Bajaj Family and Mahatma Gandhi, Part- VI

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

[e-mail]; [e-mail]

 

 

Bajaj Family and Mahatma Gandhi, Part- VI

 

 

Bajaj family was family of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the head member of that family. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In Seth Jamnalal Bajaj, death has taken a mighty man. Whenever I wrote of wealthy men becoming trustees of their wealth for the common good I always had this merchant prince principally in mind. If his trusteeship did not reach the ideal, the fault was not his. I deliberately restrained him. I did not want him in his enthusiasm to take a single step which in his cool moments he might regret. His simplicity was all his own. Every house he built for himself became a dharmashala. His contribution as a satyagrahi was of the highest order. In political discussions he held his own. His judgments were sound. As an act of renunciation his last was the crown of all. He wanted to take up a constructive activity to which he could devote the rest of his life and in which he could use all his abilities. This was the preservation of the cattle wealth of India personified in the cow. He threw himself into the work with a single-mindedness and zeal I had never seen surpassed. His generosity knew no distinction of race, creed or colour. He wanted to perform a rare thing for a busy man. He wanted to control his thoughts so as to prevent a single intruder from coming in. The world is poorer for his death. The country has lost one of the bravest of its servants. Janakidevi, the widow, has decided to take up the work to which he had dedicated himself. She has divested herself of all her personal property valued at about two and a half lacks. May God enable her to fulfil the trust she has undertaken.”323

 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “To Kamalnayan Bajaj, the eldest son of Jamnalal Bajaj, Gandhiji said: According to Hinduism the eldest son like the other sons does inherit the father’s wealth but along with it he also becomes the trustee of the family’s traditions and his father’s ethics and principles. Hence I would say to you that if you are already engaged in business, continue to do so; earn wealth if you want, but like Jamnalalji all your earnings should be fair earnings. Again, bear in mind that for the good of the people you too have to be a trustee of your wealth. You shall spend what you earn not for your own self but to serve the people. Only then will your trusteeship have meaning. Then explaining things to the younger brother, Ramakrishna, he said: Now, I expect you to dedicate your whole life to service and completing whatever work Jamnalal left incomplete. But I don’t want to compel you to do it. Pledge yourself to it, if you have the strength. Remember God always grants us the strength to carry out all our pious vows. And there will be no harm even if we do not succeed. According to the Gita even one who has fallen from yoga does not meet with a sad end. Then he spoke to Jamnalalji’s brother’s son, Radhakrishna: You very well know the vow that Janakidevi has taken. I think if she comes by a right adviser, as Queen Victoria had in Melbourne, she is sure to add prestige to the Presidentship of the Goseva Sangh. She is a daughter to Mother Cow; she can therefore render the best service to her own ‘mother’. I don’t want to lay greater burden on her in her present failing health. But I know the strength born of resolve makes the body of an ‘incarnation of sacrifice’ strong as the thunderbolt. You will remember that after all the responsibilities are shared what remains shall rest on your shoulders. Finally, talking to Jamnalalji’s daughters1 Gandhiji said: You have heard all that I have just spoken to Kamalnayan and Ramakrishna and the others. Remember you too have to do likewise. I shall expect from you too sacrifice according to your own strength. Never forget, whatever Jamnalalji had earned he had surrendered to Lord Krishna. If you have any share from it know that you have it subject to the conditions of trusteeship. It is not for your personal comforts and luxuries but only so that you too like Jamnalalji should act as its trustees.”324

 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Twenty-two years ago a young man of thirty came to me and said, “I want to ask something of you.” “Ask, and it shall be given, if it is at all within my power to give,” I replied with some surprise. “Regard me as your son Devdas,” the young man said. “Agreed,” I replied. “But what have you asked of me? You are the giver, I am the gainer.” The young man was no other than Jamnalal Bajaj. People know something of what this sacrament meant. But few know the extent of the part played by the self-adopted son. Never before, I can say, was a mortal blessed with a ‘son’ like him. Of course I have many sons and daughters in the sense that they do some of my work. But Jamnalalji surrendered himself and his without reservation. There is hardly any activity of mine in which I did not receive his full-hearted cooperation and in which it did not prove to be of the greatest value. He was gifted with a quick intelligence. He was a merchant prince. He placed at my disposal his ample possessions. He was constantly on the vigil and looked after my work, my comforts, my health and my finances. He would also bring up the workers to me. Where am I to get another son like him now? The day he died he and Janakidevi were to come to me. We had to decide a number of things. But God willed it otherwise and he died almost at the very hour he should have been with me. The death of such a son is a stunning blow to the father. Never before have I felt so forlorn except when Maganlal was snatched from me fourteen years ago1. But I had no doubt then, as I have none now, that a calamity of that kind is a blessing in disguise. God wants to try me through and through. I live in the faith that He ill give me the strength too to pass through the ordeal.”325

