Query : You call an old lady of the Ashram as ‘ Choto Maa’! Do you then have another ‘Baro Maa’ or more such mothers?
Gurumaharaj : ( The question was asked in such comical manner that Gurumaharaj broke into laughter. Then he started answering the question.)
Are you nuts? Had I been one of those Babas, then I would have to keep a sturdy stick to clout you hard for such nonsensical questions.
What do you want to mean by asking whether I had more such mothers? All the women are my mothers. I have my own biological mother. Then I have the mother of Jagada of Raina and the mother of Chakshanjadi. They are as good as my biological mother!
My Choto Maa was married into a rich family of Dhamas ( presently a village in Purba Bardhaman district). Dasarathi Tah, the famous Congress leader of Bardhaman was one of the relatives of that family. They were big businessmen.
When I was doing a job under a rural electrification contractor, I got acquainted with Choto Maa. I was posted at Dhamas. Gopi Tah, the son of Dasarathi Tah and some other distinguished persons of the village were supervising the rural electrification work of that area. Just then I sat down on the concrete platform around a peepul tree wearing the shoes. Inadvertently I opened a can of worms by doing so. Everyone present there began cursing me.
” That tree was planted and set up with proper rituals by Choto Maa and you simply sat there without even bothering to remove the shoes! Now just wait for the terrible consequences, ” they said.
But most of the villagers including Gopi Tah had disappeared even before anything happened. In the meantime, a small girl informed Choto Maa about me. But I didn’t budge from that particular place. Before long I found one old lady of slight frame rushing towards me cursing me.
After coming near me she stood and observed me closely for a while. Then she came closer and said to me, “Which household do you belong to Gopala (Lord Sri Krishna was called as Gopala during his childhood)?”
I replied,” I’m your Gopala!”
At this, she affectionately stroked my forehead with her palms! Since then she became my mother and I became her Gopala!
As Gopi Tah and others used to address her as ‘Choto Maa’, I also called her that. Now she is known as Choto Maa in the Ashram.
Whomever I call as my mother I take upon myself all her responsibilities. Long years passed after that incident. But our relationship has remained the same. Later this Ashram came into being. She also grew old. There are many problems at her home. She does not have any son or daughter to look after her. Then she was inflicted with serious illness. So, Choto Maa came to Ashram. And why not? A mother should not hesitate to come to her son!
Choto Maa has been staying here since then. Now her disease has been cured. After some time she will be a free soul when her mental illnesses are also cured.
When I got acquainted with Jaga Da of Raina ( Purba Bardhaman) I went to his house.There I saw his mother. Stepping into his home I called her ‘ mother’ and she hugged me. Thus, she became my mother.
I met Tagar’s mother when the rural electrification work was carried out in full swing in Chakshanjadi ( Purba Bardhaman). Then a big tent was erected on the outskirts of a village. All the workers stayed there. However, it was a scorchy summer. One day I was returning to our tent riding a cycle after field inspection. I felt extremely thirsty. Entering the Chakshanjadi village, I rested under a tree. I was thinking if I could get some water to quench my thirst.
Just then, I saw a lady who was calling me from the entrance of her house. She noticed that I was sweating profusely and I was dogged tired.
” Why are you standing there, son? Come inside,” she cried.
Have you ever seen my mother of Chakshanjadi ? Didn’t you see her eyes? They reflect her higher spiritual state.
I accepted her cordial invitation and stepped into her house.
Mother asked,” Would you have some water?”
” Yes, mother,” I replied spontaneously. Right from that moment she became my mother.
Her husband Sattar sahab was at home. He received me warmly and took me inside the house.
He said,” Give your son green coconut water. ”
He was a very good talker. Our conversation turned so interesting that my cycle remained standing outside his house for long hours. After that enjoyable chat mother treated me to a hearty meal before letting me return to my camp.
From that day she is also my mother.
Translated by Amitava Saha