AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A DHARMAPAL (RAMBLING NOTES)" BY SRI GOUTAM DHARMAPAL -continued 2
A house was found at 12B, Jatin Das Road near lake market – with five rooms – two in the ground floor and three on the first floor. The landlord Mr. Das stayed on the 2nd floor! But the rent was quite high for us – Rs 275/- pm. How to pay such high rent when we could not even pay regularly Rs 150/- at Golfclub Road! But a friend – one T.P.Sen a zeminder of Midnapore residing at Taki house in Shyambazar came forward to help us. He said he will pay the rent for us and paid first three months’ rent in advance! So we took the house and shifted there on 5th February 1949. It was also a Saraswati Puja day!
But our stay in this house did not last longer. Mr. T.P.Sen did not keep his promise and it became difficult for us to pay the rent. Business had almost collapsed. Sudhir kept the cyclebell agency of Indian Union Manufacturer Ltd. (Roychowdhury) running. He used to go on tour of North India and Gujarat to secure orders for them and they used to pay a small sum of Rs 400/- p.m., which was not sufficient for our maintenance. Sharad used to go to the electric market but could not earn much. It was a difficult time for us in every respect.
For minor reasons, the landlord started quarreling with us. He was much angry on us because one day Bandhu rebuked him severely for interfering in our internal affairs. That day he had entered in our room and switched off the light in verandah saying to Sudhir – who was sitting in verandah – why are you lighting so many lights unnecessarily when you can not even pay the rent! And when Bandhu started rebuking a person, usually it happened that the normal good relations with that fellow came to an end! Same happened with Mr. Das. After that incident, he began to find faults with us in every little matter! Then he played a trick. He asked me to give him the rent receipts which were Kaccha, without revenue stamps. He said he has now got printed receipts and he will give us these receipts with revenue stamps! I should not have given him the old receipts before getting from him the new receipts. But as fate would have it, in good faith I gave him the old receipts but he did not give me the new receipts nextday and went on giving excuses for not being able to give receipts. We only came to know about his evil intentions – when one Saturday afternoon in July he came with a bailiff of the Alipore court to confiscate our household articles against the non payment of rent for six months! After he had taken back the receipts, he had filed a suit of ejection on the plea of nonpayment of rent for more than 3 months! He had maneuvered the case so surreptitiously that we could not even get any smell about it till the bailiff came! We contacted our Roychowdhury kaka – father of Siddhartha and Partha and then Sri B.C.Ganguly a senior advocate of Alipore Court who knew us intimately. But they could not stop the bailiff from taking away most of our furniture, one radio and one typewriter machine! It was very humiliating indeed! But we could not do anything till next Monday!
We filed a counter case against the landlord and seeing the strong stand of our able advocate – Sri B.C.Ganguly, he got nervous. And before the hearing would start he approached me in the court for compromise. Bandhu saw it was no use fighting the case in our difficult financial condition and so agreed. So our lawyers made a reasonable compromise – some of our furniture was returned. The landlord kept the radio and type machine against actual pending rent!
All these events were working heavily on Bandhuji’s mind and he decided to return to Ahmedabad with Jayantibhai Sudha Mamata and children (Apurva & Dilip) keeping Sudhir, Sharad and myself to continue the struggle in Calcutta.
Let me mention here that Apurva (Bablu) was born to Sudha on 12th October 1948 when we were at Tollygunge and Dilip was born to Mamata in March ’49 at the Jatin Das Road house. Both of them were born at Sri Ramakrishna Seva Pratisthan on Lansdown Road (now Sarat Bose Road).
So the house at 12B Jatin Das Road was vacated on 29th july1949 and the same night Bandhu and others left for Ahmadabad via Bombay – reaching Ahmedabad on 1st august 1949.
Sudhir, Sharad and myself temporarily shifted to the office of I.U.M.Ltd. I and Sharad went to stay at the Ma Anandamoyee Ashram at 4, Ekdalia Place where our friend Kantibhai Vyas was in charge! Sudhir continued to stay at the office of I.U.M.Ltd.
During our stay at Golf Club Road, Tollygunj – after the 1946 riots in Calcutta, East Bengal, Bihar and other parts of India, freedom of India was declared on 15th august 1947 at midnight! India became politically free from the British rule but at a tremendous cost. India was divided in to two nations seculer Bharat and Muslim Pakistan. Pakistan was formed in two parts. West Pakistan consisting of West Punjab, N.W.F.P, Baluchistan and Sindh and East Pakistan consisting of East Bengal and part of Silchar dist of Assam. Muslim League’s claim for Pakistan consisted of the whole of Punjab, Sindh, N.W.F.P and Baluchistan on the west and the whole of Bengal and Assam on the eastern side. But on their own arguments the Hindu majority and Muslim majority parts of Punjab Bengal and Assam had to be divided. Radcliff commission was appointed to demarcate the boundaries and a very arbitrary line was drawn by Mr Radcliff cutting districts and villages creating lot of problems!
Partition was followed by riots in West Pakistan, West India including Delhi-U.P. etc forcing large scale migrations of hindus and muslims from both sides.Thousands were killed and lakhs of people became refugees on both sides. Eastern side which had passed through great killings in riots during 1946 was comparatively peaceful because of Gandhiji’s peace missions in East Bengal and at the time of Independence or Partition of India Gandhiji was in Calcutta trying to bring normalcy in the city. Mountbaten said “One man police force is keeping peace in Bengal”.
Refugee problem came to Bengal in 1950 when lakhs of Hindus were forced out of eastern Pakistan in a planned way. It was at that time that during April-June 1950 I worked for refugee relief. But more about that later.
After partition Gandhiji had to rush to Delhi to pacify riots there. In Delhi in the end of 1947 he fasted for forcing the India Govt. to pay back 55 crores of rupees due to Pakistan irrespective of Pakistanne paying their dues! This angered the Hindus and attempts were made on Gandhiji’s life and at last on 30eth January 1948, he was killed by Nathuram Godse during his prayer meeting at Birla House.
Earlier Pakistan had attacked Kashmir to forcibly incorporate Kashmir in Pakistan. King Hari Singh Dogra at the last moment acceded to India and India sent her forces to protect Kashmir and saved it at a great cost. A few days more and India would have recovered all the lost territory from Pakistan but Nehru because of pressure from Britain and others declared ceasefire and took the Kashmir issue to U.N.O where it continued to be discussed for many years and is still an issue of contention between Pakistan and India.
