Amar hutatma Swami Shradhanand

Getting birth at Talwan village in Jalandhar district of warrior land Punjab in April, 1956, Shradhanand made history in India by sacrificing his life on the altar of nation, religion and culture. He breathed his last on December 23, 1926. He used to sing in his childhood, ‘shradha se shradhanand ne seene pe khai goliyan’. He got martyred by Abdul Rashid deceitfully. He was the great valour during freedom struggle. Swami Shradhanand was also the patron of caste, protector of vedic religion and reformer of ancient gurukuliya education system.
Swami Jee’s life was an immortal story of becoming gold from iron. Any human being becomes patriotic with association with a great personality. Divine life of Swami Jee is the finest example of it.
Pre-sanyas, Swami Jee’s name was Munshiram. His father Shri Nanakchand was a respected police officer. He became the advocate by getting higher education in the law. He got addicted with bad habits due to his parents’ affection and friendship with unsocial elements. The father started to get worried. Meanwhile, great ved scholar and torchbearer of national enlightenment Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati reached Bareli for campaigning for revolutionary social reform movement. Shri Nanakchand was deployed to maintain peace during his discourse. He was so enamoured with this discourse that he used to call his son Munshiram to listen this divine speech. Abiding by his father’s order, he along with his friends reached the venue and saw priest skat and three other Europeans among the huge audience. He listened the discourse attentively and found solution to his problems. He had great reverence of God in his heart and he said to the Rishi—‘Oh rishi! You have resolved my all the suspicions. Despite, I have no faith in the God’. Replying to it, the rishi says—‘Munshiram! You have right to ask question and I have to reply. You will have faith in the God due it his grace. This dialogue made Munshiram a staunch theist. The daily routine of Swami Dayanand changed his life. Touching with parasmani starts providing its fragrance. He became not only theist Munshiram but also Mahatma Munshiram and Swami Shradhanand in the entire world.

Establishment of gurukul

He started revolutionary chapter in the field of education by setting up gurukul near Kangri village along the bank of river Ganga in Hardwar on March 4, 1902 to revive gurukuliya education system based on ancient Indian knowledge, character and best daily routine. In this work, he went through immortal scriptures like Satyarth Prakash written by Maharshi Dayanand. This institution started transformation process of the country through education. The gurukul based on spirituality, labour, celibacy, patriotism, cordial relation between guru-disciple provided many scholars to the country in the various fields. Swami Dayanand’s work which got stalled was restarted int eh gurukul. Education of ved, upnishad, philosophy, yog, ayurved, etc will boost the sense of self pride in the human being. The gurukul made many historic works with this self-confidence.
Getting influenced by national thoughts of Mahatma Munshiram, celibates of the gurukuls renounced meal of one time for a month and collected Rs 1500 which was sent to Mahatma Gandhi struggling at South Africa. Then Mahatma Gandhi wrote that – ‘this amount indicates that the mahatma like you is inculcating such great sanskar for the students who are ready to renounce everything for the country. I want to have a glimpse of you. I want to bow down in your feet. I will reach gurukul after returning to India and have a glimpse of you. I want to meet these students’. When Mahatma Gandhi reached India, he visited Gurukul Kangri. He bowed down in the feet of Swami Shradhanand who addressed him as ‘Mahatma’ since then Mister Gandhi became famous as Mahatma Gandhi in the entire world.

Great warrior

Swami Jee was a great warrior. During 43rd national conference of the Congress held at Amritsar, Swami Jee accepted the responsibility for enlightening the people and putting a sense of valour among the countrymen and eradicating pall of gloom arising out in the country after Jalian Wala incident. During the conference, Swami Jee made all the arrangements which got wiped out due to heavy rain. The streets of town were filled with water. Second day, delegates in the 12 special trains had to reached there for conference. Under the inspiration of Swami Jee, entire Amritsar householders opened their gate to welcome the guests. Swami Jee delivered his welcome speech in Hindi to inculcate patriotism and encouragement in the human being. Proposal of untouchability was passed in the conference. It was decided to oppose Rolette Act. Gandhi Jee decided to hold satyagrah. Strike was observed and procession was taken out.
Swami Shradhanand-led procession was proceeding at Chandni Chawk in Delhi. When the British troops raised their guns, then Swami Shradhanand said—‘if you have courage, then shoot at me’. The condition was dangerous. A great warrior was facing foreigner attackers. The government got frightened and withdrew the troops. The great warrior gave the country a new courage and leadership.
He was the true patriot. There are various incidents in the life, giving excitement. He entered the sanyas ashram at Mayapuri Vatika Kankhal on April 12, 1917 and became famous. On the historic occasions, expressing his intention, Swami Jee had said— “I have lived my life by taking inspiration of God’s grace, the reverence is the deity of my life. Even now, I am going to enter his sanyas ashram by taking inspiration of God with great reverence. Witnessing fire of yagyakund, I am keeping my name as Shradhanand”. He made reverence as guru. Nobody gave his sanyas. Therefore, renouncing all these, he joined in the public service.
He performed sarvamedh yagya like Kathopnishad Rishi Vajashrva and his Guru Swami Dayanand Saraswati. First of all, he encouraged his sons to join gurukul. In 1959, he set up his library and in 1964, he donated satyadharm pracharak press and Rs 30000.

On day, British Prime Minister Shri Remje Mac Donald arrived at gurukul. He was welcomed at the main gate. All the teachers and celibates were in the queue. Sri Mac Donald got out of the elephant. Mahatma Jee received him and took him inside. Personality of both the great persons were attractive. Later, he got published the news in London based newspapers. He writes about the Mahatma Munshiram—

‘if you want to have a glimpse of sacred Christ, then meet Mahatma Munshiram meditating at the middle of pure current of Ganga blowing in the lovely Himalaya, under the shadow of dense forests, among the wild animals and as ancient rishi. Your soul will be blissful to meet the immense purity’.
At last, he made purification as his main part of life. By doing so, he breathed his last on December 23, 1926 when Abdul Rashid came to meet him. Swami Jee was sick. Despite, he gave time to meet him. Rashid fired at him. Mahatma died for nation. The Congress conference was going on in Guwahati. The conference was stopped and condolence motion was passed. Expressing respect towards Shradhanand, Gandhi Jee wrote in the Young India that—‘he was a great warrior. He lived like a valour. The warrior never dies on bed. He sacrifices his life. He also died in the battlefield’.

He became great personality due to his tap, sacrifice, national affection, gurukuliya education, etc. The story of Swami Jee will continue to provide inspiration of millions of people in the country. Salute to his sacred memoire.