Modi's Mentors: Anantrao Kale, who gifted Gujarat many a school

Narendra Modi writes in this chapter of Juotipunj of Anantrao Kale, the educationist who set up many schools in Gujarat. Modi spent the mid-70s working with Kale to ensure the Janata Party’s win after the Emergency, only to be disappointed by their subsequent attack on the RSS. In the northern part of Ratnagiri district is Barepatan. About 60 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi was to arrive here to tell its residents how to dedicate themselves to independence. A large crowd gathered, and sat under an enormous shamiana. Among the nation’s leaders was a boy of 11, with blue eyes and a pink complexion, who had come from the village of Undil. Nobody had noticed him yet. As soon as Mahatmaji arrived, proceedings began. The little boy sang Vande Mataram. His sweet voice and fearless disposition astonished all present. After the song, Mahatma Gandhi sat the boy next to him and asked about him. The boy sported a gold bracelet on his wrist. Sitting next to Mahatmaji, a man said: “Give Mahatmaji your bracelet.” Without a moment’s hesitation, the child took it off and placed it in the Mahatma’s hand! [caption id=“attachment_1422355” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Narendra Modi. Agencies.[/caption] All present, including Mahatmaji, were astonished by the boy. Before anyone could say a word, the boy slipped off the stage and was lost in the crowd. He was Dr Hedgewarji’s beloved ‘Anta’, known to all in the Gujarat RSS as Anantraoji Kale. Anantraoji’s father had desired that a primary school be set up in their village, Undil. It was a tiny place, and he approached the taluka authorities. They agreed, but under one condition. If all the children of Undil in the first standard could clear their exam, the school would be set up! This condition was accepted. At that time Anantraoji was in the seventh standard in the Barepatan school. His father spoke to him about the condition. Anantraoji took a year off from school and dedicated himself to helping the students of standard I. The students passed and the school came to the village. Sacrificing himself for others, he then continued his studies. He was introduced to the RSS in Poona. He was entranced by the Sangh at a young age and came close to Dr Hedgewar, who inspired him. Once, his SSC finals and an RSS function came at the same time! Anantraoji decided with his friends that the RSS function must be attended. The moment he got the language paper in hand, he began writing, finishing an hour before the bell. The friends signalled to one another that they could leave. The invigilator said they should stay back an hour and revise their answers. The boys did not agree and reached the function on time. When the results came, it turned out he came first in the language paper. Thus, his studies and work in the Sangh always went together. In 1940 he went to Poona as a teacher in the Sangh Shiksha Varg. A new Sanskrit prayer had then been introduced. This was shown to Anantraoji and he was told it needed to be recited that evening. The Sangh Shiksha Varg has a busy all-day programme. But in the midst of all this, Anantraoji was able to get the poem memorised and recited. Once at an elocution contest, Veer Savarkar was present. He was impressed by Anantraoji’s oratory and approached the boy to meet him. This contact remained for the rest of his life. Anantrajoi visited him once a year, till Savarkarji passed away. In Poona’s Sangh Shiksha Varg, a Swayamsevak would save his time and spend it practising his vocal technique. He would therefore try to avoid the company of others. When Anantraoji noticed this, he would position himself with his friends opposite the singer at meal-time. They would then mime the singing and sitar-playing, irritating the singer. The musician complained to Dr Hedgewarji, who summoned Anantraoji and said: “Bhai, why are you troubling that Sudhir Phadke?” That was it. And the famous singer Sudhir Phadke thus became Anantraoji’s friend. Under Dr Hedgewarji’s influence, Anantraoji left the comfort of family and at a young age dedicated himself to the Sangh. He was employed with Maharashtra’s famed Joshi Construction and came to Gujarat. Near Kheda, the bridge over the Vatrak was then being built. His mind and body were dedicated to this task but his heart was with the RSS. He quickly learnt the Gujarati language and began the Sangh’s work there. He quit his job at Joshi Construction the moment the bridge was built. He forgot Maharashtra and associated himself with Gujarat. He set himself up in Nadiad, and quickly set up a group of like-minded people. Once, a Swayamsevak insisted that he take a whole head of cauliflower. However, there wasn’t enough money to have both a roti and the vegetable. So the day’s flour was kept in reserve and supper was an enjoyable meal of boiled cauliflower. The Syawamsevak was delighted that the gift