As soon as Independence came Sardar Patel as home minister rendered a great service by unifying all Indian states in the Indian Union. Hyderabad and Junagarh refused to accede. Junagarh was integrated in Saurashtra by a peoples’ war under Shyamadas Gandhi – Indian forces backing them! After some months Sardar Patel found an excuse to attack Hyderabad state and in five days’ war Hyderabad was made part and parcel of India!
Had Sardar Patel lived longer he would have done something to fully integrate Kashmir and East Pakistan with India but unfortunately he too died in August 1950.
To come back to our story –
Bandhu could not stay longer in Ahmedabad. The gang of four as mentioned before again became active and tried to get him arrested. They also instigated Viruben, the first wife of Bandhu – she too had become angry on seeing Sudha coming back to Ahmedabad with Bandhu – Sudha was again pregnant then and this infuriated her! Bandhu got the information of all these plotting from Kanti. Kanti also advised him to leave Ahmedabad to avoid unnecessary trouble. So before they could lay hands on him, he with Jayantibhai left Ahmedabad on 18th august for Delhi. He was in Delhi till 27th august. During this time Seth Dalmiya assured him all help if he worked from Delhi. But Bandhu did not accept his proposal and came back to Calcutta on 28th August.
Where to put him up was a problem for us. After some search we got a free accommodation for a month at Buddhist association at Buddhist Temple Street behind Indian Airlines office. We stayed there for a few days from 28th august to 10th September. But as the place was not convenient, we again shifted to Ma Anandamoyee’s Ashram at Ekdalia Place. There Kantibhai arranged for Bandhuji’s stay in the store room in the ground floor and we used to sleep in the shrine room on the top floor with Kantibhai.
But we could not stay there too much longer. People began to criticize our stay there especially as we used to wear payjamas – and we were neither sadhus nor brahmacharis!
During this period, I had contacted Arun Chandra Dutta, Krishnadhan Chatterjee and others of the Prabartak Sangha and later took Bandhu to Chandernagore on 28th Sept ’49. Bandhu met that day in the evening Sri Motilal Roy and Nalinikanta Dutta – the secretary of the Prabartak Sangha. They accepted to give shelter – staying accommodation to Bandhu and Jayantibhai.
Accordingly Bandhu and Deepak (Jayantibhai) began to stay at Sri Mandir of the Prabartak Sangha. A big room behind the school building was given to them.
Sudhir by this time had gone on tour for I.U.M.Pvt.Ltd. – and did not return! He stayed back at Ahmedabad and ceased to be a Dharmapal. Then after sometime he started his own business of chemicals. So another Dharmapal had fallen!
Meanwhile I and Sharad rented a small flat in a barrack like house over a saw mill opposite Bhavani Cinema – Tollygunj! On Saturday- Sunday we used to visit Bandhu at Chandernagar. We were trying to do some business to earn something – but could not do much. Later Sharad took up the work of Sudhir – that of Indian Union Manufacturers Ltd and started going on tours in place of Sudhir – added some other agencies of cycle parts and consolidated agency business of Apurva & Co. to earn sufficient for our bare necessities!
Bandhu had some peaceful time at Chandernagore and now thought of calling back Sudha and Mamata from Ahmedabad. But at Srimandir, he could not stay with his family. So a small house was rented at Boro Champatala – the house of Sri Santosh Kumar Basu son of late Kalidas Basu- once a mayor of Chandernagar – father of Subhash with whom we have even now intimate relation! Bandhu, Deepak and Mamata started to stay in this new house from 8th December 1949.
Meanwhile Sudha had given birth to a daughter – (Aparna – Kiki ) on 11th November 1949 at Ahmedabad. So she had not come to Calcutta (Chandernagar) with Mamata. She came to Chandernagar on 8th February 1950 with her children – Apurva and Aparna. They all stayed in the two room flat at Santosh Babu’s house.
But they left Chandernagar and came over to Calcutta to stay in the house of prof. M.N.Sarkar at 77 Jatin Das Road, behind triangular park on R.B.Avenue. Dr. Sarkar had offered his house to Bandhu at a nominal rent of Rs 70/- p.m. Mamata and Jayantibhai had decided on 30th april 1950 to leave Calcutta! So only Bandhu with Sudha, her children and Sharad came over to stay at Dr. Sarkar’s house!
But here too Bandhu could not stay longer. Wife of Dr. Sarkar was a very quarrelsome lady and suffering greatly with what is called in Bengal – suchivayu – a faddist! After a few quarrels Bandhu again shifted to Chandernagar. This time he stayed there with Sudha, Mamta and Deepak and Sharad and children at Nadua at the house of Sri R.C.Banerjee. They started staying there from 17th august 1950.
This house was spacious and everybody felt as if they had come to stay in their own house.
But because of Mamata – this house too had to be vacated. Sri R.C.Banerjee and his wife misbehaved in the last days of their stay there. Bandhu vacated this house on 30eth march 1951. A house was found at 18/4D Fern Road with Badal’s help at a rent of Rs 175/- per month.
During all these changes I hardly stayed with Bandhu and family – as I was mostly going out on my different relief operations. I might have hardly stayed for more than 2 to 3 days in these places!
Relief Activity and Service in Business Organization
Nov 1949 to 1954 )
In November 1949 when Bandhu and Jayantibhai (Deepak) were staying at Srimandir of Prabartak Sangha in Chandernagar and Sudha and Mamata were at Ahmedabad, I got an offer from Sri Tulsiram Saraogi, general secretary of Marwari Relief Society, to go to Andhra for their relief work there started after a tornado and heavy rains had devastated many parts of east Godavari district. A team had already gone there to work with relief materials. I was to go there and organize their relief activities till it was necessary. They will bear all my expenses during camp time and pay Rs 125/- as salary in cash at Calcutta! After the break up of the Jatin Das Road household, I had not much to do. Business as Sharad was doing did not interest me. So saving expenses on me plus adding Rs 125/- pm to common funds was quite a good proposal. Moreover I will be able to do some real social work. That had a greater attraction for me.
So I left Calcutta all alone with some relief materials on 17th or 18th November 1949 to join the small team already working at Akividu, a small town in between Bezwada (Vijaywada ) and Bhimavaram. They were staying at one Mr. Reddy, a young local zemindar. After some days stay there I decided to shift to Bhimavaram from where it was easier to move about in different affected parts by boats in the Godavari river. Moreover Mr. Reddy was trying to use our services and relief materials for his own people! That was another reason for our going to Bhimavaram. At Bhimavaram we stayed in a temple dharmashala near Smt. Anasuyadevi’s house. She was a councillor in the local municipality and a dedicated congress worker. Her husband was a pleader in the dist court and the family was well to do.
