Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 82

Then the younger brother was called at Gundi to explore the basis of compromise. He said he was quite innocent, but was prepared to accept Khedut Mandal's arbitration in the dispute. He gave his consent in writing. So Faljibhai and Ambubhai again went to that village and tried to persuade the other side to accept arbitration. The negotiations went on for three days and ultimately when they were near some settlement, it was reported that the widow and children of the deceased were not in a mood to accept arbitration.
Again Ambubhai called the village elders and showed to them the futility of prolonging the dispute which was bound to result in further crimes in the village. After some efforts they said that some "big person” should intervene. They were impressed that there was no person bigger than Santbal and Faljibhai and Ambubhai were Santbal's men and were prepared to arbitrate.
In the evening of that day a public meeting of the village people was called. It was addressed by Faljibhai who, at the end of his persuasive speech said that if by 10 a.m. next morning nothing tangible was found, they would go on fast as a “Shuddhi Prayog”. Next day village people met and reported at 12 noon that they could not arrive at a decision and that intervention of some "big person” was needed to solve their problem. Ambubhai asked them to state points of differences and appointed one of them as Sarpanch (third arbitrator whose verdict would be final). The matter was accordingly thrashed out. Ambubhai prepared the final award which was read out. Every one accepted it, and unity prevailed. The Pujari of the local Ram Mandir arranged a feast in which the whole village participated and the dispute which would have surely resulted in further blood shed and a chain of violent acts came to a happy end. All this became possible due to the moral influence of the teaching of Santbal.
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