For Global Peace with Social Justice in a Sustainable Environment

Rameshwardas Poddar and Mahatma Gandhi

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

E-mail- dr.yadav.yogendra@gandhifoundation.net;

dr.yogendragandhi@gmail.com

Mailing Address- C- 29, Swaraj Nagar, Panki, Kanpur- 208020, Uttar Pradesh, India

Rameshwardas Poddar and Mahatma Gandhi

Rameshwardas was a famous freedom fighter and an associate of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a devotee person and did experiment on Ramanama. Mahatma Gandhi guided him in it. You should repeat Ramanama in a detached spirit. You should not brood over your past sins but regard it as God’s grace that you are free from them now and implore Him to keep you away from them in future. You should engage yourself in some altruistic activity. I have no doubt that the work of skinning and tanning is religious. This work cannot be carried on at your place if you desire you can give some monetary help for cow-protection. Finally you should study the Ramayana and such other works. 1 A receipt has been sent to you for the amount which will be spent according to your instructions. Next time you want to send any money, please send it either by registered or insured packet. For your health, you should consult a specialist doctor or a vaid and the disease can most likely be cured if you follow his advice. Sprue is not an incurable disease. It is necessary to control your diet. Ramanama itself is an invaluable remedy for mental illness. You may find some difficulty in repeating that auspicious name but with constant and sincere efforts you will come to like it. We must not hanker after preyas but only mind our shreyas. And we should stick to it even though it may not be pleasant. There is no doubt that its ultimate outcome will certainly be very good. 2

You need not be sorry. Having done your duty to the best of your ability, no more is necessary. I have no faith in visiting Dwarka and other places, but it does not follow that none else may have such faith. There is nothing wrong in visiting such places of pilgrimage with a clear conscience. So I suggested that you should take your wife and others to Dwarkaji. The final place of pilgrimage is of course one’s own pure heart. Recitation of Ramanama is the only remedy for your mental agony. Whom may we regard as untouchables? It is very sinful to regard anyone as untouchable by birth. He who has faith in his heart and is pure in body what is the harm in his entering a temple? You should clear yourself of the blemish of untouchability. It is not proper for you to uphold untouchability. 3

I will get the Rs. 50. It is difficult to cure your physical ailment till your mental illness is cured. You might possibly benefit by living in a quiet place for some time. And of course there is Ramanama. 4 When I advise you to live in “solitude” I mean that you should live away from your wife. It would do you good to go to Nasik and retire to a secluded spot. After winter sets in, you can stay even in the Ashram. 5 As for God, He is always testing us. What does it matter if a whole lifetime is spent in repeating Ramanama? We should repeat Ramanama with faith that it is the best remedy. 6 There are about 2,500 subscribers of Hindi Navajivan. For it to become self-supporting 500 more will be required. I do not know exactly how many of them may be from Maharashtra. It would not help to increase the subscription to Rs. 2. You must not worry. Repeat Ramanama every day. 7 I shall select the books. It is only through patience and contentment that man can be cured of his restlessness. 8

I got Rs. 50. You have done nothing wrong by not coming to Wardha. Even if you have done something wrong, you have made up for it by sending the money. I am passing the money to Amritlalji. Repeat Ramanama. 9 The garland that you got was given to me for khadi work; so the price you paid for it would be utilized for the same cause. For cow-protection too we should do only what is right, and now I shall need quite a lot for it since the tanning school has started functioning. But we must be patient. 10 I am steadily improving. There is no cause for worry. You did right in informing me of the death of Shankarrao’s son. I have sent a letter of consolation to him and his wife. What can I write to bring you peace of mind? Let us believe that the one aim of our life is to control our senses; it is the highest human achievement and therefore attainable with difficulty. By constant effort we can conquer our passions. You should be engaged in some noble work, mentally as well as physically. Only when the mind is uncontrolled does it fall a prey to passion. Why not make a painstaking study of the Gita? And why not learn Sanskrit to understand the original work? When you have not got to be at the shop or when you have to be there and have nothing to do, why not ply the charkha or the takli? Just as man cuts through solid mountains with persistent effort, so can he cut through? 11

Diligence should not be taken to mean working beyond one’s strength; it only means keeping the body and the mind constantly occupied with such work as they can normally cope with. An irregularity about bowel movement is hard to bear. There is no doubt fasting is the first remedy for it. But this treatment should be attempted only under the supervision of someone who knows about it. If you wish to be treated I shall see if I can send you to one or two friends who offer this treatment. You must not be lethargic about this matter. So write to me soon. 12 I am writing to Nanasaheb Deo. The venture just undertaken is highly commendable. Nanasaheb will write to me if any help from Vinoba or Kakasaheb is needed for this work. Keep Ramanama firm in your heart. 13 What can I write? Why do you think you are in hell? And why live there? Have faith that Ramanama is our only resort and that all impurities of the heart will be washed away by the grace of Rama. 14

