SHRI NATHJI'S PORTRAIT AND EMMA

When my father, Shri Bhola Nathji (1902-1992) who was later the Founder of the World Prayer Day for Peace, was in the Himalayas of Mussoorie in the 1930's he met an artist of great repute, Shri Roop Kishore, who ran a wonderful and spacious Art Gallery in that part of town in the Roxy Building.

 Many a leading public figure including prime minister Nehru and Gandhi had their portraits made by him and exhibited in his shop as life size wooden cut outs.

When he saw the divine beauty of HH Shri Nathji he prayed to be given a chance to paint his portrait. And so the portrait which is shown in this post came into exitence colored by the hands of this venerable artist of the town.

As the portrait adorned his show case more and more people came to be anamoured of it and many wished to purchase it and keep it in their homes. But the artist would not let go of the picture, it had become the soul of his shop. Ever since the portrait was placed there the visitors to his gallery doubled and trebled an kept on increasing in numbers a never ending flood.

There was an old lady in Mussoorie, a woman of considerable means and very advanced in years. She made a plea to the Artist that the portrait had robbed her heart and she could not live without it. She was wiling to pay any amount that he asked to purchase it and keep it in her home.

At first the artist was reluctant to sell the portrait which had become the soul of his shop-- but when the old lady explained that she may not have many more years to live and would wish that this portrait be before her eyes before she left the world, the artist had no option but to sell it to her at a very nominal price.

AS soon as word got around in the town that Shri Nathji's potrait was no longer in the gallery, the townsfolk came and protested to the artist that the portrait was a place for them to come and pay homage to Shri Nathji , and the gallery had always felt like a shrine with the portrait, but now that the picture was gone it was a big loss to the town.

Then the artist tried very hard to get the portrait back from the old lady, but she said it was her life and she could not give it back.

The Artist came and told of his plight to Shri Nathji and asked him for a solution. Shri Nathji finally found a solution. He called the old lady to his home and said to her:

"Dear Mother!! I would wish to ask something of you! I am sure you will not refuse anything to your son!! I wish to ask of this portrait from you, I wish to keep it in my home where people can come and view it any time, which they cannot do in your house. "

"But, Nathji", said the old lady, "how will I live without it?"

And Shri Nathji said to her:

"Dear Mother! I promise you that after this portarit is gone from your house you will see me everywhere inside your house, you will see me in the walls, in the open windows and the skies, you will see me in each and every atom, in each and every leaf of your trees, each and every blade of grass, you will see me in your heart and soul, you will see me whenever you wish to see me and wherever you wish to see me -- and I promise you I shall always appear before you!"

And it was thus that the old lady gave the portrait to Shri Nathji which then hung on a wall inside his house and people would come in the hundreds and take a glimpse of it and bow before it and be filed with the blessings and benedictions they got from it.

The old lady on her part -- was the happiest woman on earth. No matter where she looked and no matter when she thought of Shri Nathji she always found him there. it was as if he was now a part of her heart soul and body and her home! It was as if he was there in the form of his portrait. She would ever afterwards narrate this miracle to all who came to visit her and said that she would be the happiest person on earth when she died with this image of Nathji before her eyes, heart and soul.

This historical portarit still hangs in the drawing room of my father, HH Shri Nathji at Mussoorie above a central wooden mantelpiece and visitors still come there and bow before it whenever they get the chance.