Odyssey of the Enlightened -32
Blessing & Assurance – 1
Shriram becomes father
It was the afternoon of a day in August 1932 when Gopinath from Anwalkheda had come to Agra Central Jail to meet his friend Shriram and was sitting in a waiting room of the jail. People were taking turns to come and meet their friends and relatives in that room. Political prisoners had the freedom to meet visitors outside their cells. Gopinath’s name was announced by police attendant and he said – ‘Your relative Shriram is waiting in room number twenty three. Complete your meeting in ten minutes. Note that you will not get more time than this.’
In room number twenty three Gopinath saw Shriram seated along with some other political detenus. He was busy talking to them and it did not appear as though he was waiting for Gopinath. The moment he heard footsteps, Shriram got up and hugged his friend. Gopinath was overcome with emotions and could not speak when he saw Shriram dressed as a prisoner. His eyes were filled with tears and before he could gather himself, Shriram asked several questions about the welfare of his friends and family in the village. Gopi could not say anything more than ‘all is well’. After a while, when he was able to compose himself, he said – ‘Brother, I have some good news for you.’ Shriram looked at Gopi and was waiting for him to complete the sentence. Gopi said, ‘I have become an uncle. Bhabhiji (Shriram’s wife) and nephew are doing well. Taiji has asked you to suggest a name for the baby.’
Shriram was happy to hear the news. He was elated to hear the news that he had become a father, but instead of expressing his joy, he chose to keep quiet. He closed his eyes and silently recited Gayatri Mantra. He opened his eyes and said ‘OM’ and again assumed silence as though he was repeating the Gayatri mantra one more time. After a few moments, Shriram said, ‘Give him the name OM! Omprakash.’ After having chosen the name, Shriram, with the permission of the police attendant, got some jaggery and distributed it to all those sitting near him including Gopi. Thus was celebrated the birth of his son.
He continued to talk of several things with Gopi. The attendant came and announced that the visiting time was over. Gopinath got up looking as though he was trying to gather his belongings although he hadn’t any luggage. He somehow had the feeling that he had not spent enough time talking to his friend. The surge of emotions was so strong that he did not want to get up and leave. It was as though he wanted to linger on for some time more under the pretext of gathering his belongings. But he could not do it for long. Shriram assured him and said, ‘I will come out soon. It is just a matter of one-and-a-half to two months. After that, we will all work as before and shout the slogans of ‘Victory to Mother India.’ Saying that he will try again next week, Gopinath got up. He had only eaten a very small portion of the jaggery that Shriram gave. He had saved the rest of it in his palm and said, ‘All of us will share and eat this in Anwalkheda.’ By the time he completed this sentence, his eyes were filled with tears. Shriram’s eyes also were wet and he tried hard to evade looking into Gopinath’s eyes. He hugged Gopi and patted his back. Then Shriram walked back into his cell and Gopi also went his way.
Home, when Shriram was in jail
There were twelve other people in the Central Jail. They were either his associates or well-wishers. Among the people in the room, two were close to him. Some visitors had come to meet them, too. After Gopinath left, Shriram began to think about his home. He realized that conditions at his home had become tense and worrisome due to his participation in the freedom struggle. His home was a spacious mansion with farms, servants etc. but all these had to be managed by Taiji singlehandedly. In the joint family, there were other brothers and relatives, but no one was capable of shouldering any responsibility. Shriram was the light of the family and he carried lot of responsibility. But much of his time was spent in the freedom struggle, sadhana and swadhyay. He hardly had any time left for familial responsibilities. When he was sentenced to jail for six months, it had a very bad effect in the village. People began to say, ‘We had tried to caution him earlier itself. Who has been able to win against the British Raj? Even the Sun does not dare to set under their rule. How can anyone pull the curtains of their rule? Mattji was mad with patriotic fervor. When he comes after serving the sentence, he will himself mend his ways.’
Durga Shankar, an uncle in relation, used to constantly tease Taiji on his account. He would say, “Now, Shriram will learn some more skills because of which there will be no need to earn to maintain the family.’ For the first time, Taiji did not understand his taunt and asked what was meant by it.
Uncle said, ‘I am referring to things like stealing, robbing, cheating etc.’ Taiji kept a sullen face after hearing this and kept quiet. She was hurt but she consoled herself by the thought that life of her son was not confined to earning means of livelihood for his family, like others and that he was working for the entire nation.
As she was thinking thus, her train of thoughts was interrupted with the fact that her son was in jail. It was not a good thing to go to jail. It spoils the reputation of one’s family. The jail is definitely not for ‘noble’ people. Her inner lament was countered by another set of thoughts – ‘Lord Krishna was born in the jail. Who has defamed him because of that? Vasudev and Devaki were confined to jail. The asuras used to capture and torture many noble souls. Even Gandhiji has been to jail several times.’ With such musings, she fell asleep. After this incident, his uncle threw tantrums several times but Taiji was not at all affected by them. She got busy in managing both the house and the agriculture farms in Shriram’s absence.
