Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Punyatithi
Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj (born Manik Bandoji Ingle/Thakur) was a sant-poet, social reformer, and author of the Gramgeeta from Vidarbha (Amravati district) — born 30 April 1909 in Yawali. His punyatithi (remembrance day) falls on Ashwin Krishna Panchami (he attained mahanirvana on 11 October 1968, at Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari) — in 2026, that falls on Friday, 30 October. Some sources also call this day "Manavata Din."
This year's dates (2026)
President Dr. Rajendra Prasad conferred on him the title "Rashtrasant" for his work in rural reconstruction. The Gramgeeta (41 chapters, 4,680 verses) is his major work on village development and spiritual self-discipline; combating superstition and caste discrimination, and participation in the freedom struggle, were central to his work. Tukdoji Maharaj's biography is mainly documented 20th-century history.
Significance
- Gramgeeta and the village-development movement: a text teaching self-discipline, cleanliness, the dignity of labour, and collective village welfare — still used as a reference in rural-development studies today.
- Social reform: the effective use of bhajan-kirtan to combat superstition and caste discrimination and to foster interfaith harmony — he was also active in gatherings of Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, and Muslim communities.
- The freedom struggle: participation in the 1942 Quit India Movement, arrest, and imprisonment at Nagpur and Raipur jails. Gandhi hosted him at Sevagram Ashram.
- Humanitarian work: participation in the Bhoodan movement (Vinoba Bhave), the 1943 Bengal famine relief, and the 1962 war and 1967 Koyna earthquake relief efforts.
Biography (brief)
Born Manik Bandoji Ingle/Thakur on 30 April 1909 at Yawali (Amravati district); his parents were devotees of Vitthal. He received initiation from his guru, Adkoji Maharaj, of Warkhed. After his guru's death (1921), he undertook penance in the Salbardi, Ramtek, and Tadoba forests. He founded Gurukunj Ashram at Mozari on 4 April 1935.
Two versions exist for the origin of the name "Tukdoji" — one holds that his guru, Adkoji Maharaj, formally named him "Tukdoji"; the other holds that the guru fed him bread-morsels (tukda) while saying "tukda-tukda," from which the name is said to have taken hold.
During the freedom struggle, he was arrested and imprisoned in 1942 (first at Nagpur, then Raipur); Gandhi hosted him at Sevagram Ashram, where he also met Rajendra Prasad, Nehru, Maulana Azad, Patel, and Vinoba Bhave. He is recorded as having received the title "Rashtrasant" from President Dr. Rajendra Prasad — but the exact occasion or location is given differently across sources: one version says it was at Rashtrapati Bhavan after Prasad heard him play the khanjiri and sing bhajans, while another says the title was conferred at Gurukunj Ashram itself.
He attained mahanirvana on 11 October 1968 at Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari (Ashwin Krishna Panchami).
Who observes it
Mainly followers across Vidarbha and the whole of Maharashtra, branches of the All India Shri Gurudev Seva Mandal, and devotees at Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari. He is a genuinely Maharashtra (Vidarbha)-specific sant — like other Vidarbha sant traditions (for example, Gajanan Maharaj of Shegaon), his local following is substantial.
Observance
Remembrance programmes, bhajan-kirtan, and recitation of and discourses on the Gramgeeta are held at Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari ("Manavata Din"). Memorial gatherings and social-service activities are also held at schools and Seva Mandal branches.
Regional customs
He is a genuinely Maharashtra (Vidarbha)-specific sant. Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari, is regarded as a major centre of seva and social work in Vidarbha; the Gramgeeta is still used today as a reference text in rural-development courses in Maharashtra.
Good to know
- Check the exact schedule of Punyatithi programmes at Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari, with the local Seva Mandal or the ashram itself.
- He is a genuinely Maharashtra (Vidarbha)-specific sant.
FAQ
- When is Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Punyatithi in 2026?
- Friday, 30 October 2026 — Ashwin Krishna Panchami.
- Who was Tukdoji Maharaj?
- A sant-poet, social reformer, and author of the Gramgeeta from Vidarbha; born 30 April 1909 at Yawali.
- Who gave him the title "Rashtrasant"?
- President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, for his rural-development work — the exact occasion/location is given differently across sources.
- What is the Gramgeeta?
- His major Marathi text on village development and self-discipline (41 chapters, 4,680 verses, 1955).
- Where is Gurukunj Ashram, Mozari?
- In Amravati district; founded in 1935, and also the site of his mahanirvana.
- What was Tukdoji Maharaj's connection to the freedom struggle?
- He participated in the 1942 Quit India Movement, was arrested and imprisoned; Gandhi hosted him at Sevagram Ashram.
