Tuesday, 31 July 2012

Duke of Windsor



Shri Nathji was always deeply moved by stories of Love. He used to narrate how Shri Babaji Maharaj was very pleased with the Duke of Windsor in England who gave up his throne for the love of a woman. Shri Babaji Maharaj always gave the highest possible status to women.
King Edward VIII (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) of England left his crown because he wanted to marry the women he loved and give her full status of a wife. King Edward VIII fell in love with Wallis Simpson (19 June 1896 – 24 April 1986) Edward became king when his father died in early 1936. Only months into his reign, he caused a constitutional crisis by proposing marriage to the American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had divorced her first husband, an American Naval Officer. In 1934, during her second marriage to Ernest Simpson, she allegedly became the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales. Two years later, after Edward's accession as King, Wallis divorced her second husband and Edward proposed to her. The King's desire to marry a woman with two living ex-husbands threatened to cause great alarm in Britain and ultimately led to the King's abdication in December 1936 to marry "the woman I love". After the abdication, the former king was created Duke of Windsor by his brother Albert, who becomes king.  Edward married Wallis six months later, after which she was formally known as the Duchess of Windsor.
The Prime ministers of Britain and it’s colonial territories arguing that the people would never accept a divorced woman with two living ex-husbands as queen.  She was perceived by many in the British Empire as a woman of "limitless ambition", who was pursuing the King because of his wealth and position. Additionally, such a marriage would have conflicted with Edward's status as head of the Church of England, which opposed the remarriage of divorced people if their former spouses were still alive. Edward knew that the government led by British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin would resign if the marriage went ahead, which could have dragged the king into a general election and would ruin his status as a politically neutral constitutional monarch. Choosing not to end his relationship with Simpson, Edward abdicated. He was succeeded by his younger brother Albert. He said that he doesn’t wish to be a King who doesn’t has the power even to choose his own wife. Edward is perhaps the only example of a Monarch who left his thrown in order to marry a women of his love.
We can see the Beautiful movie – The King’s Speech which portrays how adamant King  Edward was to marry the women of his love.

Photographers who made portraits of Shri Nathji







Many well known photographs of the time made portraits of Shri Nathji. I have already written an article about Julian Rust.  In Lahore Rhodes and Co. Had made portraits of Shri Nathji, but they closed shop long back.Among the famous Photographers of Delhi who made portraits of Shri Nathi were Kinsey Brother and Delhi Photo Studio. Both were located in Connaught Place, New  Delhi. (Shri Nathji liked Connaught place and visit it often. Also he relished Cholle Bhattures of Kwality Restaurant here. I have given a photograph of Connaught Place and the same Kwality Restaurant located there.) Of these Delhi Photo Studio has closed shop, but Kinsey Brother is still there and flourishing. It is located at A2 Connaught Place. They are famous for taking very old photographs of British Regiments, The most famous one like The Indian Army - Frontier Force Regiment.  Perhaps they had a branch in Lahore also. This studio was later acquired by the Dilwali Family, which retained the famous original name of the Studio. Ashok Dilwali (1944) now manages the prestigious family photographic concern, Kinsey Bros, whose field of specialization is studio portraiture and commercial works. But Ashok Dilwali is best known for Himalayan landscape photography. He has authored 23 books on the subject and is recognised as an authority on mountain landscape photography.   I have given the photo of Mr. Ashok Dilwali and also the visiting card of Kinlay Brothers with the original Logo which is still retained.
In Mussoorie, Doon Studio made portraits of Shri Nathji. This studio is more then 67 years old. It is still running and is located at Vasu Theatre, Building, at the Mall. It is managed by Mr. M.M.  Sharma. He said that His father Late Mr. J .P. Sharma use to run the Studio before he. Probably he made Shri Nathji’s  portraits. The other famous Photographers of Mussorrie who had this privilege is the G. Dass & Co. It is located at Kurli, The Mall. It has the distinction to be the oldest running Photo Studio in Mussoorie.

