Rotary Club in Melrose

Shri Nathji was given a welcome by the Rotary Club in Melrose, a suburb of Boston, where he met a building contractor and an Iranian dentist settled in America. The building Contractor would not leave Shri Nathji that day and took him to his house for lunch.
 While on the way to the man’s house, Shri Nathji recollected having left his sun glasses behind at the Rotary Club. The car was turned around and the sun glasses found outside the club premises on the ground. It was Nature’s method of giving the man a few additional moments to serve God.
 "When you speak of God," he asked with typical American innocence on such matters, "do you mean a spirit?"
 Apparently many Americans still thought that Indians worshipped a plethora of gods and goddesses in idol form as a substitute for God. The very concept of idol worship was difficult for them to understand.

Shri Nathji’s explanations thrilled them. His description of idol-worship was also very convincing, and new:
 "An idol merely serves as a reminder of God, the spirit. It is like having a picture of your friend in the house. Each time you look at the picture, you are reminded of your friend.
 “When you talk through a telephone, it is not the telephone you are talking to, but rather the person on the other end of the line.
 “An idol serves a similar purpose for many. The worship they offer to it is directed towards God. Upon set­ting eyes on the image they are reminded only of God and no one else. To that extent, the image serves a useful purpose.
 “God, who is everywhere, and in everything, even in the small­est of atoms, can also exist within an idol of stone. He understands the intention of man, regardless of his mode of worship.
 “He can give to a worshipper the fruits of his devotion through any medium He chooses–even through the medium of an idol. The one who answers prayers is God alone. The idol serves as a useful medium for concentration.
 “When man has advanced further spiritually, he can visualise God within himself. God shall then speak to him from within!"

At the house of the Iranian dentist, Shri Nathji recited the following Persian verses of the poet, Rumi.

"Bishno az nai choon hikaayat mi kunad
Vaz judaayee haa shikaayat mi kunad

Ask of the flute the meaning of its song
It plays the mournful notes of separation,

Taa maraa az naistaan babureedaa and
Az nafeeram mardozan naaleedaa and

Since the time I have been cut from my bamboo stalk
The sound of my song makes men and women cry."

It was strange that Shri Nathji should have chosen to recite Rumi in the Iranian's house. He could have recited from Hafiz or Omar Khayyam or numerous other Persian Poets. The Iranian was surprised, too.
He told Shri Nathji that Rumi had been his favourite poet, and he showed Shri Nathji a large collection of books he had on Rumi.
When Shri Nathji spoke to him he was to receive yet another surprise. The Iranian's father, who had been a spiritual leader in Iran, used to say the very same things!
All through his association with Shri Nathji during the brief visit, he mistook Shri Nathji for an Indian Maharaja and frequently referred to him as "Your Highness."
The President of the Rotary Club joined them for dinner. After listening to Shri Nathji, he said:
"What you say is exactly in line with our Rotary principles."
This was not the first time a Rotary Club member had extolled Shri Nathji’s teachings. Shri Ranjit Singh of Lucknow, who was the President of the Rotary Club in India, was a great devotee of Shri Nathji as also Chaudhri Hyder Hussein who was its Governor.

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. The Melrose Rotary Club is dedicated to public service in Melrose Massachusetts and the surrounding communities. Rotary Club in Melrose was formed in 1921 and was sponsored by the Lynn Club. It was the 1009th club to join what is now a vast international organization.

 

Harvard University commencement ceremony

While in Boston with his son Priya Nath, Shri Nathji attended the Harvard University commencement ceremony in June 1964 took place on June 11th. It was the 313th commencement, an event marked by tradition, academic pageantry, and formal proceedings such as the ringing of the university bell and the sheriff proclaiming the meeting to order. The ceremony was scheduled to confer thousands of graduate degrees and recognize the academic achievements of the graduating class. The event included a wide array of attendees, from undergraduates to graduate students, faculty, university officials, alumni, and local dignitaries. The ceremony occurred amidst a period of social and political unrest, which was acknowledged by the commencement preacher, who offered prayers for the university and other schools facing turmoil. The ceremony occurred amidst a period of social and political unrest, which was acknowledged by the commencement preacher, who offered prayers for the university and other schools facing turmoil. West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard was among the recipients of an honorary degree.

Satish Shiral

Priya Nath had two Indian friends at Harvard–one, a certain Satish Shirali whose general attitude in life seemed to be disposed to frivolity, and the other, a certain Shah, who appeared to be greatly spiritually inclined. The two came to Shri Nathji. Priya Nath was worried lest the more frivolous minded of the two not pay proper attention to Shri Nathji’s words.
 As Shri Nathji began speaking, it became apparent that his divine flow of words went out towards Shirali, and that the latter was all too receptive. Shah, on the other hand, had become like a vessel upside down which could not be filled. This was one of Shri Nathji’s marvels, to reach out to receptive souls no matter what their outward physical garb appeared to be. It was thus that he had converted many an atheist.
 Shri Nathji had often said: “It is raining. There are two glasses in the rain. One is upright and the other is upside down. The one that is upright will be filled with the rain, while the one that is upside down will remain empty.”

