Sunset at Morning – Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Sunset at Morning – Mahatma Gandhi

 

There have been letters and telegrams of condolence on the death of my grandson Rasik. Instead of replying individually I have thought it proper to express my gratitude to all of them through Young India and Navajivan. Those who have sent messages will forgive me for not being able to reply to them individually. It was not my intention to notice this death, but as the news appeared in the newspapers and people have written to me, it seems proper for me to take some note of it. As for me, the death of friends and relatives does not hurt as much as it used to. All religious forbid fear of death or grief over death. Yet we are afraid of death and grieve over the death of a dear one. And if someone dies in the prime of youth, there is greater grief. Truly speaking, death is God’s eternal blessing. The body which is used up falls and the bird within flies away. So long as the bird does not die, the question of grief does not arise. When despite this there is grief on the death of a relative, it only shows our selfishness and delusion. For the past many years, I have been trying to rid myself of this delusion.

Hence the shock on hearing news of Rasik’s death was not severe. What shock there was, was due to selfishness. Rasik was seventeen years of age. He had been under my care from childhood and, like other boys, he was being given training in national service. He was an active, clever and bright boy. He was sturdy and brave. He was always first in taking up work that called for courage. During the past one year his boisterousness was turning into strength. He was a student of the Gita. He was an expert carder and spinner. Once or twice he took to spinning continuously for twenty-four hours and did it successfully. My youngest son Devdas is working at the Jamia Millia in Delhi. He teaches spinning and Hindi to the students there. About four months back, he had asked for the services of Rasik and another grandson of mine, Navin, to teach carpentry and weaving. Both Rasik and Navin had gone to Delhi and were doing good work there. Earlier, because of his keen desire to serve, Rasik had gone to Bardoli. He became popular wherever he went. The selfish thought that providence took away such a promising worker made me grieve; but then I thought that Providence is always just and is therefore kind and it would get work out of Rasik. By this faith I have been consoled. After going to Delhi, Rasik turned a devotee. When I was on my way back via Delhi after the Congress session, Rasik had told me that he had entered his seventeenth year.

At that time, like many other boys, he took certain vows: first to eat only three things at a meal; secondly, to have only three meals a day, and thirdly, to complete within two years the study of the Ramayana with commentary. Knowing his restless temperament, I had warned him. But he told me that he found nothing difficult in this and that he liked to read the Ramayana. I was pleased. With reference to these vows, Rasik wrote to me the following letter, on the 18th of January. On the 8th of February he passed away. Very few get the care that Rasik received. He was a dear nephew and student of Devdas and had received his matchless service. Dr. Ansari was not merely his physician; he was like a father to him. Dr. Sharma was always at his beck and call. Two nurses were appointed by the doctors to nurse him. Muslim friends from the Jamia left nothing to be desired so far as nursing him was concerned. The Hindus who learnt of his illness were at his service, day and night. I am indebted to all of them.

Rasik had realized at such an early age the value of service and duty and engrossed himself in it; taken difficult vows, regarded them as easy to fulfil and read the Gita with enthusiasm having vowed to finish study of the Ramayana in two years’ time. He met death while cherishing such noble sentiments and receiving unsurpassed care. Everyone will envy such a death. And if a grandfather like me feels grieved at this, it is purely selfishness and infatuation.

Reference:

Navajivan, 24-2-1929