Shri Nathji’s Discourse on Bible



This is the photograph of Ewing Christian College at Allahabad.
She Nathji gave a sermon on the Bible at Ewing Christian College, Allahabad in 1942 at the invitation of Padre Ralla Ram. Shri Nathji’s theme was beautifully illustrated by the parable of the five servants, which he had composed.
There were five kind of servants. The first Kind did not have any master. As a consequence, in times of need, he would turn to several different masters.
The second kind had a master, but he had no faith in him. When a difficult situation arose he would beg from others. The third kind had a master and he believed in him. In times of need he would go to the master and bother him for his needs.
The forth kind had a master and when in need, he would place his need before his master, but once and thereafter, wait in silence.
The fifth kind had a master, but he would never place his need before his master. He would tell himself that surely his master knew of his condition and had the means to fulfil his need. But if h didn’t do so, it was because he liked to see him in the condition he was in.
The fifth kind of servant pleased his master by his acquiescence. He gave him thousand times more then he desired. The fifth kind is the greatest of them all, for him nothing exists but the will of Gid.
The sermon was full of numerous quotations from the Bible, as well as enlighting examples and verses. There was above all that atmosphere of divine self – forgetfulness in which all were absorbed.
At the end of the sermon, Padre Ralla Ram asked the audience whether thay had any questions. The reply was: “We have no questions – only thanks!”

Comments -

Priya Nath Mehta -  Beautifully done, Siddharta! Or else I may never have seen Ewing Christian College!!

Shri Nathji's Devotee Kashinath Saikia


Kashinath Saikia was born on 1889 as the fourth son of Late Rai Bahadur Betharam Saikia of Naobaisa village in Jorhat. Kashinath Saikia graduated from Calcutta university in 1913. The government of India then awarded scholarship to study industrial chemistry abroad. But the outbreak of World War-I in 1914 ruled out studies abroad. He took up a job in Bengal Paper Mill. Having worked there for some time, joined a Japanese firm and went to Japan and received training in the manufacture of paper. He then joined in Rangoon to a Burmese paper manufacturing concern, as  its chief chemist.  He was promoted as works manager. While in Burma he invented a new process for the manufacture of cardboard. He patented the process in India and Germany and earned Rs. 65,000/- in royalties. The patent also won him the fellowship of the chemical society of London. He  returned to Assam in 1921 to setup a paper mill but did not succeed. So in 1923 he setup the Jorhat Electric Supply Company at the cost of 70,000 Rupees. He was the first man to introduce electricity supply to Assam. Kashinath Saikia was twice nominated to the Assam Legislative council. the first he defeated an Englishman to win a seat in 1926 next spell from 1931 to 1937. Kashinath Saikia always made a mark, a man of excellent taste, and also a well dressed legislator.  He was decades ahead of his times in his thinking rocked by ill health he passed away on 8th may 1962.
Shri  Nathji made a brief visit to Shillong in 1937 at the calling of Devotes. There he met Shri Kashinath Saikia, an M.L.C. member of the Legislative Council of State. He become greatly devoted to Shri Nathji.  Once he took Shri Nathji to Cherrapunji in his car. As Shri Nathji entered the car, the singular thought came to His mind that the car would go over a cliff in the mountainous regions.
“I am an expert Driver. “said Kashinath Saikia with some pride, “I have driven i Europeand England for years!”
As the car went along the mountain road Kashinath Saikia boasted more and more of hos driving skills. The driving was downhill. Suddenly he made an error around a curve and the car went over the edge of the road. It fell some feet and landed upright on a small ledge bellow.
Shri Nathji had an injured tooth. Kashinath Saikia was unhurt. 
“Never in my life have I had an accident before” said a distraught Kashinath Saikia.  “O Nathji why you have to receive this injury when you are with me!
And Shri Nath ji aid “So that you would receive no injuries when you were with me!” Kashinath! This is the price you have to pay for your pride! No mater how adept a man may become at anything. Pride must never enter his heart.”
In later life Shri Nathji lost that tooth and that missing tooth would always remind Him of His devotee, Kashinath Saikia and He would send His blessings to the man.
Kashinath Saikia published Shri Nathji Pamphlet “Inspired Epistle” at Shillong and remained ever devoted to Him.

Comments -

Bharti Verma - only God can save anyone this way...like you did ...save gaurav my dearest brother in 2005 from serious car accident with your blessings...countless thanks dearest prabhuji for being there for us always....