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Dr. Satish Shirali is an Indian mathematician who studied in US and was teacher at Punjab University Chandigarh. He is known for his work in analysis and his numerous mathematical textbooks, many co-authored with H. L. Vasudeva.

Dr. Satish Shirali is a prolific researcher and writer, indicating a strong academic background. He was a professor in the Department of Mathematics at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He also served as a speaker for programs like the Annual Foundation School, organized by the National Centre for Mathematics. He was also a visiting faculty at Indian Institute of Science Education And Research, Mohali. He used to teach in the Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Satish Shirali's research interests include functional analysis, measure theory, and operator theory. He is known for his theorem-proof-example teaching style in his books, focusing on the abstract postulational method in modern mathematics. His work has been published in journals such as the Pacific Journal of Mathematics and the Journal of the London Mathematical Society. Pacific Journal of

His recharch at Harvard University was published on  September 20, 1967. It was  Research done towards a doctoral thesis at Harvard Mathematics ON THE JORDAN STRUCTURE OF COMPLEX BANACH under the supervision of Professor Lynn H. Loomis.

He has authored and co-authored several well-regarded mathematics textbooks, including:

• Metric Spaces
• Multivariable Analysis
• Measure and Integration
• An Introduction to Mathematical Analysis
• Elements of Hilbert Spaces and Operator Theory 

Besides Mathematics he is also interested in Indian Classical Music.

The Rosboroughs

 There were also a certain Ray and Pearl Rosborough, husband and wife, who had become greatly attached to Shri Nathji. They were Methodists and never missed an opportunity of listening to Shri Nathji. They would frequently invite Shri Nathji to speak to guests at their house.
 Ray Rosborough, who was a Canadian, would often say: "When Mr. Nath speaks, time flies by like this–wham!" and he would hit the palm of his hand with his fist.
 "We have become a part of your mission in life,” Mr. and Mrs. Rosborough would say to Shri Nathji.
 They saw something very great, very sublime in Shri Nathji, although they could neither define it nor explain it.
 "Swami Nath is a very sincere person," Mr. Rosborough would say. The word "Swami" became an inescapable title in America for any Indian engaged in spiritual pursuits, even though Priya Nath tried very hard to avoid the appellation being attached to Shri Nathji.
 During some of Shri Nathji's sermons, Mr. and Mrs, Rosborough began passing a plate around, collecting contributions in dollars, as they did in Church. But Shri Nathji put an instant stop to this. He told them that if they did this he would not visit them again. It was against his dignity to accept even a single dollar from any American. He had gone there to give, freely, of himself.
 Priya Nath had begun to earn as a teacher at the Harvard Summer School at that time, and his earnings were sufficient for Shri Nathji. Even though Shri Nathji was in great financial difficulties in London because his devotees in India could not send him their sewa, yet he never bothered to ask the Americans for anything. This developed an immense respect in their hearts for him.
 "Billy Graham charges thousands of dollars for his sermons," said Rosborough to Shri Nathji, "and his sermons can hardly compare with yours. You can charge any amount you like!"

The Rosborough S invited Shri Nathji at their home for sermons and it was At the Rosborough’s house, Shri Nathji met an American of Italian origin, John Firenzie, who was a Catholic by faith and who become were devoted to Shri Nathji
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From online search we find their full names as Raymond A. Rosborough and Pearl M. Rosborough.
  Pearl M. Rosborough was a teacher and reading educator in Boston area who published a book called  A Handbook for the Reading Teacher in 1963. Her work also appears in a 1964 Boston University publication. a chapter from a Boston University Journal of Education issue on resources for reading teachers listed her as an author.
Aslo another book by her was  - Physical fitness and the child's reading problem; the report on a technical study of twenty "problem readers," their physical handicaps and therapy. (Exposition Press, 1963), by Pearl M. Rosborough

Later they took part of local government politics. Raymond A. Rosborough: served as a State House leader for Middlesex and Suffolk counties. And Pearl M. Rosborough: served as a State House leader for the 26th Middlesex District both in Boston area. This This information appeared in an article in 1983, discussing a new park for Brighton, a neighbourhood in Boston. At the time, Brighton was part of Suffolk County. This suggests their involvement in local community initiatives and public works projects.
 

