BRAHMINS CARRYING NIGHTSOIL

21. BRAHMINS CARRYING NIGHTSOIL

In Sabarmati Ashram, in its early days scavengers were employed and were paid for their work. When the lead scavenger fell ill, a son took his place. Once it happened that a very young son of his was carrying the bucket full of excrement to pour it into the pit in the fields. The bucket was too heavy for him to manage, and the poor little lad began to cry. Vinoba's younger brother Balkoba noticed him, took pity on him and at once went to help him. Later Balkoba came to ask Vinoba if he would agree to his taking up scavenging himself, as he wished to do. "That is excellent" he said,"Do take it up, and I too will come with you." Vinoba started working with him.

That Brahmin boys should take to scavenging was preposterous. Ba (Kasturba Gandhi) did not like it at all, and complained to Bapu. "Could anything be better" he asked, "than that a Brahmin should take up scavenging ?" From that time on Vinoba was closely associated with this work.