BAREFOOT MISSIONARY OF BHILANCHAL Bhilanchal has hundreds and thousands of social workers, supporters and well wishers real and faked ones. In the name of Bhil Seva (social service) they are enhancing financially, socially and other ways their own life, family and society. But non like Mama Baleshwar Dayal, a frail Brahman but was ever young and energetic to walk on all the paths, fields, rivulets and mountains of the Bhilanchal. There may not be any such village, jungle and the mountains which did not touch the feet of Mama Baleshwar Dayal. And that too barefoot. For years together like his Bhil brethren , friends of his life long loyal disciples, the ever deprived ones, since over 20 centuries. Mama became one like the Bhils, lived in a hut like the Bhils, ate like the Bhils but didnt drink(daru) with Bhils and like Bhils. His spirit to walk from village to village, jungle to jungle, mountain to mountain, river to river was dauntless. A great man indeed who walking by foot and communicating by word of mouth influenced, guided, patronised millions of Bhils of Bhilanchal. Today even the best of social workers, NGOs, even state governments could not achieve what he achieved successfully solely.
In the late seventies some of his disciples, companions and sympathizers from Petlawad a tehsil town close to Bamania, had offered him a second hand Jeep which he received love and gratitude, but soon parted away since it was a hindrance to reach out to his Bhil brethren living in the remote villages and mountainside in Bhilanchal away from the roads. Later when he grew very old, could not walk long distances, he travelled with Sachin Bairagee and others on Motorcycle etc. In 1942 he was struck by some sickness the doctors in Ratlam advised him not to walk barefoot. But he did not care. Then one of the doctors insisted that if you would like to serve your dear Bhils longer, then by all means put on shoes which will keep you healthy and longevity . It was true. Then only very half hearted ly he started putting shoes for the first time ever since 1932, he landed in Bhilanchal. But walking he continued untill he could. The Bhils treated him as a true tapaswi(sage), genuine sevak, and honest leader. Malti Ben of Banswara(Rajasthan) his one of the closest disciples says that in the country side would walk on the top of the hills and with his hand made rustic loud speaker would call aloud and invite people to him. And then Malti Ben says he would speak to them in Bhili.
Human Rights India Motilal Devda says that the actual reason why Mama walked in the villages including bazaars of the Bhilachal, he could contact many more peoples then he traveled in some comfortable vehicles. People like to see and talk to him. Even his donors in the market places were more impressed of his barefoot spirit than his status of owning and riding a four wheeler. If he traveled a long distance then bus or train were his convenient vehicles and rarely Jeep.
The life, philosophy, style of service of Mama to his
Adivasi Bhil brethren is challenging one to the ones who take faked interest in social service among the
Bhils of Bhilanchal. Hence they either make false praise of Mama or want to conveniently want to forget him. So that the new model of Bhil seva may continually help them to commercialise social services and evade the challenge paused by Mama. Such was the spirit of love , perseverance and
dedication of Mama for the deprived--The Bhils.
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