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PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
straightforward like a little boy, very simple, humble and a thorough gentleman. Bapaji had tremendous regard for Pujya Mrugavatishri and would say, "My house is the house of Vijay Vallabh Suri and it is always open to you."The Upashraya above the garage, he said, was a very quiet and convenient place for learning and meditation. The historian, Sadhu Shrimad Vijay Indra Suri, had stayed there for a long time. Although Bapaji's thoughts were reformist, his life was overwhelming dharma.
Sometime later, Bapaji along with some members of Atmanand Jain Sabha, came to request Pujya Shilvatishriji Maharaj, Pujya Mrugavatishriji and the others to spend the chaturmas at the Byculla Jain Temple. The trustees of Byculla Jain Temple, particularly Bapaji, organised Pujya Mrugavatishriji's public lectures at various places in Mumbai city and the suburbs. It gave us an opportunity to meet members of the Jain community in various Upashrayas between Thane and Mumbai.
During our stay in Mumbai, we visited Bapaji's bungalow many times. Once, on our way to Versova, a suburb of Mumbai, we spent a day there. When we started out to Versova to Shadilalji's house (Shadilalji was the Sheriff of Mumbai then), Bapaji walked with us all the way. Pujya Mrugavatishriji always regarded Bapaji as an invaluable jewel of the Jain community. On his part, Bapaji had tremendous respect and regard for Mrugavatishriji. She saw him as a father figure to her and all of us.
Pratapbhai represents all the great attributes of his late father, Bapaji. Not only is he born rich but with all the good qualities of the head and the heart. He has sustained the legacy of Bapaji and even enhanced it. We first met him at Bapaji's Andheri bungalow when Bapaji had sent him to bow before Pujya Mrugavatishriji. When we were observing Chatur Mas at Byculla, the last wish of Pujya Guruvallabh was that our Jain brethren should have adequate residential accommodation. In Mumbai, people are able to get food but not a home. Since Bapaji empathised with the hardships of people coming to Mumbai from outside, having experienced them himself, he made available his Pedhi (shop) at Jhaveri Bazar as a temporary residence for many of the Jain brethren coming to Mumbai till they settled down. In fact, he had even made a vow to
Non violence, truth, holiness, freedom from envy, compassion and forgiveness is the dharma of all. - Kautilya
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