BABA SAVED DAS GANU'S LIFE

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DIVINE GRACE – BABA SAVED DAS GANU'S LIFE

 

With Baba's Grace, Das Ganu not only escaped from punishment, but he

thought he had a very good chance of rising in his profession. With

that thought upper most in his mind, he was riding past Shirdi to go

somewhere. Just as his horse came to Shirdi, and when he did not want

to alight there but to pass on without seeing Baba, Baba was on the

road and made him alight. Then Baba asked, "Arre, who is it that

swore with a palmful of water in his hand, man?" Then Das Ganu's

unabashed reply was, "What of that? Baba, I am going to resign after

all, after I get the Fouzdarship". Baba said that he would see to it

that he resigned, and added `Until a peg is driven into you, (i.e.,

pressure becomes painful), you will not obey'.

 

Das Ganu thought there was no further pressure. But pressure came. He

along with three other Constables was told off to the duty of

capturing a notorious dacoit, who was a terror to the whole country

side, and whose organisation was so vast and wonderful that even the

Police Department was in his pay, that is, several of the Police

Department were in his pay and he could checkmate their movements.

 

Das Ganu went off to Lonivarni, a place which that famous Khana Bhil

by name, was visiting. But Khana Bhil was a man of extra-ordinary

abilities. He had shot the other three persons nominated along with

Ganpat Rao (Das Ganu) to catch him, and was determined to deal with

Ganpat Rao in the same way. Ganpat Rao disguising himself as a

Ramdasi was making use of the village children, learnt from them

details about the visits of these robbers, and communicated their

movements to the police head quarters.

 

Suddenly one day Khana Bhil turned up, seized Ganpat Rao by his neck,

and said, `You fellow, you are going to catch me! Do you know that it

is Khana Bhil that has now caught you? Now I am going to shoot you,

as I have already shot your three companions. Ganpat Rao was in

terror. He was close to Sri Rama's image. He suddenly fell at its

feet and thinking of Sai, and said, `Save me, save me. I will give up

all my police efforts'. Khana Bhil was softened instead of shooting

at both Ganpat Rao and the image, he said, `I let you off this time.

But if you again interfere in my affairs, you are a dead man.

Remember.'

 

But the ambition of Ganpat Rao was not to be quenched. Again he got

information about Khana Bhil's movements and communicated it to the

authorities, with the result that a police force armed with carbines,

etc., was sent to surround the hillock on which Khana Bhil and his

men had pitched their camp. A fierce battle was fought between the

dacoit gang and the police, and Khana Bhil effected his escape.

Ganpat Rao knew that his life was doomed. So he went to Nana

Chandorkar and with his good offices secured a medical certificate

and got relieved of his detective duties. Thus for a second time his

prayer to Baba to save his life was effectual.

 

Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji

(Vasuki Mahal Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Trust, Coimbatore-641025, India)