In the Baba’s house was a neem tree (Margosa}. As the two women were sitting talking, a Mohammadan woman from the vegetable growers’ class named Tabo came running. She wailed and cried that they had been mined. She continued to cry, but would not tell anything. Anyhow the woman was pacified by Subhag Ji «’ho asked her to tell her in plain words what was the misfortune that had befallen her.
The woman replied that her family had some land of their -own and therest they had cultivated as tenants. Over the entire piece they had planted chillies. The crop was good. The Persian wheel irrigated their cultivation but now suddenly the walls of the well had collapsed. The rains also had failed. The canal water too had been stopped by the headman. The crop was withering and with another week of drought it would be mined. This was what had plunged them into despair. Subhag Ji suggested to her to approach the headman to restore the canal water, but the woman replied that they were poor and could not bribe the man. The woman said that their neighbour's son had become a Government Officer and through his influence the entire water had been diverted towards their own fields. They were just helpless. There appeared to be no hope for them in that terrible situation.
The woman said, “Thisis the season of great drought. The sun blazesseverely. You know, my child, the chilly crop is very sensitive. My husband and my son have been dejected since last night. We face utter ruin, What should we do?” Subhag Ji said, “This is indeed very painful, but your men folk should bestir themselves and go to the canal officer and failing that to the head of the Department.
The woman named Tabo said. “It is useless. The officers have been heavily bribed. We have no money to bribe anyone
and no one in our family is educated. Who will listen to us?" Subhag Ji still advised her to think of making some efforts. Turning towards the Barrister’s wife, Subhag Ji said, “You see how much suffering there is in the world? This is because men have turned indifferent to God. They do not think of their future. There is no human sympathy. Justice is gone and men behave like beasts. What good is education if it does not teach human sympathy? Schools and colleges with lofty buildings are useless if humanity is not promoted by them. How good are the new inventions like railways, telegraph and the steam ship? The right plan would be to take human beings away from bestiality. The canal officer you know is charged with providing water to several villages. Of what use is he if he does not behave in a humane manner’? You see, their whole family is in distress. He has received bribe or has accepted recommendations. Either way, it is an evil and irreligious act. What is the use of his education and high post? God has entrusted the distribution of water to him so that he should act justly. In this season of drought he should be like Indra, the god of rain, but he is behaving like an animal. He is thinking of nothing except his own material benefits. Should injustice be done to him he will cry for justice. Now he is tyrannizing over those who are placed under his power. Look at that other young man who has been appointed Tehsildar. Is his function nothing more than accepting bribes and destroying poor people’s crop? Thatis why my father says that human beings are still animals; only a rare one behaves in a humane manner. The education of ordinary people or the wealth they have are useless. They are like people carrying a lamp on their palm and yet falling into a ditch.”
In the meantime the Baba came there. Subhag Ji related to him the sad story of that woman. Tabo pleaded with him to do something for them. The Baba said that in the village meetingplace he had heard about this. He was feeling thirsty and after taking a glass of whey he would do something. He told her to go home and console her menfolk. By God’s grace they shall get water. He exhorted her to have faith in God and Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who stood for the rights of the poor.
The Baba after taking whey, put a shovel on his shoulder and went to the house of the Kambos. They received him with respect. The Baba began with Guru Ji's words, “Ifa man lives without honour, all that man consumes is evil.” He said, “Our honour is lost. A young man of your family after receiving education is bringing misfortune to the village. Education is a good thing, but if it is made an instrument of oppression of what use is it?”
They asked him the meaning of all this. He told them not to mind what he had said, but behave with compassion. They assured him that they would follow his advice. The Baba then handedthem the shovel and asked them to tum the water towards the fields of those poor people. The Kambos said, “Parting with water is harder these days than parting with blood, but we will carry out your wish.” The Baba said, “This poor man’s well has collapsed, so he is in need of water.” The Kambo objected and said that he was asking them to irrigate the field of a Mohammedan. The Baba said, “Friends, this field is of Baba Nanak Ji in whose eyes all are equal.” The Kambos who were Sikhs still persisted and objected to the Baba irrigating a Mohammedan’s field. The Baba said, “Know my friends, | am as good a Sikh as any. Sikhs, Hindus and Mohammedans have to live in this country and cannot go elsewhere. Let us live happily as friends. You should not forget, Guru Nanak Dev Ji has taught us all to be kind to others, and forbidden injustice to anyone in the name of religion. You know of the terrible drought and give to each one his just share of water. What good is it that you gain at the cost of the ruin of another family? This would be behaving like animals” The Kambos said, “We have got water by offering money and saved our cotton crop.” The Baba said, “You have rather destroyed their chilly crop. It is through your action that the other party has suffered.” The Baba tried to argue with them that not the canal officers, but those who had corrupted them were responsible for this poor man’s loss. The Kambos argued that they had only harmed a Mohammedan.