Priya Nath Mehta - Blessings for remembering!!

HE Robert Duff - God works in mysterious ways!

Photograph of Green Hotel.





When Shri Nathji left Mussoorie in March 1936 for Mumbai with Hasellwright, He stayed at Green Hotel which was opposite the Gate way of India. This was a famous hotel which was next to Taj hotel. I got an old photograph which is clicked from a ship at sea, which shows Green hotel near the Taj. (See the building on the right side of the Taj) While in Mumbai, Hasellwright spend large sums of money in gesture of hospitality towards Shri Nathji.
This Hotel has closed down. I think, now the prestigious Mariners Club is one of the principle occupants of this building

Justice Rangilala and the Bar Council of Indore

Justice Rangila who was at that time a judge on the Punjab High Court at Lahore,  met Shri Nathji in 1935 when he  came along with R.R. Khanna at Rialto Theatre at Mussoorrie to listen to Shri Nathji’s lecture. Even as Khanna was introducing Justice Rangilal to Him, Shri Nathji said:
“Rangilalji aap rangne aaye hain yaa ranvaane aaye hain?”
“Have you come before me to receive my colour oh have you dyes yourself already?”
And the learned judge gave an answer that won Shri Nathji’s heart:
“Huzoor agar rangaa hoon to certificate deejiye, Aur naheen rangaa to rang daaliye, Magar bhatkaayiyegaa naheen!”
“If I have dyed myself then give me a certificate. If not then dye me with your color! Only don’t let me go astray”
There after a deep spiritual bond was established between Shri Nathji and Justice Rangilal, who began to come for Shri Nathji’s darshan and blessings at Kahkashan Cottage. He had fallen in love with Shri Nathji in a relationship for all eternity.
Once Shri Nathji came in form of a stranger and saved his life when Justice Rungilal was sick in a hotel room in Europe. Shri Nathji’s pastimes with Justice Rungilal are recorder in the Mahagranth - God Incarnate on page 312 -316, where we can read it at length. 
Justice Rangilala was a tall and sophisticated gentleman. During the First World War, Lala Rangi Lal was a Sub Judge. He assisted the Deputy Commissioner in collecting war fund or war loan and getting recruits for war from Punjab. He later become the Judge of Lahore High Court (The photo of the Lahore High Court is given on the right) Later he joined services of the Maharaja of Mewar. The State of Mewar prior to its merger in the Domain of India had well defined system of separation of judicial powers  since 20th August, 1880 with highest court of Justice known as “Mahendrajsabha” equivalent to Letters Patent High Courts at Bombay, Calcutta & Madras which functioned at UdaipurThen on 1st April, 1938 a Chief Court was established at Udaipur as the Final Court of Appeal of Mewar headed by Justice Rangilal, and two other judges.
Later he was invited to become the Chief Justice of the Indore High Court. An interesting episode took place with the coming of justice Rangilal as Chief Justice. Rangilal was a stickler for forms and wanted everything to be done on time. Before Rangilal came to Indore, lawyers were not particular in adhering to the restrictions about their dress, but soon after he joined as Chief Justice, Rangilal compelled every lawyer to be dressed in white trouser, black coat and a necktie and would not tolerate any lapse in that behalf. Even in Court, Rangilal wanted the arguments to be brief and to the point without unnecessary citation of authorities. He insisted on the facts being stated not only in the chronological order, but without any unnecessary details. He was very impatient with counsel who could not come up to his expectations. Quite often, he promptly corrected mistakes of language and even of pronunciation and occasionally made counsel repeat after him the correct pronunciation of a word. Many of the old stalwarts at the Bar who could not adapt themselves to this new pattern, found it difficult to work in his court. On the other hand many of the youngsters who were quick enough to understand what exactly Rangilal wanted and were able to adapt themselves to the changing times, found encouragement in his court thereby giving rise to considerable heart burning in the affected quarters. Justice Rangilal never intended to insult any one, but his zest to improve the standard of advocacy and the working of the courts, make him intolerant to the point of being discourteous.
The discontent slowly gathered momentum, which led eventually to the Bar passing a resolution protesting against the treatment being meted by the Chief Justice. But it seems that here again Shri Nathji hand worked in protecting the honour of His devotee. The Resolution was intended to be submitted to the Cabinet, but, unfortunately for the Bar, its Secretary apart from forwarding the said resolution to the then Prime Minister and the Law Minister of the State, accidently handed over a copy thereof to the Registrar of the High Court for being placed before the Chief Justice. Thus Chief Justice Rangilal got to see it at his table before the other copy got to the cabinet. He immediately resigned his office and went back Lahore. His sudden departure created great chaos at the court. The judges of the High Court saw this as great insult to their Chief Justice, thus they issued a contempt notice to the Bar Association. The matter was heard in Court and Bar Association decided to take the expert help of Shri V.C. Sarvate, a veteran member of the Bar who had long back left the profession to join the freedom movement, who specially came and appeared for the Bar. It was contended on behalf of the Bar Association that a complaint made to the Higher Authorities does not constitute contempt of the court. The learned judges, however, held that the communication of the resolution to the Registrar was wholly uncalled for, and constituted contempt. The Bar Association was held guilty of contempt and was sentenced to pay a fine of Rs. 500/-. They were made to apologise for their conduct. Justice Rangilal didn’t accept the appeal to return back and take office. This becomes one of the rarest of the rare cases in history when a Bar Association of a court is held guilty of contempt by the same court itself. Justice Rangilal brought about a marked change in the judicial administration of the Indore State and the working of the courts as also in the style and method of advocacy. He was highly cultured, courteous, well dressed and sophisticated (Like Shri Nathji) The awe he inspired by his great learning and personality enabled the Indore High Court to reach greater heights.   


