ANECDOTES

*ANECDOTES - 1*

*VINAYAK DAMODAR SAVARKAR*

Among the Revolutionaries who fought against the British colonialism, Sri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar is very renowned. He was incarcerated in the Andaman Jail for a long time.

In those days, the British Government used to deprive the revolution aries of their property. Thus, Savarkar had lost four acres of his patrimony to the British. After Independence, the freedom fighters were given back their land-holdings. However, the government denied this justice to

Savarkar, their political adversary. 

When Savarkar was informed of this, his reaction was typical, *"What if I loose four acres of land, when the whole motherland is mine?"*

*ANECDOTES - 2*

*(BHAGAVAD-GITA)*

Dr. B.M.Gupta, a graduate in Physics, went to America to do research in 1948-49. There he met the world

famous physicist Dr.Einstein at the Princeton University. Einstein welcomed Mr. Gupta in Sanskrit

Mr. Gupta apologized to Einstein for his inability to converse in Sanskrit. Einstein was surprised to find an Indian ignorant of Sanskrit. He said, *"You are coming from a great land of ancient knowledge and wisdom.* Yet you have not cared to learn Sanskrit. 

Come in and see howmany Sanskrit books fill my personal library. I have read innumerable Sanskirt works including the Gita.

Not just that. *I have made the Gita the main source of my inspiration and guidance for my scientific investigations and formulation of my theories."*

*ANECDOTES - 3*

One day Swamy Vivekananda was returning from visiting the Durga Temple at Varanasi, a troop of monkeys chased after him. To save himself Swamy at first started running, but monkeys ran still faster and grew increasingly aggressive. At this time, an old monk who happened to witness the scene called out to him. "Stop running. Face the monkeys." Swamy heard his call and turned to face the monkeys. Then monkeys stopped harassing him.

Swamy Vivekananda drew a great lesson from this incident. *"One should not run away when faced with danger of difficulty, instead, must face it boldly."*

*ANECDOTES - 4*

*GRATEFUL STUDENT*

*Desa Bandhu Chittaranjan Das* was a renowned lawyer in Kolkata.

One day he was going to the court in his carriage. On the way, he saw a crowd of noisy men and weeping women folk about the house of his former teacher. Alighting from the cart, he came to know that his former teacher had fallen on hard times, got deep into debts and the debtors were about to auction the house. Das stopped the auction and issued a cheque to his teacher's credittors to their satisfaction.

This is an ideal student-teacher relationship.

*ANECDOTES - 5*

*CHANDRA SEKHAR AZAD*

The original name of the revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad is Chandra Sekhar Tiwari. He was so poor that while he was a student in Benaras, he received a free meal in seven households a week. (This used to be an old institution, a poor student was given a free meal a day of the week. Even now such help is given to poor students.)

For participating in the *non-cooperation movement*, he was arrested in 1921 and was produced before a Magistrate.

When the Magistrate asked his name, the fourteen-year old boy replied, mis chievously, *Azad (in Hindi Azad' means freedom').* An angry Magistrate asked his father's name, and in the same strain the boy replied, *Swadheen (which means independence).* When asked where he belonged, the boy replied in

trepidly, *Jail.*

The furious Magistrate sentenced the boy to *sixteen lashes.* When the sentence was administered in the central jail, Benaras, the boy did not *cry out.* Only at the end, did he cry *Vande matharam and fell down unconscious.*

*Azad has been suffixed to his name since then.*

*ANECDOTES - 6*

*THE TEST*

Narasa Rayalu, the father of Sri Krishna Deva Raya, was in need of an efficient Minister.

On a slate, he drew a straight line and asked if any one could shorten it without erasing a part of it. He sent the slate among the public. No one was prepared to take up the challenge. 

A young man by name, Thimmarusu, took the slate and drew a longer line besides the existing line. Thus, the first line became shorter. The King was pleased with the youth and took him into his service.

*In this world, good and evil, joy and sorrow are rela tive. We might shorten one by placing it beside some thing greater. Evil can be reduced by doing great good.*

*ANECDOTES - 7*

*(THE WAY TO BECOME RICH)*

*Henry Ford* was one of the wealthiest persons in the world.However, he was born very poor. He sold

newspapers to make a living.

The impecunious Ford met a Jew. *No one knows the secret of financial success more than a Parsi or a Jew.* The Jew told Ford, "Dear son, you give away to charity a ninth of what you eam." The amused Ford agreed after persia sion. Since that day, Ford began to give away to charity a part of his earning Within a month, he was employed in a factory. The Jew now asked him to enhance the percentage of his charity now that he had a hike in his wages. 