The Baba said, “Don’t look upon him as a Mohammedan, but as a brother and neighbour. No war is going on. Therefore,
there is no point in harming others. Supposing the Mohammedans were tocome again in power. You know what they did. You should listen to the narrative of the epic Suraj Parkash’. You are Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s followers and brave heroes. Your role should be to do good and not to behave as tyrants.”
The Kambos said to the Baba, “What you say is right, but we cannot bear to destroy our cottoncrop.” The Baba pointed out that when the well would be repaired they would be compensated. Their cotton crop has already been irrigated andis blooming, while the other man’s chillies would be mined by their refusal. The Baba said, we have the power to get the water diverted to the Mohammedan ’s field. He explained to them that the canal officer was unwell and undergoing treatment with the Doctor. At the Doctor's instance the canal officer would divert the water to the Mohammedan’s field. The other way, he said, was that he would go to the district Head of irrigation and point out to him that no law permitted stopping the water for a standing crop. No man’s turn for water could be confiscated. The Baba said, “I have suggested to you the fraternal method so that brothers should not have to knock at Court’s doors. It is through our folly that judges and police officers and court clerks flourish. ! want a brother to behave to others like a brother. Remember, my son, your own son has been appointed Tehsildar. The entire village helped in his education. When your house collapsed everyone in the village helped rebuild it. Now when you have got prosperity you should help others. With your son’s salary you can get on, but if this poor man’s crop is ruined his whole family will starve. So in God’s name do justice. Do not let your prosperity make you a tyrant.”
While this conversation was going on the Doctor happened to come there. He had heard about this new problem faced by the Baba and rushed towards the fields. He was apprehensive that because of the great drought, there might be some clash between the farmers and the Baba. As he listened to the dispute going on between the Baba and the
Kambo farmers, he said, “People who are used to force will never listen to reason. These people are unintelligent. We had subsidized the education of their son. When he was to be appointed Tehsildar, they got my recommendation, but you see what return they are making. To do good to evil-doers amounts to doing evil to the good. Let us leave them alone.” Then turning to the Kambos he said, “You who have turned so arrogant should know that the field of Khaira will get water and you will be prosecuted for lifting his share. I have got the letter that your son wrote to the canal officer to do this injustice. Then the Tehsildar also may be prosecuted and jailed.” Tuming to the Baba he said, “These are worthless people. It is no use pleading with them.” The Doctor was very angry. His argument frightened the Kambos. Then they decided to follow the doctor and the Baba. Fear and a little shame also were uppermost in their minds. Moreover they knew how popular the Baba was and any misbehaviour with him would lose them goodwill in the village. So, they thought discretion to be better part of valour, and decided to oblige the Baba. What influenced them most was fear. So they tried a little diplomacy and said to the Baba in the tone of entreaty, “Baba, please don’t be angry. We were only having it out with Khaira for an old grievance. We will do what you say.” The Doctor snubbed them and told them to behave and apologize to the Baba. The Kambos became still more humble in their tone. They said, “Baba, you are our father, forgive us. Take the water wherever you like.” The Baba said, “You have submitted to threats. You have not behaved in a proper manner.” In the meantime a few people from the village tumed up there. They offered to share water from their fields. The Baba who had _ been’ saddened by _ the hard-heartedness shown by the Kambos now felt heartened on hearing of this noble offer. He thought of those words from the Granth Sahib:
“All hearts are like jewels, break not any. Should you seek union with the Divine Beloved, break not any heart.” g0 0090
he Doctor reached the canal officer’s home. The Doctor’s
treatment had cured him. Finding him in areceptive mood, the Doctor started a conversation and said, “My friend, You are not a follower of Nanak, but you certainly venerate him.” The officer said that he looked upon Guru Nanak Dev Ji as an incarnation of God. The doctor said, “Have you heard that Guru Ji has castigated those who have received education and yet misbehave? The officer said, “His words should be written in letters of gold.” The doctor said, “More important is to have faith inhis teaching, and toact upon it.” The Doctor then pointed out to him that he had done something wrong. He told him, “Sin makes the heart and the body impure. Itis our moral conduct that gives us the strength to resist the attacks of disease. It is only truthful conduct that gives strength. Sin gradually impairs the system and weakens it.”
The canal officer turned pale but asked the Doctor what was he being charged with? The Doctor said, “Don’t you know that a poor man planted chillies in his field and invested all he had in it. But you deprived him of his turn of canal water. He could not bribe you. What you did was a sin. The Govemment appointed you to act justly, but you have started misbehaving. You forget that this will ruin the whole family. Should his crop be ruined, he will be a total destitute. May be they will tun beggars or criminals. Do you realize this will be the consequence of your injustice?”
The canal officer turned pale-white. The Doctor had revealed to him the truth about him. The Doctor said, “I am not saying anything out of malice. Just as I have cured your bodily ailment, I want also to do the same to your mind.”
The canal officer said, “To tell you the truth, I have not taken any bribe though [have accepted the recommendation of the Tehsildar who is Kambo’s son’. The Doctor asked him if that was not wrong? The Officer said, “But this is the way of official behaviour. All officers accommodate each other’s recommendations. This is give and take.” The Doctor said, “Correct, but God will not forgive injustice. Guru Ji has said: “In God's court are truth and falsehood weighed and falsehood is at a loss.” Furthermore, Guru Ji has said: “Learning should induce in us the desire to do good to others.”
