Many years passed. Gopinath was now regarded as a respected citizen of the city. He was a source of compassion for the poor and a patron of the needy. Having crossed thirty years of age, marriage had become a raging subject in his life. Gopinath had been postponing the issue all along, but matters had reached a head now. One day his father issued the ultimatum of consuming poison if he refused again. ‘At no cost will I tolerate disrepute. This will certainly lead to scandal one day.’ Gopinath was caught in a fix. Weeks passed without his being able to resolve the issue. Community and the self were battling with each other. Marriage meant the narrowing of one’s concerns and restricting one’s vast world within the four walls of home. It meant becoming as good as dead for the community and living life only for the family. He considered it an insult to descend from his elevated station now. Besides, he somehow knew that he didn’t have what it takes. Qualities like effort, tolerance, persistence and forbearance, required for earning a living, had become extinct in him. Social service too had its share of running around and effort, but pretences of selflessness and elevated thinking could still be maintained. It’s a matter of pride to beg for one’s community but a shame to nurse a desire for returns for one’s labour. Having a family would rob him of all his independence and his carefree lifestyle. A single child’s illness could easily outweigh all the worries of an entire community. Social service was an extremely suitable excuse for such shortcomings.
While on his routine walk one day, he met Professor Agnihotri, who was now the secretary of the municipal board. He had been feeling inclined to become a franchisee of intoxicating substances, but feared disrepute. He was on good terms with the excise officer and was quite sure of getting the contract easily. Despite all this, the fear of tarnishing his reputation and becoming an object of censure always got the better of him. He spoke, ‘How do you do, Lala Sahib? Has your marriage been fixed? When is it expected to take place?’
Gopinath replied, ‘Although my father is insisting upon it, I have no intentions of getting married.’
‘Don’t entertain this delusion. You are still young, and have no idea of the lurking presence of the desires of the senses. I know of many cases where celibacy has proved destructive rather than of any use. Marriage is the best system that human beings have discovered of keeping themselves restrained. Of what use is such bachelorhood that gives rise to duplicity?’
With a will to get even, Gopinath replied, ‘What have you decided about the licence for intoxicating substances?’
‘I haven’t been able to come to any decision yet, but I don’t feel convinced about this business as it would certainly taint my reputation somewhat.’
‘This would not just be a taint on someone who is a professor but something all the more shameful.’
‘No profession is shameful by virtue of its nature.’
‘I don’t agree with you on this issue. There are countless such professions which an educated person cannot adopt without becoming an object of censure.’
Gopinath went home and told his father, ‘I’m not willing to get married. If you insist any further, I will renounce the world.’
Agnihotri applied for the licence the next day.3
Two years passed. Gopinath became the manager of a school for girls which he had established. He studied pedagogy and education in depth. He claimed to be incomparable in this field of philosophy. He wanted to convert his high ideals into reality through the school. This was a school which had been able to do away with the inhibitions that parents of girl children usually have. Respectable people of the city sent their daughters unhesitatingly to this school. The educational method practised there was so attractive that any girl who stepped into the school was charmed by it. She could not bear to stay back at home after that. She received a fine education and acquire womanly skills in a period of barely three to four years. Even more noteworthy was the fact that this school did not ignore religious studies either. The course contained an identical set of scriptures for all sects of Hindus but care was taken not to hurt any sentiments.
They had started English medium sections too that year. An English-speaking educated woman of Gujarati origin had been invited for this purpose from Bombay. Her name was Anandi Bai and she was a widow. She had written several books in Gujarati but did not know any Hindi. She was an expert in the area of education and its systems, and her presence enriched the school even more. Many distinguished families who would normally have sent their children to English medium schools in Nainital or Mussoorie had had them enrolled here. Anandi Bai visited people’s homes to draw them to education. Extremely graceful in appearance and hailing from a rich family, she earned a distinguished reputation for herself in the city. All the girls adored her and fondly addressed her as ‘Ma’.
Gopinath was beside himself with pride over his good choice in employing her and sang praises of her grace and beauty to all he met. If a famous personality were to visit the city, he would make sure to arrange a visit to the school. Praise for Anandi Bai gave him