I shall begin the return voyage tomorrow. Peace will certainly come to you by sincerely reciting Ramanama. 15 Your letters keep coming and every time I pray for your peace. You did well in sending some money for the memorial to Hakimji. By and by, if you make the effort, you will visualize truth and ahimsa. If your father-in-law is addicted to bhang, be kind to him, and if opportunity occurs, try to cure him of his depraved habits. In the present circumstances when the evil customs like child-marriage and so on are rampant, such unequal alliances are inevitable. Jamnalalji is absolutely right in advising you to go to Wardha and I also like the proposal to keep Babu at Wardha Ashram. 16 Certainly, do leave the boys at the Wardha School. They will be well looked after in the Ashram. Be at peace by imprinting Ramanama in your heart. I am keeping good health. 17 Jamnalalji has passed on your letter to me. What shall I write to you! Do not lose patience, be calm and do not insist on doing anything that is beyond your capacity. We still have a saintly man like Shankarrao, consult him and act or if you stay in Wardha do what Jajuji advises. 18

By now your wife must have fully recovered. There is only one way of attaining peace of mind to impress Ramanama upon the heart. 19 Have patience. Always remember Rama. He will remove all impurities. 20 Today I have been looking through all the old letters. I have found one of yours too. The only way to attain mental peace is to repeat Ramanama. 21 Let us not watch how others behave towards us. Let us watch how we behave towards others. 22 What has been said about that lady applies equally to the men. As for you, you must stop worrying and seek the support of Ramanama. All will be well. 23 Ramanama is a matter of faith not of the intellect. And if one thinks of discontinuing it if it fails to bring one peace, this is as good as losing one’s faith. Whether or not one gets peace from it, whether one feels happy or unhappy, one ought to keep up the repetition in the faith that Ramanama alone is real. One should never accept defeat. 24 You need not worry. I will now set the matter right. You have not violated truth in any way. I can be blamed for an oversight, though I do not know what mistake I made. I distinctly remember that I told Pyarelal or Kusumbehn what he should do. If either of them made a mistake, it should be regarded as mine. This is not formal justice but real justice. 25

If you stop worrying and go on doing your best, God is bound to be pleased with whatever you can do. And do not give up Ramanama in any circumstances. 26 You are serving to the best of your ability and that is enough. This will give you strength to do more. If you let Ramanama sink from the lips into the heart, your discontent will disappear. 27 As you have survived the snake-bite, God will certainly exact more service from you. What treatment did you have? Was the snake poisonous? God will give you peace. Be certain that Ramanama is the kalpadruma for us. 28 Do not take it so much to heart. Recite Ramanama and be cheerful. Bear whatever pain there is after taking the necessary treatment and do whatever service you can. No reason to worry if you cannot get up early in the morning. 29 Everything is possible with patience and effort. 30

I hope that you got my last letter which I wrote before you wrote yours and which I sent to you through the Ashram. Stick to the vow of spinning. Do not take any new vow until your mind has become firm. However, adhere with the utmost firmness to the vows which you have taken and maintained so far. Even a small vow becomes a rudder to the ship of one’s life, if one sticks to it in the face of all difficulties. It will be all right if you can win over your mother and sister-in-law with loving persuasion, otherwise you should patiently tolerate their opposition. They should not be forced against their wishes. It will be good if you send the boy to the Gurukul at Kangri. There he will learn Hindi, Sanskrit and English and almost everything else that they teach at a high school. If he is unwilling to go to the Gurukul, he may go to Santiniketan. In that case he should learn Bengali. If even that does not suit him, he may join the Kashi Vishwavidyalaya. He will not be able to study at home. Since you have withdrawn him from the high school there, it would not be proper to send him back to it. Nor would it be right to interrupt his studies. It would, therefore, be desirable to send him to one of the three places mentioned above. 31

The conclusion which you have drawn from my letter is correct. If, instead of attempting a big leap, we take small steps according to our capacity, our enthusiasm for the work will increase and with that our self-confidence. I am not worried about Jamnalalji’s loss of weight, as he otherwise keeps good health. And, as for Vinoba, let him refrain from milk and ghee so long as he can maintain his health and strength. I am satisfied with the message which he has sent. 32 I had also received your previous letters. You must have received my replies. Repeating Ramanama certainly does not mean repeating it mechanically with the lips. The preceptor of Ramanama believes that if a person repeats it mechanically but with faith, his faith itself will someday carry the name below the throat and right down to the heart. So long as this has not happened, one cannot have true peace. I know of no other remedy which could give you peace. You should cut down your intake of food as a medical necessity at least, and if even then you do not keep well you should try fasting, etc. I wrote a postcard to Pyarelal only a few days ago. 33

