GAHANANANDA 7

A monk of the Ramakrishna Order has made this perceptive observation: "The leadership of Revered Swami Gahananandaji was a quality to imbibe --- his distribution of work, shouldering responsibility in difficult situations, giving refuge to the downtrodden and standing by the side of any monk or lay devotee giving them the assurance of fearlessness during perilous times. Whenever a worker fell sick, Revered Gahananandaji would be at his bedside offering him solace and expressing concern for his speedy recovery. He would thereafter seek to know from the concerned doctors about the treatment in great detail as was his wont and only then feel reasonably satisfied. Naresh Maharaj was never seen to lose his temper or to use harsh words. He was cool-headed and had a deep and genuine concern for all. All the requirements of the hospital were at his finger-tips." Here, it must be mentioned that those were troubled times and often the most unseemly situations would precipitate where a lesser mortal might have reacted in quite a different manner. But such was Maharaj's self-control that despite the utmost of provocations, not once did he ever lose his poise.

Naresh Maharaj was a liberal at heart. His adherence to discipline and order notwithstanding, he was sympathetic to his fellowmen and at times even indulgent towards their common failings and frailties. It so happened once that a lay worker of Seva Pratishthan, whose misdemeanour had irked everyone around decided to marry. On account of this he approached the cashier and requested for advance payment of his salary that he might be able to meet the expenses for marriage. The cashier duly refused. Word reached Naresh Maharaj who was the Secretary of the hospital. Maharaj heard the case and granted his request despite his poor past behavioural record, observing with his characteristic gentleness, " Let him behave as he does in the office but on that score , shall he not marry ?" Insignificant incident perhaps but how catholic the spirit of the Swami !

Swami Gahanananda was a true karma-yogi. He worked hard to bring up the hospital and literally looked upon his work as worshipful service to Thakur. He used to say," I feel better under great pressure of work." When a monk sought permission for an hour's rest after lunch, Maharaj said," It should be enough if you take rest by taking your meals slowly."

A monk was seriously injured in a traffic accident. He was brought to the Seva Pratishthan and placed under the care of orthopaedic surgeons. When the patient had recovered somewhat and was able to move about with the help of a crutch, Naresh Maharaj allotted for him some light work to infuse in him mental strength and instil self-confidence. He would also pay him visits to inquire about his health and would often carry for him fruits, sweets, health drinks and the like. Gahananandaji's personality was a beautiful blend of karma, jnana, bhakti and yoga, the type that Swamiji had set up before humanity as the future model of the perfect harmonic being.

Adapted by Sugata Bose from Swami Gahanananda, a Belur Math publication, 16 November, 2007.