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The Jaina Antiquary
(Vol. XVII he had requisitioned the services of a high class Jain Sadhu named Varni Nemisagarji, who remained with him all the twenty four hours reciting holy books. His disease grew worse but his mind drew nearer to extra-mundane things. He was taken to Calcutta for operation. No doubt the doctors were not very hopeful of recovery but unlike an ordinary wordly man he struggled not for life but for death, which seemed to be more alluring to him. Six hours before his death he took 'Sallekhana'l and resolved not to eat or drink any. thing even if his life be saved anyhow. Then sending off everybody from his presence he absorbed himself in hearing scriptures from the aloresaid Nemiji and passed away in perfect peace and tranquility.
This incident portrays a strength of mind and a spirit of renun. ciation seldom found in a man leading family life. Let us now look into his career to find the sources of such extraordinary and sterling qualities of head and heart
Babu Deo Kumarji was born in an ancient, high and cultured Zamindar family of Arrah on the 7th March 1877. His grandfather Babu Prabhu Dasji who was a great scholar of Sanskrit and a man of charitable and religious disposition, got constructed many temples in different parts of India and a big Dharamshala on the bank of the Ganges at Benares.
The father of Babu Deo Kumarji, Babu Chandrakumarji was also a pious man and had made a Jain temple at Kousambi But unfortunately he died at an early age. At that time Babu Deo Kumarji was only ten years old. He inherited a big estate and along with it also the charitable disposition and religious zeal of his father and grandfather. Being a minor his estate went under the control of 'Court of Wards'. He was married at the age of seventeen. When he passed the I. A. examination, the District Magistrate pressed him to drop his studies and look after his zamindari. He was very much desirous of graduating but circumstances compelled him to take the burden of his estate and family on his young shoulders. After a few years he was appointed an Honorary Magistrate and he
1. This is one of the most difficult Jain vows according to which a person suffering from some serious illness, resolves to give up for ever the enjoyment of one or more things in case his life is saved.
