Svalikhita-jivani, Part 10
BY: SUN STAFF
Jul 30, CANADA (SUN) — The autobiography of Kedarnatha Datta Bhaktivinoda, written in 1896.
Part Ten, 1863-68
"Chooadanga and beyond"
I did not have a good job and there was a lack of money. Your mother became pregnant at the first attempt and for her good I sent her to Yakpur. I sent my mother and Annada to the home of Kali Kaka in Calcutta. For my part, I discussed Dharma Sastra and a good deal of philosophy, taught many persons, and wrote a lot. Brother Mahendra Nath Mitra was the Head Clerk of a small court in Chooadangah.
He wanted to take the law examination in order to enter the high court, so he took six months leave. George Linton Saheb invited me to take his position. The salary was 140 Rupees per month. Half of it had to be given to Mahendra Babu. At the time I was to go and do the job in Chooadangah. Hoag Saheb gave the certificate written below to me:
"Babu Kedarnath Datta has served under me as Second Clerk in the English Collectorate Department for about eighteen months. He is a very intelligent, hard working officer and has discharged his duties to my satisfaction. He leaves his appointment at his own request and I am sorry to lose his services.
Burdwan
S.J.Hoag
Collector"
Upon proceeding to Chooadanga I lived in a thatched house constructed by Mahendra Babu. Linton Saheb worked one week in Maherpur and one week in Chooadanga. The legal suits regarding the Indigo Workers were of many types; I spent one and a half years in Chooadanga. Mahendra Babu was on vacation but after a year he resigned the post. I requested Linton Saheb to obtain the position for me and he requested the government. During the time that I lived in Chooadanga I bought a piece of land in Ranaghat and built a house thereon. My father-in-law, Madhusudan Mitra Mahasaya, helped me purchase the land. It was very convenient to travel to Ranaghat from Chooadanga. I came on Saturday and returned on Monday.
“all living in one place at last“
On the 26th of Asvin 1271, Sal [1864], your elder sister was born in Mama's house, in Yakpur. On the 20th of Asvin there was a great storm which resulted in widespread destruction. On the preceding day I left Chooadanga on the occasion of the Durga Puja. I left the key to my thatched house in the custody of a servant and proceeded to Ranaghat. In the morning of the following day the storm began. Before evening time, due to the force of the storm, many trees, shrubs, houses, and doorways were destroyed. Mother and Annada were in Calcutta. I did not receive any news about what happened either to them or in Yakpur.
The disaster was very extensive. The railway was in trouble at Chanka, so after three days I went to Calcutta. When I reached Calcutta I saw that mother and Annada were unscathed. After five or six days I received a letter to the effect that I had a beautiful daughter. During the storm there was a lot of damage done throughout the land. Upon hearing the news of my daughter's birth I became free of anxiety to some extent.
My house in Ranaghat was completed after the storm. A few months after the storm I attempted to bring my wife and daughter there. First I brought mother and Annada to the house and after continual insistence I brought my wife and daughter. We all lived in one place at last. I came from my place of work on Saturday and returned on Sunday.
While living in Chooadanga I endeavoured to improve the Chooadanga school and other matters. Towers Saheb gave this certificate to me:
"I have much pleasure in having an opportunity of expressing my opinion on your character and conduct during the period I have known you. You resided nine months at Chooadanga while I had charge of the Sub-division and although not directly subordinate to myself I had many opportunities of becoming acquainted with your position as a member of the School Committee, as in other ways. It gives me great pleasure to be able to bear testimony to the very high respect in which both the Native and European Community regarded you. Your departure from this part of the country will be a real loss to the residents, not only from the active and able part which you took in promoting every scheme for their advantage, but also by the removal from their midst of one who afforded his countrymen a high and rare example of honesty and right-mindedness.
