24 Dec Destiny’s Duel Deal
Major events of our lives in this world market of activities are inexorably predestined. None can circumvent them. Our day to day experiences compel us to believe that we have to passively submit to the deals of fate.
Here’s a glaring case in support of the above truth.
Once I was camping at the place of one Seth Prabhuji-a prominent businessman of Calcutta. One evening I went out with him for a drive. The car failed on our way back. We hailed a taxi to tow us home. A street boy who picked up our call ran to the farther taxi stand and brought us a cab. The boy was tipped and we returned home.
Some days later, we went out for a walk and while we were returning, we spotted that same little boy tending an old infirm beggar who was lying on a foot-path. My host recognised the boy at once and wanting to know who the old man was, questioned the boy. The lad in rags told us that he knew nothing about the old man and that he was trying to do what little he could for that neglected and suffering beggar. From the then condition of the beggar we knew that he wouldn’t pull on long.
My friend gave few rupees to the boy asking him to get for the old man something to drink or eat.
Few days thereafter, when we were again walking back home after a brief stroll, that very boy came running to us. He reported to us about the death of that old beggar and about the disposal of his dead body which was removed by the municipality. Then, the boy pulled out Re. 1.25 and placing it in the hands of my friend said that happened to be the balance from Rs. 3/- that was given to him for providing eatables to the dead man.
The young boy’s ways seemed to have impressed my host who asked the boy some personal questions about him. Replying, the boy said “I come from a family of cobblers. My late father was working as a railway porter in Howrah station. He was murdered by my mother’s paramour. My mother has since run away with someone else leaving me to the streets. From, then, I am doing odd little jobs for a living.
Sethji asked the boy if he would like to stay with him. The boy’s silent countenance conveyed convincing agreement. We brought him home. Seth Prabhuji directed his driver to take the boy and get him a pair of good clothes after a clean hair-cut and a cleansing bath.
When the boy was brought back well groomed, we had before us a charming little lad of graceful form. With black curly hair, a broad, high fore-head, round and wide sparkling eyes, Grecian nose from forehead to nose – tip, large nostrils, well moulded chin, slopy jaw-line, triple dimpled cheeks, a spherical face and a shapely well-closed mouth and lips, he showed all the essential physiognomical signs which go to make one who would love nice living, persevere, be loving, and push his way through to success in all walks of life.
Taking the boy by the hand, Sethji took him to the kitchen where his mother and wife were; and presenting that little boy before them said “here’s a God’s little child – we needn’t interest ourselves over the details of his parentage etc., His tender age and present circumstances demand loveful care and help and something within me compellingly commands me to bring up the boy along with Pramodh our only son. From now on we shall call him Pavitrakumar. I take it that both of you welcome my decision.
Sethji’s mother was the first to speak out her heart. She said “while I am all appreciation for your this move, I cannot withhold myself from questioning you as to why you shouldn’t allow this type of sympathetic feelings to operate in favour of two young children of your late brother also. With their lone mother working as a waitress on a Rs. 80/- p.m., you can well imagine the pitiable state of the children. I still don’t understand the wisdom behind your wanting the effects of your past differences with your brother to cause sufferings even to your innocent nephews and sister-in-law. Granting you the freedom to forget their relationship with you, I don’t see why you shouldn’t view them also as God’s little children and extend to them the type of love and care you propose for this stranger boy. In this short and uncertain span of life, it is not good for us to be spiteful. All the good which you are doing and may hereafter do, can never be meaningful in the eyes of God-with your wanton neglect towards those who deserve it more by right of blood ties with you. So, my son, I ask of you to give your destitute nephews the care and love due to them. If you don’t feel like giving them shelter here under your roof, atleast give them some monetary aid to enable them to live a standard life of sufficiency.”
Sethji’s wife also pleaded with him in this very strain – supporting the arguments and suggestion of her mother-in-law.
Sethji countered, “You both misjudge me. All my offers of help – both direct and indirect have been turned down by my sister- in-law. I find it rather difficult to convince you both as to how much I feel for them. But then, the situation is such that none can compel or coax them into accepting any assistance from me or from others. What happens is, when people act under the strong duress and dictates of one’s destiny which holds out for them a certain degree of sufferings and privations as a result of their powerful karmas of the past, they generally spurn all offers of help. In the democratic set-up of nature’s orderly scheme of working, forceful imposition doesn’t prevail. Notwithstanding this subtle truth, I however, still keep myself renewing my endeavors from time to time to do something for them. I invite you both to dismiss all misgivings in this regard.
From that day, all the house-hold members of the sethji’s family took a loveful liking for Pavitrakumar and he was treated more as a family member than as a foundling. Sethji himself saw to it that the boy had no cause whatsoever for estrangement amidst them all. With the change of environment, the dormant niceties in the boy began to assert themselves and he came to be liked all the more – by one and all.
Sethji soon engaged a good tutor to teach the boys primary lessons. Pramodh and Pavitrakumar were both of even age and they diligently applied themselves to their studies. After few years, in the year 1949, they were admitted to a high-school of fine educating standard. That institute had on its staff persons who were imbued with a missionary zeal to teach and mould the students for a fine physical, mental and moral growth.
Sethji’s dynamic love for Sanskrit impelled him to personally coach the boys in the dying and neglected language of renowned richness. Sanskrit came to Pavitrakumar easily, while Pramodh who laboured hard couldn’t make a mark in it.
With the passage of years the boys passed out from the high-school and Pramodh who showed aptitude for general subjects joined the Arts College and Pavitrakumar who had developed interest for commerce joined the college of commerce. In due time, they passed out of the college with distinction.