Comments -

Priya Nath Mehta -  Fascinating! First time I saw these legendary figures!

Justice Abbas Ali Tyab

Justice Abbas Ali Tyab of Baroda was in Mussoorie with his wife Amina and his youngest daughter Rehana  in the summer of 1935. Rehanna has been given Shri Nathji’s book, “Payaame Muhabbat” to read in Baroda and her heart had yearned to meet Shri Nathji. However she did not know where he was. Then she saw Shri Nathji’s book “Zahoore Haqueeqat”. At Cash Book Deport, in Mussoorie. Her heart thrilled with happiness when she came to know that Shri NAthji will be giving a lecture at the Railto Theatre. She told her father Justice Abbas Ali Tyab  about Shri Nathji’s sermon at Railto. The justice was not interested at first and stopper her daughter from going as well. But in a sudden change of heart he went there with his daughter. Shri Nathji was to deliver a sermon on Islam. His sermon that day was electrifying. Justice Abbas Ali Tayyab wept bitterly on hearing Shri Nathji’s lecture. 
Next day he came to Shri NAthji’s residence at Kahkashan and and said that you have awakened the latent thirst with me for Allah. Justice Abbas was a old man of 80 years when he met Shri Nathji. He said “ I am an old man, advanced in years, and I have seen the world. Hazrat, I am greatly worried about you! You are so innocent that someone may practice one of the greatest deceits of life on you! It was the love and affection of an elderly man for a young man. Shri Nathji’s pastimes with Justice Abbas and her daughter Rehanna are recorder in the Mahagranth - God Incarnate on page 312 -316, where we can read it at length. As per the Mahagranth, Rehana Tayab  left Mussoorie with her family. But Justice Abbas returned to Mussoouri next year in 1936. That year Shri Nathji had left in March for Mumbai with Hasellwright. So perhaps Justice Abbas was not able to meet Him then. He was very ill and died in Mussourie itself on 9th of June. So perhaps when Shri Nathji came back from Mumbai and stayed at Dilaram Estate Justice Abbas was no more or may be was very ill to meet him again.

