Shrimad Rajchandra And Mahatma Gandhi

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Raj Saubhag Satsang Mandal

Page 58

Shrimad Rajchandra's Message
had already confirmed that the Burmese hay and cotton seeds were suitable for the local cattle.
Rather than simply lamenting the acute tragedy of famine with hands folded and blaming nature for its cruelty, Shrimad acted swiftly to create a plan of action for combating it. Shrimad was a lighthouse of love and compassion for the mute and distressed animals.
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Referring to Shrimad Rajchandra's compassion, Mahatma Gandhi wrote, "For Rajchandra, the agony and the pain of suffering in the world were unbearable. For him, the whole world was like his own family. He used to suffer as much agony and pain at seeing death and devastation suffered by others in the world as one would when someone in the family meets death or similar tragedy." (From the biography of Shrimad Rajchandra, edited by Shri Gopaldas Patel, page 98)
Shrimad Rajchandra's deep and unflinching compassion for animals was so pervasive that in his presence any kind of cruelty in the surroundings would naturally subside.
Shrimad visited the hills of Dharampur for a change of climate in VS 1956. At the same time, British officers happened to be visiting their political agent there. The agent had arranged a hunting expedition as a part of the entertainment for the officers. The expedition entered the forest with a very large contingent of helpers to search and direct the wild animals towards the gun bearing hunters. However, despite great efforts, no prey could be found. This state of affairs continued whilst Shrimad was present in that area. When he finally left the area, the hunters finally found their prey. Whenever Shrimad heard of the activities of slaughterhouses, his heart would scream with pain as he would undertake all kinds of efforts to prevent the massacre of innocent animals.