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At Santiniketan, I choicelessly worked, dedicatedly and joyously carrying on whatever work he alotted to me. In those days, Gurudev used to Meditate early in the Dawn between 3-00 a.m. and 6-00 a.m. At the end of this Meditation, I daily used to go to him, salute him at the opening of his eyes and return silently without talking or asking for anything. Because of this habit, Gurudev had named me as "Dumb Gurdial !"
BEFORE MY SURRENDER
You will ask how I happened to meet Gurudev.
Really, this is a mystery of Life, which neither I could understand and solve so far, nor shall I be able to in this life !.
I was studying in St. Xavier's College at Bombay, 44 years ago in 1914. I well remember, it was a Sunday, the holiday, when people use to get up late from the bed. The newspaper arrived. All were eargerly awaiting it. One reader suddenly opening it at once reported that one of our Poets has got Nobel Prize. Another one told, "We have not even heard the name of Rabindranath Tagore". One of the Professors also enquired, "Who is this Mr. Tagore ?".
I stood listening this all silently. I could come to know only later on that Gurudev Tagore is the same person, whose story "KABULIWALLAH" was translated and published by Sister Nivedita in the "Modern Review" in 1909. I read that story from the file of Modern Review. A true story it was. So, when the name was announced, I also realised that
"In God's Court, may there be Delay, but not Darkness !"
One Devotee from Belgium had told me,
"He has realized God,
who has realised Patience, testing on the Testing Stone of Life".
And then I saw Gurudev's photograph. As soon as I looked at it, my heart witnessed that.......
"You have got very great relationship with this person in Life."
The head questioned, "But how did you sense this at that time that you will come in contact with this person ?"
But heart was telling again and again that "you are going to be benefitted."
It is to be seen that how the unification of the Heart and the Head takes place.
I at once dropped a Postcard to Gurudev. It was replied in C.F. Andrew's handwriting. Gurudev had directed, "Complete your studies first, then come over here and stay for three months and then decide, whether you should stay (settle) here or not." On receipt of this letter, I thought whether this poet stays in the clouds or what?"
Well, I stopped going to Santiniketan at that time. I passed my B.A. after three years. People congratulated me, but someone from within began biting and telling me, "You have passed B.A., but you have not learnt even the A.B.C. of our culture.....!"
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