A party of relief workers under one sannyasin from R.K.Mission,Vizianagaram had also camped at Bhimavaram. The Swamiji and I took our breakfast at Anasuyadevi’s house and organized our relief activity jointly. We moved in different parts of the district by big boats or small ones wherever necessary. After sometimes I had to visit Vijaywada to procure ready- made clothes. It was a strenuous work but gave a great inner joy. After two months’ work we wound up our camp. The local workers and leaders organized a reception for us to express their sense of gratitude for our work. Ansuyadevi presided.
When I returned to Calcutta, Bandhu had already shifted to the rented house at Borochampatalla in Chandernagar. Hardly I had stayed there for 2-3 days when I was deputed to Haridwar to organize relief camp at the ensuing Kumbhamela. So in the month of January 1950 I went to Haridwar via Allahabad. At Allahabad I had to meet the secretary of U.P branch of Servants of India Society with whom we had to work at Haridwar. At Haridwar I stayed at their office just on the Har-ki-paidi.In that cold winter I used to take my bath in the flowing waters of Ganga. Though the first plunge was agonizing it was exhilarating afterwards!
Makarsankranti day (or may be Vasantapanchami day ) the 2nd bath _ I do not remember actually. That was the 1st and last kumbha mela snana (bathing ceremony) that I saw and took, because by the time I organized the relief operations for later kumbha snana – I was called back to Calcutta to work for the refugees that were coming to west Bengal in great number from East Pakistan.
So from February 1950 to June 1950 I worked for refugee relief. My headquarters was near the platform of Ranaghat Station. A big tent was put up near the quarters of one Mr. Mitra, a railway officer. His two daughters especially Bela, the elder sister - and son (Gaur) came in close touch with me. I was often invited for lunch or dinner with them. From Ranaghat I supervised the relief camps at Dhubulia and Jaynagar _ on the border; where kitchen camps were organized. On Ranaghat platform we mainly distributed mudi and chida.
Borders with East Pakistan were very tense at that time. Every now and then there were clashes with Pakistani military on the other side. At Jaynagar we witnessed several such exchanges of fire. Bullets from Pakistani side used to fall near our camps many times. Fortunately nobody was injured.
At Jaynagar, an incident took place which should be noted. Because of it, I had to come in hot conflict with the M.R.Society’s higher authority. Generally our relief camps bore the signboards of Marwari Relief Society. But one fine morning after my return from Calcutta I found that the society’s placard was brought down and a placard in the name of Soorajmal Nagarmal had been put up and the Bengali volunteers were protesting against it. Now sometime before at Soorajmal Nagarmal’s headquarters on Harrison road because of some trouble there had been lathi charge, firing etc on the workers. So they had already acquired a bad name in the Bengali society at that time. Bengali boys refused to work under the banner of Soorajmal Nagarmal.
I understood their feelings and replaced the banner of Marwari relief society. The men of Soorajmal Nagarmal took offence and I was summoned to Calcutta to explain my conduct. The general secretary Tulsiram Saraogi appreciated my arguments but still sent me to the office of Soorajmal Nagarmal or to one Sri Radhakishan Kanoria or Kothari ( I forget ) to present my explanation. After sometime they were pacified and work continued as usual in the name of M.R.Society.
By June the influx of refugees had gone down because of Nehru Liaquatali pact and slowly the society started winding up the relief work.
Meanwhile news had come of huge landslides in the Darjeeling area where even the governor Dr. Katju was held up. So a team of relief workers was rushed to Darjeeling under my leadership and we reached Darjeeling after crossing on many landslides – between Kurseong and Darjeeling – carrying all our relief materials clothes, blankets, aluminium vessels etc with the help of local coolies.
Deendayal who was with me at Ranaghat as accountant was also with me at Darjeeling. Ramu our servant and cook also went with us. We stayed at the house of one local Marwari businessman. I still remember the hot baths in that house. Ramu used to give us oil massage and then we could have any amount of hot water! At Darjeeling as well as at many other villages we distributed relief articles for nearly a month. Sometimes we had to walk long distances – up and down the hills. Sometimes we could not return to Darjeeling for 2-3 days and passed our nights at some local businessman’s house. Once or twice we went to see the governor who received us very cordially.
We returned to Calcutta in the first week of August – most probably. Bandhu was then staying at Dr. Sarkar’s house in Jatin Das Road and was thinking of shifting to Sri Banerjee’s house in Chandernagar. I helped in their shifting the house, but soon after I had to leave for Assam for the biggest relief activity of my life!
Relief work in Assam: On the night of 14th August 1950 the northern parts of Assam were severely rocked by an earthquake. The North Lakhimpur dist. was badly affected. The intensity of the earthquake was 7.5 on the Richter scale. Fortunately loss of life was much less comparatively as the area affected was thinly populated. The earthquake had raised the beds of rivers – and the mouth of river Subansari was closed due to ripping of the hills. water gathered in a big lake at the mouth and the riverbed below became very shallow. The Miris, the plain tribles, who had run away immediately after the earthquake came back to the banks of the river to catch fish! And after seven days there was another earthquake of minor intensity – but which cleared the mouth of the river Subansari – freeing the locked water in a devastating flood, bringing down big trees and drowning a thousand or more of the miri population! The havoc was larger due to these floods than the earthquake itself.
On receiving the news of the earthquake from local merchants, Marwari relief society immediately decided to send a relief party to North Lakhimpur and Dibrugarh. I was to head the party to N.Lakhimpur and relief materials were to be flown to Tezpur and then to be carried by lorries to N.Lakhimpur. I was to fly to Tezpur on 21st august. Seat was booked for me on Bharat Airways (at that time passenger air service was run by private concerns. This was run by the Birlas or Dalmiyas? ) on 19th night. I slept at the office of the society. I was extremely tired and slept soundly. I had instructed the durwan on night duty to wake me up at 5-00 am. But due to some sudden change of durwans, I was not awakened in time. I got up at 6-00am; woke up the driver of the jeep and rushed to Dum Dum – but I missed the plane! My first flight by air! I saw my plane rising up as I entered the aerodrome gate! So I had to arrange for my accommodation in next day’s flight, which I got without much difficulty. And thus I reached Tezpur on 22nd august. On 23rd with a convoy of ten lorries, I left for N.Lakhimpur. as the road was broken up at many places due to earthquake we reached N.Lakhimpur on 24th morning.
