Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

Page 31

1
time of the death of Nagjibhai, Motiben was not possessed of even two annas (1/8 of a Rupee) for performing obsequial ceremony.
Motiben the mother of Shivlal was a courageous lady. She was undaunted by her poverty and managed to pull on by stitching, tailoring and doing other domestic work of her fellow citizens. Her brothers-in-law were helping her by contributing one rupee each for her maintenance.
Shivlal had no scope for further education in his own village. However, his maternal uncle Manibhai was a teacher at the school of village Balambha; he was, therefore, put with his maternal uncle to take further tuitions. From his very childhood Shivlal was a bright student and at the new school at Balambha, he always held the first rank in his class. After Shivlal completed 4th Standard in the school at Balambha his maternal uncle Manibhai left the school and went to Bombay for earning. He left Shivlal with his maternal aunt Ujambai who took motherly care of Shivlal who also proved to be very useful to her in her household work. At the age of 13 years Shivlal completed 7th standard when he got full understanding of the financial difficulties through which her mother was passing, to maintain herself. Ultimately he, therefore, thought of leaving the school and decided to go to Bombay for earning. His mother and uncles thought he was too young to start his earning career. But he procured a promise from his maternal uncle, who had gone to Bombay, to look after him at Bombay. Therefore he left his studies and went to Bombay in 1917 A. D.
Shivlal had inherited all the qualities of the devoted and religious life of his parents and especially his mother Motiben. It is said about Motiben that she was very fearless and could find out a proper way to get out of the difficulties. Once Motiben and her brother-in-law Laxmichandbhai started by a bullock cart to
5