aversion to electoral politics was very well known.
But because of the Emergency, when the political system faced great difficulties, politicians wanted Vinoba to help by siding with them against Indira Gandhi. They wanted him to be partisan in their favour. In fact, he was observing silence (maun) for one year from 25 December, 1974, six months before the Emergency.
As I told you in my earlier letter, Vinoba started his fast unto death for Goraksha in 1976. Cow-slaughter was an issue on which if the people’s view or opinion were taken, it would be in favour of a ban. No true democratic leader who knows the people’s nerve can go against the people’s will. Vinoba staked his life for cow protection. Indira Gandhi, who could bundle all opposition leaders into jail and could not care less, rushed to Pavnar, promised Central Government action and ended Vinoba’s fast. As a politician she did nothing thereafter. With the people’s support, one man with his life at stake could move the government which was impervious to political oppostion. Jayaprakash said, “This proves that Vinoba has a great moral influence on the country, even a dictatorial government cannot ignore him.”(1)
In 1977 elections, Indira Gandhi lost her support all over the country. Vinoba fasted unto death for the second time in 1979 when Morarji Desai was a prime Minister. Morarji promised to support Vinoba who ended his fast, but Morarji lost his power in 1979. The Central Law on Cow-slaughter did not come about.
People’s power was asserted at both times first in 1977 and then in 1980. The people had voted for a political ideology. They had not voted for Total Revolution. But one frail man who put his life behind the people's will proved successful twice! Both Prime Ministers were complete politicians. Why did they submit to his pressure? Because it. was the people’s will. And democracy means people’s will. Vinoba proved it without party politics. Party politics was not his language. That was not his way. He proved that in a democracy if the genuine people’s will is projected the government has
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