I have the honour to be, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
R. Towers.
Asst. Mag. and collector of Chooadanga"
While living in Chooadanga I took the law examination in Burdwan. At this time Linton Saheb gave me this certificate:
"This is to certify that Babu Kedar Nath Datt at present Officiating Clerk of the Chooadanga Court of the Small Causes has conducted himself to my entire satisfaction in the discharge of the multifarious duties with which he has been entrusted. I consider him to be a respectable and well educated person and a fit and proper person to appear as a candidate at the ensuing leadership examination and he carries with him my best wishes for his success.
Chooadanga
June 18th 1864
C.D. Linton."
“happy in all directions“
When Mahendra Babu left his position Linton Saheb wrote a letter to the government on my behalf in order that I might continue in the post. At this time a small law court was established in Mursidabad and the clerk of that place was appointed to Chooadanga. Therefore, I resigned the position and went to the house in Ranaghat. Linton Saheb wrote a letter to the government on my behalf and the government responded saying that very soon they would give me a good posting.
I was acquainted with Healy Saheb. He had a Head Clerkship available, but he considered that the status of clerk was not suitable for me. He made known my situation to Secretary Sriyukta Eden Saheb. Healy Saheb spoke to me with much affection, saying, "You will soon get a good position. You stay in Ranaghat and wait." At this time Linton Saheb also gave a certificate to me.
As long as times are bad you cannot see anything but unhappiness. But when times are good everything is happy in all directions. On the 9th of February I received three letters of employment. One was a letter from Linton Saheb. He wrote, saying, "Rasika Babu, the clerk of Maherpur has died, and if you wish you can go to Maherpur and secure that position." The second letter was from Healy Saheb. He wrote, "My dear Babu, I am glad to say that you have been appointed Deputy Registrar at Chapra. If you have not yet got your letter of appointment you had better come down at once for it.
Yours sincerely, Wilfred L. Healy."
The third letter was from the government. That letter was about my job in Chapra. Dated 5th February 1866, I was given the post of Special Deputy Registrar of Assurances with powers of a Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector of the 6th grade of the Sub Executive Service salary.
“my supreme benefactor”
I was very happy to receive these letters. I went to meet my supreme benefactor, Healy Saheb, but he had gone to Orissa. When I learnt this I returned. Setting out with Srikanta Mukhopadhyaya and Yogendra Chatopadhyaya and one Western bearer, and with a dog named Tiger I got in Chooadanga, I finally arrived in Chapra. I took up residence in a second story apartment near the courthouse and began my work. The language of the West was Urdu. I found a teacher and I began to learn Urdu and Pharsi. Grey Saheb was the Collector then. Taking permission from him I went to Ranaghat and fetched my wife.
Everything in Chapra was good, only... I would have to take an examination. For that purpose I began to study law. When I took charge of the office of Registrar I went from time to time to see the villages in the Maphahsval. While going to Simuriya to verify a power of attorney I met Babu Brahma Dev Narayan. Godna was the place of Gautamashrama, ['Gautama Muni's Ashram']. It was there that Ahalya had become stone when cursed by her husband, Gautama. Gautamashrama was the place where the Nyaya Sastra [scripture dealing with logic] was born. 'As this is a sacred place, there should be a school of logic here' -- with this thought in mind I organised a meeting and gave a speech on Gautama.
As a result of that speech I had a discussion with respectable gentlemen from all over the area. They considered me a friend who wished the best for the locality. At that time no effort was made to collect any money. I heard from the mouth of Bandhubar Raya, Taraprasad Mukhopadhyaya and Bahadur Ukil Mahasaya that there was a school of nyaya in Godna which was supported even by Europeans.
“enemies and friends“
At the outset my relations with the English people of Chapra were not good. The Indigo planters, the doctor and the police saheb formed one group and made trouble for me. Even though each of them had separate affairs, nevertheless, everybody's intention towards me was bad. The European Indigo planters were trying to get preferential treatment from the Registrar's office over the native Zamindars. In this matter I was no help because to offer any preference would have been exceedingly wrong. The doctor saheb had previously been in charge of the Registrar's Office and he used to get a little money on the side. He did not get it any more because of me and he thus became hostile.
