Gurumaharaj once said _” People can tolerate many things – physical abuse, deprivation etc., but they cannot tolerate contempt and neglect. Ignorance, contempt, neglect can tremble ‘Antaratma'(inner soul)!” But
that was what happened to me that day and astonishingly, it was happened by Gurumaharaj himself (as I thought that day) . A man(Gurumaharaj) stayed in our house, ate(very little), took advantage of the seat on the bus(by me), but he got on the bus without speaking nothing(or_gratitude)!!! At that time I didn’t know that the ‘Antaratma'(Gurumaharaj) Himself is shaking the ‘Antaratma'(inner soul) from outside.
So it didn’t feel good to go back home immediately – I went to mukherjee’s house(Dr. Deenbandhu mukherjee, by whom name Deenbandhu college, Deenbandhu school was established), there I used to meet with some friends, and this particular place was like a drawing room for us then. From there, on the way to Ramrajatala(at Shibpur, Howrah), a shop of good ‘Dalpuri'(a delicious food) could be found somewhere. After eating all that, with a little chat, I was feeling better, and went back home.
As soon as I came, my elder brother(Ganga babu) started shouting and said,” you were coming out so early in the morning but why you have returned so late? Allright, now eat quickly and go to ‘Konnagar'(a place at Hoogly district)once and look at a pair of slippers which is lying! Take it also with you, I think that was Biplab’s(the another man with Gurumaharaj) – because no one has the size of such a big foot!! That’s what you will give him after going there”.
I tried to protest gently and said,” That’s a plastic slippers of low price”!! Then my elder brother said _ “You don’t know how hard it is to run an ashram in that village !! Many of them haven’t a plastic slippers also”.(really, when I first visited the ashram, I saw that many celibate monks used to wear tire-cut shoes.)! Hearing this, my mind became very soft and I agreed to go.
Even though my mind was flawed, I felt good thinking that I might hear a good discussion there again!
Finally I reached the specified place with two plastic shoes wrapped in papers on my armpits. Going there, I met Trishanda (Swami Parameshwarananda) and ‘Biplobda’ at first but they were wearing slippers on their feet! Then what else !! I thought about going back but they(Trishanda and Biplab) insisted on me, “Hey ! If you have come so far, you won’t meet Guruji ? It is not well ! Let’s go inside!”. After coming to the inside room, I saw Gurumaharaj sitting in front of some old women with their little grandsons and granddaughters. The children were running around and the old women were blabbering on ! I was very incongruous with it ! Trishanda put me inside and told Him the reason why I was coming here, then he left the room . But the ‘one’ whom was told –ignored all that! Seeing this odd behaviour, I was sitting there with extreme discomfort and seeking chance to go out ! At that time an old woman asked Him,”Babaji ! Which is better to chant ‘Hare Krishna..’ at morning and evening or to sing ‘Harinam’ over and over again?”
Gurumaharaj said, “you can do it in both the two ways! What you like, when you like!”
Silence again ! I had no more patience then ! I thought – why a young gentleman can’t come! Again another old woman started talking about – how long she chanted ‘Harinam’ with clapping…Hands began to hurt etc ! Guruji smiled affectionately and whispered to the woman to tell her specially .
This time I finally lost my patience and said with great annoyance – “Why are you saying these nonsense ? Tell them all the good teachings what You were saying us yesterday!!!”
“Hey you ! Sit quietly !!! Have you any idea about ‘the place’, ‘the time’ and ‘the matter'(Sthan-Kal-Patra)?? So don’t talk anymore !!!” _saying this Gurumaharaj expressed his anger(as I thought then).
My both ears began hot!! I just looked back and saw if anyone outside heard that scolding!! Inside the room, there were some very old women and children. They were busy with themselves. No one was looking at me and smiling!!
‘So took this opportunity and move on !’_ My inner sense suggested me . Rushing out of the room I threw the pair of slippers beside the road and got on straight to the train to return to Shibpur !
What an insult to a young educated man(I thought then about me) ! I just wanted to forget the whole incidents ! I tried to give myself consolation___ ‘nothing happened – no one met me – I didn’t come to Konnagar!’. But I couldn’t do it! Oh! What an insult!! I thought – “Well, Trisanda and the others must not have heard anything. And what’s the matter if they have heard?? I will never think about that ‘Man’ again! It is true- true- and true!!”
But my thoughts became fake soon. why?? it will be mentioned later……. (to be continued)
[ From “Purono Sei Banagramer Katha”—-Translated by a student of class ten, from Dhatrigram and corrected by Ramprasad Das, a former student of Banagram Paramananda Mission.]
*Banagram memories* (8)
