(16) Great Bravery: 

When Muslim fanatics went berserk in Nagpur in 1932,  rioted and beat up some Sangha Swayamsevaks, the news came as a shock to Doctorjee who was then in Wardha city.  He immediately returned to Nagpur, and began to walk towards the injured Swayamsevaks' homes. 

His path would have taken him through the worst of the rioting areas. Friends warned him against going. When he did not listen, they implored him to take at least a "Lathi" (Stout Stick) with him for self-defense. Upon this, he said: "How can such an inanimate stick protect me? Let me see who dares to come forward to attack me!" Then he set forth, walking and went through the rioting areas.  He reached the swayamsevaks’ homes and arranged for their medical care.  He then returned, walking again through the so called "dangerous" areas. Who could have dared to cross paths with such a Lion-like man of courage?

On a Saturday evening after attending the Upanayana ceremony for the son of Shri Shankar Rao Bharat at Adegaon (which was 32 miles away from Nagpur and 10 miles by dirt road from the Nagpur-Amaravati highway), Doctorjee decided to return to Nagpur, so that he could be at the Sunday morning Sangha Parade.  This parade was a highly popular weekly event in the early days of Sangha, and Doctorjee made it a point to attend it.

Even though Shri Bharat was a close friend and associate, Doctorjee politely turned down his request to stay for the weekend.  Since it was already dark and there was no transportation available from this remote village to Nagpur, Doctorjee and his companions began to walk towards the highway. In pitch black night, stumbling on stones, rocks and dense overgrowth, Doctorjee stepped on a sharp, needle-shaped wood fork that lodged itself deep inside his foot, causing intense pain.  Steeling himself against it with iron determination, he kept going and the group somehow made to the Nagpur-Amaravati highway after midnight. 

Without pausing to rest, Doctorjee began walking along the highway towards Nagpur, which was still 22 miles away.  After a few miles a late night bus going towards Nagpur came by, and the driver, being from Nagpur, immediately stopped the bus when he recognized the limping Doctorjee, in his headlight.  He implored Doctorjee to come on board along since the bus was extremely over crowded.  Doctorjee politely refused to board the bus also. He said : "I will come only if all of us in the group are allowed to come on board". In spite of his swollen, bleeding foot, intense pain and exhaustion, Doctorjee did not forsake his companions, even when they wanted him to go. 

Finally, the driver allowed the whole group to come aboard. Since there really was no room, some Swayamsevaks sat on the bus engine, while some others sat on its roof. Some how, they made it to Nagpur in the wee hours - by about 2:30 A.M.

Imagine the surprise and happiness on the faces of proud Nagpur Swayamsevaks when they saw Doctorjee with his ubiquitous, happy smile at the parade ground at 6:30 AM!

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