Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 65

persons from round about villages gathered to offer Satyagraha. The whole atmosphere was tense because to prevent the Governor of British days from indulging in such "sports” was considered something unthinkable.
Santbal hurriedly went to the spot. He found that if the crowd of 1500 persons who had gathered there was allowed to offer any Satyagraha to prevent the shooting, the situation would easily become violent as the Raj had arranged police Bandobast at every point to prevent people going near the lake. He, therefore, requested the Officer, who had gone to the lake for arranging the game for the Governor, to allow him to see the Governor personally before the game was started. The Officer said that he would have to take the permission of his superior, but he was sure that there would not be any problem in arranging a meeting with the Governor.
Santbalji relied upon this promise and asked the people, who had gathered to prevent the shooting, to keep calm.
Santbal waited for a meeting with the Governor. But in the meanwhile, shooting started and about 500 birds were killed. Every body was non-plussed by this treachery.
Santbal records his mistake in putting reliance upon the assurance of a bureaucrat but he also states that this incident was useful as it clearly revealed that he had no miraculous powers and he could convince people about that.
Theft of a Horse :
While moving in this area they were required to pass a night in one of the villages of Viramgam Taluka. Some Sadhus belonging to “Lalji Maharaj Sect” of Sayla, a town situated in the nearby Surendranagar District, had visited this village on horse
39