Mrs. Shanta Chaudhari

 Mrs. Shanta Chaudhari was wife of Shri Sadhu Ram Chaudhari was a high ranking IPS Officer. He was born in the village of Rallana in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab on July 14, 1900 to Chaudhari Gurdit Singh Saini and Shanti Devi. He was the first Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the joint police forces of Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Ajmer in 1948. This joint command was given to him because Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, and Ajmer were all Union Territories in 1948. Before that worked as an Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of Police in various districts of Punjab until 1946. The Delhi Police was reorganized in 1946, and the role of the first IGP of Delhi was established on February 16, 1948. In 1945 Chaudhari received the decoration of Officer of the Order of the British Empire .

He had a house in Dalhousie and also at Delhi. After his death His wife Shanta Chaudhari become greated devoted to Shri Nathji when she happened to meet Him in 1971. Shri Nathji suggested going to Dalhousie for the summer months. He had  known a certain Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal in 1928, in Dalhousie, and the man had remained devoted to Shri Nathji for years afterwards.
 Priya Nath wrote to him, but received a letter soon thereafter that Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal was no longer in the world. The man who wrote the letter was a certain Shri Mahajan who was a property dealer in Dalhousie.
 He gave the address of a certain lady, Mrs. Sadhu Ram Chaudhri in Delhi, who lived in Friend’s Colony, and who had a house in Dalhousie which was for rent. Shri Mahajan wrote to Mrs. Chaudhri also asking her to get in touch with Priya Nath Mehta.
 Priya Nath spoke to Mrs. Chaudhri on the phone and agreed to take her house in Dalhousie on rent.
 Mrs. Chaudhri came to Shri Nathji’s residence at Sarvodya Enclave in Delhi to collect the cheque from Priya Nath. She had no idea who Shri Nathji was. She saw him for a brief moment in the house, and that was all. But some hidden chord in her soul was touched. She had been a genuine seeker after truth. After the passing away of her husband she had frequented almost all the saints India had to offer but her soul remained ever thirsty, ever unsatiated.
 While Priya Nath was making out a cheque to Mrs. Chaudhri for one thousand rupees she sat on an arm chair in the room and looked at Shri Nathji.
 The beauty and glory on his face were astonishing. She assumed he was a very big Maharaja, but did not ask any questions. She took the cheque and left the house. When she reached home, her son, who was an army officer, asked her whether she had give the key to the new tenant. Mrs. Chaudhri had forgotten.
 She wondered what kind of persons she had met. They had been so good and innocent. They had paid the rent, they had not asked for any receipt and they had not even demanded the key of the house in Dalhousie! No, she must not be unfair with such good people. And with this thought in her mind she rushed back to Shri Nathji's house.
 This time when she entered the drawing room she found a man lying in prostration before Shri Nathji. She was surprised. No one prostrated before Rajas and Maharajas. Perhaps Shri Nathji was something else. She appeared to understand that from within her heart, and instantly sat down upon the ground. She gave the key to Priya Nath.
 "Who is your father?" she asked Priya Nath, and, upon discovering who he was, she immediately fell at Shri Nathji feet.

Latter many miracle happened in her life when Shri Anthji saved herfrom ma problems in her life and also saved the life of his son who was in the miltery in the Indo Pak war. One can dear all all this in the forst part of Shri NAthji’s Biography – Advent of the Avatar.

Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal

Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal served as an agent for the Raja of Chamba - Raja Ram Singh, managing interactions with the British administration in the area. The estate of Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal is located on Thandi Sadak, near Elgin Hall, in Dalhousie. Shri Nathji visited Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal at his estate in 1929. And he had remained devoted to Shri Nathji for years afterwards. His family was very influential in the area and latter entered Indian politics. Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal was the grandfather of Shri Des Raj Mahajan, who later became an MLA and Minister in Himachal Pradesh. He is also the great-grandfather of Shri Harsh Mahajan, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Himachal.

  In 1971 Shri Nathji suggested going to Dalhousie for the summer months and then He recalled Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal. Priya Nath wrote to him, but received a letter soon thereafter that Rai Bahadur Sohan Lal was no longer in the world.