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The more I think the more I am convinced that there was no activity for the good of the nation with which Jamnalalji was not connected, and therefore he was sure to have been associated with the Sasta Sahitya Mandal1. His life was a living literature.”326 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is good that the ashes have been consigned to the Ganga. Mother will now have peace of mind. Stay in Hardwar as long as you wish. There is no harm in sending Madan here. If he wants to come, he may.”327 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It is possible that those who have been serving or nursing me in the Ashram or those who were attending on me during my previous fasts may want to stay with me to take part in the nursing. If they should so wish, they should be permitted. I see difficulty in the way of making public announcement on this point. If my proposal commends itself to the Government, I suggest their addressing Shrimati Janaki Devi, the widow of the late Seth Jamnalal Bajaj telling her that if anyone desires during my fast to take part in serving me, he would be permitted to do so on her submitting their names to the Government. She knows all those who have served me before.”328

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “If God is kind, I shall arrive there on the 3rd just to see how you are doing. I said “kind” through ignorance. God is always kind. If we do not recognize that kindness, that is our stupidity. We are, however, all subject to His Will, whether willingly or unwillingly. If, therefore, it is His Will, we shall meet on the 3rd. I am glad that Madalasa and Om will be there. I will, of course, miss Savitri4. About Kamala1 I needn’t say anything. She is a very busy woman. Now, if I mention more names, I will have to take another slip of paper and, moreover, where is the time.”329 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I have read your letter. We shall not do it at the time announced; we shall do it in the Ashram. I shall receive the purse at 2 o’clock. We cannot ask for regular permission. No harm will come to those who join. Sometimes it benefits to be ignorant of the law. This is one such instance. Please take things easy. It will be enough if the visiting friends are properly accommodated. All else is in God’s hands.”330

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “At last you have come. You write about Dr. Jussawala. I am glad to learn that. You have enough money for it. By all means put yourself under Jussawala’s treatment in Bombay and get well. I follow your argument. We want your health to improve, no matter whether in Bombay or Poona. I shall be happy if you write to me regularly. I am well.”331 Mahatma Gandhi wrote “Read the enclosed and act upon it. Already there has been inordinate delay. Return the paper to me after you have acted on it. I have to send a reply.”332 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Occasionally I read the letters you write to your mother. I keep getting news of your progress. It pleases me. Today I realized that I too could write to you. So I am writing. I learn from your letter that you have asked for underwear. I suggest you give up the use of underwear. We do not require it in our climate. But of course if you have got used to it and cannot do without it you may continue with it. You do see that it is our duty to minimize our expenses voluntarily and raise our life to the utmost. Develop yourself in every way.”333

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I remember Mother had given me Varma’s letter. Now I can’t find it. Perhaps I left it behind in Sevagram. Do you remember what it was about? Come whenever you and Satyanarayan want to. I am getting along well. The treatment has not begun yet.”334 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am not enthused by your or anyone else’s release. How is Ramakrishna? Write to me in detail. I know your release has made some people happy.”335 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Now Ramakrishna has been released, and Radhakrishna too. Are you and grandmother happy now? I will see now how you attend to the go-seva work.”336 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I do not rejoice when anybody is released. But I did on your release. For you it has been nothing but a gain. Jail has benefited you the most. Outside you could hardly have done the reading that you did in jail? My joy is on account of Janakibehn and your grandmother who were pining for you and Radhakrishna. Write to me and give me all details in a clear hand.”337

