[roots] Memorable Events from the life of Swami Vivekananda - 5

[Guest guest]

Memorable events from the life of Swami Vivekananda - 5

 

It was time to deposit fees for the B.A Examination. All the

classmates of Narendra except Haridas Chattopadhyaya had

deposited the money. Haridas was very poor. He could somehow

manage to gather the examination fees but the college authorities

would not accept them unless he paid his college dues for the

whole year. Thus Haridas's hopes for sitting for the examination

was dashed to the ground.

 

Narendranath eventually came to know about the plight of Haridas

and was shocked. Suddenly it dwaned on him that there was a

provision for exemption from college dues in special cases and

that Rajkumarbabu, the college clerk, could save Haridas in this

crisis. There was atleast a ray of hope! So Narendra assured his

friend he would do everything in his capacity to help him.

 

A few days later when the students were depositing their dues

and examination fees, Narendra went to Rajkumarbabu and

pleaded, 'Sir, Haridas is incapable of paying his college dues.

Will you kindly exempt him? If you send him up for the examination

he will pass with credit; otherwise he will be undone.'

 

Rajkumarbabu had an irritable temper. He grimaced and carped at

Narendra, 'Your presumptuous recommendation is uncalled for. You

better oil your own machine. I wont send him up unless he pays

his dues.' This rebuffed Narendra became very worried about his

friend. He felt hopeless because he knew that he himself could

never collect that amount of money, and it had to be paid

immediately. Thus he was at a loss, not knowing what to do. At

this point a plan occured to him.

 

He knew that Rajkumarbabu was an opium addict and that every

evening he visited a particular den adjacent to Hedua to

indulge in this habit. Narendra did not return home after the

college hours that day but eagerly waited for sundown. As darkness

enveloped the city, Narendranath moved close to the den and

kept watching those going towards it. After sometime Narendranath

noticed that old Rajkumarbabu was stealthily inching towards the

opium shops. Realising that the fish was now in his net,

Narendranath hurriedly appeared before Rajkumarbabu who was

ofcourse embarrassed. Narendranath realised that this was the

opportune moment. He once again pleaded for Haridas and

threatened that he would let the cat out of the bag if

Rajkumarbabu failed to comply with his request.

 

Rajkumarbabu smelt danger, so he said to Narendra in a low voice,

'Why do you get angry with me, dear? What you want will be done.

Can I ever ignore your request?'. Narendranath understood that his

job was over and his mission was successful, so he returned home

as the old man slipped into the narcotic den.

 

Before day-break the following day, Narendranath went to Haridas's

house and said to him, 'Come be of good cheer, our work is done.

You will not have to pay the college dues.' The Narendra described

vividly what had happened the previous evening and both of them

burst into laughter.

 

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

Taken from the book

" My India The India Eternal " published by

The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta.

 

--

[Guest guest]

Amazing little story on the innate benevolence and courage in action of Swamiji!

Thanks!

 

Magesh Margabandhu <mmagesh

Ramakrishna <Ramakrishna >

Thursday, July 08, 1999 10:53 AM

[ramakrishna] [roots] Memorable Events from the life of Swami

Vivekananda - 5

 

 

>Magesh Margabandhu <mmagesh

>

>

>Memorable events from the life of Swami Vivekananda - 5

>

>It was time to deposit fees for the B.A Examination. All the

>classmates of Narendra except Haridas Chattopadhyaya had

>deposited the money. Haridas was very poor. He could somehow

>manage to gather the examination fees but the college authorities

>would not accept them unless he paid his college dues for the

>whole year. Thus Haridas's hopes for sitting for the examination

>was dashed to the ground.

>

>Narendranath eventually came to know about the plight of Haridas

>and was shocked. Suddenly it dwaned on him that there was a

>provision for exemption from college dues in special cases and

>that Rajkumarbabu, the college clerk, could save Haridas in this

>crisis. There was atleast a ray of hope! So Narendra assured his

>friend he would do everything in his capacity to help him.

>

>A few days later when the students were depositing their dues

>and examination fees, Narendra went to Rajkumarbabu and

>pleaded, 'Sir, Haridas is incapable of paying his college dues.

>Will you kindly exempt him? If you send him up for the examination

>he will pass with credit; otherwise he will be undone.'

>

>Rajkumarbabu had an irritable temper. He grimaced and carped at

>Narendra, 'Your presumptuous recommendation is uncalled for. You

>better oil your own machine. I wont send him up unless he pays

>his dues.' This rebuffed Narendra became very worried about his

>friend. He felt hopeless because he knew that he himself could

>never collect that amount of money, and it had to be paid

>immediately. Thus he was at a loss, not knowing what to do. At

>this point a plan occured to him.

>

>He knew that Rajkumarbabu was an opium addict and that every

>evening he visited a particular den adjacent to Hedua to

>indulge in this habit. Narendra did not return home after the

>college hours that day but eagerly waited for sundown. As darkness

>enveloped the city, Narendranath moved close to the den and

>kept watching those going towards it. After sometime Narendranath

>noticed that old Rajkumarbabu was stealthily inching towards the

>opium shops. Realising that the fish was now in his net,

>Narendranath hurriedly appeared before Rajkumarbabu who was

>ofcourse embarrassed. Narendranath realised that this was the

>opportune moment. He once again pleaded for Haridas and

>threatened that he would let the cat out of the bag if

>Rajkumarbabu failed to comply with his request.

>

>Rajkumarbabu smelt danger, so he said to Narendra in a low voice,

>'Why do you get angry with me, dear? What you want will be done.

>Can I ever ignore your request?'. Narendranath understood that his

>job was over and his mission was successful, so he returned home

>as the old man slipped into the narcotic den.

>

>Before day-break the following day, Narendranath went to Haridas's

>house and said to him, 'Come be of good cheer, our work is done.

>You will not have to pay the college dues.' The Narendra described

>vividly what had happened the previous evening and both of them

>burst into laughter.

>

>-----------------------------

>Taken from the book

> " My India The India Eternal " published by

>The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta.

>

>--

>

>

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>