Soon Ford was on his way to become a millionaire. Later his Jewish friend died. 

In memory of the departed soul, Ford enhanced his charities to 80% of his earnings.Still he was getting more and more millions. (Tata Foundation also believe in similar charity)

*Many Jews and Parsis contribute about ten percent of the earning to charity.*

*ANECDOTES - 8*

(ENVY)

*There lived in a village, two neighbours, each extremely envious of the other. They decided to go to the forest, perform Tapas and propitiate God.*

*They did so, and soon God appeared before one and asked him what his wish was. He prayed to God to grant him twice as much as his rival wants. With glee, the second person urged God to make him blind in one eye. God at once granted his wish. The result of envy is that while one person become half blind, his rival lost both the eyes.*

*【Those who fetch water from river will never go to a well. Similarly those for knowledge of Divinity.】*

*ANECDOTES - 9*

*(NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE)*

Mr. F.C.Otten, an Englishman, was a lecturer in the Presidency College, Calcutta. He was a bigot, strongly prejudiced against India and Indians. One day he spoke insultingly about India in his class.

Subhash Chandra Bose, a student in the class, could not swallow the insulting com ments. He jumped on to the teacher and struck him with his slipper. The British government debarred him for two years.

In 1920, he passed Indian Civil Services with distinction. He had also secured the degree with merit in Philosophy and Psy.chology of Cambridge University

Subhash Chandra Bose could not wear the chains of the British. As he loved freedom, he was grieved at the sight of his enslaved Motherland. He rebelled at the idea of himself being the instrument of slavery and servitude of his fellow citizens. He resigned for his job and surrendered him self, his career and his destiny to the hands of patriot, Chittaranjan Das.

*【Those who want to live, let them fight, and those who do not want to fight in this world of eternal struggle do not deserve to live.】*

*ANECDOTES - 10*

*(GREED)*

*Desires are universal but greed is ruinous.* 

In a circus company, a comely maiden performed the tightrope walk when the buffoon stood undereath and cautioned her to be careful because if she failed she would be married to a donkey, and pointed out a nearby donkey.

Whenever the circus moved., they carried their luggage, furniture ture and other effects on elephants, camels and donkeys besides their own lorry. One day the party was caught in a heavy cyclone and all the animals were widely dispersed. Thus, two donkeys found themselves alone.

The storm had abated. One donkey said to the other "let us stay back here and avoid being caught by the circus people, how long can we do the back-breaking work?" The second donkey replied, "Stay back if you want. I shall return to the circus. Did not you hear the buffoon's comment? One of these days the tightrope walker is likely to fall and I shall have her for my wife.

This is an example of perfect greed.

*Do not stay for a single day where there are not these five persons:*

*A wealthy man who can lend your money, a Brahmin well versed in Vedic lore, a king, a river and a physician*

*ANECDOTES - 11*

*(DR. HEDGEWAR)*

The founder of the *Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Dr. Keshav Rao Hedgewar,* was born on April 1, 1889. An incident of serious import occurred when he was eight years old.

By 1897, it had been 60 years since Queen Victoria ascended the British throne. To commemorate the occa sion, the British Government directed all colonial Government to organize celebrations 

The slavish Indians, too, began to sing praise of the British rule in general (as a God-sent) and of the Queen

in particular (as a personification of grace). The newspapers wrote extol ling and lionising her. The whole Na tion declared her obedience to the British throne. 

Schools organised elaborate festivities and sweets were dis tributed among children. Along with others, even Kesav was given a Laddu. The young heart rebelled. Kesav promptly threw the Laddu in a garbage bin.

His elder brother asked him, *"Why are you serious?* Aren't you given sweets in your school?" Kesav admitted, *"Yes, we were given but I threw mine away".* The shocked brother asked *"why?" Kesav answered back briskly, "why should we celebrate another's victory?"*

*【The doom of a nation can be averted only by a storm of flowing passion, but only those who are passionate themselves can arouse passion in others.】*

*ANECDOTES - 12*

*(TEACHING)*

*Vishnu Sarma* went to the King's palace. The King was very worried and sad. His four sons were idle boys and illiterate. When he was to retire how should he find a successor to the throne? This worry was eating him.

He asked the scholars in his court if any of them would educate his sons, but no one was prepared to accept the challenge. Then Vishnu Sarma came forward to take up the onerous task. The Princes were playing with the doves the whole day and Vishnu Sarma joined them. Some days later, after he had gained their confidence, he announced he would conduct competitions among them.

