Memoirs of A Great Soul

Preface From the biography of any great person the reader can learn a lot of things useful in life. Unless there is something unique in a person a biography is generally not written. As the Divine prompting had its way, a humble attempt was made two years ago to jot down the story of Shri C.M. Malik. And as the story went on, a great interest was generated to narrate briefly all important events in his life which are quite educative and sometimes an eye-opener for people in different walks of life - students, administrators, educationists, spiritual sadhaks, and so on and so forth. With 54 effective sittings with Shri Malik plus one separate interview with Dr.(Mrs.) Malik, the biography of this great life was completed and fortunately enough the script was approved by Shri Malik himself just two months before his passing away. I hope, by running through his life the readers would be enlightened by his great qualities and his practical and positive approach towards the problems that people generally face.

I am grateful to all my well-wishers who lent their unstinted support for bringing the eventful life of Shri Malik in a book form for the benefit of all those who care to read it.

Foreword It is indeed my privilege to write the Foreword to the biography of Shri C.M. Malik. Shri E.V.N. Chari, an expert Reporter of Parliamentary proceedings and a free lance after his retirement as Chief Parliamentary Reporter, did a very good and commendable job for two years writing an extensive biographical sketch of Shri Malik. He interviewed Shri Malik several times and gathered all facts regarding his genealogy and his administrative, personal and spiritual experiences. It is god-sent and divine inspiration on account of which Shri Chari committed to this great work. Of course both he and Shri Malik sincerely committed to the work of the Ramakrishna Mission for long; thereby they knew many stalwart Swamis of the hallowed Order.

Revered Swami Gokulanandaji aptly described that Shri• Malik had always put up a smiling face. My own experience during my close association with Shri Chander Mani Malik amply testifies this fact Revered Swami Jitatmanandaji also expressed in a poetic way the inner core of Shri Malik saying, "The ochre entered his soul".

I have had several unforgettable experiences with Chander Mani ji. He was spick-and-span in his attire and demeanor with regard to his relationship with friends. It is no exaggeration to say in the phraseology of Bhartrihari, the great poet of Southern India, that Chander Mani ji was a 'Lion' so far as his honesty is concerned. Just as the Lion does not eat grass under any circumstances, Shri Chander Mani Malik never compromised and sacrificed honesty under any circumstances.

I now suffer from a great obsession. I happened to be in Delhi visiting him during his last critical moments and he requested me to be at his bedside just for one day. I tried my best to do so, but as there was no seat available in the aircraft of any Airlines the next day, I had to leave Delhi on that day itself and thus my dearest Chander Mani's solicitation could not be fulfilled and he passed away on that very day after I left. This remains a painful memory even today.

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