Other Great Indians -5

Other Great Indians

Aachaarya Praphulla Chandra Rāy

Aayurvedam is the Bhaarata-desha Vaidya-vidhaanam. Before “Allopathy” came, in Bhaarata-desham, Aayurvedam was famous. The English occupied our land and they introduced their Vaidya-vidhaanam. With that, Aayurvedam got lesser and lesser importance.
However, some still used to do Prachaaram of Aayurvedam. Challenging the English medicines, Deshi medicines were manufactured. One of the persons who did this effort was a Prasiddha Vidyaa-vetta from Bengal. He established an industry for manufacturing Aayurveda medicines. Even then many used to say Deshi medicines are useless for Vaidyam. In such circumstances running the industry became very difficult for the Vidyaa-vetta.
Unfortunately, once, many medicines that this company produced got spoilt. The Vidyaa-vetta was very sad. In addition to the pressure from the people, now the medicines also got spoilt. Running the samstha bearing this loss will be extremely difficult. Then one udyogi said “Please dont worry. Medicines are not completely spoilt. Some might still work. That too none know that they are spoiling. For few more days we can easily sell them. If we dont do this we will be at a great loss”. Listening to these avineeti-vaakyas, the Vidyaa-vetta became very angry. He said
“will we sell spoilt medicines just because we will get loss? Let us get loss. We will never do this adharma-kaaryam. Aayurveda Shaastram says the more Dharmam is followed, the better the Aushadhams work. So never even think about doing such Shaastra-droham”. All the medicines were thrown out. Many later congratulated the Vidyaa-vetta for his nishkapata-buddhi (honesty). Later that Vyavasthaapaka became a big Shaastra-vetta, Vaignyaanika.
He is none other than “Aachaarya Praphulla Chandra Rāy“.



Jayaprakash Naaraayan

“I did a mistake. I thought Niraahaara-Deeksha is the best shiksha, praayashchittam” replied the adhyaksha (head) of Post and Telegraph workers when asked why he was fasting.
Once when the Post & Telegraph workers went on a strike in June 1952, this person talked with the Communications Minister and fixed a deal. The Minister also agreed to pay the workers for the time they did strike. Since Bhaarateeyas never leave Satyam, the adhyaksha believed the words of the Minister and left without taking any written agreement. However the Minister cheated them and didnt pay the workers. Since the adhyaksha was the representative of the workers, the adhyaksha felt he was responsible for the mistake. If he had been more careful, the Minister wouldnt have cheated them. Hence as Praayashchittam for his mistake he was doing Niraahaara-deeksha! He did this for 21 days!!
He is none other than “Jayaprakash Naaraayan“, well known as “Lokanaayak”.


Maadhava Rao Sadaashiva Rao Golvarkar

He was an MSc Vidyaarthi, Maadhava Rao. He looked very weak, but was doing Shaastra-adhyayanam with great Deeksha and Ekaagrata. Pariiksha is in 12 days and he is studying with Ekaagrata, without caring about his anaarogyam.
While he was studying he felt something bit his leg. It was a scorpion! Visham started to enter the body and the pain was unbearable. But he didnt want to stop studying. He got an idea. He made a wound with knife near the place the scorpion bit and put some aushadham (this stopped poison flow into the body). He put his leg in a water bucket and continued reading! He forgot the pain and concentrated on his study. Maadhava Rao came first in the Exams.
He is none other than “Maadhava Rao Sadaashiva Rao Golvarkar“, well known as “Guruji”.


Chittaranjan Daas - well known as “Desha-bandhu“.

It was Congress Mahaasabha in Belgam in 1924, December. Many important people came for the Sabha. A famous Nyaayavaadi also came. Just before the Sabha was about to start Indore Maharaja came there. Straight he went to the Nyaayavaadi.
“Aarya! I am in great difficulties. Please accept this 25 lakhs. After you win the case I will give 25 more” requested the Maharaja. In those days, 50 lakhs was really a very huge sum of money.
The Maharaja was alleged in a murder case. The Nyaayavaadi must be very good to speak before the Viceroy. Hence Indore Maharaja requested this Nyaayavaadi. If it were anybody else they would have accepted. However the Nyaayavaadi replied boldly
“Aarya! Kshama. I have a Pratignya that I wont step into English-Nyaayasthaanams (British courts). Until we get Swaraajyam I wont enter these Nyaayasthaanams. With Pralobham of Dhanam I cannot break my Pratignya“. Maharaja then searched for another Nyaayavaadi.
The Nyaayavaadi is none other than “Chittaranjan Daas“, well known as “Desha-bandhu“.



Dr. Bhogaraaju Pattaabhi Seetaaraamayya

Long time ago, Bandar, which is in Aandhra Pradesh, was a small town. One day a person was walking on a street of Bandar. The style of his walk itself showed his honesty. After all only an honest person never needs to lower his head.
This person saw something on the road and it stopped him. It was the cry of a young boy. The boy was sitting outside his house and crying. The person approched the boy asked him why he was crying. Seeing the Daya in his eyes, the boy told his story “Swaamy! My father died recently. We are three brothers and our Maata is there. I am the eldest brother. I searched a lot for a job, but I was not able to get one anywhere”.
The person thought for a while; he wanted to help the young boy somehow. He said “come with me”. They both went to a Bank. The person talked to the Manager and the person requested the Manager to train the boy on some Bank related work. The boy learnt the work with great shraddha. One month was over and the person gave money to the boy from his own pocket. Similarly, the next month, the person only gave money to the boy. From the third month onward, since the boy had enough experience, the Bank itself recruited him and thus the young boy was able to stand on his own legs.
The person was none other than “Dr. Bhogaraaju Pattaabhi Seetaaraamayya“. He was one of the freedom fighters and did great Desha-seva. He was born on 24th November 1880 in Gundugolanu village, West Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
Though Shri Seetaaraamayya could have just given the boy some money and consoled him, he didnt choose to do that. Instead he spent his valuable time, made the person learn to stand on his own legs and did true help to the poor family. May be this is why Panditas say “Samaya Daanam” is the greatest Daanam.

Om Tat Sat

                                                        

(Continued...) 

 

<sub>(My humble greatfulness to Moral Stories dot com,  Hindu dot com and Devotees   for the   collection) 



( A tribute to the great Bharatiya Samskruti)</sub>