was accepted graciously and would regularly bring vegetables. For days, Anantraoji lived on boiled fare, saving the money he spent on roti. This money was set aside for bus-fare in case someone needed to be sent it is true that he loved to sweets. One or two kilos of shrikhand, jalebi or ice-cream was as nothing to him. But he never ever used the money he got as Gurudakshina (from other Swayamsevaks) for his own enjoyment. Every summer, Gujarat has a Sangh Shiksha Varg, a month-long camp in which 500 Karyakartas gather. Guruji Golwalkar would attend the camp and with him always came Dr Abaji, bearing baskets of mangoes. This tradition went on unbroken, but nobody knew where the fruit was from. Only now has it been revealed that they came from Anantraoji’s home in Ratnagiri, from his family. He revealed almost nothing of himself. When his mother passed away in 1946, he left for home. When the Karyakartas wanted to send him a letter of condolence, they couldn’t because nobody knew even the same of his village! Though his mother tongue was Marathi, he had composed a poem in rhyme in Gujarati. Swayamsevaks sing many of his verses without knowing their author. He wasn’t just a poet, he was a fine singer and an even better teacher. Whenever he was unwell, he took care to ensure nobody wasted their time on him. During the troubles (AP: Modi may be referring to the ban on the RSS following Gandhi’s assassination or the Emergency), a gathering of the RSS’s national functionaries was held in Ahmedabad. Because of an accident, Anantraoji couldn’t walk around in that period. So as not to trouble the others, he left to take up a room in the neighbourhood of Paldi, where there were no arrangements for his comfort. In the crisp cold of winters, he lacked warm clothes. Once Nathabhai returned from a visit to Delhi, bringing a shawl with him which he gifted Anantraoji. He liked the shawl but when he learnt it cost a hundred rupees, he returned it. As spartan as he was with himself, he was giving to the Karyakartas. During the troubles, a Pracharak called Maganbhai was caught when underground. He was in jail with nothing. As winter started, someone came to visit him in Bhavnagar jail, with a sweater and a blanket. Anantraoji, even in the period of stress, did not forget his fellow Karyakartas and it was he who had sent the items. Vajradapi kathorani mruduni kusumadapi (great men can be gentle as flowers and hard as diamonds) - this saying was true of Anantraoji. Once we friends were discussing something - what was the definition of paristhiti-nirpeksh (independence in all situations)? A friend said: “It means Anantraoji”. He was always the same no matter what the situation. Never depressed in adversity, never triumphant in victory. He rose at 430 am no matter what the season, getting ready and playing his flute in a corner. Ya nisha sarv bhutatam tasyam jagriti samyami (night for the rest is the time of awakening for the self-controlled). This line may well have been written for him. The same white dhoti-shirt, the same old frames, the dust-covered, heavy mojdis, the bag in hand and the radiant face. He was no different in 1980 than he was in 1940. The hair turned white in time. On a bus or even when walking he would continue his work and that was reciting from the Gita. He had memorised it as a child. He had great interest in education at a young age and from his efforts came great results. The Saraswati school in Dholka, the Abhinav High School in Siddhpur, the Adarsh High School in Kadi and in Disa and the distant Saraswati Vidyalaya for the tribals. All these are good centres of learning today. Though he was founder of all these, he was trustee in none. Nor was he in their advisory committees. But all these schools can take pride in being founded by him. He was very good at gauging the immediate and long-term consequences of decisions in Sangh work. He would only rarely offer his opinion, but when it came it would turn out to be accurate. This story from the time of the troubles is worth telling today. Sangh-workers had decided to ensure the victory of the Janata Party. All of us, along with Anantraoji were anticipating the win, and so it turned out. But there was one difference. Before the results, he had said: “It is important to get these people to win in the interest of democracy. But once they take power, they will begin to abuse the RSS, so be prepared to tolerate this.” Many, myself included, did not swallow what he said. We carried great hopes. But he turned out to be right, of course. The Sangh was made scapegoat by these people. Anantraoji’s experience and far-sightedness was demonstrated. We were disillusioned. Forty years of dedicated service in Gujarat! Many, many events! Many experiences! How much trouble undertaken! Gujarat is indebted to such a life and there is only one way to repay this debt. That we follow his footsteps. With our effort, our sacrifice and our principles.