Ours was the first relief party to reach N.Lakhimpur. Even the Assam govt’s relief parties had not reached by then at N.Lakhimpur. We met the local relief committee and with Mr. Malpani an educated Marwari young businessman, I contacted the district magistrate Mr. S. Dam(?). He was very much pleased to see our preparedness and we decided to leave for Pathalopam – some 20 miles away – on the river Subansari. Pathalipam was to be our headquarters for relief distribution. As the roads and many of the bridges on the way were in precarious condition, we had to make the distance on foot. So a party of about ten of us with about 100 labourers to carry the relief materials, we started in the early morning of 26th august. Resting at two-three places for tiffin, lunch etc we reached Pathalipam the same day rather late in the evening. While crossing a stream, I fell in deep water and I was off my feet, the fast currents almost dragging me away! The workers near by caught hold of me and I crossed the stream without any harm. But I was totally drenched.
Pathalipam ( North Lakhimpur ) : For nearly one year Pathalipam remained my headquarters for relief work. It was situated on the bank of river Subansari very near to the hills from which the river came down to plains. It was inhabited mainly by plain tribals called Miris. In and around Pathalipam there were a few tea gardens owned by English companies. The workers of the tea gardens were mainly labourers from Bihar or Orissa. They were called Bangalies there. In fact all foreigners – people coming outside of Assam were called Bangalies. The Europeans or Englishmen who came as managers of tea gardens etc. were called Boga (white) Bangalies!
At first we occupied a hut for our stay. Later, we built our own camp. Mainly rice, clothes, blankets etc were distributed as relief from our camp. Govt. of Assam also sent a few officers to work in the area. Most of them helped us.
After a few days a group of lady volunteers belonging to Kasturba Gandhi Trust arrived. They mostly distributed milk powder for the children. Smt. Amalprabha Das was the president of the K.G.Trust of Assam with their headquarters at Sarania-Gauhati. Her father Dr. Harekrishna Das was called the Gandhi of Assam. They came in close contact with Gandhiji and Wardha Ashram. Amalprabha left her girl volunteers almost in my charge and we all worked in close cooperation.
Another important social worker with whom I worked there was Mr. Bhandari. He belonged to Mangalore side but he was deputed to work amongst the plain tribals of Assam by Thakkarbapa, the president of Hariana Seva Sangha under whom he worked.
After some time when the Governor’s relief fund was established, he was given the charge of the distribution work of tinsheets, utensils, blankets etc. I worked under him as head of the centre at Pathalipam. Close personal friendship was established with him, which continued till his tragic death. He committed suicide – but more about it later.
An international group also came to Pathalipam in October or November 1950 under the leadership of one Piere Oppliger – a Swiss. The institution for which they came to work was called S.C.I (Service Civil International ). It had another English name I.V.S.P (International Voluntary Service for Peace ). All over the world wherever there were catastrophes – because of floods, famines, fire or earthquake they sent their groups of volunteers to help in the relief work. At Pathalipam this group took up the construction work of a school building. In the first group, I still remember the names of Dorothy Abbot (an English woman ), Bill (another Englishman), Wolfgang Gerber (a German), Bent ( a Dane ). Some Assamese college boys also joined the group – of whom Gopal Sharma and Sashi Misra had close relations with me for quite a longtime.
They put up their camp of tents by the side of our camp and I also helped them in organizing their work.
Pierre Oppliger already knew Lizelle Reymond who was then in Almora with Anirvanji. Of course I had then not even heard about Anirvanji. I first came to know about Anirvan in 1953 in Gauhati through Prof. M.P.Agarwal. But that is another story! Oppliger, after all their relief works, continued to live in India with his wife Mary (an American lady) and occupied Anirvanji’s Haimavati at Almora. I went to stay with him in 1960. Pierre also died in 1994. I met him again last in 1990 when I went to Ramgarh. He is still there living with an adopted Gujarati son (Pravin). Mary died in India in the early eighties.
Relief work at Pathalipam was quite strenuous but very interesting and it brought out the best of myself. I became very popular and was called the king of Pathalipam by local people! The Miri boatmen carried out my orders and will not ferry even the govt. officers without my permission! Once the then chief minister of Assam Mr. B.P.Chaliah visited our place and was very much pleased with my work.
As the roads were not still jeepable, rice bags were dropped by planes – and gathering and storing the bags was an important activity. A special govt. officer was appointed for the work but as the rice was to be distributed through us, he had to work in my collaboration. In the beginning there was some trouble with him as he was trying to favour a particular tea garden manager with whom he stayed! But later we became great friends.
On the other side of Subansari river, R.K.Mission had established a relief camp. Sometimes I used to go to meet them by crossing the river. I had also to supply rice to them for distribution.
It was in Pathalipam that Sudha with Kiki (Aparna, then only 1 & ½ years old) came to see our work. Most probably they came in January or February ’51 and returned in March before Bandhu shifted to 18/4D Fern Road house from Chandernagar. They came to Tezpur by plane where I received them. From Tezpur to Mazuligram? I brought them by steamer and then to N.Lakhimpur by bus! It was a tiring journey for them.
At first I kept them in a tent of the S.C.I near our camp with Dorothy. But as the area was flooded because of heavy rains I shifted them to the camp of K.Gandhi Trust which was on a higher place! Pathalipam had heavy rainfall most of the time – reaching 200 to 300 inches per year! Our beds in the camps were made of bamboos about 1 & ½ to 2 feet high! During heavy rainfall, water flowed below the beds! And if the little baby slipped at night she will surely drown! Hence the shifting!
We used to have frequent picnic parties too on Sundays when generally the SCI people did not work! One picnic party which I still remember very well was organized at Dolongmukh on the Holi day. Everybody enjoyed the Holi festival there with great gusto!
When the relief work at Pathalipam was over I came back to Calcutta but was again sent to Assam – this time to Dibrugarh where I took the charge of the relief work for a period of six months or so. This time Deendayal who worked with me at Ranaghat as accountant was also sent with me. We all came back to Calcutta most probably by the end of 1951 or beginning of 1952.
During this time I also helped Mr. Bhandari in the construction of a leprosy colony near Navagaon.
During the governor’s relief work I had to go to Shillong – several times. I stayed then at the governor’s house as guest of Sri Dahyabhai Nayak. Dahyabhai Nayak was a social worker working among Bhils of Gujarat. He and Chandulal Shah of Ahmedabad were sent to Assam by Thakkarbapa to help in the relief work. Perhaps the then governor of Assam Jairamdas Doulatram requisitioned their services.
For my works for governor’s relief fund, Assam governor awarded me a special medal! A special ceremony was held at Marwari relief society Calcutta. But as I was out of Calcutta then, I could not collect it personally then. So my name was not inscribed on the medal!
