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JAIN JOURNAL : Vol-XXX, No. 2. October 1995
This young and delicate girl bore the curse of widow-hood boldly thinking that it is due to her own sin committed in the past life (pūrvārjita karma). Through her continuous efforts she passed her primary examination and secured high marks. Completing three years of middle school examinations in only two years and then passing in the normal training, she became eligible for the post of a teacher. After obtaining one year of education in Bombay she was appointed as a teacher in the same Jain Mahilashram (wherein she started her education) at Sagar.
It can be said that 12 years of service as head-mistress in Digambara Jain Mahilāshram at Sagar was the building period of Sumitrabai's personality. By making a special study of the Hindi language and grammar she got the two titles "Sāhitya Ratna" and "Vidyālankāra". The great scholar, winner of President-Award, Pannalal Sāhityācārya taught her the doctrines of Jain Agamās, with love and affection. The teacher was a strict task master. At any cost every day early morning at 5.00 he would step into the doors of Mahilāshram as definite as the rising of the sun. The student never used to sleep before completing the lessons. As per students rules and regulations, when during night electrical power used to be switched off, she used to collect the ghee that was served to her during meals and use it to light the midnight lamp to complete her lessons. She never allowed any delay in her studies.
As a result of the worship of knowledge the life of Sumitrabai took a different turn. Most of her time was spent in religious practices and propogating the messages of Jainism. For the purpose of religious preaching she used to travel to Bihar, Bengal and Assam. It was by her efforts only that Śrī Pārsvanātha Jaina Temple was constructed in the Mahilāshram. By the friendly and respectful attitude of her brothers and sisters-in-law she never felt the common troubles or sorrows of her life.
3. Sprouting of Asceticism
In shaping Sumitra's life properly, the direct contact of Sri Ganesh Prasad Varni played an important role. The influence of father like Varni was so much that the colour of her asceticism naturally started spreading on her mind. The scene of Sallekhana of Varniji in 1961 deepened this colour very much.
After Varniji there was no example of house leaving in Bundelkhanda. In 1962, Ācārya Dharmsāgar conducted his cāturmāsa
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