Chapter 75 Chapter 19: One Month with Gokhli (Part 2)

That horrific sacrifice to the god Kali in the name of religion increased my desire to know what life was like in Bengali.I have spoken and heard many things about the Brahman Order.I also know something about the life of Pradab Chandro Majunda.I have attended several rallies and heard him speak at them.I got hold of his book on the life of Keshav Chandro Shen and read it with interest and learned the difference between the Sadarang Sanjah and the Adi Brahmanjah.I met Pandit Hyfanath Sastri and I was accompanied by Professor Kadawat to visit Maharshi Devandronas Tagore, but since he was not allowed to visit at that time, we did not see him.However, we were all invited to a celebration of the Brahma Mission held right at his home, which gave us the opportunity to hear beautiful Bengali music.Since then, I have become a lover of Bengali music.

When one has seen enough of the Brahmacharya, it is impossible to be satisfied without seeing Swami Vivekana.So I set off in high spirits to Pelo Mars, mostly on foot.I love Maas for being such a retreat.But when I heard that Swami is currently living at home in Calcutta, sick and unable to receive guests, I feel disappointed and disappointed. Later, I found out where Sister Nivitida lived, so I went to see her in Qiaolingju Mansion.The splendor of the furnishings around her astonished me, and even in our conversation there was nothing in common.I told Gokhley about this, and he said it was not at all surprising that I could not get along with such a frivolous person as her.

The second time I saw her was at Mr. Bestunji Badshah's.When I went in, she happened to be talking to Mr. Badshah's old mother, so I became their interpreter.Although I have nothing to do with her, I cannot but value and appreciate her devotion to Hinduism.I later read her book again. I usually divide my day in half: one half to see Kolkata's notables for my work in South Africa, and the other half to visit and research the city's religious and public groups.I once gave a report on the work of the Indian Rescue Corps in the Boer War at a meeting chaired by Dr. Mullik.I have an acquaintance with The Englishman, which was also helpful for this report.Mr. Sondas was ill at the time, but he helped me as much as he did in 1896.Gokhley liked my speech this time, and he was very happy to hear that Dr. Roy also appreciated it.

Thus my stay at the Gokhlis' house made my work in Calcutta very smooth, brought me into contact with the most prestigious Bengali families, and was the beginning of my close contact with Bengali. There are a lot of things I have to omit in this memorable January.Here I just briefly mention my trip to Myanmar and the monks there.It made me sad to see them in that dazed state.I have been to the Shwedagon Pagoda, and I don't like the many small candles lit in the temple, and the rats swarming in the temple, which reminds me of Swami Dayanad's experience in Morvey.The freedom and dynamism of Burmese women endear me, and the laziness of their men pains me.During my brief stay, I also saw that Rangoon was not Burma any more than Bombay was India, and that just as we had become brokers for British merchants in India, we in Burma combined with British merchants to turn the Burmese into Become our agent.

I bid farewell to Gokhli when I returned from Burma.It is very sad to be parted this time, but my work in Bangladesh or Calcutta is over, and there is no need to live any longer.Before I settled down, I really wanted to travel all over India by third-class trains and experience the suffering of third-class passengers for myself.I told Gokhli about this idea.At first he thought my idea was ridiculous, but when I explained my intention to him, he happily agreed.I intended first to visit Madame Besant at Benares, who was ill at the time.Traveling in third class requires re-equipping yourself.Gokhli himself gifted me a metal dessert box full of desserts and fritters.I bought a canvas bag for twelve annas and a chaya woolen coat.The canvas bag contained the coat, a "mop", a towel and a shirt.I have a blanket just big enough to cover myself and a water pitcher.Having thus prepared, I set out for my journey.Dr. Gockley and Dr. Roy came up to the station to see him off. I asked them not to bother, but they insisted. "If you go first class, I won't come to see you off, but now I have to," Gokhley said.

No one stood in the way of Gokhley as he entered the station platform.He wears a silk turban, a tunic and "mopping the floor".Dr. Roy wore Bengali clothes.He was held back by the ticket inspectors, but was let onto the platform after Gokhley said he was a friend.So I started my trip with their best wishes.