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Your joy must have added a cubit to your stature. You will have had my telegram. Now you must give up all attachments and look after Jamnalal’s work of cow-protection. You must become an expert in that.”338 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Since you will certainly not be back before I leave Sevagram, I am writing you this letter. You should know that the Nagpur Bank was Jamanalal’s, which he had started for the service of the people. The idea was, and ought to be even now, that it should serve as a savings bank for the poor. The bank, therefore, must never crash. In other words, the Nagpur Bank should crash only when the Bank of England or the Imperial Bank does or when there is some great natural calamity. That is, it must have the reputation that it will be the last not the first to crash. That you are Jamnalal’s heir really means that you are heir to that reputation, and it was because of this belief of mine that I advised the Jallianwala Trust to let its funds remain in the Nagpur Bank and to try to transfer still more deposits to it. I have given the same advice to Kumarappa, namely, that he should deposit the Village Industries Association’s funds in that Bank. That confidence must not prove to have been misplaced. But the moment I alighted at the railway station yesterday Bharatan told me quite the opposite. He of course spoke gently and since I am the President of the Association, asked for my opinion. Kumarappa had written to me and asked me whether he should deposit the Village Industries funds in the Bank. Vaikunthbhai had advised in favour of it and, therefore, Kumarappa had assumed that I also would agree. But I expressed doubt and did not give my consent. Kumarappa, however, had already deposited the money. But now we must withdraw it. In that case we shall lose the interest. And what if, despite our readiness to lose the interest, we cannot withdraw it.

 So Bharatan asked my advice. Kumarappa is not here just now. But I told Bharatan that if the Bank people objected, we must put up a fight and insist on withdrawing the money, for otherwise I felt the money was insecure and it would be like killing a buffalo for a leather thong. I do not know even today what kind of an establishment the Bank is. I do have some vague idea about it, of course. But I generally dislike and distrust new banks. I would not, therefore, readily agree to deposit money in them. Then the question arose: if not in the . . . Bank, why should we keep the money in the Nagpur Bank? Is it also not a comparatively new bank? Comparatively yes. Bharatan then added that it was being rumored that the Nagpur Bank would close down in a month or two because it had incurred losses and it was feared that the deposits were not safe. He suggested, therefore, that it would be wise to withdraw the money in time. I did not believe the rumour and remained undisturbed in my mind, but I wanted to know what was at the back of the rumour. Radhakrishna was with me at the time. I asked him. He explained the position. I felt reassured and told Bharatan that we must deposit the money in the Nagpur Bank and nowhere else. However, I felt that I must inform you. Hence this letter. Think over this and be on your guard. It is no ordinary matter to be Jamnalal’s heir. You are his heir because you are his son. I am his heir because I am his adopted father. My interest is to see that his name remains untarnished. You and I shall have proved ourselves his true heirs only if the ventures he started are not merely kept up but become models of their kind. It may be that you will earn a lot of money and be reckoned a millionaire. But what is to happen to the philanthropic ventures and the Bank he started in the last years of his life? What is to happen to the cause of the poor cow, of khadi, of the Village Industries Association? Did I not settle at Wardha at his behest, ignoring Sardar’s anger born out of his love? He could have easily secured for me ten orchards against one here, but he could not find for me a Jamnalal there and, therefore, I let go the ten orchards. And now, I do not wish even to feel that I have lost Jamnalal. This rests entirely in your hands, in Radhakrishna’s and Janakidevi’s. Janakidevi, however, is uneducated and the hope of her shaping up which I had cherished has dried up after Jamnalal’s passing away.

 I therefore cannot explain to her the position about the Bank and have not even tried. Radhakrishna is very clever. He has practical sense but cannot be said to be educated. You have been to England and have, besides, made some mark as a business man. As for self-confidence, you have more of it than is good for you. Be that as it may, as heir to Jamnalal and head of the family it is to you that I have to look up. I, therefore, advise you to do the best you can to bring glory to your father’s name as a philanthropist. If you think it beyond your capacity, be humble and caution me in time. Not all sons can or do follow in the footsteps of their benevolent fathers. If, therefore, you also fail to do so, nobody can point a finger at you. And in any case who am I to do so? But as a grandfather I should at least advise you and caution you. Having done so, I would quietly accept what you do. I think I have said enough. Ponder over it carefully and let me know, at any rate, whether the advice I have given to Bharatan is correct or not.”339

 

 

 

 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “It was good that I got your telegram. I was a bit worried. You must have got Sushila’s wire and letter. I hope you remember about the cow. You are coming to Madras, aren’t you?”340

