Reviews on Shri Nathji's book, “Rays of Light”

Shri Nathji's book, "Payaam-i-Mohabbat" was written in Urdu and Persian at a time when He was only 15 years old. He wrote the 200 page book in a 24 hour sitting. This book was acclaimed as a spiritual masterpiece. Many a person who read it turned into a saint.
In 1933 his book in English "Rays of Light" was brought out which had a profound healing effect on many.
Reviews of the two books by eminent personalities of the time are shown below.

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J.P. Srivastava was a well known and honorable citizen of the state of Uttar Pradesh. He was born on August 16, 1889 at Basti, Uttar Pradesh, India

He was an industrialist and a politician.Sir J.P. Srivastava established New Victoria Mills at Kanpur which was one of f his most important industrial ventures. He was knighted by the King of England. He was the minister of Education in U.P. Provincial Government.

He was also a great philatrophist and associated with Ramkrishna Mission.  In December, 1935 the Tincouri Memorial Laboratory was opened by Sir J. P. Srivastava, at RamaKrishna Mission Hospital Banaras.  

In the 1937 elections, Jawaharlal Nehru's sister, Vijay Laxmi Pandit, defeated Lady Kailash Srivastava, wife of Sir J. P. Srivastava.

On 2 July 1942, the Viceroy of India, Lord Linlithgow, expanded his Executive Council to nineteen members, bringing in Usman, Sir C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, B. R. Ambedkar, Sir Jogendra Singh, and Sir J. P. Srivastava. This took the number of Indian members of the Council to fourteen, with five Europeans. Sir J. P. Srivastava was the Food Member of the Viceroy's Council, equivalent to the Food Minister on India now. He  died on December, 1954 in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. J.P. Srivastava also continued to maintained a relationship with Shri Nathji. On the left is the letter send by J.P. Shrivasatava to Shri Nathji expressing his inability to attend the program of Shri Nathji in January 1946.

Copy of a letter from:
The Hon'ble Mr. J. P. Srivastava, M. Sc., A.
M. S. T., M. L. C.,
Minister of Education,
U. P. Government.
1 Butler Road,
Lucknow,
Ist March 1933.
My Dear Mr. Khanna,
I have read with great interest the book
“Rays of Light” by Swami Bhola Nathji
Maharaj, and I have been greatly taken up
with the philosophy propounded by him. It
has had a most profound effect on me.
Swamiji's message serves as a healing balm
to the wound which is left by the abhorred
shears of unkind circumstances, and it
brings home to us that peace and
contentment are not to be found by wealth
and worldly power but by attuning ourselves
to the Infinite. I congratulate you on having
brought out the book, which is one of the
many publications for which we are
indebted to the Swamiji and to you.
Yours sincerely
J. P. Srivastava

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Dr. G. N. Chakravarti, was an educationist and Theosophist. He was given the title of Rai Bahadur by the British. He was the first Vice Chancellor of Luck now University. He was Vice Chancellor from 1920 -1926. He was greatly inclined to religion and had known Madame Blavatsky and was a friend of Annie Besant,  then president of the Theosophical Society. He and his wife Monica were initiated into the Gaudiya Vashnava tradition. During the tenure when he was the Vice Chancellor of Lucknow university he met Ronald Nixon who had joined as professor of English. During a party at the home of Dr. Chakravarti and his wife, Monica, (Whose photograph is given) Nixon observed Monica in a meditative and devotional state in front of an image of Lord Krishna. He then took lessons in religion for Dr. Chakravarti and Monica.  In 1928, Monica took the vow of Sanyas and assumed the name Yashoda Ma. Soon after, Nixon took Vairagi (complete renunciation) vows from her and was given the name Krishna Prem.

R. B. Dr. G. N. Chakravarti,
I.S.O., D.Sc., D. Litt., M A.,
Ex-Vice-Chancellor,
Lucknow University
Writes:
"I was much pleased to find in Payaam-i-
Mohabbat an attractive presentment of those
vital truths of life with which seekers of
spiritual lore are familiar. That these appear
in this book in the garb of Persian
phraseology is, in some ways, an advantage,
as there are to my knowledge, many
devoutly ardent souls, even amongst the
Hindus, who are ignorant of Sanskrit and to
whom the vast store-house of spiritual
thoughts enshrined in that divine language is
therefore, barred and sealed. To such it will
be a blessing to have some of the most
inspiring ideas presented in a language with
which they are familiar, and in words which
are sure to make an appeal to the highest and
holiest that is in them."

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Mr. Mohammad Raza was a prominent citizen of Lucknow. He was given the title of Khan Bahadur by the British Gvernment. In 1925 he become the Judge of the Chief Court of Oudh

He mostly handled cases relating to the Qudh Estate Act, which are tried by very senior civil Judges. He gave many famous judgments like that of Abbas Bandi Bibi case  on 12 April, 1932. Hon'ble Mr. Mohammad Raza, retired on 18th January, 1934.

The Hon'ble
Khan Bahadur
Justice Saiyed Muhammad Raza, M.A.,
Judge,
Chief Court of Oudh,
Writes: -
"Payaam-i-Mohabbat" is undoubtedly a
work of great merit. Swamiji's choice of
Persian verses is admirable. The discussion
of 'Prem', 'Duniya ki Haqiqat’, 'Prem ke
izhar ka asli sabab’, 'Yaqin' and 'Husn-ki-
Taswir,' in this book is very interesting and
instructive. The book is a sure and safe
guide to those who have lost their way in the
wilderness of worldly cares and anxieties. It,
will, if studied closely, quieten troubled
hearts and lead weary souls to the Almighty.
The spiritual man need not be a recluse. By
reading such Books, union with the Divine
Life may be achieved and maintained in the
midst of worldly affairs. It has been truly
said;
"Darwesh Sifat bash o Kulahe Tatari dar."