The few stories we have
uploaded on this page are from the relatives of Maharajji, devotees who
had lived with him and villagers who knew him as a friend and a great
human being. They requested to be anonymous and so we havent put in
their names. Other experiences from devotees who give their names make
it to our online magazine 'Me, Myself and Maharajji'. Read on ....
Attempt at removing
caste discrimination
There was lot
of caste division in the village. The division still exists in today's
independent India where lower castes are still subdued by the higher
castes. Earlier the marriage processions of scheduled castes (the lower
castes) were not allowed to pass in front of houses belonging to higher
castes. In 1940 itself, Maharajji ensured that the wrong practice was
undone and SC's could take out marriage processions in front of
Brahmin's (the highest caste among Hindus) in the village. He employed
scheduled castes (who were considered untouchables in those times) for
his household jobs and for looking after affairs of his house. Thus
ensuring that SC's led a dignified life and were not suppressed. And he
did this at a time when the caste divide was very wide and he was widely
criticised for this.
Opposed his family in
favour of a servant
Once Nathu, a
water carrier (Dhimar by caste) of the village was being badly beaten up
by the Brahmins belonging to same family as that of Maharajji. Maharajji
stood up for this poor man against his family members. The family
members developed enemity with him for this reason which continued for a
long time. He stood up for a poor man against family members for a just
cause. This man is still alive and stays in the village (Akbarpur) as a
dignified man.
After India's
independence, when Gram Panchayat (Village Municipal Council) system was
introduced, Maharajji was elected Pradhan (leader of Panchayat) without
any opposition. He continued to hold this post without any opposition
till 1972 when he decided to quit in favour of a disabled scheduled
caste person. He also ensured that this person was elected unopposed in
his place. Thus once again, he demonstrated his commitment for the
upliftment of the underprivileged and weaker sections of the society.
Steps for development
of the village
He got a well
dug in the orchard owned by his family and got a water point (Pyau)
constructed so that everyone had access to drinking water. This water
point is still providing service to all even today which is looked after
by members of his family. He also got a Dak Bangalia (hut) constructed
for the villagers where people could sit on a platform below a Neem Tree
and relax in the evenings. It has now been converted to a school for the
poor children in the village. Maharajji's teaching of 'Love all, Serve
all and Feed all' is clearly seen in his life as a householder where he
practiced what he preached.
Humility above everything
There was a sadhu
who taught yoga (seeti waale baba) who had heard that Maharajji was
a great saint. He wanted to test Maharajji. So he went to Maharajji's
house in the village and asked for food. Maharajji served rotis (chappatis)
but the sadhu threw them into the fire. He got up and started going.
Maharajji then requested him to wait and got pooris and boora for
him. Seeing the great man's humility, the sadhu was really moved
and fell in to Maharajji's feet.
Love
and Respect Everyone
One fine day when
Maharajji was sitting in his house, it started raining. A member
of the family called out (and shouted) to a servant and asked the
servantto bring inside a quilt which had been lying in the sun and
was now getting wet. Maharajji felt bad and said to that member of
the family, "There is a certain 'Dada' who lives in Allahabad.
He loves his servants so much that when it is very cold in the winters
he eats in 'pattals' (disposable plates made out of leaves) so that
his servants do not have to wash utensils in the cold."
The
Revolutionary Brahmin
-
There was
a poor man in the village of Akbarpur who had been unable to appease
the Brahmins in some religious ritual he had performed. The Brahmins
thus declared that henceforth none of them would eat in his house
after a 'katha' (a religious act after which it was customary to
feed Brahmins). One fine day this poor man's mother organised a
katha but no Brahmin came to her house. Maharajji was passing by
and saw the old lady crying. When he asked her the reason, she
said, "Chacha, katha ki thi, brahman chainye jimave koon" (I had
organised a katha and now I am looking for Brahmins to feed). Maharajji
asked if just one Brahmin would do. The lady became delighted,
fed Maharajji and thus completed her religious rituals. (After
this incident Maharajji was deeply criticised by the other Brahmins
of the village)
