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स्मृति-मंजूषा For about fifteen years thereafter, there was no event of importance that had any influence on my mind. I used to read about Shantisagar Maharaj and hear about him from others.
The year 1944 proved to be most eventful. I was then working as Chairman of the Debt Adjustment Board at Pandharpur. To my great consternation, I was informed by a friend that a criminal case was then pending in the Court of the First Class Magistrate at Pandharpur against Shantisagar Maharaj. It was in connection with some rioting that had taken place at Natepute when Shantisagar Maharaj had visited that place. A private person had filed a complaint against six or seven persons including the Maharaj. By the time I was posted to Pandharpur, all other persons had been discharged. The summons could not be served on the Maharaj. He was moving in between the Princely States of Sangli, Miraj and Budhagaon. The devotees, I was told, used to have the summons returned with some endorsement of non-service. I could imagine then that Shantisagar Maharaj must have had many pangs due to his movements being fettered for fear of Court Case. Except one or two local men, none seemed to be worried about the case. I felt that as a man of law, it was my duty to consider what was the law on the point at issue and how I could secure him his freedom. The complainant was not interested in prosecuting the saint. He had lost all interest after the discharge of other accused. He was not taking steps to furnish the correct address of the saint. Under the circumstances, the question was whether a complaint could be dismissed for default of the complainant. I found some decisions in support of the proposition and had them placed before the Magistrate through a lawyer. The complaint was dismissed for nonprosecution. The news was conveyed to the saint, who, I was told, felt extreemly happy aud blessed me for my humble work. He started immediately for Kunthalagiri. The route lay through Pandharpur.
He was to arrive at Pandharpur one evening. I went with the local gentry to receive him at a distance of two or three miles from the town. On seeing me, Shantisagar Maharaj blessed me with a joyful smile. I fell at his feet and he spoke to me in endearing terms. What he said to me, “I am happy to see you. Our people should become educated and get into high offices. There should be young men like you who hold
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