After completion of relief work in Assam, I returned to Calcutta in the end of 1951 or beginning of 1952. As I had no other work, I worked with Badal and others for the election campaign of Bhanwarmal Singhi. He had stood up from the north Calcutta parliamentary constituency against Sri Prabhudayal Himatsinghka who was a congress candidate. Dr. Meghnad Saha was the candidate for the left front. Bhanwarmal Singhi did not win but he helped Meghnad Saha indirectly – by cutting down the non- Bengali votes of Prabhudayalji. I had some good direct experience of the election campaign. I looked after the Burrabazar office of the constituency. Our office was at Radha Kishanji Nivetia’s Umashankar Medical stores on the Harrison Road. We were staying then at 18/4D Fern Road. Sharad was looking after the agency business of Apurva & Company which was formed in 1950 at Chandernagar. He used to go on long tours for two-three months at a stretch visiting Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India. He was the main bread earner of Dharmapals at that time.
Bandhu’s time was passing in great inner churning – he had retired from all external activities – no work on the basis of Dharma was being done except meeting individual friends or new acquaintances. To give an idea of his mind then I give below a quote from his diary Date 17/7/51.
Since last few months we are all suffering from different diseases. It is much harassing me, Sudha and Mamata.
Since last one month or so, I am feeling that unless a Dharma Ashram is established, I will not be at peace. Dharma Ashram means where the living presence of the Divine Mother - Maheswari, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Mahasarasvati is established – where there is also the Mother or the Guru of the Ashram present to guide all.
For this, I am thinking of leaving all and go alone to a quiet place. My feelings towards Sudha are becoming more intense, pure and deep. In spite of that for the good of all, I am thinking of sending her to her house ( in Ahmedabad ) with her children along with Jayanti and Mamata.
Without the establishment of Dharma Ashram, we will not have peace or joy in our lives. For the establishment of Dharma Ashram intense “tapasya” is required.
Thus for these two reasons –
1) There is not going to be Peace or Joy in our lives unless Dharma Ashram is established and 2) because more intense ‘tapasya’- austerity is necessary – it is imperative that I should leave all and be alone.
Keeping these two ideas in mind, I have decided to send Sudha and Mamata with children to Ahmedabad on 20/7/51. Jayanti will stay with me for some time. He too will go to Ahmedabad in October.
Hope God will decide what is best for him.
Let thy will be Done! O Gracious Divine Mother!
Bandhu 17.7.51
Sudha, Mamata and children ( Apurva, Dilip & Aparna ) went to Ahmedabad via Bombay on 6.8.1951 instead of 20.7.51. Because of heavy rains on the way they reached Ahmedabad on 10.8.51 instead of 9.8.51.
Jayantibhai left for Ahmedabad in October before Diwali.
Jayantibhai and Mamata did not return to Calcutta after that. Jayantibhai rented a house in Raipur/Ahmedabad and started his job in the textile mill of his brother- in- law Sri Pranlal Seth. Later with his help they purchased a small house in Sarvodaya Society – outside Shahpur gate and in 1953 they built their own present house at Usmanpura. Arpita was born in December 1952 at Ahmedabad. Jayantibhai also dropped the title of Dharmapal and took over his old title Mehta to avoid social difficulties!
As Bandhu was finding it difficult to stay without somebody who can take care of his personal needs (Sharad who was taught by jayantibhai could not manage the personal service very well and I was mostly out of Calcutta ) Sudha was called back by the end of 1951!
After the election work was over I was trying to find out some work which would fetch some income. Radha Kishenji Nivedia gave me a job as sales organiser in his factory – India Industrial Works at Salkia Howrah – which was manufacturing Hind hurricane lanterns. I was first sent to Hyderabad to oversee the work of the agent there. I stayed in Hyderabad in a hotel (New Mysore Lodge ) which was situated near station in the old house of Sarojini Naidu. Because of my help the local agent, a young muslim businessman, secured good orders and after a month’s stay at Hyderabad I returned to Calcutta.
Now it was decided to open a sales office at Gauhati with storage arrangement to facilitate supply of small orders to different parts of Assam. I was sent to Gauhati first with the agent of Assam – Mr. Nandlal Sanganeria , a relative of Mr. Nivetia. He arranged for storage of lanterns with a Marwari firm K.C.Trunk Factory at Fancy Bazar Gauhati. I also visited Shillong and Cherapunji – with Mr. Sanganeria.
At Gauhati I used to stay with Smt. Amalprabha Das at their Panbazar residence. Later I occupied the built house of Amalprabha’s elder sister Dr. Tillottama Raichowdhury at Ujanbazar, where I stayed with Gopal Sharma who was working as a social worker with Smt. Das at that time.
During this period I visited many towns of Assam upto Digboi in NE and Silchar, Karimganj in the south of Assam to secure orders for Hind hurricane lanterns. But I was not feeling happy about the work. After sometime I had trouble with M/S K.C.Trunk factory on account of direct loans taken by Mr.Sanganeria from them. I advised Sri Nivetia to appoint the firm as sole selling agents for Assam instead of Mr. Sanganeria. That also terminated my work in Assam and I returned to Calcutta sometime in May 1953 or so.
It was during my stay in Gauhati that I came to know about Sri Anirvan through Prof M.P.Agarwal. One day on 20eth February while passing by the house of Prof Agarwal ( I did not know him then ) I saw the sign board “ Mother’s Centre”. I got down from the bus to enquire about the centre. Prof Agarwal whom I met then for the first time informed that the centre is being opened from tomorrow ie 21st February- Mother’s Birthday and invited me to attend the opening ceremony which was to be presided over by the chief justice of Gauhati high court. On his request I had also to speak a few words on Sri Aurobindo’s yoga at the inaugural session.
Thereafter my friendship with Prof Agarwal grew and I even went to stay with him vacating the Ujan bazaar house. During my stay with him he informed me one day that Sri Anirvan who has translated The Life Divine of Sri Aurobindo has come to Gauhati on his way to Shillong. I went to see Sri Anirvan with him at the railway colony – but he had gone to Umachal ashram. So we went there – but there also we heard that he has already left the place for shilling. So I could not see him then in Assam. But later after coming back to Calcutta, I met him for the first time in February 1954.
Manju – Ashok case – 16.4.53 to 16.7.53
When the agency for Hind hurricane lanterns were taken over by K.C.Trunk Factory of Gauhati – my work in Assam was over. So I returned to Calcutta in May 1953.
As soon as I came to Calcutta I was deeply involved in a social case of Manju and Ashok! Manju and Ashok brought about a great social turmoil in our lives for nearly 3-4 months! For which Bandhu had to go to prison – judicial custody – for one week! (from 25/6/53 to 1/7/53 ) It all happened like this –
In the middle of April 1953, one evening Mohontosh Chatterjee came to Bandhu and reported that his friend Ashok Ghosh is in great difficulty because of his love-affair with a Gujarati girl-Manjula.
