Inspiring Reminiscences

Chachaji had a way of recalling events, telling stories and creating a lively and compelling stories and creating a lively and compelling atmosphere; often a little fiction or imagination mingled with facts. But the tale told by him was interesting and often carried a ring of higher truth. He inspired countless people through his unique storytelling art, guiding and leading them towards higher life values-moral and spiritual.

In his chequered life he had seen many ups and downs. But through all his best at the altar of the highest truth he could envision at any given point of time. He was influenced by the teachings of several saints and sages and had imbibed the essence of Indian culture. He had a huge store of experiences which he freely offered to all for their benefit.

His observant eye missed nothing, he had a genius for spotting the unusual, the exceptional ant the droll-and he found the right words to invoke the odd fact that had caught his eye.

We present in this book a selection of his inspiring reminiscences.

Born August 13, 1903 at village Vahalee, Distt. Jhelum (now in Pakistan), resident of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, New Delhi. Education at D.A.V. Collage and National College, Lahore; member D.C.C.(1939); member P.C.C. (1934-47); took part in the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930) and the Quit India Movement (1930); defied Martial Law Regulations (1919) and suffered beatings and forced marches under the British Sergeants. In 1930, organized boycott of foreign cloth through the “Katras” of Chandni Chowk; November 14, 1930 read the Congress Independence Day Resolution at the Clock Tower; arrested and tried for six different counts; sentenced to nine months’ R. 1. and Six months’ R.1 in the Central Jail Mulhan; tortured in jail and released in 1931 on account of Gandhi-Irwin Pact;, in 1942; went underground and worked with Shrimati Aruna Asaf Ali and Shri Jugal Kishore Khanna; arrested on September 17, 1942 after fierce fighting at the point of pistol; dragged along with his wife his wife in Connaught Circus followed by thousands of people; in the scuffle, the Magistrate on Duty ordered to shoot him dead, escaped providentially; tried under various counts for about two years and acquitted on May 6, 1944.