Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, revered as a deity by farmers, was born in the village of Deva in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. His sphere of action, however, was Bihar, where he tirelessly worked for the upliftment of farmers. Today marks his death anniversary, commemorated with various programs in Ghazipur. He is known to have imparted knowledge of the Gita to Jawaharlal Nehru and guided Subhas Chandra Bose. A key figure in the Bihar farmers’ movement, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati dedicated his life to the cause, passing away on June 26, 1950, in Bihta, Bihar. On this day, those associated with the farmers’ movement in Bihar pay their respects. Commemorative events are also held in his birthplace, Deva village, and other areas.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s life began on February 22, 1889, in Deva village, Ghazipur. His childhood name was Nairang Rai. From an early age, he was drawn towards spirituality. Seeing his inclination, his family arranged his marriage. However, his wife passed away before he could begin his married life. He then renounced worldly life and became a sanyasi, adopting the name Swami Sahajanand Saraswati after receiving the Dashanami Diksha.
He is remembered for his slogan, ‘Kaise loge malguzari, lath hamara zindabad,’ which became a rallying cry in the farmers’ movement against the landlords. On December 5, 1920, he met Mahatma Gandhi at the residence of a Congress leader in Patna and joined the Congress at Gandhi’s request.
He actively participated in the fight for independence at Gandhi’s behest, making Bihar the center of his movements. He was imprisoned in Ghazipur, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Faizabad, and Lucknow during the freedom struggle, and also served time in Patna’s Bankipur jail and Hazaribagh Central Jail.
However, during his imprisonment, he witnessed the perceived leniency of Gandhi and his supporters towards the landlords, which led to a disagreement and his subsequent separation from Gandhi, vowing to live and die for the cause of the farmers.