                                                                                                                              

 

Dr. Mathra Das

In 1969 as Shri Nathji's eyesight showed no signs of improving, Priya Nath took Shri Nathji to one of the foremost eye surgeons of the time, a certain Dr. Mathra Das of Moga.
 Dr. Mathra Das had heard about Shri Nathji and was very happy to see him. He examined Shri Nathji's eyes and said with confidence: “Kaun kaihtaa hai ke aapko cataract hai! Who says that you have cataract!”
 Priya Nath could hardly believe his ears. It was a miracle. Shri Nathji had made Dr. Mathra Das say this only to relieve Priya Nath of a great misery weighing upon his mind. For a while Priya Nath and Shri Nathji forgot the eye problem altogether. It was one of the happiest moments for Priya Nath.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rai Bahadur Dr. Mathra Das Pahwa (9 October 1880 – 1972), was a renowned eye surgeon and philanthropist from Moga, is known as the "messiah of modern Moga" and "Netra-Dev" ("God of the eyes") for his extensive, free-of-cost cataract surgeries. He is estimated to have performed half a million surgeries and founded educational institutions, with his legacy continued today by philanthropic efforts such as eye camps held in his honor.

He performed thousands of cataract and trachoma surgeries for free throughout his career, working until the age of 92.  It is estimated that he performed half a million surgeries in his lifetime, and at one point completed a record 750 surgeries in a single day.

Above is the photograph of Dr. Mathura Das

Dr Jwala Prasad

Il-health for Shri Nathji was simply a means of blessing the members of the medical profession. Shri Nathji was particularly fond of Dr. Jwala Prasad of Mussoorie who attended to him with great reverence and faith. Shri Nathji would often say to him: "In your hands exist davaa as will as duaa–medicine as well as prayer! When one fails, the other succeeds!"

 Dr. Jwala Prasad had, as a youth, heard Shri Nathji’s sermon in Lucknow. At the time, he was troubled by some problem in life. What Shri Nathji said in his sermon, immediately went to his heart and gave him peace of mind. Dr. Jwala Prasad never forgot the incident. He very frequestly attended Shri Narhji and used to come to visit Savitri Nivas often. He had great love for Shri Nathji, and  asked Him to take Complan, which he said was “a complete food in itself”. Thereafter Priya Nath gave Complan powder dissolved in water to Shri Nathji in various flavours. Though much of it was unpalatable, Shri Nathji took it without complaint to save Priya Nath the trouble of cooking.
 Shri Nathji, with his flair for humour, would often childishly mimic how Dr. Jwala Prasad had emphasised the importance of Complan, with the words punctuated as: “It-is-a complete-food in-itself!”

Dr Jwala Prasad, smoked quite heavily, and who owned a car which was rare for people in Mussoorie in those day in 1960’s . He was also the family doctor of writer Ruskin Bond who who would turn up at your house at short notice. Years of experience enabled him to make a quick and usually accurate diagnosis and he’d write out a prescription on the spot. If he thought it was something very serious he’d direct you to the nearest hospital. If he was a good doctor, his very presence would make you feel better. He’d put his stethoscope to your chest, feel your pulse, look at your tongue, prod your tummy, and make you breathe deeply and say ‘Aaah!’ You took his pills religiously, and sooner or later you felt better.  He was famous for his phrase “Nothing to worry about.” No matter how ill you were, in pain or racked with a fever, he’d pat you on the shoulder and say, “Nothing to worry about. You’re going to be fine!”

And it actually helped! Such is the psychology of illness or wellness.

Seth Govind Das

  Seth Govind Das, who was the senior-most Member of Parliament during those days, and who lived in Jabalpur, had lost his son who was very dear to him. He had been in a state of acute depression which nothing in the world could cure.  He met Shri G.P. Bhutt and Gangabai Bhutt who were in Jabalpur, and heard about Shri Nathji from them. They told him that if there was any place in the world where he could get solace it would be from Shri Nathji.

Shri Nathji could restore to the grieving their loved ones in a single glance. Grief would give way to happiness and peace, as Shri Nathji brought their loved ones closer within their hearts and souls, so that they no longer felt the separation. It was a great miracle. No medicine on earth could cure such sorrow.