The canal officer was a man given over to routine and had never indulged in high thinking. The Doctor said, “Thinking is what distinguishes man from the animal. If man gives up thinking and does not do justice, he is no better than an animal.” The canal officer said, “He was unhappy to hear all this.” The Doctor said, “Please know, where | find people misbehaving, I can also administer to them the bitter medicines.” The canal officer said, he would immediately release Khaira’s water if the Doctor so desired. The Doctor said, “This does not satisfy me. You did wrong because someone made such a recommendation. What [I want is that you should do justice without any pressure. I want you to use your power justly. Power has a way of being misused. Strength should be used only to enforce justice. You will not mind force being used against others, but when it is used against you, you will not like it. How will you react if a complaint were made about your injustice to your superior officer? If he does justice, you will certainly be in trouble?” The canal officer said that he knew quite a few ruses to escape. The Doctor retorted, “Another person may know a few more and if determined, can bingyou to book.” The canal officer said, “Such officers are very rare. Ordinarily what we recommend is accepted until the highest level.” The Doctor said, “But that means, injustice prevails.” The canal officer a greed, but asked the Doctorto indicate what he wanted.
The Doctor said, “I do not want to order you to do this or that, but wish to create within you the feeling of humanity
which in Guru Ji's words is avoidance of causing injury. This would entail justice, truth and respect for religion. The poor man Khaira should be given a turn of water if that is justice. If not, even then do something to save him from ruin. Of course, in all calamities we must submit to God’s will. But don’t do ‘anything on my recommendation. I don’t want you to do right because of my personal relations with you. What I want is to create the impulse within you to do it. This will give you joy of mind and body and ensure a happy future for you.”
As the two sat talking, the canal officer felt as if some presence suddenly came and, shaking him by the shoulder whispered into his ears, “Sinners are ever ruined.” This made the canal officer swoon. The Doctor stood by respectfully, for this was the presence which had always rescued those in distress and saved Subhag Ji when she was going to drown herself in the river.
The Canal Officer came to senses after about five minutes. His nature was not the same. He felt a strange coolness of joy. He felt the whole world was full of blessing. Spontaneous benedictions escaped his lips, and a strange rapport was established between him and the Doctor. As Guru Ji says, even with a particle of devotion in man’s mind, Inexpressible is his praise. There was an atmosphere of silence. The Doctor left for his place. In the evening when he came to look up the Barrister, he found that Khaira’s field was being irrigated. Some adjustment had been made and none had been deprived of his turn for water.
subhag went to the Doctor’s village. The Doctor’s wife was
crying and Subhag Ji consoled her. What made the Doctor's wife cry was a letter informing her that her younger brother. hadbeenkilledin battle. This youngmanwasreligious-minded and was a practising doctor. He was devoted to the service of the poor. When the war came the martial spirit in him was aroused. So he decided to serve on the battle-field.
The young doctor was thinking, that Bhai Ghanayia Ji too was a devoted Sikh, who was given the duty by Guru Gobind Singh Ji singh to serve nd ac fighters. He was the originator of the seva Panthi organisation. Bhai Ghanayia Ji saw the vision of Guru Ji in friend and foe. When Guru Ji asked him why he had served the enemy soldiers, he replied that whosoever he served, he felt he was serving Guru Ji himself. So he was inspired by Bhai Ghanayia Ji’s example and thus he enlisted in the Army Medical Corps. His service was noble. Officers and men, friends and foes were all pleased with him. Suddenly in a volley of firing from' the enemy he was hit. This news was communicated to his sister. His sister was a devotee, but her heart was human. She tried to console herself by religious texts. Still consolation would not come. She would not allow subhag to leave and implored her to stay with her for a few days.
The Doctor's wife saying, “I cannot restrain my grief, though Ireproach myself that being a Sikh why am Inot able to control myself?” Subhag Ji told her that love was a geziuine feeling. To.cry in love was no blame. Yet the heart should be turned to God. Weshould think of God andrendér thanks giving to Him in all situations.
The Doctor’s wife said, “A struggle was going on within her. While devotion tried to make her firm, love dragged her towards grief. This struggle was going on and after every onslaught of grief, devotion came to sustain her.” Subhag Ji replied that in a situation where the heart is shaken by grief we must pray to God, and supplicate for devotion. Such supplication did influence the heart. The Doctor's wife said that she had heard from her husband that he had read a book to bring consolation in suffering. The Doctor’s wife asked if there was such a book in Gurmukhi.
subhag said, she remembered now that in the ‘Khalsa Samachar’ a serial had appeared which narrated the story of a olkh lady who overcome her deep suffering. Ultimately they found that this serial had been published in book form and the Baba had a copy. So this was procured and Subhag Ji read out the narrative to the doctor's wife.
seven Terrible Nights