Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 35

were the responsibility of parents and unlike the present day practices, children who were to be engaged had no choice in the matter.
The incident with Imam Saheb Alishah of Tol mosque was about the intuitive forecast once made by him about the future of Shivlal when Shivlal was still young. Motiben had noticed in two prior incidents that Alishah's forecast had wonderfully came true in case of the whereabouts of one Vallabhbhai in Burma where he had gone for earning, and thereafter in case of the death of Khima Bhagat. Her motherly feelings lead her to ask Alishah about the future of Shivlal who was her only hope for the future. Alishah said that Shivlal had a very bright future and he would become either a millionaire in which case he would make a name as a philanthropist or he would become a big Yogi and a great spiritual leader who would shower blessings on many people. The mother wanted the first alternative to come true and hence she was anxious to engage Shivlal before it was too late. She, therefore, settled the engagements of both – the son and the daughter without waiting for the consent of either the persons concerned or other members of the family. Shivlal did not like this but he was helpless as he had no voice in the matter. Maniben was duly married but Shivlal went on postponing his marriage. He had not seen the face of his would be – wife nor was he allowed according to the prevailing custom, to communicate with her either personally or even through correspondence. He, however, used to send gifts to her through his mother Motiben.
Mother's Sickness and Death :
After the marriage of Maniben, mother Motiben was not keeping well. She was found to have some tumour (growth) in her stomach. Shivlal brought her to Bombay for treatment. She was operated successfully but after some time she was again sick. She was taken to Tol but she never recovered. Those days it was