My days with Deendayalji

He was a commanding organiser
By Ramshankar Agnihotri

I had the occasion to see Pandit Deendayalji several times earlier with respected Shri Bhaurao Devras. But I got the opportunity to meet to him only in 1952-53. It was an unforgettable occasion at Jhandewalan Sangh Office. I had as yet only said namaskar to greet him when an astrologer intervened. He introduced himself as coming from Sanatan Dharma Sabha, Lahore. Without any hesitation he grabbed Deendayalji’s palm and said, “You’re destined to shine a lot but beware of the people who have come with you; they are likely to bring harm to you”. By that time he had withdrawn his hand and said, ”Please, don’t worry. It is a part of my work to take everybody along, be it some planet or some people. You must understand it and don’t worry”.

The astrologer was struck dumb but what Panditji said to him was the solution to the predicament for which I had come. Deendayalji belonged to UP and had come to Delhi. I was an editor of a daily evening newspaper in Delhi. I had come from Nagpur. Kashmir Satyagraha was at its peak. In Delhi leaders were in competition with each other. Everybody seemed to be trying to prove himself better. I wanted to seek his guidance as to what, in these circumstances, should be the policy of the paper. To whom should I give importance; whom should I ignore? That was my predicament. From what he told the astrologer, I got my answer without he telling it to me. We have to take everyone with us.
The first glimpse of Panditji painted a great picture of him: “For a great achievement, you must have a great heart”.

Before leaving Nagpur for Delhi I met RSS Sarsanghchalak late Shri Guruji. I told him that I had no experience to run a newspaper, and that too from capital Delhi. How would I succeed? He told me, Deendayalji is in Delhi, you don’t have to worry. On arrival in Delhi, I was surrounded by many problems for my paper “Aakashvani”.

While editing this paper, I happened to come face to face with Pt. Deendayalji’s role as a commander — the commander who kept himself fully abreast with everything happening around and inspired his men for victory. In another week, I had a second meeting with him. He asked me, “Find out who are the persons who beat satyagrahis in Delhi?”

I found out that when satyagrahi jathas came to Delhi from any State, they ensured that police from that State accompanied them. The State police made it a point to bring three-four history-sheeters (bad characters) with them. The Police had been instructed that the moment satyagrahis raised slogans, they should be identified and arrested. The police made these anti-social bad characters beat the satyagrahis. Next day newspapers carried reports that the people of Delhi are against the satyagraha. But the fact was otherwise. Delhi people welcomed the satyagrahis and also listened to them for a few minutes till arrested. But newspapers carried reports only of their beating. Pictures of satyagrahis being manhandled also appeared in newspapers. Pt. Deendayalji had given me the responsibility to expose this conspiracy. He was a leader. His pain appeared on his face.

I had no correspondent with me. So I had to accept it as a challenge all alone. Next day I went to observe the satyagraha at Chandni Chowk myself. Posing as a police officer in plain clothes. But the police became suspicious when the satyagraha started. I was arrested and interrogated when they came to know that I was the editor of “Aakashvani”.

I felt the pangs of remorse. Perhaps the paper may not come out tomorrow and Panditji would very angry, I thought, for carelessness. In the meantime, a Police inspector who hailed from Jammu and had sympathy with the satyagraha came there and got me released. Next day I splashed the whole story in the paper.

I believe this could be possible only with the guidance and inspiration of Pandit Deendayalji.