SAB JAN, SRI MAHARSHI'S
CLASSMATE
'SEIN'
BHAGAVAN SRI RAMANA MAHARSHI emphasisedseveral times that the holy Hill Arunachala is the heart of
the world and the most ancient and oldest of hills. He also used
to say that it is a natural Sri Chakra and that from each angle it
has a different appearance. That is why it is a Siva linga with
form and without form. From every direction it presents itself
in a different majestic posture.
And so also I always like to see Sri Maharshi from different
angles and enjoy the differences in his appearances! In respect
of his teachings, movements in the Ashram, like assisting in the
kitchen, catering to the needs of devotees and even dumb
animals, devotees know Bhagavan to be more as one's own father
and mother and God incarnate, than as Tatwama Sivaroopa.
His greatness as an intimate friend of a classmate of his is
portrayed here truly revealing his loving heart.
When young Venkataraman (of Tiruchuzhi) was reading
in Madurai in the American Mission High School, in his 4th,
5th and 6th forms, he was closely associated with one Muslim
boy, whom he chose as his intimate friend. Venkataraman was
very fond of this young Muslim, whom he addressed as Sab
Jan. His real name is M. Abdul Wahab.
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Mr. Wahab, now a retired police inspector, nearing eighty,
unable to see or hear properly, is living with his son at Neyveli.
Upon hearing this, I went there to meet with him. He welcomed
me very kindly and I was amazed at the serenity of his face. I
requested him to tell me something about Bhagavan in his school
days. His talks on the Maharshi gave me a thrilling experience
and enabled me to visualise with the mind's eye, the intimate
friendship that he enjoyed with Venkataraman, later to be known
as the great Sri Ramana Maharshi.
When I asked him to describe the depth of their friendship,
Mr. Wahab recalled his happy past and jumped with joy saying,
"We were inseparable mates." This Muslim enjoyed such privilege
with young Venkataraman. He began to tell me of his past happy
days that he was fortunate enough to spend with him.
"Venkataraman was very learned in Tamil and he stood
first in the class. When the teacher wanted to refer to some
portion in the text book he used to ask Venkataraman to quote
and Venkataraman used to do it with remarkable clarity. He
was particularly well-versed in Nannool Soothram (Aphorisms
of Tamil Grammar). Our Tamil Pandit, Mr. John Balakrishnan,
was very fond of him. His knowledge of Tamil was really
remarkable and that of Tamil Grammar very exact.
"But Venkataraman was not very good in English, in the
sense that he was not an expert in that subject. In other subjects
also he was above average. But in general, he was not much
interested in his school books. He was very fond of playing
games and among games he was an expert in football. He used
to encourage me to join him in playing the game, saying that
he would teach me how to play. We used to play together in the
same team and I was particular only to be with Venkataraman.
As was usual in those days, in Brahmin families they did not
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encourage the boys taking part in games, so Venkataraman's
relatives did not like his playing games.
"Once when we were playing football, Venkataraman,
while defending against the attacks of the opposing players,
received a severe knock on his right leg, which immediately got
swollen. He was frightened and had to return home and I carried
him to a hospital and had some medicine applied and brought
his leg to normal condition. He was very happy and thanked
me for the timely help.
"Even as a student he was very religious. Every Saturday
and Sunday he would go to Tiruparankunram and go round
the Subramania Swamy Temple with fervent religious ecstasy.
He used to take me several times with him and make me go
around the temple saying, `God's creation is alike and there is
no difference in creation. God is the same, the apparent
differences in Gods are created by man'. In the company of
Venkataraman I never felt any difference between a mosque
and the Subramania Swamy temple.
"This instruction of his really implanted in me a better
understanding of the secret approach to religion and thenceforth
I never felt any difference between a Hindu God and any other
God. It is quite possible, in fact, I am very certain, that because
of such an universal outlook implanted in me by Venkataraman
in those days, in my later days I could become an ardent devotee
of Sri Varadaraja Perumal of Kancheepuram, who actually
enveloped me in his divine rapture. I had visions of Varadaraja
Perumal in dreams and they proved to be of great help to me."
When I asked him in what manner, he said, "For 12 years
I was able to partake actively in the Garuda seva of Sri Varadaraja
Perumal by giving a shoulder to lift the deity of Perumal, while
going in procession in the streets of Kancheepuram, which I
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regard even today as the greatest privilege and boon. There
arose some complication also since some Vaishnavites objected
to my carrying the deity since I was a Muslim and that was
settled amicably later. This service of 12 years to Varadaraja
Perumal made me cling to him closer and closer.