He came to the residence of Shri Nathji at South Extension Part I in 1968. The moment he sat before Shri Nathji, something happened to him.
 He found an inner peace filling him for the first time in days. Very soon he found the peace change to a feeling of bliss within his heart. The feeling surprised him, because only moments before there was nothing but sadness and depression within him.
 The healing touch of Shri Nathji’s words affected the man’s body and soul. It was not a temporary feeling but rather one which became a permanent state. He remained radiant with happiness on the second day after his visit and in subsequent days to come as well. The feeling had become a permanent one. Thereafter he developed intense faith in Shri Nathji and became a frequent visitor at Shri Nathji's residence at South Extension.

 "To give up all opposition to sorrow is to acquire happiness and to find salvation," Shri Nathji said, "it is easy to be happy when sorrow has been removed. But real happiness lies in being happy in sorrow!"
 Seth Govind Das’ good wishes to Shri Nathji were always expressed in the following words:

 "May you live for a hundred years and more, and may your work go on enlightening mankind!"

 Shri Nathji always quoted these good wishes of the elderly statesman for him. He had often said to people:
 “Come and take my blessings. But leave your good wishes with me so that I can complete the work for which I have come into this world.”
 Once Seth Govind Das brought a friend to Shri Nathji's darbaar and said to the friend. 
 “We are intellectuals; we do not bow readily before anyone. But before Shri Nathji our heads bow all by themselves! Yahaan aakar to sar khaamakhaa jhuktaa hai!”

 "Do you know why people bow before me?” Shri Nathji asked, and then added, "I am so small, that they have to bend down on their knees to catch a glimpse of me!"
 Shri Nathji also said: “I am not that light which rests only upon your heads. I am that light which rests upon your feet as well!”

 Whenever some of his devotees would worry, he would say:
 "Do not let your hearts be shaken by worry. Remember, I am sitting within. And when your hearts shake, I can feel the jerks!"

 Seth Govind Das was not given the same inner sight that was given to Bhutt Sahib by Shri Nathji. Even though Govind Das revered Shri Nathji as the holiest of the holy, it did not strike him that Shri Nathji was God, Himself. Neither did Shri Nathji give this revelation to him.
 One day he came before Shri Nathjji and said to him: “I have one very intense desire left in my mind – that of Prabhu darshan! To get a glimpse of God!”
 Shri Nathji smiled to himself, and blessed him without telling him who he was.

Paas kharro nazaron men na aave
Aiso Nath hamaaro re

Though standing beside us, He may not reveal Himself
Such, indeed, is our Nath

There was the time when Lord Rama had passed in front of his great devotee, Tulsidas, without granting recognition of himself to him. Such was the leela of the Lord that he could hide himself from those closest to him and reveal himself to those far away, in a moment.
Seth Govind Das came to Shri Nathji again after some days, and said that he had gone to a Temple in Brindavan where he had bowed before the idol of Lord Krishna, and suddenly he had heard a sound come from the idol. He could not decipher what the words were, but a thrill had gone through his heart and soul that he had caught a glimpse of God. It was thus that Shri Nathji fulfilled his desire for God. Little did he know that the voice of Shri Nathji which he had been listening to was in fact the voice of God.

In Later days when there was trouble at Mussoorie as the forces of evil there sought to harass Shri Nathji, Seth Govind Das became very concerned and wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of the State urging him to take steps for Shri Nathji's protection.
 "A great Enlightened Soul lives in the hills of Mussoorie," Seth Govind Das wrote to the Chief Minister, "it is our duty to see that his safety is ensured in every way." 

Seth Govind Das (16 October 1896 – 18 June 1974) was an Indian independence activist and parliamentarian. He belonged to the rich merchant family of Raja Gokuldas of Jabalpur. He joined the Non Co-operation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 and was jailed five times for a total of eight years. He became a member of the All India Congress Committee since 1920 and served in the Congress Working Committee of the Tripuri Session of the Congress in 1939. He was the President of the Mahakoshal P.C.C. during 1928–1934 and 1946–1957, and the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee in 1957.

 He was also a writer and  wrote more than a hundred plays, a novel "Indu-mati", five travel books, a three volume autobiography, four biographies, mostly in Hindi.

