Ashram Diary

In the night, I could hear Swamiji calling out to Nutan Swamiji: “Nutun, Nutun, there are so many rats. I can hear them.”

It was the early years of Anna Vastra Daana Satram. Unlike now, it used to be conducted on a much smaller scale. Those days, rice, a sari and one white cloth used to be given. The white cloth could be used by men as mundu (dhoti).

The materials arrived, but we didn’t have proper protected place to store them. In the old building, Swamiji’s room was the first one. From Swamiji’s room was the door to Nutan Swamiji’s room and another door leading to my room. The kaananam guest house was yet to be built. Also, that year, there was more material because we planned to give to more families. After some deliberation, the rice bags were kept under our cots.

In the night, I could hear Swamiji calling out to Nutan Swamiji: “Nutun, Nutun, there are so many rats. I can hear them.”

Those days, there were many rats staying in various pockets of the tiled roof. My room had a very low ceiling and I could even touch the roof tiles. At night, I would see big, big rats running around just near me.

I could hear Swamiji saying, “Nutun, we did not think of the rats. They will eat away a lot of rice.” I think, the Anna Vastra Daana Satram was supposed to start in three-four days.

Then I heard Nutan Swamiji replying very coolly, “Yes, Swamiji. I can hear them too. Doesn’t matter Swamiji, if we are giving rice to 10,000 human families, we can consider giving to another 10 rat families. Tomorrow we shall keep some rice for them on plates outside the bags so that they do not damage the bags.”

Swamiji said, “Oh, that’s a very good idea. OK.”

And then both of them slept off.

Jai Guru.

– From Vicharasethu