"Once when I was on duty in Kuppam I received a
telegram that my wife, of whom I was extremely fond, had had
an abortion and I was greatly worried that she would die. The
same night Sri Varadaraja Perumal appeared in my dream and
assured me that my wife was all right and I need not worry.
When I returned to Tirupathur she was in normal condition.
Her recovery was the grace of Sri Perumal."
Mr. Wahab then spoke about Venkataraman:
"Suddenly Venkataraman disappeared and it was a shock
to me that he did not even tell me about his running away
from his home. His disappearance made his mother terribly
sorrow-stricken. While I refer to his home and his mother, 1
can not but mention the kindness and love with which mother
Alagammal used to receive me.
"Some Saturdays and Sundays he would go to Tiruchuzhi
to be with his mother and kith and kin. I would also go there
to see him. Mother Alagammal would immediately, with all
affection, tell Venkataraman of my arrival saying, `Your dear
Muslim friend has come.' She had a wonderful face beaming
with nobility. Every time she gave me a very good reception
and used to give me whatever eatables were prepared at home.
If by chance 1 did not turn up for one weekend, she used to
enquire about my absence and give Venkataraman the eatables
saying: `Give these to your Muslim friend'. I could never forget
the maternal love of Alagammal and her kindness to me, even
though I was a Muslim." (Muslims were regarded by caste
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Brahmins as untouchables in those days. They were despised
and treated with contempt.)
I asked Sab Jan, "When did you know of the whereabouts
of Sri Maharshi?"
He said, "I was enlisted in the police department and in
1903 in one of the medical shops at Uttaramerur, I was surprised
to see a portrait of Venkataraman but completely different in
appearance. I was anxious to know how the shop man happened
to possess the photo of my classmate. Then I was told that this
was the `Brahamana Swamy' living in Tiruvannamalai and that
the Swamy was in mounam then.
"I was very eager to meet Venkataraman and at last after
several months of strenuous efforts, I was able to come to Sri
Ramanasramam, the abode of Sri Maharshi, my dear friend of
those earlier days. I entered it and was taken in by a cowherd
woman who was supplying milk to Bhagavan. I introduced myself
as his classmate `Sab Jan' (but his facial expression clearly showed
that he had at once recognised me and that my introduction was
not at all necessary) and he was pleased to receive me although he
did not speak. He simply nodded his head with a radiant face. I
was thrilled to meet my classmate as a swamy for he was all the
more beautiful and resplendent, with a mark of saintliness.
"Again, I went there when I was the Inspector of Police at
Tirupathur. I was very sad then, since my father had passed away
but Bhagavan showed me his mother's tomb, which consoled
me. I understood from Bhagavan's action that death is inevitable
as far as the body is concerned and that no one was ever born or
died. He was so kind and offered something to eat and asked me
to stay for a couple of days but I could not, since I was on duty.
After that I went to see him several times and on all occasions he
showed special attention to me and introduced me to whoever
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was present on the occasion with deep love and kindness. He
used to make me sit by his side while taking food in the dining
hall, which later I came to know was quite unusual with him.
"A sudden change took place in me. I was transformed
into a devotee of Bhagavan from being a friend of
Venkataraman. This inward change brought about by Sri
Maharshi is the greatest boon he has showered on me. He showed
his greatness once through a dream in which he showed signs of
my wife passing away and in a mysterious way consoled me and
prepared me for the shocking incident. It did take place very
soon and my beloved wife passed away as predicted and by the
grace of Sri Maharshi it did not affect me very much. This
attitude of detachment is itself the grace of Bhagavan.
"In 1950, on 14th April, the memorable day of his Brahma [?]
Nirvana, it so happened that even though it would have been
absolutely impossible for me to come to Tiruvannamalai, as I
was on duty at a place far away, I had the opportunity of visiting
the Ashram. In the day time I could not take my food due to
lack of time during travel to go to a hotel and take food.
"I paid my homage to my friend and guru who left his mortal
coil that night, but whose presence still pervaded his abode. I was
in deep mourning. Then someone asked me to take food since I
looked fatigued and tired and it was late in the night. I flatly refused
saying, `1 am going to fast the whole day as an act of reverence and
homage to my intimate friend and revered guru.'"
I thanked Mr. Wahab and took leave of him with great
reverence as the classmate of Bhagavan who did not stop at being
a classmate but went further and understood Venkataraman as
Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, the Maha Guru.*
* Sri Wahab has passed away since the article was written.
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