We will be careful from now onwards
After this spell in jail because of participation in freedom struggle, behavior of Shriram’s relatives changed considerably. He came to know this by interacting with those who visited him in the jail. It was Shriram’s friends and co-workers who primarily came to visit him in the jail. His family members and relatives visited him rarely. His Mama (maternal uncle) had come twice and he suggested that they appeal to the government for releasing him early. Shriram refused this advice saying – ‘I have not been arrested for a reason for which one has to feel ashamed. I have been caught working for my motherland’s freedom. Many people have happily gone to the gallows for this cause. Then, why should I be eager to get out of jail?’
His uncle had appreciated his nephew’s emotions. But there was a subtle reason behind his suggestion. He said – ‘A person gets bound by remaining in jail. If you were outside, you could do more for the country. Do not think it to be cowardice to come out.’ Shriram said –‘I would not agree to come out by giving a bribe. When I come out, I will be more careful. I will be more wary than I was before and will not let a situation come in which I will have to come to jail again.’
Shriram came out after completing his jail term of six months. It was the month of November and the festival of Diwali had passed. Taiji had celebrated that Diwali with a strange mindset. She was sad that her son was in jail. But her grandson had arrived and it was a matter of joy. On the day of Diwali, Taiji was playing with the kid and said, ‘Let your father come. I will teach him a lesson.’ What could one explain to a 3-month old babe about what she meant by that sentence. Even her daughter-in-law did not understand the import. She could interpret its meaning only when her husband returned home.
Defining the future course of action
When Shriram returned from Agra Central Jail, he was surrounded by his friends and associates on his way back home. Separation for several months had overwhelmed them with love and emotion. They failed to realize that his mother and wife would also be waiting to meet him; also that he would be eager to see his newborn son. Oblivious to these sentiments, his friends kept him surrounded for about two hours. Even Shriram did not realize that he was being awaited by his family. They spent their time discussing about future course of action; how they should plan the next stage of the struggle; who would play what role etc.
His friends asked him to share his experiences in jail. How did he feel? What was the daily routine? How was the mutual relationship between the jail-mates? Shriram postponed answering such questions not because he did not want to answer them but because planning the future course of action was more important. He kept pushing away questions about his experiences in the jail more than five – seven times. When his friends insisted on knowing the details, he said – ‘I will tell the story of the jail in greater detail some other time. It is not about just a couple of incidents. There are several things to talk about. To share all those will need many hours. Now, we should think of our future plans of action.’
Talks about his time spent in jail
Still, he did speak about his experiences in jail. One such topic was about whom he remembered the most while in jail. Shriram replied – ‘I used to remember everyone. But the life there was so busy that I was totally absorbed in those activities. I did not miss anyone too much. Most of my time was spent in reading and writing. Leading political prisoners in jail were given several comforts. Even newspapers were delivered to them. I got an idea to invest some time in learning English. There was no means for writing. Neither was there a pen nor paper. I then got an idea to write with a piece of charcoal on the iron basket. I began to learn from the old issues of ‘Hindustan Times’ and took help from revolutionary friends or from officers in the jail. In this way I learnt English alphabets. In two months, I gained enough knowledge to read a newspaper. After that, my knowledge improved with constant practice.’
His friends began to ask about some incidents in the jail. He did not remember anything off hand. Gangasharan said – ‘OK! Don’t tell us much. But do tell us about one incident which made you forget about everyone.’
Shriram went down the memory lane. He was quiet for sometime and then got back with an incident in the jail. When he was arrested and taken to the central jail, among the people who attracted him, one was a sadhu. His name was Raghavdas. He was an upasak (worshipper) treading the path of devotion. Instead of Swami, he preferred to be addressed as Das Raghav. If someone addressed him as Swami, he would request with folded hands – ‘Swami (Master) is only one and that is the Lord Almighty. I am just his Das (servant). Hence it will be appropriate to call me Das.’ People were hesitant to call him ‘Das’, hence they called him ‘Baba’ or ‘Maharaj’. Shriram began to address him as ‘Bhagatji’ – Bhakt Raghavdas.
On 5th April, 1932 Shriram was suddenly caught. He had just concluded his morning upasana when he heard a knock at the door. When he opened the door, he saw four – five policemen standing there. There was an old colleague named Gangadeen who had come to recognize Shriram. This man had disclosed the house of Shriram to the police out of greed for a reward. Arrest of Shriram was a big achievement for the police.
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Never give it.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.
-Abraham Lincoln
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” -Reinhold Niebuhr
“A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate
the approximate depth of his ignorance.”
- Gian Carlo Menotti
Rescuing the life of the ailing, who is suffering from diseases, is greater in all proportions to even the most magnificent grand sacrificial ceremony, in which large amounts of oblations are given. - Mahabharat
.