Page 131 - JyotipunjEng
P. 131

163

Who else could be a better example to understand this proverb
than Anantrao?

     One day, all friends were sitting together and enjoying
themselves. The friends discussed different topics. Then they
came to discuss—‘what was meant by being indifferent to the
circumstances?’ After different arguments were given, a friend
said, “Indifferent to circumstances, that is Anantraoji.” His
statements are not the subject of analysis, they set deep into the
heart, and they are so striking. Whatever the situation, he never
lost his equilibrium; he remained unwavering under all
circumstances. He never felt angry even under adverse
situations, nor did he express any joy after success. He lived a
continuous uniform life. Whatever the season, he would get up
at half past four in the morning, get ready and play the flute
sitting in one corner. He had assimilated into himself the Sutra –

‘Y° Niø° Sarvabh£t°n°∆ Tasy°∆ J°garti Sa∆yam¢’ (In that which is

night for all beings, the disciplined ones keep awake). He never
underwent a change. He looked the same. He always wore the
same white dhoti-kurta, the same spectacles in the old frame,
the same old chappals filled with dirt, holding a bag in his hand
and sporting a wide smile on the face. He looked the same in
1980 as he looked in 1940, without a change. The advancing age
had certainly grayed his hair; he was always absorbed in his
work whether he travelled by bus or walked on foot, and this
work was recitation of the Gita. During his journeys, he kept
reciting the verses from all chapters of the Gita. He had learnt
the entire Gita right since childhood.

     He had interest in education right since childhood, and with
his hard work, he constructed a number of important
educational institutions. The Saraswati School at Dholaka, the
Abhinav School at Siddhapur, the Adarsh High School at Kadi,
the Adarsh High School at Deesa and the Saraswati School in
the remote tribal belt Pal – all these have continued to be effective
centres of education even today. He founded these schools
himself, but he never joined the boards of trusts of these schools,
nor did he join the committee of advisors. These schools are the
   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136