“The credit for Janakimai’s recovery goes to you. Tell her now that she should not spoil her health again by eating indiscriminately.”341 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “The representation by the workers of the firm of Mukund has just reached my hands. I am sending it to you. Is there any truth in it? They have also sent me a wire. I have paid no attention to it. How can I study all this? I don’ have the time either. But is there any truth in what they say in the notice? Janakibehn should now be perfectly all right. It seems this task has been well accomplished.”342 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I had Sir Datar Singhji‘s article1 on dual-purpose cows revised. As it is now I do not find any cause for complaint. I have even sent the thing for printing. If in some places they have single-purpose cows I see no harm in it. Think over what I have written to Rishabhdas. I have written something to this effect to Parnerkar also; see that. Dadaji is still going strong. Can Anasuya help you in cow protection work or is it that you cannot spare her from household work?”343

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You are going west. I do not quite see its benefit. But when a strong wind is blowing who can remain unaffected? Think what you will be taking from here and what you will be bringing from there. The student days are for the development of thought.”344 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I learn from Prabhudayal’s diary that in Nalwadi, the place from which milk is distributed is very dirty. How far is the complaint true? If there is truth in it, study the rules of dairy hygiene and follow them. Our Goseva must be ideal.”345 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You have come back after gaining a lot of experience. Now give its benefit to the country and also to your own business. We shall meet if I can free myself from here. There is no use coming here. I do not want to send for even Mataji1. I may send for her only when I emerge from darkness into light. I trust she is all right, as also Savitri.”346

 

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “When everything is so clear cut, it would be quite right to follow Kamalnayan’s suggestion. You must understand that I really have no time.”347 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “I am entrapped here. Well, we have to live as God wills. I got your letter regarding the goshala. I have only to say that you must keep Sevagram supplied with milk. It is impossible for me to go into details. I am writing under great pressure of work.”348 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You have given Rs. 1,000 in connection with the Dharmanand Kosambi Memorial but a sum of Rs. 25,000 is required to run it properly. You should collect the amount. Write to me if you can do it. Father1 had undertaken to shoulder all the responsibility for the Hindustani Prachar Sabha. That too you ought to take up. Talk it over with Kakasaheb and then write to me.”349 Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Kamalnayan told me that you have had a baby and that you had afterwards developed a fever. I hope by now it is gone and you are both well.”350

 

 

References:

 

323. Harijan, 15-2-1942

324. Harijan Sevak, 22-2-1942

325. Harijan Sevak, 22-2-1942

326. Panchven Putrako Bapuke Ashirvad, p. 262

327. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, June 15, 1942

328. VOL. 83 : 7 JUNE, 1942 - 26 JANUARY, 1944 288

329. LETTER TO JANAKIDEVI BAJAJ, July 31, 1944

330. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, September 26, 1944

331. LETTER TO RUKMINI BAJAJ, January 31, 1945

332. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, February 10, 1945

333. LETTER TO RAMKRISHNA BAJAJ, March 23, 1945

334. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, April 29, 1945

335. LETTER TO RADHAKRISHNA BAJAJ, July 9, 1945

336. LETTER TO JANAKI DEVI BAJAJ, July 10, 1945

337. LETTER TO RAMAKRISHNA BAJAJ, July 10, 1945

338. LETTER TO JANAKIDEVI BAJAJ, November 4, 1945

339. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, November 22, 1945

340. LETTER TO JANAKIDEVI BAJAJ, December 17, 1 1945

341. NOTE TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, May 24, 1946

342. LETTER TO KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, June 5, 1946

343. LETTER TO RADHAKRISHNA BAJAJ, June 5, 1946

344. LETTER TO RAMKRISHNA BAJAJ, August 16, 1946

345. LETTER TO RADHAKRISHNA BAJAJ, August 19, 1946

346. LETTER TO RAMAKRISHNA BAJAJ, December 1, 1946

347. LETTER TORADHAKRISHNA BAJAJ, July 10, 1947

348. LETTER TO RADHAKRISHNA BAJAJ, August 13, 1947

349. LETTER TOKAMALNAYAN BAJAJ, September 24, 1947

350. LETTER TO SAVITRI BAJAJ, January 3, 1948