Darshan

2

The Chosen One (Prem Malik)

Prem Malik

Just before the Mother's birthday, around the 15^th of February, we got news from Delhi that Toshi'S brother-in-law, who was quite young, had passed away because of heart attack. This was too much of a shock for Toshi and me and we therefore decided to immediately leave for Delhi. We informed the Mother and left the same evening, arriving there the next day. I had, before leaving Auroville or Pondicherry, said to Roger that I would not be able to come back, I felt, for at least a fortnight because all the ceremonies that are connected with the passing away of somebody so close would keep me in Delhi for at least two weeks. Roger was not happy because he told me that the Mother had asked them to plan something very significant for the commencement of the concreting of the foundation of the first pillar of Matrimandir on the 21^st of February. I expressed my difficult situation and told him that it was not possible for me to be there on this significant day. However Mother had different plans it seems because, as Roger told me later, She told him that ten people—five from the Ashram and five from Auroville— will represent Her at the time of the commencement of the concreting by dropping the first stones into the mixer. And while naming these ten persons, She named me. Roger at that time had a strong urge to tell the Mother— as he knew that I had gone away to Delhi, and I would not be back on the 21^st of February—but felt somehow or the other that it was not appropriate for him to mention it to the Mother because if She was naming me She might have a different plan. And so it was, as we found out later. When I arrived in Delhi, it was indeed a very tragic scene because Toshi's brother-in-law who passed

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away was quite young and his wife was in absolute misery. However, as time passed I found, after two days, that I was not very useful at that time in Delhi because all the work that had to be done—concerning the papers in connection with the various investments etc. that the deceased had left behind— could not be done in the circumstances which were prevailing at that time. And I told Toshi at that stage that it would be of little use for her sister Dhiraj if I stayed on in that situation but would be more useful if I came back later when the 11^th day ceremonies were over and things were more peaceful. I can then try to go through all the papers with her and help wherever it was necessary. Toshi was not at all clear as to what should be done because it was a very difficult decision to make. So she asked me to speak to her elder sister. When I spoke to her, she said that she saw the point that I was making and that it would be more useful for me to be there later to help Dhiraj with all the work that need to be done. But she was not sure whether she could allow me to leave. So strangely enough she asked me to talk to Dhiraj. And when I spoke to her she felt that I was approaching the issue in the right manner and that I would serve no useful purpose by staying on at that time. And she asked me to come back after 15 days when things would be in a better shape for me to be able to help her. This was something which I frankly did not expect. But she took a very pragmatic view and I was then able to leave for Pondicherry on the 20^th morning. It was totally unexpected.

While leaving Pondicherry for Delhi I had given my house to a dear friend Gen. Tewari who with his family was visiting Pondicherry at that time and they were staying in the house. When I reached Pondicherry it was late night and when I went to the house I found that they were all fast asleep because they were to leave for Auroville Matrimandir site early in the morning by bus. However I got a room to share with another Aurovilian, Yusuf, who was staying in the guesthouse below my house. And early next morning I got the battery of my car ready to go to Auroville. When I arrived there I found that there were more than two to three thousand people lining up to drop a stone or a pebble in the mixer as was decided by the Mother. But I did not know that I was supposed to be in the group of ten who

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had to represent the Mother by dropping the first few pebbles. As per the normal practice I joined the queue but something in me kept urging me to do something. So I told the young man from the Ashram, who was on duty supervising so that nobody broke the queue that I had to go and see Roger which was very important. He was hesitant but I promised him that I would come back to my place in the queue and cause no problems. He knew me, this young boy, and therefore he allowed me—after having got the promise from me—to go to see Roger. When I moved towards the Matrimandir site where the mixer was all set and ready, I met Ramanathan, who jumped on seeing me because he knew that I was not expected for two weeks. He told me that it was an absolute miracle that I was there. I said, "Why? What's so big, so great about it, except that I myself am very happy to be there on this very significant occasion?" But he said, "You better go and see Roger; he will tell you." So I went looking for Roger and I met him. He also jumped for joy. I couldn't understand what was happening. Then Roger went and spoke to the leader of the group which was looking after the queue and told him something and he allowed me to go and join the small group of people at the head of the queue. I did that without having any idea as to what was happening and Roger had no time to speak to me at that stage. So, as we were told, ten of us, five from the Ashram and five from Auroville, were handed a stone each to drop it into the mixer on behalf of the Mother. This really struck me as something very strange; very welcome but nothing short of a miracle. The miracle became clearer to me when later in the morning Roger told me the whole story of how the Mother had included me in the group of ten who were to represent Her for dropping those stones in the mixer. Believe me; I could have collapsed at that time because it was such a remarkable miracle. And I could not comprehend the total significance of the whole thing which dawned on me slowly as the day progressed.

The next day there was another very interesting incident. When I was told by the person in charge of the Ashram transport Abhay Singh that I had sent him a very strange telegram. And that was indeed very strange because the telegram said, "Mother arriving 20^th evening flight. Send the car." I was absolutely

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flabbergasted. I do remember clearly my reaction because I broke down at that time. How could this happen? I was very clear that I had put the telegram in a different way. I had said, "Arriving in Pondicherry that evening." But somehow or other the telegram as submitted and as communicated included the word 'Mother'. This touched me very deeply and I really fell on my knees in gratitude to the Mother.

A vast surrender was his only strength.

Book III, 2

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