Because I was not able to bear any impropriety on the part of the police the police were unhappy. Be that as it may, Grey Saheb was not able to get a little money and Holiday Saheb came and took over his post. My enemies whispered many bad things about me in the ear of this great soul. At first the feeling between Holiday Saheb and myself was very difficult. But gradually, after a short time, by the grace of God and with the help of Healy Saheb, I caused him to see the truth. And after he made some exertions on my behalf all of my enemies became my friends.
Everyone in Chapra became my friends. The lawyer, Kesab Babu, always supported my point of view. The Judge Saheb also was favourable towards me.
“every new moon and full moon day“
The people of Chapra made many kinds of pickle. A certain type of vinegar pickle was the best. I began to make it. Their mustard oil pickle had a pleasant taste and I began to make that also. At that time I ate a lot of fish and meat. I had known that killing animals was bad for a long time, but I had a strong desire to enjoy fish and meat.
I ate a lot of fish in Chapra, but it was not very good. Therefore, I ate more goat meat. After the prolonged eating of food of this kind combined with red chilies and mustard seed pickle, I developed a bleeding ulcer. The first attack occurred on a full moon day. Gradually I got pains every new moon and full moon day. It took five to seven days from the day the pain started for it to go away.
So much suffering! When the pain started I automatically suffered from vomiting and diarrhea for ten to 17 hours. At first I went to the doctor, and a close friend, Manohar Babu, gave me medical treatment. Thereafter, I tried Moslem natural medicine. Finally, Mahendra Mama brought some Ayur Vedic herbs from the jungle and a local Vaidya made a little medicine.
“bhakti mixed with jnana”
But none of these things worked. The first time I went to Bhagalpur to take the examination I was unsuccessful. I was a little anxious because I was not sure if I would be able to take the examination. My health became very bad and I wanted to be transferred to another place. There being no opportunity for a mutual transfer, I traveled to the west of India during the puja season. My office superintendent, Narasimha Prasad, and Kasi Babu, the Collector Head Clerk, a brahmana and one servant accompanied me on the trip. After 13 days we returned to Chapra, having traveled to Vrindavan, Mathura, Agra, Prayag, Mrijpur and Kasi. Moreover, while on the train I met Bimal Visvas Mahasaya who promised to send some medicine from Vidyasagara Mahasaya.
Even in those days there was no great firmness in Hinduism [Arya Dharma]. My bhakti was mixed with jnana. Therefore, I did not enjoy the happiness experienced by the pure bhakta while I was in Vrindavan. Instead, when I reached Kasi I had a cold from drinking Yamuna water. In Prayag I shaved my head and in Vrindavan I spoke with Raja Radha Kanta.
"This time you will definitely pass the examination."
He was pleased to see me. At that time he was reading Garga Samhita. When I saw the temples of Sridham Vrindavan I became happy. But I did not properly honour the devotees. In Kanpur I fell into the hands of a false friend, but before he could show any strength from his hands I was rescued. The pandars in Prayag were the worst class of men. They tried to give us a difficult time, but they could do very little.
As soon as I returned to Chapra I received a herbal prescription from Bimal Visvas but there was a delay while Multani Hing was searched for. The examination was approaching so I studied very hard. Mathuranath Teoyari made an astrological calculation and said, "This time you will definitely pass the examination." Because of the condition of my body I did not have so much confidence. That year I suffered the pain of colitis and various kinds of heart pains.
Once more we traveled and went to see a fair in Sonapur, where we stayed in a tent. During this leave of absence the Registrar General, Beverley Saheb, came to see me at my office, but he had to wait for my return. When I returned I heard of his waiting and went to see him. He was very happy. He said, "This time you study hard for the examination."