I forgot to send a reply to your letter with this week’s post. Do not yield to your ignorant love and every harm the good of Shriram. Go to Kashi or Kangri from time to time and see him. What other freedom will Vinoba permit you? Remember to what distant places Kamalnayan wanders one after another. Parents have no right whatever to harm the interests of their children. If you have heard more about Shivaji, Dattu, Shankarrao and others, let me know. The distinction that is made between a diet of cereals and pulses and a fruit diet has no value. From both physical and spiritual points of view, some of the cereals and pulses may be more wholesome than fruit in certain circumstances. Ground-nut, though it is classed as a fruit, is harmful in almost every disease, whereas rice, though a cereal, can always be eaten in a limited quantity. Anybody who wishes to control his senses may keep himself alive on rice, but groundnut is likely to be harmful to him. You may be sure that, for your health pendas will be extremely harmful Instead of eating a full meal in the evening consisting of rice, dal, rotlis and vegetables, if you take a little fruit, such as munakkas, oranges, pomegranates or any other juicy fruit, that will certainly be much lighter. Considered as foods, however, there is no difference between cereals and fruit. The distinction between them seems to have been invented by Vaishnavas who could not conquer the palate and wished to deceive themselves and God. Having been born in a Vaishnava family myself, I am writing this from experience. Just as we make a poultice of linseed or wheat flour, in the same manner earth should be moistened and wrapped in a piece of cloth in the form of a bandage, which should then be bound round the abdomen. This should always be done on an empty stomach binding the pack in this manner when the stomach is full does harm and causes stomachache. Meditating on the Gita means meditating on the meaning of any verse or phrase from it. 34

The adjective, dear’ must have been written by mistake. I cannot make one my ‘dear’. He who wishes to be my ‘dear’ ought to wear a chain on the neck. He cannot escape under the pretext of weakness. You appear to be pucca bania. You escape, (bringing) in the pretext of weakness wherever (possible). How can such (a man) become my ‘dear’? If the observance of the fast of the eleventh day is in name only, God and society may be humbly told that you have no strength to observe a fast. But you cannot fight shy of it thus. The few vows which may have been taken should be firmly adhered to and fully observed. From this, enormous strength may be created. Now Vinoli must be happy. Make arrangements about Ram as he says. A father should not pass on his own weakness to his descendants; He must safeguard their interest as far as he can. Dasharatha preferred death and allowed Rama to go out into the jungle. Remembering this, acquire strength. 35

It is good that you left Ram to take care of Vinoba. This is not separation but union. Do not remove him from there. If Gangadevi wants to learn English, she should certainly be permitted to do so. A husband has no right to hinder his wife’s progress. 36 I feel no pain while writing. I of course dictate to Mahadev when the letter is long. I do not remember your vows. If you also do not remember them, then forget about them and think as if you had taken none. Your mode of life is still not such that it can endure vows. But you should make resolutions slowly one after another. If you remember the vows and are observing them, please let me know what they are. Even if you do nothing else, keep repeating Ramanama. Some day you will suddenly see light in the midst of darkness. 37 You must not torment Gangadevi. She does not pester you or view all your actions with a hypercritical eye; so you must reciprocate her conduct. Rama is happy with Vinoba. Let him remain there. You ought to dance on hearing about my yajna and have more faith in Ramanama. Let us see what He does. The fast is not mined but that of Rama; the responsibility is His, not mine. If it is unfruitful He will be blamed, not I, and if fruitful He not being concerned with praises, I, a beggar at his door, will accept it. 38

There can be no doubt at all that Ramanama is the most effective remedy for you, me and everybody else who has the faith. It is not for the blameless and the healthy, but for people like us who are sinful and full of disease. We should, therefore, go on repeating it with unwavering faith whether or not we see any result. 39 Ganga has certainly committed a grave lapse but she repents of it now. One who repents deserves to be forgiven. Do not say a word [of reproach] to Ganga; receive her with love. The ornaments have to be brought back, that she will do. You can send her back afterwards. Remain calm, chant Ramanama. We are all prone to errors but those who confess theirs are blessed. Let us all wish that Ganga’s repentance proves sincere. 40

You are in Jamnalalji’s custody and should remain so and do as he bids. The kandora can be sent by post or with someone who happens to go there. 41 We have no right to judge anyone a sinner as we are all full of imperfections. We have no reason or means to judge whether those we regard as greater sinners than ourselves are truly so. A person stealing a mere pice can be a greater sinner than a person indulging in sexual immorality. Possibly the thief committed a deliberate theft while the licentious person put up great but unsuccessful resistance against the temptation. Who can know of his good efforts? God alone knows the secrets of the human heart. Thus we must not make comparative reckoning of others’ sins but only increase the spirit of forgiveness. This is one of the aims of the doctrine of ahimsa. 41

I want Parnerkar to visit the Delhi and Pilani dairies. He will, of course, make arrangements about Dhulia before leaving. Anyway, there the work is already well organized. After all we want to serve the cow; if we could do it better by Parnerkar’s going to Delhi and Pilani, it becomes our dharma to let him go. You may, therefore, release him. The rest he will explain to you. 43 I like the scheme sent by Parnerkar for the Goseva section at the Exhibition. I think it would be proper for you to shoulder its expense around Rs. 1,300 to Rs. 1,500 if it is not too much for you. Not more than Rs. 5,000 is to be taken from the Congress Committee for the entire exhibition. 44

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