62. Doctorjee's Friendships Transcended Politics:

In late 1920s, Nagpur had two political activists' groups - one of Dr. Moonje, and the other of Barrister Abhyankar. Naturally, they were arch rivals, and their rallies and fiery speeches included seething criticisms of each other. Barrister Abhyankar was a grandstanding speaker; his speech had liberal dosages of foul and abusing words for his rivals.

In one such campaign speech, attended by thousands of people, Barrister Abhyankar, in the heat of the passionate moment, declared that "Dr. Moonje was 100% Fraud, pure and simple". I was sitting next to Doctorjee in the audience. At once, Doctorjee thundered; "The Barrister (i.e. Barrister Abhyankar) is himself a 100% Fraud, pure and simple!" 

Outraged at this, Barrister Abhyankar challenged from the stage: "Who is this shouting? If you have guts, stand up and identify yourself!" Doctorjee at once stood up, and thundered: "I am the one who has spoken. I dare you to prove your statement to the public with concrete evidence!"

The vast audience was stunned for a moment. Soon, scuffles and individual arguments broke out, and some of Dr. Moonje's supporters in the audience were joined by Barrister Abhyankar's supporters in shouting matches and even physical "roughening-up"!  The crescendo of the melee was so loud that the meeting was closed off by its organizers, and people went home. Doctorjee, myself  and some others went to Barrister Abhyankar's home, to discuss matters. To the utter amazement of us, as well as Barrister Abhyankar's supporters who were present, tea and cookies were served. Doctorjee and the Barrister were sitting next to each other, talking and joking like the old friends they were!

Doctorjee cultivated such close personal relationships with even those who were ideologically opposed to him, that it never ceased to amaze others! He often said; " We may subscribe to diametrically opposite ideologies, but after all, aren't we the children of Mother Bharat?"

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