Manjula was the eldest daughter of a Gujarati teacher of Gujarati Bal Mandir (Mr. Acharya?). They were living as tenants in the house of Sri Ashutosh Ghosh – father of Ashok. They had fallen in love with each other and because Manjula’s father – they being Brahmin – would not allow or approve of their marriage, they had eloped to Puri.
Manjula’s father had reported the matter to the police and the whole Gujarati community of Bhowanipur was in rage! If they were caught, Ashok would be prosecuted and his life will be ruined. Mohontosh requested Bandhu to interfere on his friend’s behalf and to bring about a compromise so that they can marry with their parents’ consent. Ashok’s father had no objection!
Now Bandhu contacted Manjula’s father and Seth Mohanlal Shah who had taken up the case in his hands, through Amritbhai Jani and Mathurbhai Patel. But Bandhu’s intervention brought about opposite result! The Gujarati community who knew Bandhu and his social and political activities in Ahmedabad very well understood that Bandhu must have been behind the whole affair of elopement etc! To protect Ashok from legal punishment Bandhu had meanwhile arranged for a marriage ceremony at Shibubhai’s place and photos etc were taken. But this action was later found to be illegal because Manjula was not even 18 years old! ( according to certificate!) And the marriage act – which was changed after independence – was that the girl should be at least 18 years old at the time of marriage and for marriage without parents’ consent the girl should be either a graduate or 21 years old! The lawyer whom Bandhu had consulted had given wrong information! The girl’s father and Mohanlal Seth wanted unconditional surrender of the girl! But now without making any real compromise, it was dangerous to surrender the girl and at that time neither Ashok nor Manjula were prepared to surrender. Because of the pressure from Seth Mohanlal Shah the police became very active and it became very difficult to keep them hiding in Calcutta. We had been shifting them from one place to another but Manjula was a peculiar girl! She will talk about her affair openly to the ladies of the houses where she was kept! So we had to change her from house to house! At last finding it difficult to hide her in Calcutta, I took her to Assam to keep her in the ashram of Amalprabha Das. But there too she could not keep the secret and being unable to keep her at any place, I brought her back to Calcutta!
Now Bandhu and Ashok’s father who were arrested on 25/6/53 for helping and abetting the kidnapping were released on bail on 1.7.53. Negotiations were started with Mohanlal Shah with the help of his partner in Mohini Mills Mr.Chakravarty and our lawyer Sri Sanyal, grandson of Dasarathi Sanyal _ Swami Vivekananda’s friend! Seeing the situation and weakness of the girl we thought it better to send back the girl to her father if they withdraw the case. On their promise that the case will be withdrawn as soon as the girl is returned – I took her one morning to her house and returned after seeing her entering the house! Soon after the case was withdrawn. Later we came to know that Manjula was taken to Gujarat and there married to a Gujarati young man. Ashok was very angry with us in the beginning but later he could understand the whole situation, how it was impossible to keep Manjula hiding for two to three years!
The case ended there but it put us in great trouble for a few months! Bandhu realized that he should not interfere in such cases and keep himself confined only to religious work. It was a harsh lesson given by Mother!
In the later part of 1953, I was in great inner turmoil. There was a great urge to renounce, to go away some where for intense tapasya. I felt that we are bogged up in useless activities. There is neither any spiritual progress subjectively nor any progress is being made in the work of Dharma for which we had come over to Calcutta. With this mood, I approached the general secretay of R.K.Mission Swami Madhavananda, – the Vice President Swami Shuddhananda or Vishudhananda! They were ready to accept me but said that I should remain as a brahmachari for sometime and the period may be short in my case ( generally the minimum period of probation was seven years).
But this conditional admission was not liked by me and I wrote to Sri Anirvan, if I could go to his ashram at Almora. Anirvanji immediately replied and said that he himself is winding up his ashram at Almora and going to Shillong. On his way to Shillong he will stay for some time in Calcutta in the month of February and that I may meet him then at Sri S.B.Roy’s house – 55, Dr. Sarat Bannerjee Road- where he is generally staying up during his stay in Calcutta.
In this way it was decided to meet Anirvanji for the first time in Calcutta.
Most probably I went to see him at SB Ray’s house on 15th or 19th February 1954. Bandhu had asked me to fix some time when he can come at our Fern Road house. He readily agreed and gave me the time on 21st February 1954. I was to take him to Fern Road from 3, Swinhoe St. gathering of a Sri Aurobindo Centre of Navajivan Sangha organized by Srinvantu’s Pramod Sen!
21st February 1954 – Anirvan comes to 18/4D Fern Road
Thus Sri Anirvan came to our house at 18/4D Fern Road for the first time on 21st February 1954, one year after I heard about him at Gauhati, Bandhu had invited Ramswarupji, Sitaram Goel and two other friends to meet Anirvanji. Bandhu and Anirvanji liked each other and later Bandhu met Anirvanji several times before he left for Shillong. I was also greatly impressed by his peaceful personality and deep scholarship. And the foundation of a close and long relationship was laid! He became the next guiding spirit of my life after Bandhu. Bandhu of course did not see him again as he passed away soon after – on 6th august 1955 but he corresponded with Anirvanji through me and told us that he can be our Guru especially as regards knowledge of sastras and we should approach him for guidance etc. Anirvanji also saw great potentiality in Bandhu and agreed to cooperate in his future activities. He wrote to one of his disciples ( Sandhya ) “I saw a Purusha after a long time”- perhaps he meant after his own guru Swami Nigamananda!
While at 18/4D Fern Road, after my return from Assam, I sometimes went to a factory of G.I. Pipes & Fittings at Kadamtala-Howrah- (K.P.Mukherjee & Sons ). A friend of Badal, Sri Arunkumar Seal was trying to join as a partner in that factory. He put me in the office of the factory as his man. I of course worked and mixed with all the partners and staff as a neutral person and all of them had great love and regard for me. But Mr Seal did not succeed in his efforts. The factory was sold to a Marwari businessman and I stopped going there.
I also helped Dr. Atindranath Basu at his Leftist Book Centre at Chowringhee for sometime. Atinda had become a close friend of Bandhu and used to come to stay at our place for weekends and discuss ideological problems with Bandhu. He was disillusioned with his leftist politics and slowly turning towards spiritual anarchism – on which he was working – the book was published later in 1962 after his death. Atinda was present at the time of Bandhu’s death at Keyatala Road.
