________________
THE JOURNEY
23
instrument used in Indian music) and Congress jase pagare (high wages - bureaucracy and politicians).
I was nine years old when I heard that I had been engaged, the news took me by surprise
Two significant things happened to me when I was nine. One, I was sent to a boarding school in Panchgani, and two, I learnt that I was engaged to be married to a girl by the name of Bhagwati. Though there were talks in the house about my being engaged, it was news to me. It took me by total surprise. My grandfather Leherchand was the key figure behind my betrothal. The decision to send me to Panchgani was taken by Bapaji in consultation with his father as usual. Bapaji never did anything without taking his father into confidence and getting his approval.
My father shared a very close relationship with my grandfather. | remember, once my grandfather had gone to Patan for a few days. Around that time my father had got his passport done to go to Antwerp in connection with our diamond business. When my grandfather got to know of it, he developed instant fever and asked my father not to think of going abroad. Without a word my father dropped the idea, and my grandfather's fever subsided instantly! It was as if they shared a deep spiritual bond!
· My bride-to-be, Bhagwati, must have been around seven years old at the time when we got engaged. Bha had chosen her for me after matching her horoscope with mine. He was a great believer in destiny and horoscopes. He was delighted to see Bhagwati's horoscope match mine. He had taken an instant liking to her when he met her for the first time and with time, grown very fond of her. He would regularly bring her over to our house in Andheri on weekends from Vile Parle, where she lived with her family. Bhagwati's father, Hemchand Mohanlal Jhaveri, hailed from our home town Patan and like us, he was into the diamond trade. Though they were Jains like us, they were higher in the caste hierarchy. They were Oswals
Economic rationale and political compulsions do not go hand in hand
- Jagdish Shettigar
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
