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In June 1940, only 2-3
days before his death, P.P.Doctorjee, in a weak faltering voice, asked this
question to the narrator of this episode:
“If a senior worker of Sangha dies, will you conduct his funeral and last
rites with full military style and honors?” Tears welled in the eyes of the
worker, but mustering all his courage, he said: “P.P.Doctorjee it is time to
take your medicine, let us do that.” But P.P.Doctorjee still pursued that
topic: “However high or senior the worker may be, the final rites cannot be
in the military style.”
Then he said: “P.P. Shri Guruji alone fully understands all the aspects of
Sangha. Many people have their own notions of what Sangha is or what it
should be; but P.P. Shri Guruji has the most scientific, all encompassing and
clear vision.” The narrator of this episode kept these words to himself.
Within 2 more days, P.P.Doctorjee passed away. The very same question of
military honors for the last rites came up, in a fast and furious debate!
Many senior associates of P.P.Doctorjee pitched in, saying that since
P.P.Doctorjee was a great soul, who built an organization whose discipline is
legendary, he should be accorded his funeral and last rites with full
military honors. What a powerful challenge it was to P.P. Shri Guruji, who
was just installed as the Sarsangha Chalak (Chief of Sangha)!
However, P.P. Shri Guruji was personification of peace and calm. Firmly
stating a ‘No’ to the military honors, he explained that Sangha is a vast
family, not a militia. P.P.Doctorjee’s words proved to be prophetic!
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