On 1st April 1954 we completed three years of our stay at 18/4D Fern Road – the longest after leaving the Golf Club Road house. And we were living quite peacefully. But all of a sudden situation changed because of a child’s prank! The grandson of our landlord , Tulsi Charan Mitra was quite mischievious! He used to harass our servants. Bandhu used to rebuke him which was not liked by the grandfather! One day the boy threw dust in the open mouth of the servant when he was sleeping! Bandhu caught hold of the boy and slapped him. This enraged the landlord so much that he gave us notice to vacate! We started giving rent in the rentcontroller’s court but started to search for a good house also. In the middle of August the 6H Keyatala Road house was found and we shifted to the new house on 30eth August 1954. We all liked the new house so much that we all felt as if we have come to our own house! The new landlord Sri Biren Chakravarty also was a very nice gentleman. This house was more spacious – with four rooms, kitchen, store room and two warrandahs – one inside the house and the other in the front.
Bandhu’s Vision of the Mother in Dream State:-Vasant Panchami 8th February 1954, Saraswati Puja Day.
Before Sri Anirvan came to our place at 18/4D, Fern Road, one important event took place.
In the night of 7th February and early morning of 8th February, Bandhu saw a dream in which he had the full vision of the Divine Mother seated in Padmasana position on a big Lotus – with Veena in one hand & Pustaka in the other. It was the vision of the Goddess Saraswati. Bandhu was worshipping the Divine Being as Mother since a long time but he had no image of the Ishta. He generally concentrated on the photo of Shiva which he had since 1940-41. Now the next day i.e. on 8th February – it was Saturday most probably – it was Saraswati Puja Day – Vasant Panchami – two pictures of the goddess Saraswati appeared in Amrita Bazar Patrika – the news paper we got. One was in the Padmasana pose very similar to the vision of Bandhu’s dream and the other was in standing position but no mention was made about the place where those images were worshipped. Next day – on Sunday morning – along with the pictures of other images of Saraswati – the earlier images too were printed along with the names of the puja pandals. The image similar to the vision of Bandhu’s dream was being worshipped at the puja pandal of Nilratan Sarkar Medical College. I and Bandhu rushed to see the image – in the afternoon – but when we reached the place the image was being brought down for immersion! We did not get a picture of the same. But being informed that the image was made by the famous artist Ramesh Paul, we went to his studio on the next day. Fortunately he had taken a photo of the same image. So we could get a copy of the photo from him.
Now a regular Sadhana began to get a good enlarged copy of the same to the satisfaction of Bandhu. The work was entrusted to Asimbabu ( Asim Pramanik ) who was working in a near by studio. He was a good photographer and had worked with noted Bonne & Sheffered Studio. He worked very hard and after many trials produced a few very good enlarged copies of the image.
The final best copy came in Bandhu’s hand most probably on 14th April 1954 – 1st of Boisakh ( which is my birthday ) which he got framed and kept in his room for regular worship.
Afterwards Bandhu tried to get a pakka earthen idol but was not successful. Ramesh Paul started bargaining and so order was not given to him. Another artist one Mr. Dey who had made many beautiful Buddha images was entrusted the work – but he too failed to satisfy us.
So up till now we have only the photograph pictures of that image with us. The one which was source of great inspiration to me after Bandhu’s passing away – and which Bandhu had kept in his room is now at Santoshpur with Sudhadi.
During this period when Asimbabu was busy trying to get a good picture – Bandhu had to go to Ahmedabad as his father was very sick. But he could not stay there longer as his whole mind was at Calcutta!
A few days after Bandhu’s return to Calcutta his father – Sri Ghelabhai passed away on 13th april – about the time when Bandhu got the best picture of the Mother! As if Bandhu’s spiritual Sadhana was connected with his father! He got his first mantra from his father and he got the image of his Ishta Devata also on his father’s passing away!
Mention should be made also of Sri Haridas Mukherjee, his wife Uma Mukherjee – both professors of history and Ravibhai Trivedi – who were our co-tenants – on the mezzanine floor – with whom we had longstanding friendship – Ravibhai especially was very close to Bandhu for sometime and later too he was living near us at Keyatala Road.
As mentioned earlier we left the 18/4D Fern Road house on 30eth August 1954 and came over to 6H, Keyatala Road – ground floor where we stayed for quite a long time – nearly 16 and ½ years i.e. till 10th February 1971 – when we shifted to our present house at 9/2, Fern Road.
When we came over to Keyatala Road house, Babubhai Patwa was also with us. He had come over to Calcutta to escape from Dr. Ajit Patel from whom he had borrowed a big sum for business and lost! He left after sometime for Ahmedabad after Bandhu’s passing away. The Keyatala house was quite a big house for us in comparision to the previous houses occupied by us in Calcutta. Bandhu, Sudha and their children Apurva and Aparna aged 6 & 5 years then, myself & Sharad were the only few persons to occupy the house.
The small room attached to the warrandah was used as office. There were three big rooms inside the house along with another verandah & store room & kitchen. Bandhu occupied the western room by the side of the office room, Sudha & children occupied the eastern room and I and Sharad occupied the big room on the southern side opposite kitchen & store room.
Later in January 1955 or so we kept a paying guest to augment the income. Our first paying guest was Hiren Rakshit, son of a proprietor of Chitta ranjan Cotton Mills, who was preparing his doctorate thesis or studying in the last year of M.Sc. in Anthropology. He occupied half of the big room on the southern side where I & Sharad lived. Generally Sharad was out on tour, so practically I & Hiren occupied the room. Hiren brought a fan with him & so for the first time we had a fan in our room! Before this we did not use electric fans. The first fan was purchased in 1950 at Jatin Das Road for Kiki as she could not sleep in the summer because no air was passing in the room where Sudha slept with her. Bandhu could not bear direct fan, so in his room a table fan was kept only for the visitors! Only after Bandhu’s passing away in August 1955 we had a fan in his room which was used as Prayer hall as well as visiting room till Sharad’s marriage in 1961.
Life passed on as usual at Keyatala Road with Sharad mainly looking after business, I helping him in business and helping Bandhu as his secretary, Bandhu mostly passing his time in solitude, occasionally meeting visitors or entertaining guests like Atinda.
His meditations and concentration for the descent of Divine Mother was gathering momentum. He was becoming more & more sensitive. At this time he was also thinking of leaving Calcutta for some secluded place in the Himalayas and for that purpose he had asked our friend Kantibhai Vyas to look for a small house at Dehradoon near Sri Ma Anandamoyee’s Ashram.
Ramswarupji and Sitaram were amongst the regular visitors at this time. Sitaram came almost every week to meet Bandhu. Atinda generally stayed for week ends. He had become so close that he had proposed to work with Bandhu whenever his activities were started. He frankly talked with Bandhu about his personal matters too. At this time he introduced Narayani Basu with whom he had decided to marry.
