"The Self-Realised Raichandbhai..."

Mahatma Gandhi, shortly after his return from England, met a young man of 25 in Mumbai who was to have a profound influence on his life and philosophy.

To quote Gandhiji: “Since that day onwards till the death of Raichandbhai, ours was a very close contact. Many times I have said and written many times that I have learnt much from the lives of many a person, but it is from the life of poet Raichandbhai, I have learnt the most” and “I must say that no one else has ever made on me the impression that Raichandbhai did”. 

Raichandbhai, to be known as Shrimad Rajchandraji, composed the ‘Atma Siddhi Shastra’, a composition of 142 stanzas explaining the Jain path to liberation (Moksha), one night in Nadiad in just 90 minutes. 


This highly spiritual composition is also considered Classic Gujarati Literary work. 

So who was the self-realised Raichandbhai who had such impact upon Gandhiji, and in consequence the whole world? Was he just a poet, a dealer in precious stones, or a spiritual genius?


Ravjibhai, from Vaishnav background, and his wife Devbai, from a Jain family, lived in the small port of Vavania near Morbi in Saurashtra. They were a devout couple who served the community with much love and in 1867 they were blessed with a son whom they named Raichand. 

HE was later to be known as Shrimad Rajchandraji and considered to be Gandhiji’s spiritual mentor. It was from Him that Gandhiji learnt the height of compassion for all living beings, even an enemy!