Kundan Lal Jalie

 

A certain couple, Mr. and Mrs. Jalie, in London, arrived to take Shri Nathji’s darshan. At the time a flood of telegrams were pouring into the little home at Fairhazel Gardens, London, from all over India.
"What do these telegrams mean?" Mrs. Jalie asked.
"It is the birthday of His Holiness!" Mrs. Chabowski replied.
After the brief function was over, Mrs. Jalie, who was an elderly English lady, came to Shri Nathji and spoke on behalf of her Indian husband, Kundan Lal Jalie.
"Today is a sacred day," she said, "surely something must be granted to us on this day!"
"What do you desire?" Shri Nathji asked.
"I ask nothing for myself, but my husband is very restless. He has not slept for nights. He has suffered reverses in his business. He is a man on the verge of despair. The depression appears incurable. Only you can help him," said Mrs. Jalie.
Shri Nathji called Mr. Jalie close and said to him:
"Mr. Jalie, what a wonderful wife you have got. She asks nothing for herself, but desires peace and prosperity only for you. Some time back you were flourishing in your business, but today you are in despair because of losses. Let me ask you a question: What is the worth of a zero?"
"Nothing," said Mr. Jalie.
"When zero discovered it was nothing, it became like a tear-drop," said Shri Nathji, "it tried to expand itself, it tried to merge several zeroes into itself, but it remained unchanged–still a nothing. How could it increase its worth? It asked itself.
“And it came close to 'one' and said, 'I am nothing.' And  'one' asked zero: ‘Are you calling yourself a zero after establishing a relationship with me, or without establishing any such relationship?’
‘Without a relationship you cannot ask such a question, and with such a relationship you are no longer zero, you have become ‘ten.’
‘You can become one hundred, one thousand, ten thousand and more, but remember, this will be your worth only when you keep me with yourself. If you discard me, you will become zero again.’"
Shri Nathji’s words touched Mr. Jalie to the heart. He went home, content, and for the first time in many days, had a peaceful sleep. It was Shri Nathji's miracle. Shri Nathji had given him something no doctor or a psychologist could have given him.
Without returning to him the wealth he had lost, Shri Nathji returned to him his peace of mind. This was the greatest miracle of Shri Nathji–to give peace in the midst of suffering. Anyone would be at peace if his troubles were removed. But to restore peace to the mind in the adverse conditions that prevailed, was a task only Shri Nathji could accomplish.
Mr. and Mrs. Jalie began telephoning Shri Nathji daily. They would come to him again and again. They would take him for a drive in their car. The longer one’s association with a flower, the greater the fragrance one was apt to get.
"How are you, Mr. Jalie?" Shri Nathji would ask him on the telephone.
"Perfectly all right," he would reply, "perfectly contented!"
And Mrs. Jalie would be ever grateful to Shri Nathji. Their friends and acquaintances, who had seen Mr. Jalie acutely depressed and worried just a few days before, were astonished at this transformation in him. They knew his financial position had not improved, but something had transformed the state of his mind.
“I accept you as Rama and Krishna,” Mr. Jalie would say to Shri Nathji, “from my brain as well as my heart!”
As he would drive Shri Nathji through the city of London in his car, he would say: "Nathji! I am your chauffeur and this is your car. Should you ever wish to tour Europe I shall be at your disposal."

When Matheswariji and Pran NAthji arrived from India, Mr. K.L. Jalie was also there with Shri Nathji and Pran Nath to receive them at the airport. Mr. Jalie  also arranged Shri Nathji’s lecture at at the Hindu Club in London.  In middle of August 1963, when Priya Nath was to go to Harvard, Mateshwari had tears in her eyes when she came to leave Priya Nath at the airport. Mr. Jalie, who was with them at the time along with Pran Nath and Shri Nathji, said:
“Mataji, you should be happy. If my son were going to Harvard I would dance with joy.”
However, for Mateshwari it was a sad moment. She had loved Priya Nath more than anyone else because he had been the youngest in the house.

Mr. Jalie had been given a new life by Shri Nathji. He had been pulled out from the dregs of a depression that would have cost him his life. He had been very loyal and very grateful to Shri Nathji at first, and even served him with all his heart and soul. However with the passage of time, the devotional ardour appeared to have dimmed.
He became more and more interested in money and even began business ventures which had been outside his ken. He was an Optician by profession but he sought to run chartered aeroplane flights which he thought would bring him huge profits. He sought Shri Nathji’s blessings. However, divine blessings could not be had for the asking for the purpose of dubious business ventures. It appeared that Shri Nathji did not listen to his prayers.
The man’s business venture was not successful. The net result was that he stopped visiting Shri Nathji, thereafter, and simply disappeared from the scene. He forgot how Shri Nathji had brought him back to life; it was a debt he could never repay.

