GAHANANANDA 8

Times were turbulent in West Bengal and the unrest spread to every section of society. The working class people were subject to all sorts of nefarious influences and the staff of Seva Pratishthan was no exception. A section of the staff brought about a great deal of unrest in the hospital at a time when the day-to-day running of the hospital was greatly affected by the financial stringency that had to observed owing to an acute shortage of funds. During this period Swami Gahananandaji's fortitude and great strength of character were evident as he dealt with the most difficult situations with remarkable dexterity, never losing control of himself or the situation, never for once losing his fabled poise, and invariably bringing things under control through the sheer force of personality and, no less, his overflowing love for his, so to say, adversaries who always felt humbled in the end as realisation dawned on them that they ought not to behave in the way they were doing. Maharaj's extraordinary calmness in a tense situation saved many a day for the Mission when the least indiscretion of any sort in tackling a trouble-shooter might have had grave repercussions on the functioning of the hospital, not that, at any rate, there was not trouble enough to at times paralyse the working altogether. Still, it was the imperturbable nature of the Secretary Maharaj that carried the day eventually for the Mission and saved the hospital and its inmates. His brother monks were rattled by the worker unrest at times but trusted their Secretary Maharaj's leadership and awaited a brighter dawn.

Swami Gahananandaji had developed a most efficient method of work in the Seva Pratishthan, a method which he had himself imbibed from Most Revered Sankaranandaji Maharaj when he had been engaged in service activities under him. The method was as follows : when taking up a new assignment, a monk was to learn the details of the job from the person who was in charge earlier.This ensured a smooth transition to the new post by the newcomer and no diminution in the efficiency of work. If anyone expressed eagerness to take up added responsibility of work, Maharaj used to dissuade him saying,"Wait! Do not increase the work." If anyone erred in work, Maharaj would never censure him in public but would privately have a word with him, explaining his fault in an amicable way. He ever ensured that the dignity of the individual was never undermined for was not the individual a veritable representation of Thakur who was the Chosen Ideal of Maharaj?

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