“success“
When I went this time to take the examination in Patna I stayed at the house of my friend, Guruprasad Sena. Vamacharan Bandyopadhyaya accompanied me. I took the examination and then returned. Having taken the exam and returning to Chapra from Patna I saw that Srimati Kadambani had been born. This daughter was very beautiful. But once she almost died due to a stomach disease. At that time Sadu used to move around by crawling and she would play with Tiger. Babbling she would say, "Gaitha le ai le ai" etc. Kadu was born on the 29th of Caitra 1788. At this time Annada was making mischief, as he moved around he would wrestle with the servant, Makhan.
In the month of June I received news of being successful in the examination. Beverley Saheb wrote this note:
"5th June 1867
My dear Babu,
You will be glad to hear that you have passed your examination. We met to consider the report this morning.
Yours truly,
H. Beverley"
I was very happy, but due to my physical condition I was not hopeful. I was waiting for some improvement in my health but did not see any change in my condition so I made a firm resolve to transfer.
“from the frying pan into the fire”
During the time I was in Chapra there was no unhappiness except for my stomach ailment. Holiday Saheb was a close friend of mine. But there was a lot of pressure on me. I thus wrote to Beverley Saheb requesting a transfer and he exerted himself in this regard. While I was in Chapra, on the 8th of June 1867, in accordance with rule 21, I was appointed assessor. On the 16th of October 1867 Beverley Saheb secured me a position as the Sub Registrar of Assurances of the Sub Districts of Purneah and Krsnaganj.
Holiday Saheb was not happy to hear the news of my transfer and he said, "You are jumping from the frying pan into the fire. What illness will you need to be cured of when you get to Purneah." But then I had a new position. I moved my family from Chapra to Ranaghat and then proceeded to Purneah with bearers, Kali and Srikanta. I took an Examination in Bhagalpur and arrived in Purneah in the month of November and stayed in the house of Amrta Babu. On the way there was a mighty rainstorm. There were no solid houses in the backwaters of Purneah. I constructed a straw house and stayed there. A few days after having the house built I brought my family there.
Everybody came to Purneah in order to attend to me in my illness. I stayed in Purneah for fifteen days and then I went to Krsnaganj for fifteen days. Wargan Saheb, the Collector of Purneah, became my friend. When I worked in the court at Krsnaganj, I stayed in a tent.
“Purneah and medicine”
During the time I stayed in Purneah I prepared the prescription sent by Vidyasagar Mahasaya. I could get Multani Hing nowhere except the Bathget Company. First 'khai' was prepared by measuring 5 tolas of ginger powder, 2 tolas of black salt and 2 tolas of borax.
A 16th of an anna of hing was required. First one mixes together the ginger powder in the juice from horseradish skin; then one pounds in the black salt. Next, one pounds in the sohaga khai [borax]. Finally one mixes in the hing. There is no measure for the amount of horse-radish-skin juice. To the extent that one adds the juice -- the mixture must be sufficiently well pounded. Fifty-four pills were made in this fashion and were kept in a stopped file.
I took two pills twice a day with water. For twenty-seven days my convalescence diet consisted of aged rice, easily digested green vegetables cooked in aged ghee, and milk. I could not eat luchi, ruti, pitha [a sweet cake], methai [sweetmeats], kancha taila [fresh oil], taila pakva [aged oil], tarakari [vegetables cooked in their own juices with ghee and spices], bhuja, bhuji, amla, shak, dahl, chinra [flat rice], and meat, but fish, if fresh, could be eaten in aged ghee. This was the rule for what could and could not be eaten for exactly twenty-seven days. A little excess milk was not injurious.
I took the medicine while in Purneah. My bowel movements became free of blood. To the extent that I had the bowel movements there was an increase in strength. At this time I studied for a law examination, but the results were poor. As a result of taking these herbs my pain ceased.
Please also read today's supplemental editorial by Rocana dasa entitled, "Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur's Inconceivable Pastimes".
