Veteran Sarvodaya Worker Channammakka Ends Mortal Journey

Veteran Sarvodaya Worker, Nonagenarian and eldest member of the Brahma Vidya Mandir family Ms Channamma Hallikeri popularly referred to as Channammakka passed away at the Brahma Vidya Mandir Paunar Ashram in the Wardha district of Maharashtra state on Wednesday. She was 92 years old and was undergoing old age-related problems.

 
A multifaceted personality: A spinster Ms Channamma Hallikeri was born to Gowramma and Channabasappa Hallikeri couple in Hosaritti village of Haveri Taluki in the undivided Dharwad district in 1931. Now the village is part of the new Haveri district. She belonged to a family of freedom fighters and was naturally inspired by the elders of the family. She remained a multifaceted personality contributing in several fields including the freedom struggle, the Bhoodan movement, the Sarvodaya movement, the Eradication of untouchability, Rural sanitation, the Upliftment of Harijans, the Khadi campaign, Women empowerment, publishing of the Hindi Maithri monthly magazine, just to name a few.

Inspiration from Hosaritti Gandhi Ashram: Channamma was greatly inspired by the Hosaritti Gandhi Ashram founded by Hallikeri Gudleppa and Venkatesh Magadi, veteran freedom fighters of the time. According to the sources of Brahma Vidya Mandir Ashram of Paunar Ms Channamma Hallikeri accompanied Acharya Vinoba Bhave throughout his Bhoodan movement in the then East Pakistan and the present day Bangladesh.

Run by women of the country: The Brahma Vidya Mandir Paunar Ashram in the Wardha district was established by Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 1959 and is now run by women belonging to different states of the country, with a common objective of spiritual attainment. Here, the women live a deeply contemplative life by contributing to the society. All women involved in running the Paunar Ashram believe in earning a livelihood from farming with simple, inexpensive tools, without the help of bullocks, spinning, manual labour and other works related to the management of the Ashram.

A peep into the Bhoodan movement: Perhaps it would be difficult for the present generation to believe, relish and imagine the Bhoodan movement in the country and hitherto unheard in the whole world. Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a freedom fighter, philosopher, author, advocate of non-violence, human rights and spiritual successor of Mahatma Gandhi was forced to lead the Sarva Seva Sangh movement after independence. Although MK Gandhi had given momentum for forming the Sarva Seva Sangh and had given a call to the Lok Sevaks to be a part of it, his sudden assassination on 30 January 1948 gave a jolt to its activities. It was under such circumstances the onus of running the movement fell on Acharya Vinoba Bhave's shoulders.

Conference in Sivarampally: Vinoba Bhave, after shouldering the mantle of running the Sarva Seva Sangh reached Sivarampally on the outskirts of Hyderabad to attend a three-day conference of the Sangh scheduled from 13the April 1948. Vinoba was apprised by the local leaders about the extremism prevailing in the neighbouring villages and districts. They also wondered if he could lead a peace march to put to rest the escalating violence. However, Vinoba realised the cause of the unruly situation prevailing mainly because of the land disputes.

Violence and extremism rampant: Vinoba Bhave, on 18th April heads to Harijanwada in Pochamapally and meets the villagers. In due course of interaction with the villagers, he ponders the reasons responsible for supporting the extremists. Then, they replied citing the promise of being given land to them and the same not being adhered to. Vinoba gets into business mode and likes to know if they would give up violence in return for the promised land, for which the villagers voluntarily agree.

Vedire Ramachandra Reddy donates 100 acres! Following the suggestion of villagers, Vinoba requests Vedire Ramachandra Reddy, the local zamindar to donate some land. But, Vedire Ramachandra Reddy, instead of 80 acres donates 100 acres to the poor. As a follow-up of this noble deed of magnanimity through the Bhoodan movement peace is restored in Pochampally. Vinoba becomes moved by the rare gesture of Vedire Ramachandra Reddy and announces Pochampally to be his second birthplace.

45 Lakh acres of land donated through the Bhoodan movement: Strange it may appear and very difficult to believe as well, about 45 lakh acres of land was pooled with the help of Vinoba Bhave's non-violent, peaceful and devoid of any bloodshed Bhoodan movement. There is no comparison to this voluntary land donation spree in the world's history so far nor any similar feat has been attempted to date. Ms Channamma Hallikeri played a key role in such a historic land reform movement!

A true Gandhian and ardent follower of Vinoba Bhave: Krishna V Itnal, a septuagenarian Gandhian settled in Pune pays rich tributes to the departed social worker-"Ms Channamma Hallikeri was a true Gandhian and an ardent follower of Acharya Vinoba Bhave. She hailed from a reputed freedom fighter's family and remained a Brahmacharini throughout her mortal world. She was the publisher of Maitri, a Hindi monthly magazine. Ms Channamma Hallikeri also edited 'Devanagari', a Kannada monthly with Hindi script. She was instrumental in setting up the Rukmini Vatsalya Dhama Ashram at Mudhol, in the present-day Bagalkot district. Rukmini also happens to be the mother's name of Vinoba and Jamkhandi in Bagalkot district was her native town...

...No formal education: She had no formal school education but learnt Hindi and Marathi while remaining in the Ashram. During the Bhoodan movement, she moved from village to village in Karnataka for the cause of the movement. She even completed the world tour starting from the east and completing in the western side".

-Manohar Yadavatti