Gurudev continued, "In practical life you are
to be taught four lessons of wisdom, honesty, responsibility and courage. These
help in the inner growth of the soul and develop brilliance of intellect. With
a view to developing the talents required for execution of your future plans of
action and also to hone up the instruments needed for the purpose, your
participation in India's freedom struggle is essential."
It is not pertinent to discuss here as to what I
did for the country, how much I suffered and how I discharged the duties and
responsibilities which were entrusted to me. Anybody interested to know about
it may read the book 'Freedom Fighters of Agra Division' published by the
Information Department of the Uttar Pradesh Government. In those days I was
known by the name of Sriram Matta. The important thing that needs to be
understood is the purpose underlying this particular direction of Gurudev.
During those ten years of my active participation
in the freedom struggle, I interacted with people of different nature in and
outside the jail. In those days mass awakening was at its highest peak. I came
in contact with several brave, courageous persons with firm determination and I
learnt many useful lessons from them. It took me less than a couple of years to
learn the art of winning over supporters, coworkers and appreciators for the
stupendous task of revolutionary moral reawakening that was the primary aim and
mission of my life. It would not have been possible for me to learn these
lessons even by touring the country extensively on my own. Family attachments,
feelings of mine and thine were got rid of and I lived a happy life even in
adverse circumstances. This created self-confidence. The most important gain
was that I developed the attitude of a volunteer, which has helped me to remain
humble even at this late stage of my life. The suspense as to why I was
directed to perform Mahapurascarans in two phases was thus removed by my
experiences of the freedom struggle.
The Indian National Congress was established about
a century back but the Congress in which we worked was altogether different
from what it is now and I had peculiar experiences while working in it.
Effortlessly, I got an opportunity to establish contacts with several eminent
persons. O always conducted myself as a disciplined volunteer. So, whenever any
volunteer was needed to serve eminent leaders, I used to be pushed forward in
view of my young age. From these contacts, I imbibed many virtues and also got
the opportunities of living with Gandhiji in Sabarmati Asram and with Vinobaji
in Pavnar Asram,. Others went to these great personages for their darsan but to
me the insights provided by these contacts proved to be celestial boons.
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