In May 1955, Jayantibhai and Mamata came to visit us – first time after their final departure to Ahmedabad in 1951. They stayed with us for a month. Dilip was then 6 years old and Arpita (who was born in December 1952 at Ahmedabad ) three years old. It was good that they came then because soon after their return Bandhu passed away.
At this time Bandhu gave advertisements several times to find a suitable match for Sharad as several engagements at Ahmedabad were broken up because of the social opposition. But no suitable match was found.
Bablu & Kiki had stopped going to Pratapbhai’s Balmandir because of difficulty in sending and bringing them back from the school. A home tutor was engaged for some time.
In this manner days were passing on when all of a sudden like a bolt from the blue Death struck us unaware and snatched away Bandhu from us. That day was 6th of August 1955 – 10th anniversary of the Hiroshima Atom Bombing! For us the death of Bandhu was as shattering as the fall of an atom bomb!
It was Saturday. An advertisement was given for a home tutor for Bablu & Kiki, as the old tutor Shyamali had left Calcutta with her husband who was a P.T.I journalist. From 10 am he was taking interviews of the many girls & boys who had come for only one tuition! He was late in taking meals. By 2-0 pm he finished his lunch and had just gone for rest – when all of a sudden Sudha called me at about 3-00pm, Bandhu was not feeling well. He was experiencing a severe type of pain in the head which he had never experienced. We little knew then that it was cerebral hemorrhage! Instead of lying down in bed he was sitting before the image of Mother, praying! I went to fetch Dr. Ghosh – whom he used to consult regularly. When I came with Dr. Ghosh I found him lying on the bed, one side completely paralysed including speech. He could only show his pain by handsign. Dr. Ghosh immediately recognized the cerebral attack and exclaimed “oh god, how this happened?”
When I had gone to fetch Dr. Ghosh, Bandhu had tried to go to bathroom but fell down near the room _ vomited twice and then Babubhai Patwa & Sudha with great difficulty carried him to the bed. During that time the hemorrhage & subsequent paralysis must have taken place. Dr. Ghosh gave one injection but asked to call a senior doctor. Dr. S.N.Sen was immediately called – he too gave another injection and advised us to remove him to the hospital in the morning! He should have advised immediate transfer! But what was to happen had to happen!
Atinda came at about 8-0 pm. He was to stay with us that night and next Sunday! Ravindra Khanna our neighbor sat all the night along with Atinda. By 11-0 pm all of a sudden there was some movement in the body – Atinda perhaps understood that the last hour has come. He asked me to bring the doctor. I went first to Dr. Ghosh and then on his advice also brought Dr. Kiron Ghosh. But before I could bring Dr. Kiron Ghosh, Bandhu had breathed his last at about 11-30 pm!
Bandhu’s death gave a terrible shock to me. I was so much upset that I threw the picture of Mother on the ground! Atinda consoled me and asked me to control myself atleast for the sake of Sudha & children. Sudha was stunned and sat stonelike silently crying! Children were sleeping and we did not disturb them. Sharad was on tour then. he was to reach Ahmedabad by 8th august or so. Telegrams were sent to Jayantibhai & Bandhu’s elder brother at Ahmadabad.
Some friends who were available on phone were informed. Sitaram Goel, his assit Keshabbabu & Raghubir Goel came. Amritbhai Jani was also informed. He also came immediately. Next day morning on Sunday the 7th august we took the body to Keoratala Crematorium. The electric-furnace was not there at that time. So Bandhu was cremated on a fire wood-pyre. By evening everything was over. It had rained heavily on Saturday morning and afternoon – but there was no rain on Sunday till the cremation was over. And then there was a shower as if to sprinkle water on the pyre-chita!
First Jayantibhai came with Sudha’s mother on 10th August. Then Sharad came with Mamata & children on 13th August. A prayer meeting was held instead of Sraddha ceremony on 16th or 17th August.
Sailen and his wife Tapati stayed with us for some days. Tapati very lovingly looked after Sudha at this critical period.
I had written to Sri Anirvan about the sudden passing away of Bandhu. He sent a very consoling letter with encouraging words saying Bandhu’s mission now falls on our shoulders – and we should carry forward his work! Swami Chinmoyananda – another Swamiji who was living in Almora and had come in Bandhu’s close contact during 1954-55 also wrote an encouraging letter! At about the same time we had made contact with Sadguru Omkar of Nandi Hills, Bangalore – through his articles on Dharma in Organiser. Sharad had contacted him personally at his Ashram. He too wrote a very nice condolence letter. I had especially written both to Swami Anirvan and Sadguru Omkar to come and stay with us if possible at an early date.
Both had agreed and accordingly Sri Anirvan came to stay at Keyatala Road for the first time in November 1955. Sadguru Omkar came later – in January 1957.Swami Chinmayananda had already stayed at our Keyatala Road house earlier in 1954-55 and had long discussions with Bandhu, so much so that he considered Bandhu his shishya! He had come to teach Advaita Vedanta to Bandhu – as Totapuri had come to Sri Ramkrishna! He too came to stay with us after Bandhu’s passing away in November 1955 – almost the same time when Swami Anirvan came to stay at Keyatala Road for the first time.
With Bandhu’s passing away a new chapter was opened in our lives! Our helmsman had gone! Sri Anirvan filled his place to some extent. He took the place of guru – Acharya – though formally there was no such undertaking on either side! It was more an inner development and understanding. Year by year the relation grew more & more intimate and we were bound together till his death in 1978 separated him from us physically. The mission of Dharmasangha (for which we had come to Calcutta) slowly receded in the background! It became more so after Anirvanji’s coming over to Calcutta in November 1964.
Sadguru Omkar was to come in 1956 – but he had to return to his Ahsram at Nandi from Nagpur because of linguistic riots in South India in 1956 after the death of a congress worker Sri Ramulu of Andhra Pradesh who had gone on an (hungerstrike) indefinite fast on the issue of a separate Andhra State. Till then, A.P. was part and parcel of the State of Madras. After his death and consequent riots in South India Nehru and the Congress was forced to redistribute the states on linguistic bases. Gujarat was separated from Maharashtra. On 1st may 1960 Andhra Pradesh was formed with parts of the state of Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh etc.
So the time span for writing these notes from August 1955 to present day can be divided as under _
1955 to 1965 from Bandhu’s death to Anirvanji’s coming to stay in Calcutta.
1965 to 1970 remaing stay at Keyatala Road.
1971 to 1978 coming over to Fern Road house and passing away of Sri Anirvan.
1978 to 1990 & onwards.
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