After graduation, Sethji’s son Pramodh changed completely. He began to remain sullen and showed apathy for the luxurious living which his father’s wealthy position offered. Much against the will of his ambitious parents, he got married to one Anjanadevi, a deaf and dumb girl. Thereafter, severing all connections with his parents, he shifted to a village and took up teaching work there. By way of explanation to his father, he said, “father dear ! I consider myself very fortunate for being connected with you by birth and blood. I feel genuinely indebted both to you and my affectionate mother for the care cum comfort which I have enjoyed in your fold I quite realise how hurt you both must be feeling over my civil marriage, with Anjana. All that I can now say is, having understandingly done what I have, I feel, I shall be happy as any other married couple. Your goodness towards me can never be repaid in full even in several births. I now don’t wish to involve myself in further parental debts by accepting patrimony from you. You have sufficiently educated me and am now in a position to earn a living while life lasts for me. You must not misconstrue my steps as waning of affection for you all.
Trying to reason out with his son, Seth Prabhuji rejoined, “listen, son; your dispassionate outlook towards this fickle life is indeed praiseworthy. I and your mother have no grouse against your marriage with Anjana. What I particularly desire is that, the riches which nature has blessed rne with should be put to useful purposes. My plans are that we start an ultra – ideal educational institution, where destitute children could be housed and given free education with a view to improving their lot. Selfless and serviceable as you are, I want you to help me in the project. Though it wasn’t necessary for you to take up service, yet, your innate urge for a simple village life, you say, has prompted you to go to the village as a teacher. My case is that, by heading the institution which I have in mind to start, you will be able to serve a larger circle of people. View the whole thing from my line of thinking. “
Not budging from his earlier resolve, Pramodh added. “beloved father! I still feel that, young as I am, I must first direct my efforts towards achieving mental compunction and purity of consciousness. The onerous work of running institutions and serving the society etc., should be laid on the shoulders of those good old people who can mingle and at the same time remain single, that is, those who can, in true sense of detachment work for the welfare of others. So, I beseech you to release me for a life of religious retirement.”
Having failed to bring round Pramodh, Sethji naturally felt frustrated. Pramodh had to be left to himself.
The propensity to acquisitiveness is deep rooted in human-beings. We find people resorting to all types of shady designs to inherit and benefit from the properties of even outsiders. Viewing it this way, therefore, Pramodh’s giving the boots to the fortune which was his by birthright and that too while young, was something inconsistent with the common human nature.
Now we come to Pavitrakumar, Selhji’s adopted son. Money very often works like ‘OPEN SESAME’. Even though people were in the know that Pavitrakumar was a cobbler’s son, brought up in the traditional Brahmanical way in the family of Seth Prabhuji yet, because of his rich circumstances which offered a more secure life of affluence to the girl marrying him, even the orthodox families began to dog his heels, offering their daughters in marriage.
Seth Prabhuji selected one Savitri Devi, a Brahmin girl of a fine cultural get-up. Human dignity, which rests more on mental, moral and intellectual growth triumphed over the NONSENSICAL caste considerations and shri. Pavitrakumar was married to Savitri Devi. Their Excellencies the Governor of Bengal and Madras attended the ceremony.
Thereafter, Pavitrakumar and his wife began assisting Seth Prabhuji in his business. Under the able guidance of her suave-mannered husband, Savitri Devi didn’t take long to pick up the threads of healthy commerce. And by the dint of their genuine interest in the work, the young couple proved to be an asset to the expanding business of Seth Prabhuji.
Sethji passed away in 1964. His wife and mother have taken up residence in Brindavan, and are leading a devotional life there. Pavitrakumar visits his foster-mother and grandma now and then. He has since succeeded in persuading his foster-aunt to give up the job of waitress and stay with him. Her children are now enjoying partnership with Pavitrakumar who is now running the whole show. Seth Pavitrakumar has his doors ever open for shri and shrimati Pramodh also.
Consulting the ‘Surya Samhita’ one of the ancient treatises on advanced astrology, with a view to checking up the past link, if any, between Seth Prabhuji and Pavitrakumar and as also between Pramodh and Seth Prabhuji and Pramodh and Anjana Devi, the deaf and dumb girl, I came by the following interesting details :—
Pavitrakumar in his past life was a scholarly brahmin bachelor in the employ of a couple of states as a royal coach, training several princes for academic career abroad. He began investing his monies in the business of Seth Prabhuji who was a wholesale grain-merchant in his previous birth. He died a premature death and had no next of kin. An amount of Rs. 2,00,000/- was then due to Pavitrakumar by way of benefits over his investments. He came back in the present birth as an adopted son to Seth Prabhuji to realise his past dues. It is this ancient tie which brought about a phenomenal rise in the social status and a windfall of riches in the present life of the hero of our narration. There were equally powerful causes for his birth in the cobbler’s family and marriage with Savitri Devi. I have not recorded them as they are not very relevant for a place in these pages.
The reading in respect of Pramodh Kumar revealed that he was a fairly well-to-do farmer living in a village. He had business dealings with Seth Prabhuji who swindled him. So, he came as a son to Prabhuji and recovered his past losses. With nothing more due to him, he was urged from within to walk out of Sethji’s life. Anjana Devi was the girl, whom Pramodh betrayed by revoking his betrothal with her in the past life. He had to make good that unjust move by being drawn to marry her in the current birth.
Because of the eleventh hour rejection by Pramodh, no one else came forward to marry Anjana. She spent her unmarried life cursing her past unfaithful suitor and also evinced a singular interest to hear unpleasant things about him and his past wife. As a punishment for the wrongful and base usage of her tongue and ears in the past, nature punished her to be deaf and dumb in the present birth.
When dug deep, destiny’s this dual deal stands squarely explained thus.
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