Vishnu Sarma explained, "I shall write the alphabet on pieces of cardboard and tie them to the legs of the doves. Whatever letter mention, you shall bring me that dove wearing that letter. "Soon they mastered the alphabet. Later he told them stories about birds and beasts as fables, titled *PANCHATANTRA.*

Thus the children became well read, responsible and saga clous. Vishnu Sarma taught the Princes through the technique of taking one from the known to the Unknown.

*【The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.】*

*ANECDOTES - 13*

*(CROOKEDNESS)*

A wolf one day searched for food in the forest high and low. At last, he came across a carcass and with a grunt of joy began eating it. Suddenly a bone-piece was stuck in his throat. The wolf was troubled by it for he could neither eat nor drink. On the shore of a nearby lake, the wolf saw several cranes.

The wolf approached one and begged it to pull out the bone-piece. Out of pity, the crane entered its long beak and pulled the bone piece carefully. The wolf was happy.

The crane wanted a reward for its service. The wolf laughed and asked the crane if it remembered putting its beak inside his mouth, and added that the crane ought to thank its stars that the wolf had not snapped his jaws just then. Therefore, he too reciprocated the gesture by sparing its life.

*(Wise men should never go into a country where there are no means fo earning one's livelihood, where the people have no dread of anybody, have no sense of shame, no intelligence, or a charitable disposition.)*

*ANECDOTES - 14*

*(KAKORI TRAIN ROBBERY)*

On August 9, 1925, the train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow was approaching Kakori. Someone pulled the chain and the train stopped abruptly. Few young people got off the train. They fell on the Guard and made him lie down on his face.

One entered the guard's van and pushed the bags containing money to the ground. He dealt blow after blow on the opening of the box to widen it and to take the money bags out. The group consisting of ten young revolutionaries took the money and fled. Just ten young men had done this difficult job because of their courage, discipline and patience, leadership and above all *Love for the country.* They had written a memorable chapter in the history of India's fight for freedom. 

These revolutionaries were Roshan Singh, Ramaprasad Bismil, Rajendra Lahiri, Thakur Sachindra Bakshi Chandrashekhar Azad, Keshab Chakravarty. Banwari Lal, Mukundi Lal, Manmathnath Gupt and Ashfaqulla Khan. But the British government had spread a big net. After one month they were arrested. 

The idea of the Kakori train robbery was conceived in the mind of Ramprasad Bismil to fund the revolutionaries. 

A committee consisting of eminent lawyers like Moti Lal Nehru, Acharya Narendra Dev, Govind Ballabh Pant, Chandra Bhanu Gupta and Shri Prakash was formed to defend the revolutionaries in the Kakori train robbery case. Their effort to save

the revolutionaries, however, failed in the court of justice under the British rule, which sentenced Ramprasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Rajendra Lahiri and Roshan Singh to death. The others were given life sentences. 

On 18, December 1927, Rajendra Lahiri was hanged. Ramaprasad and ashfaqullah were executed on 19th and Roshan Singh on the 20th. All of them met death bravely, with a smile on thier faces. 

*Thus, they added a magnificent chapter to the history of the freedom movement.*

*ANECDOTES - 15*

*(COURAGE)*

*GURU GOVIND SINGH,* the Tenth Guru of Sikhs, started the institution, KHALSA, to instil into his people, the spirit of courage and valour.

To that end, on the full moon day of the Vaisakha month, 1699, he assembled all his disciples in Anandapur

Addressing the assembly blage, he asked, "Is there one among you prepared to die for your country" One man stood up. The Guru took him behind a tent.

They heard a head being cut off and the Guru marched back with a bloody sword. Then another volunteer rose, then a third, a fourth and a fifth. 

Sacrificing the five disciples, he addressed the as semblage once more, *"It is not your heads I want. It is your valour and courage." He brought back the five 'Sacrifices' men alive.*

Guru Govind made it mandatory that every Sikh should grow long hair, the symbol of a Rishi, and carry a sword, the symbol of courage.

*{Those who lack the courage will always find a philosophy to justify their timidity.}*

*ANECDOTES - 16*

*(NOBLE SOULS)*

*Sell -praise is despicable.*

*Mahatma Gandhi's Political Guru was Gopala Krishna Gokhale, whose Guru was Mahadev Govind Ranade.* Speaking of his Guru, Gokhale would reminisce, 

*"I've never heard him say, 'I have done this, I have done that.'*  

*The first person singular simply was not a part of his vocabulary."*

 Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842 - 1901) was the editor of the Marathi weekly, Indu Prakash, and lecturer in the Elphinstone College, Bombay. and later judge of the Bombay High Court. He was the leader of the Moderate wing of the Congress Party.

