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SKETCHES
Ramdas, as Dilip Roy testifies, was "an indefatigable correspondent"." By writing loving and beautiful letters to Dilip Roy, he helped him on his. difficult path. He wrote tirelessly to people around the world to answer their. queries and follow their aspiration, constantly. Collection of such letters, too, are brought out by the authorities of Anandashrama.
Such a saint of simplicity, faith and illumination blessed Dilip Roy, who began to call him Papa Ramdas like his devotees. The article published in Pilgrims of the Stars is entitled: 'Papa Ramdas'. Once Ramdas went to Poona and stayed with Dilip Roy in a cottage. He met endless devotees in the mornings and evenings. Dilip Roy recollects:
"...during their brief stay with us, each day was replete with thrills, especially during the eager talks of the devotees with dear Papaji: the questions asked, the answers given the clarifications sought, the implications of the statements brought out through his illuminating smiles, and last though not least, challenges flung to be met by his ready repartees which evoked. ripples of laughter intermittently."145
135
When Swami Ramdas left Poona, Dilip Roy was reminded of "a famous saying of Acharya Shankar: Asya jivanmuktasya dehadharanam lokasyopakararatham' [The liberated soul lives only to serve others."46
Swami Ramdas's impact on Dilip Roy was everlasting. He frequently turned to Swamiji in the moments of his doubts and despair. He was very much benefitted. by Ramdas's beautiful thoughts. His love, Dilip Roy felt, came to him as a sign. of Lord's grace. In Dilip Roy's Bengali novel, Aghatan Ajo Ghate and its English translation Miracles Do Still Happen there is one character of a saint.. Ananda Giri. Many people had written Dilip Roy hundreds of letters asking him. questions about the identity of that saint. After Swami Ramdas's death, Dilip Roy declared: "...it was Sri Ramdas, who, by and large, had inspired the central. Saint.. I can only say that I feel blessed that he had loved and blessed us."147 (B) Evaluation :
Here, the reader can have another hagiographical picture of a truthful and inspiring saint from whom the author received love and guidance. The portrayal is very brief. Hence, all the traits of a fully-developed personality are not available. Swami Ramdas and Dilip Roy appear similar to some extent. They were the followers of Truth and aspirants of God-realisation. Both of them had their moments of doubts and difficulties. They were childlike in their manners and were lovers of laughter. They travelled profusely and contacted many people. In fact, both of them loved to meet many people to share their spiritual experiences.
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