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Kundan Lal Jalie was born in 1909. He was a a former Bombay stockbroker who studied economics in London. Based on his personal experiences in finding economical lodgings in London he  opened a Community House for Indians in London in 1937. The house was a hostel and community center for Indians in east London, particularly former sailors, known as "lascars". Moved by the destitution of Bengali sailors in Whitechapel he opened a community centre in a two-room basement. In 1938 Kundan Lal Jalie met and married Mary Ingham (1909–1992), a Lancashire schoolteacher who had retrained as a nurse in Aldgate and spent time in India in the mid-1930s as an associate of Mohandas Gandhi before returning to London. Latter he received donations and managed to buy the disused Gower’s Walk school in 1939 were he reopened in 1940 as the Hindustan Community House. It provided cheap lodgings for about fifty men and offered meals. Indian or English food is available for these men. To enable the fullest use to be made of the House its charges for board of lodging are fixed at the lowest possible figure. The House has been able to accommodate shipwrecked sailors, and Indians stranded in London. Two Indian doctors, who have returned to India, attended the weekly clinic and gave free medical advice. The new surgery has been equipped by an Indian doctor. It is open three nights a week for free medical advice and attention. Two classes in English with an average of fifteen to twenty students were held every week night. So it provided social welfare, offering cheap lodging and meals, the chance to listen to Indian music on a gramophone, to learn English and to be helped to find work. The community house lasted only till about 1943 when bombing damaged the former schoolrooms. The residents were taken to Tilbury and then Coventry to find work, and the Jalies retreated to Kensington and eventually the South Coast. Later he opened shop at Elephant and Castle are in London as an optometrist.

Miss Anne Forbes

In June 1964, when Shri Nathji visited America, he and Priya Nathji stayed for few days at the house of  Miss Anne Forbes in Boston. While Priya Nath was at Harvard he had come into contact with Miss Anne Forbes who was an elderly lady whose brother was the conductor of the Harvard University Orchestra. She had placed her house at Priya Nath’s disposal for a few days so that Shri Nathji could stay there after he had left the house of Dr. Smith. Priya Nath and Shri Nathji thereafter stayed for some time at the house of Miss Anne Forbes. She and her friends greeted Shri Nathji warmly at the house at the start, but later her attitude began to change when she saw the indescribably beautiful personality of Shri Nathji in contrast to which the portraits of her guru paled into insignificance.
 She was the follower of a spiritual organisation in America, and held regular meditation services in the basement of her house. When members of her group discovered Shri Nathji’s presence in the house they immediately became curious and desired to see him. Priya Nath admitted them into Shri Nathji’s chambers, where Shri Nathji was addressing some people. The impact of Shri Nathji’s personality was like a revelation. They had never witnessed such a living divine force before.
 When Miss Anne Forbes discovered that members of her group had visited Shri Nathji, she immediately wrote a note of protest to him and Priya Nath, asking them to stop all manner of spiritual meetings at the house.
 "I thought your guru asked you to respect all holy men and to hear what they had to say," said Priya Nath to her.
 Shri Nathji’s reply was very gentle and polite: "If it offends you, I shall not meet anyone in the house."

But on Shri Nathji Birthday, in the morning of June 23, 1964 came upon, Anne Forbes appeared with a large birthday cake at Shri Nathji's residence. Perhaps it was an atonement for her earlier rude letter. It was a measure of Shri Nathji's love that even those who went against him never ceased to love and respect him

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Anna Forbes was born in May 18, 1919 to Edward W. Forbes and Margaret Laighton and had four siblings.  Anne went to Shady Hill grade school followed by the Windsor School. She pursued higher education at Bennington College in Vermont where she got her Bachelor of Arts in 1941. As part of the war effort, organized by the War Manpower Commission, Anne went to a secretarial school for a couple of months followed by working in Washington DC as a secretary for several years. Shortly after the war, she became director of Fellowship House in Kansas City, an organization committed to religious and ethnic tolerance. She continued her education at Radcliff where she earned a Masters Degree in Social Anthropology in 1948. One of her teachers, Clyde Cluckhohn, recommended she do field work to qualify for a PHD program in case she wanted to pursue it and so Anne went to New Mexico where she did research in American Indian art. She developed a lifelong interest in the people she met as well as in the art and became close friends to a number of artists during this period including Joe Herrera. It was also during this time, that she started a collection of paintings by American Indians which she donated to the Smithsonian Collection of American Art around 2005.After her work and research in New Mexico, she returned home to Cambridge Ma., where she worked for the International Students Center from 1953-1957. 

 In 1958 from a suggestion of her mother, 'Peg', she became interested in The Self Realization Fellowship, a religious organization rooted in the spiritual teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda. This became a lifelong commitment to following his teachings as well as to giving service and assistance to the Self Realization Fellowship organization. In 1970, Anne opened a retreat near Bennington Vermont where SRF members as well as those interested in the teachings of Yogananda could come to meditate and learn. She maintained and ran this retreat for the benefit of local and visiting SRF members. Anne retired from the retreat in 2005 and came to live with her nephew and family in Groton Ma., where she has been up until her dead on September 6, 2018 at age of 99.