he collected over five million acres of land in gifts, which he redistributed to the poor. During this great journey, he talked about the relationship between the intimate self and the ultimate God." "The Intimate and the Ultimate is a selected anthology of Vinoba's speeches and writings. It is an invaluable guide for all seekers of truth, non-violence and wisdom, and for those who value quality above quantity, and wholeness above fragmentation."--BOOK JACKET.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a freedom fighter and a spiritual teacher. He is best known as the founder of the Bhoodan Movement (Gift of the Land). The reformer had an intense concern for the deprived masses. Vinoba Bhave had once said, "All revolutions are spiritual at the source. All my activities have the sole purpose of achieving a union of hearts." In 1958, Vinoba was the first recipient of the international Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. He was also conferred with the Bharat Ratna (India's highest civilian award) posthumously in 1983.