 He represented Jabalpur in the Indian Parliament from the first to the fifth Lok Sabha, continuously, from 1957 to 1974 when he died. He was appointed Speaker protem (prior to the formal election of a speaker) by the President for the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Lok Sabha and administered the oath of the office to all the rest of the Lok Sabha members.

The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1961

 

Death Duty

 

When Shri Nathji arrived in Mussoorie after Mateshwariji left her physical frame in London, he had to handle legal issues. Mateshwari’s property, Savitri Nivas, had to be mutated in the name of Pran Nath and Priya Nath and a death duty had to be paid. It was an oppressive taxation coming at a time when a person was already in grief. In later years this oppressive duty was abolished by the government. However Shri Nathji suffered it to be paid like all the rest of the people in the country even though it took many months of bureaucratic delays before the mutation was made.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In India, the "death duty" was known as Estate Duty, which was a tax levied on the total value of a deceased person's property before it was distributed to the heirs. This tax was in effect from 1953 until it was officially abolished in 1985.

The tax was implemented under the Estate Duty Act, 1953.

It was charged on the principal value of all movable and immovable property (including agricultural land) owned by the deceased, whether situated in India or outside (if the deceased was domiciled in India).

The rates were progressive, starting at 7.5% for properties valued at around Rs. 1 lakh and reaching as high as 85% for estates valued over Rs. 20 lakh..

 The duty was paid by the estate of the deceased before the assets were distributed to the beneficiaries. The Estate Duty was abolished in 1985 by the then Finance Minister V.P. Singh due to several reasons like High Administrative Costs:of assessment and collection was disproportionately high compared to the actual revenue generated. The tax collection was minimal (only about Rs. 20 crore in 1984-85), representing a negligible fraction of the total direct tax revenue. Also the complex valuation rules and administrative procedures led to extensive litigation and harassment of taxpayers. It was often viewed as a form of double taxation, as the assets had already been subject to wealth tax and income tax during the owner's lifetime.

St. Mary’s Hospital Mussoorie

In April of  1954 in Mussoorie,  Mateshwari ji got seriously ill. She suffered a diabetic coma and insulin was injected immediately. It was then that it was discovered that she was highly diabetic . Mateshwari remained ill and mostly in bed for several months after this episode. There came one day when she became so ill that a lady doctor from St. Mary’s Hospital, which was on the mountain above Savitri Nivas, had to be called at night. The doctor advised her admission into the hospital.
But Mateshwari refused. She said that if she had to leave the world she would rather do so at home at the feet of Shri Nathji than in a hospital.
Shri Nathji spoke to her and said:

“Rabb theek karegaa! God will make everything all right!”

She said to him:

“Rabb! Kaun saa Rabb! Main or kissee Rabb ko naheen jaanti! God! Which God! I know of no God other than you!”

She added: “I have just one wish left in life–that if I had lived longer, I could have served you more!”
Shri Nathji had called Mateshwari's brother Sri Krishen Khanna by telegram and he fell at the feet of Shri Nathji and prayed to him to cure Mateshwari.
And a miracle occurred. Mateshwari recovered that night, and lived for many years more to serve Shri Nathji and the children, as she had desired.

In 1915, HBS Dalliwal gifted a triangular piece of land to the then European Cottage Hospital, for the convalescence of the patients. The St. Mary’s Hospital was thus build. After some alterations this correct structure of the hospital was erected in  1931. This hospital in infect directly above Savitri Niwas – The house of Shri Nathji and Mateshwariji.  And  they share a common boundary. In 1954 when Mateshwari had been dangerously ill at Mussoorie and was asked that she be admitted to the hospital. Mateshwari had refused to go. It was an irony of fate, that several years later in 1967, she left her body in  St. Mary’s Hospital in London.

Due to bad management and government apathy the hospital suffered neglect with hardly any facilities  and was finally closed in 2016. The local residents were very upset and asked the government to repair  and restart the hospital. Currently it  is being blatantly misused by the neighbouring resort to park vehicles of its guests. The plight of St Marys  Hospital which once catered to the needs of a large number of people has left residents very upset. As the sub-district hospital of Mussoorie is far away from the town, due to which people face many problems. St Mary’s Hospital was in the middle of the market, which benefited tourists and the local people. So here is a lot of dissatisfaction among the people. They have approached civil authorities and politicians to start the revival of the hospital.