11 Facts About Jugatram Dave

Jugatram Chimanlal Dave was a Gandhian social activist, freedom fighter and author from Gujarat, India who is remembered for his social work among the tribals of southern Gujarat.

Jugatram Dave taught at a school in the Ashram and later worked at the Navjivan Press.

In Bardoli, Jugatram Dave's efforts focused on the landless bonded labourers called halpatis and the Raniparaj Adivasis both groups that were exploited by moneylenders, landlords and contractors.

Jugatram Dave focused on spreading education among these groups through the establishment of balwadis and ashramshalas and popularised the spinning wheel among them.

Jugatram Dave was tasked with covering the Sardar's speeches in Bardoli which he reported to Anand in Surat who in turn brought them to the larger public through newsletters.

Jugatram Dave served several terms in prison for his participation in the Salt Satyagraha, Individual Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement.

Jugatram Dave was associated with the Charkha Sangh, the Talimi Sangh and the All India Village Industries Association.

Jugatram Dave worked with Vinobha Bhave and Jaiprakash Narayan in the establishment of the Shanti Sena, an unarmed volunteer force that was formed in the aftermath of the Indo-China War of 1962, that undertook rural reconstruction work in the North East Frontier Agency which had been an important theatre of the war.

Jugatram Dave argued that in independent India basic educational curriculum must not only be productive and schooling rooted in society but that it should emphasise on national ideas and character formation.

Jugatram Dave was a noted Gujarati biographer who penned the biographies of several prominent leaders of the freedom struggle besides writing children's literature.

Jugatram Dave was awarded the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for "outstanding contribution in constructive work" in 1978.