To
a great extent this whole human race is totally materialistic. Social
interactions are based on material wealth. Selfishness is the centre of
materialism. Out of all the three qualities that exist in the world, (i.e. the
three gunas of prakruti, satva rajas and tamas),
the highest and best is satva guna,
which is totally incompatible with materialism. Very few people practice satva guna. Those who do follow the
principle of satva guna with faith
and determination exist in the world like a rare and beautiful flower that
blooms in a garden. And even after his death the fragrance of his humanity remains.
Those who follow the path of satva guna
are usually introverts – i.e. they like to be with themselves. Such people,
with their progressive and thoughtful minds, with their hearts full of humanity
and gentle souls who have looked within themselves, are very few in this world.
Materialistic people are cannot be companions of such sensitive and idealistic persons,
because their basic nature is very different. However, idealistic people do
hide away in caves or live on the top of a mountain. They live in the course of
the world and are a part of the world just as the waves are part of the ocean.
But they are idealistic and set their sights on higher objectives. During their
lifetime, idealistic people do not disregard their fellow, worldly
co-travellers. In fact they extend all the humanitarian virtues, such as
empathy, fellow feeling, compassion, sympathy and generosity towards them. But
such people remain engrossed in their work without being affected or touched
(by the outside world).
Ramjibhai
was a very idealistic and sensitive person. However, he never set his sights on
extraordinary goals or ideals, because he never had any ambitions to become a
great person. But, he had enormous respect for such great persons and
incorporated their virtues in his life. Due to his high standing and influence
in the field of industry he had innumerable friends. He counted many of these
as his close friends, to whom he could open his heart and mind. He was very
comfortable with them, but at the same time he also liked to be alone and spend
time by himself. During these times alone, Ramjibhai would look within himself
and this soul-searching made him mentally and physically stronger, but at the
same time a more mellow person.
Ramjibhai
had started his career from the very lowest level. He knew what poverty was. Due
to the fact that he had experienced poverty, he understood the importance of
self-discipline and simplicity. He realized the importance of righteous living.
He had great esteem for the higher values in life. These were a part of his
personality and also played an important role in his development. And so despite reaching the standing of a
great industrialist and having great wealth, these values never disappeared
from his personality. On the contrary, these traits became more and more
pronounced and anybody who came into contact with him for a short or long time,
as a passing acquaintance or a long standing friend, reaped their benefit. This
was his greatness.
Gradually, his propensity towards social
service became more and more pronounced. He had heartfelt sympathy towards the weak
and downtrodden. He believed it was his duty to serve the poor and sick. This
was why gave as many donations anonymously as he did publically.
Of
course he had inherited these great virtues from his father Laxmichand Kamani’s
righteous thinking and inclination to serve others. Not only did Ramjibhai
uphold this inheritance, but he also enhanced it and passed it on to his
children.
Luckily,
in his efforts to develop these high ideals and virtues he was directly and
indirectly influenced by Gandhiji. The life of this great man was a fount of
inspiration for Ramjibhai.
Due
to his business, social work and religious works, countless people from all
levels of society, having different natures came into contact with him. He
treated all of them alike. Very few people, whether they came into close or
fleeting contact, really understood his true nature. This was because he always
maintained relations suited to that person. Ramjibhai’s nature was such that he
always saw the virtues in a person. In this way, just as for Dattatreya*, everybody was his teacher
and in seeing the virtues in a person he never discriminated between anybody,
whether young or old.
He
had an innumerable number of friends, the list is very long. Maybe not all of
them, but it is definitely necessary to mention some of them. Harilal Govinji
Parikh, Mohanlal Virjibhai Patel, Premchandbhai Khara, Dr. Tapidas of Sevak
Mandal, Krishnashankar Girijashankar Vaidhya, Manilal Kothari, Kakabhai
Kothari, Balwantrai Mehta, Motibhai Amin, Dhanjibhai Govindji Kamdar, Vanechand
Hirachand Doshi, Jagjivanrai Narayan Mehta, Chatrabhuj Sunderji Doshi, Jivanlal Motichand Shah, Jamnalal Bajaj
were all his business associates. But although he came to be associated with
Jivanlalbhai, Harackhandbhai and Jamnalal Bajaj because of business, it did not
stop there. The friendship deepened and became intimate without any expectations
on either side. These were golden friendships. Many of his friendships were
formed before he became an industrialist, and were long lasting and remained
strong even after he reached a high position. Ramjibhai knew how to make
friends and also had the ability to make them endure.
His
courtesy, simplicity, humility, politeness, understanding and most importantly
his sharp intelligence and extraordinary faculties all left a lasting
impression on the minds of anybody who came into contact with him, either
closely or fleetingly. The lamp of social service that he had lit illuminated
his life continuously and brilliantly. Service to the troubled was his motto in
life.
When
Ramjibhai was running a school for farmers in Amreli, Gijubhai Badheka used to
bring both male and female teachers to see it. Once, all of them expressed a
desire to see the Khodiyar water fall in Dhari. Ramjibhai also went there with
them. Seeing the small water fall, the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful
surroundings, everybody was in a very good mood. Some of them caught the water
as it flowed, others stood under its stream and yet others swam in the small
pool. Suddenly a lady slipped and fell into the water and went under the water.
Everybody was paralysed (with fear) and nobody knew what to do. Ramjibhai
immediately realised the dangerous predicament of the lady and in a second,
threw off his shirt, jumped into the water and rescued her.
Whenever
any problems arose in his state or the country, Ramjibhai always became
actively involved and helped out both physically and monetarily. Many such
examples have already been given in previously this book. He always extended as
much financial help as he could afford, on any occasion it was required. He settled
some persons in manual industries and set up a business for others so that they
would have the means to earn a livelihood. He always behaved politely even with
those people who had different ideas from his own and was able to tactfully
extract work from them and would help them as much as possible. If anybody did
him a favour he would always see that the person was suitably repaid.
Ramjibhai
always took any opportunity to extend the maximum possible help on many
occasions in his life. Whether it was a quarrel between brothers over their
inheritance, or any disagreement between two people, he would always try and settle
the dispute. Ramjibhai always showed generosity, compassion and sympathy
towards the downtrodden and the workers in his own factories. He would always
overlook mistakes of his workers, and would praise them for any small success
and encourage them in their work. Anybody who has ever come into contact with
him has experienced his benevolence, either directly or indirectly and his
humanity was always in evidence in both his private and public life.
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