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 was always evolving. His mind was ever occupied with the quest for truth. We should, following him, do our thinking afresh in the context of every fresh situation. Like Gandhi, Vinoba was always evolving, because he was always alive, learning and absorbing experiences. With love, Yours, L.N. Godbole

Letter 4O

4th November, 1990 My dear Pranav,

In 1970, Vinoba finally settled down at Pavnar. He stopped his Padyatra and started withdrawing himself from active campaigns. His views were always sought by politicians. After the land redistribution, he took up the cause of Goraksha (Cow Protection).

“The cow is a poem of pity” said Gandhiji. The cow occupies a very important place in the religious beliefs of Hindus. Hindus worship the cow as a symbol of God. Vinoba said that Indian socialism does not stop with equality between human beings but extends to all living beings. The cow is a symbol of all non- human beings. Feelings of equality and fraternity which were preached by all other religions were limited to human beings. In Vinoba’s view, it was a speciality of Hinduism that it included in its compassion the cow as a symbol of other life forms. Hindus worship trees, serpents and cows and other manifestations of life. Ethically, this is a superior position. Vinoba used to say that beginning with cannibalism man progressed towards vegetarianism in stages,and Abimsa became a higher value system. Many communities and. regions in India became vegetarian. This aspect of Indian life was very dear to Vinoba.

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