He lived in voluntary poverty and wandered to different villages promoting social justice and initiating reforms, especially related to sanitation.

He is still revered by the common people in India and remains a source of inspiration for various political parties and non-government organizations.

He was born in Shendgaon village in present-day Anjangaon Surji Taluka in Amravati District of Maharashtra to a Dhobi OBC Caste farming family.

[4][5][a] A public teacher, he travelled from one place to another wearing his food pan upturned on his head and carrying his trademark broom.

[6] He exhorted people to stop animal sacrifice as part of religious rituals and campaigned against vices such as alcohol abuse.

Gaadge Baba had donated the building of his hostel at Pandharpur to the People’s Education Society founded by Dr Ambedkar.

[15] The Government of Maharashtra started the Sant Gadge baba Gram Swachata Abhiyan project in 2000-01 in his honour.