Justice Abbas Ali Tyab (February 1 1854 – June 9, 1936 ) was a Sulaimani Bohra Muslim and the grandson of the the famous Merchant Prince Mullah Tyab Ali Bhai Mian. He was an England-educated barrister, brought up in an atmosphere covered with loyalty to the Empire. He lived in England for eleven years and then moved on to the princely state of Baroda to become the Chief Justice of the (Baroda) Gujarat High Court.During those days, Tyabji was seen as a model of Britishness, leading a Western lifestyle and wearing impeccably tailored English suits. He was an early proponent of women’s rights, supporting women’s education and social reform. He broke with the prevailing custom of the times by disregarding purdah restrictions and sending his daughters to school.
Though a nationalist at heart, he would not stand adverse criticism of the British as people, or of the Raj. His moderate but simmering nationalism and his absolute integrity and fairness as a judge were widely recognized and lauded. even by leftist Congressmen and anti-British extremists. Justice Abbas Ali Tyab was popularly called Abbas Tyabji.
His life changed when he chaired a fact finding committee of the Congress to look into the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre. His first hand experience of the British atrocities turned him towards Congress and he became an ardent follower of Gandhiji.
He chose to divorce himself from all the comforts when he was in his late 60s - a time when people usually take a backseat. He dumped his 'British lifestyle' and plunged himself whole heartedly into the freedom struggle.
Tyabji’s was a household name in the 1930s. One popular slogan then went like this: “Khara rupaiya chandi ka/ Raj Tayab-Gandhi ka”. Tyabji had an affectionate relationship with Gandhiji and they exchanged an unending stream of letters. The ‘ever-smiling’ Tyabji kept poor health in the later years. Advised to spend more time in the hills, he moved to a cottage, ‘Southwood’, in Mussoorie,  He frequented between Mussoorie and Baroda with his family.  He died in the night of June 9-10, 1936 at his cottage in Mussoorie, which has his grave, currently in a state of dilapidation. His cottage at present has a CPWD guest house in it. His wife Amina later died in 1940.
 I was very fortunate to get a photograph of Justice Abbas Ali Tyab which was clicked when he was in Mussoorie in 1935, the same year when he met Shri Nathji in Mussoorie. Also I got the current photograph of his cottage were he stayed in Mussoorie.  This photo was published in the newspaper Tribune on June 9 2011 in it’s Dehradun edition.
(Left) Abbas Ali Tyab in Mussoorie in 1935. (Right) The house in Mussoorie where Tyabji died on June 9, 1936. At present a CPWD guest house is running in it. Besides Rihana who was the youngest), Justice Abbas Ali Tyab had two other daughters. Sohaila who married Prof. Mohammad Habib after a love relationship in 1927 and Sharifa Begam whose photo I have given, which is taken from Abdullah Yusuf Ali book 'Life and Labour of the People of India' (published in 1907) In this book he describes the women members of the Tyabji clan: "One of them on a visit to London won a coveted prize at a fancy dress ball at Covent Garden. Several of them can give a good account of themselves with pen or brush. Music, too, has been cultivated - not only on the hackneyed piano, but on the Bin, an ancient musical instrument of India, the classical Vina of the Apsaras. In conversation, artistic talents, and social gifts, they would hold their own in the most cultivated society of Europe and America."

Friday, 27 July 2012

Maharani Padmini



This is the photo of Maharani Padmini and her husband Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla. The other photo is at the time of wedding of her son to the princess of Jaisalmer.
Maharani Padmini was sister of Maharaja Panna. Maharani Padmini's full name was - HH Maharani Padmini Kunverba Sahiba, she was daughter of Rao Raja Khuman Singh Ju Deo of Panna, She was married to Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla on 3rdly, 5th January 1940. Maharani Padmini Kunverba, known as "the most beautiful woman in Mussorie" and the "Queen of Mussoorie jet-set" held court and entertained lavishly. While staying in Mssoorie, Shri Nathji was invited by Maharani Padmini, who was known as Maharani Rajpipla to come and grace her party at 5.30 P.M. on the 24th of October 1950 at her residence Padmini Niwas.
Later when Shri Nathji send Maharani Padminikaur his book, 'A message of love" She wrote and said: I am sure we shell attain salvation after reading your book!" She would always write letters to Matashwari and refer to herself as "Aapki sneheeya baihen" i.e. "Your loving sister"

Comments - 

Priya Nath Mehta - Wonderful revelations of the past! Not only have you filled HH Shri Nathji's history with a colorful pictorial presentation, but you have also brought back memories of the life of those times in Mussoorie!