*He said Hinduism is vitiated by five fundamental defects:*

 1. Aversion to communcate with the world. 

2. Obedience to strong authority rather than promptings of one's own conscience. 

3. Social inequality and caste-based arrogance.

4. Tolerance to evil

5. Indifference to material benefits leading to incapacity to achieve worldly goals.

Ranade stressed the importance of social justice besides political rights. 

*"If we fail in achieving our political rights, we cannot build a healthy or ideal society. Similarly if we fail to achieve a so cial structure based on justice and rationality, we do not deserve to achieve political rights," he declared.*

*ANECDOTES - 17*

*(NOBLE SOULS)*

*Sell -praise is despicable.*

*Mahatma Gandhi's Political Guru was Gopala Krishna Gokhale, whose Guru was Mahadev Govind Ranade.* Speaking of his Guru, Gokhale would reminisce, 

*"I've never heard him say, 'I have done this, I have done that.'*  

*The first person singular simply was not a part of his vocabulary."*

 Mahadev Govind Ranade (1842 - 1901) was the editor of the Marathi weekly, Indu Prakash, and lecturer in the Elphinstone College, Bombay. and later judge of the Bombay High Court. He was the leader of the Moderate wing of the Congress Party.

*He said Hinduism is vitiated by five fundamental defects:*

 1. Aversion to communcate with the world. 

2. Obedience to strong authority rather than promptings of one's own conscience. 

3. Social inequality and caste-based arrogance.

4. Tolerance to evil

5. Indifference to material benefits leading to incapacity to achieve worldly goals.

Ranade stressed the importance of social justice besides political rights. 

*"If we fail in achieving our political rights, we cannot build a healthy or ideal society. Similarly if we fail to achieve a so cial structure based on justice and rationality, we do not deserve to achieve political rights," he declared.*

*ANECDOTES - 18*

*(HAPPINESS)*

The famous writer *Munimanikyam Narasimha Rao* relates an anecdote from the life of *Chinta Dikshithulu*, another reputed

writer.

One day Dikshithulu was reclining on his pyol lost in thought. In the street a bullock cart was going, advertising a recently released movie distributing colourful pamphlets. Children were run ning after the cart vying with one another about how many pamphlets each could collect.

A little boy was sitting nea ear Dishithulu's pyol bitterly weeping, as he could not collect even a single pamphlet. Dikshithulu made an in stant decision Tucking up his dhoti, he ran after the cart, collected a sheaf of pamphlets, and gave them to the boy. *The boy's joy knew no bounds.* With a beaming face, he ran home with his treasure. *Dikshithulu's joy was even greater.*

*【The secret of happiness is to make others belive they are the cause of it.】*

*ANECDOTES - 19*

*(MORAL DUTY)*

Before going to the forest on exile, Sri Rama approached his mother Kowsalya for her blessings.

As soon as she heard the shocking news, she swooned. Regaining her consciousness, she wept bitterly and begged Rama to allow her to accompany him to the forest. However, Sri Rama said it was the duty of a wife to be with the husband. Therefore, she should stay in Ayodhya and assist the King. So, he said, let him go into the forest alone. 

Ultimately, the mother realised that Rama after all had to go on exile. She propitiated the Devas to protect Sri Rama. At last, she turned to Rama and said, "The righteous duty you are honouring in going on exile shall come to your aid. May your Dharma protect you," she observed.

This underlines the truth that *duty and virtue are sacred. Take care of them, they take care of you.*

*【Ordinary morality is only for ordinary people】*

*ANECDOTES - 20*

*(MATAJI ANASUYA DEVI)*

Mataji Anasuya Devi is popularly known as Jillellamudi Amma Anasuya Devi lost her mother when she was a baby of less than one month. She was brought up by her father and uncle. When she was a girl of five years, she went to a Swamiji. Her uncle requested the swamiji to bless her.

At once, she touched the feet of swamiji and said, "Swamiji I beg you to bless me that would love all people with whom I come across." Swamiji was very much impressed by her words and predicted that the girl would become a saintly person

She became a saintly woman. After marriage, she blossomed into a pious woman. Several people visited her at her residence every day. Like a mother, she was very affectionate to them. She offered food and drink to the cattle.

*ANECDOTES - 21*

In Poland there was a person named Saint Twainsaka. He had a pet dog. One day it went out and returned home all muddy. It climbed into the master's lap, soiled, and dirtied all his dress. His friends who were with him remarked, "Alas! All your clothes

are dirtied by your dog." However, the gentle man answered them, unperturbed, *"Never mind. My clothes are not more important to me than the love of my dog"*

*LOVE is patient and kind. LOVE is not jealous or boastful. LOVE is not arrogant or rude.*