August 15, 2022, is the 75th anniversary of India’s freedom from British rule. While India’s freedom fighters are honored every year for the roles they played in bringing this about, here DAAJI shares with us a lesser known history of things happening behind the scenes; the role of a great rishi and a modern-day spiritual master in the events that unfolded from December 1946 onward.
The history of the independence of India from the British is filled with valor, courage, and the brotherhood of freedom fighters, who were willing to sacrifice their lives and worked tirelessly to bring about freedom from oppression. None is more revered around the world than Mahatma Gandhiji, who is still fondly known today as the father of modern India.
But what was going on behind the scenes to support these intrepid freedom fighters? There are many hints in the diaries of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur, known to us as Babuji, the great Indian saint and spiritual Master who lived from 1899 to 1983. His record points to the roles of the great Rishi Agastya, Swami Vivekananda, and Babuji himself.
In these diaries, we first learn of the pending upheaval in December 1946, when Swami Vivekananda intercommunicates with Babuji from a higher world and gives him instructions about the work he must do to support the social and political changes that are to come. This may seem farfetched, but it is no different from many other stories we cherish about the sages of yore helping humanity in their struggles. It is part and parcel of the spiritual land that is India.
In fact, it was the Rishi Agastya and Babuji together who did the work to finally overthrow British rule in August 1947, and it was Babuji who kept Gandhiji alive during his fast in January 1948, and who protected Nehru’s life in April 1948.
In August 1947, Swami Vivekananda intercommunicated with Babuji, “Political change is necessary in India. Sage Agastya is already working. He will communicate the result to you.”
On 13 January 1948, Swami Vivekananda’s message to Babuji was, “Gandhiji is on a fast. What for? To bring the condition of India to balance. He is doing his business, and you should do yours. Let us see who succeeds.”
“Do the duty assigned to you.
Stick to your work without
worrying
for any happenings whatsoever.
Really speaking,
you are playing
the true part of Nature in the field of
politics.
No change can be made unless
one or another
great soul, coming for the purpose,
is attached to it. That is
the law,
applicable not only to India but
to the whole
world.”
On 30 January 1948, Babuji received an order for group meditation to be conducted for the peace of Gandhiji’s soul after his assassination. The soul of Gandhiji was present at the time.
Then, on 31 January 1948, Babuji was assigned the duty to work for India as a whole. Swami Vivekananda told Babuji over the coming days, “Do the duty assigned to you. Stick to your work without worrying for any happenings whatsoever. Really speaking, you are playing the true part of Nature in the field of politics. No change can be made unless one or another great soul, coming for the purpose, is attached to it. That is the law, applicable not only to India but to the whole world.”
A few days later, Swamiji paid tribute to the part Gandhiji played, “Dear ones, are you shocked at the death of Gandhiji? Naturally you should be. He was a great man, a politician, whom the world will remember for the work. However, you need now control and end your grief. Nobody can stop what is to happen. That is the law of Nature. India will not see such a great person in the field of politics in future. He was good at heart and had a noble ethos. He has played his part very well.
“Gandhiji had the public force with him, and you have the divine force at your command.
“Gandhiji and everyone may work for the improvement of the lot of the downtrodden, and also love them, but we need never forget the principles laid down by the age-worn wisdom and enunciated by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.”
These records help us to understand that world events are not always within our hands. We may believe that we are in control of politics and the destiny of nations, but the great Rishis of yore are still an active force, working with Nature to bring about balance.
Until we create harmony and unity
within our nation,
we are a far cry from freedom,
even politically.
We still have a long way to go,
and it starts with each
and every one of us.
Closer to home, there are other things to ponder. While India may have won political freedom in 1947, does it mean that her citizens are free? What about inner freedom? That still eludes most of us. And the same can be said for other countries and cultures that have been freed from colonial oppression.
In the colonial era, it was easy to identify the enemy as the British. Today, the enemy may look like us, dress like us, and speak like us. Until we create harmony and unity within our nation, we are a far cry from freedom, even politically. We still have a long way to go, and it starts with each and every one of us.
The quotes and historical events in this article are taken from the diaries of Ram Chandra of Shahjahanpur (Babuji), and published as Whispers from The Brighter World, Vol. 4, 1946-1955. Heartfulness Education Trust, Kanha Shanti Vanam, India.
Illustrations by PRAMITI RAMCHANDRA
Daaji
Kamlesh Patel is known to many as Daaji. He is the Heartfulness Guide in a tradition of Yoga meditation that is over 100 years old, overseeing 14,000 certified Heartfulness trainers and many volunteers in over 160 countries. He is an inn... Read More
