My well-respected and affectionate father, Bhaguji Dullaji Hamand, passed away when I was nine years old. This tragic situation befell upon my kind mother, the Late Rajubai, as a devastating shock. In these conditions, my Mama (maternal uncle) Shri. Sheth Raju Babaji gave us refuge. My Mama considered education to be indispensable and held it in high regard. One of his kinfolk, Rajeshri Nana, was my schoolmate. Nana was notorious and short-tempered by nature. His mind was forever inclined towards playing. To instill a love of learning in Nana, Mama sent us off to Bhalekar’s newly established Dinbandhu boarding house in Pune. We were enrolled in the first standard in the New English School. After two or three months my mother came to check up on us. She was instinctively observant. After staying in the boarding house for two days and inspecting it closely, she found the arrangements to be lacking. She felt terrible after seeing our worsening health. She let my Mama know the same, who brought us back to Mumbai.
At the time Mahatma Jotirao Phule was well-acquainted with almost every leader from the Telugu community. Among them, Late Karadi Lingu Jaya, Late Ramayya Venkayya Ayyavaru, my Mama Raju Babaji, my mother Late Rajubai and a few others insisted that they would send their children to him if he provided shelter and education to them. Mahatma Phule agreed to their request. Accordingly, Karadi Lingu Jaya sent his two sons — Late Yallappa and Venkayya — and nephew Linganna; similarly my mother and Mama sent both of us to Pune at Jotirao’s place. There, more children joined us. Phule arranged for our stay in a house near his own, where we would all live and study. We used to play mardani khel (physical sports meant for young men and boys) in a small playground in front of the house, and our meals were provided at his home. A Brahmin widow named ‘Rangutai’ was employed to work at the boarding, and we used to get two simple meals a day. We would get delicious meals on Sundays which were accompanied by a sweet. Jotirao’s wife Savitribai had adopted a son named ‘Yashvant’. Yashvant and Jotiraos’s cousin’s grandson, Gajananrao, would mingle with us.
Jotirao emphasised on the importance of studying in Marathi. He would say that children should receive a good education in Marathi. He enrolled the two of us in the erstwhile Marathi School Number 1, near Reay market[1]Currently known as Mahatma Phule Market, previously named after Lord Reay, erstwhile Governor of Bombay in 1885. in the fifth standard, and enrolled other students who were studying in English in the Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya. He was highly vigilant about our punctuality in school, our progress in studies and so on. We were not allowed to go out after nine at night. On every Saturday, he would summon us to his personal chambers, either for sharing words of wisdom or for a game of poetry recitation. The children would compete with each other to excel at poetry recitation. Once Late Ramaiya Venkayya Ayyavaru and, on another occasion, my maternal uncle were visiting Jotirao Phule. After dinner, Jotirao set us up for another round of poetry recitation. Witnessing the lot of us being poetry enthusiasts, both of them were delighted! They handed over some money to Jotirao for snacks for all of us. Jotirao would indulge students with sweets whenever we received such tokens of appreciation. He would teach us at home, and be very keen about teaching grammar, and mardani khel as well.
Annual exams took place at the end of the year. Most of the students from the three boarding houses and both of us passed the exams. Nana and I were then promoted to the sixth standard in the Marathi school. Just two-three months later, owing to my elder sister’s illness, my mother brought me home. After a few days my sister passed away. Grief-stricken by the loss of a child, my mother didn’t want to let me go away from her. Thus, my schooling in Pune came to an end.
According to the naive understanding of my younger self, I can only say that Jotirao Phule treated us as a father would. And Savitribai loved us like a mother. He was an ardently truthful speaker. He could not tolerate deceitful speech. He was short-tempered and stern by nature. His interest lied in working for the society. Everybody called Jotirao ‘Tatya’ and Savitribai ‘Kaku’. He was of the opinion that the evil in the Hindu religion should be weeded out. He was an able reformer of the Hindu religion. He had a magnificent and commanding countenance. His big eyes held a sparkle within them. I must have stayed with him only for fifteen months or so. But in that duration I benefited a lot from the Marathi education and practical knowledge I received there and it proved important in my further studies. I educated my children with the wisdom he imparted, and not only did it make their primary education effortless, but there were no obstacles in their higher education either. Whenever I recall this, I am always reminded of Jotirao. I am indebted to him for the experience and wisdom I inculcated in the short span of time I spent with him. Without doubt, he holds a high place amongst the greatest men of our country.
(Sambha Bhaguji Hamand’’s memory has been translated by Aarya Pathak, edited by Ninad Pawar and Rucha Satoor, and peer-reviewed by Suraj Thube.)
Notes
| ↑1 | Currently known as Mahatma Phule Market, previously named after Lord Reay, erstwhile Governor of Bombay in 1885. |
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