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.
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