Hindu-Muslim riots broke out in Mumbai after the Babri Mosque demolition on 6 December 1992. Businesses closed. Taxis, buses, auto-rickshaws, and trains stopped running. There were murders and assassinations.
During this period, my wife and I were stranded in Radha Gopinath Temple for over ten days. The scene there was tense, as temples were likely targets for disgruntled Muslims. The resident monks strictly kept indoors, while Radhanath Swami remained concerned for all of us.
After about a week’s stay, one evening Radhanath Swami stunned me. “You are a rascal,” he said. As my mind spun in introspection, he invited me to his room for an explanation. Back at the room, he interrogated, “Are you meeting your wife regularly?”
“Yes. In the morning I meet her after the prayers and ask her if everything is Ok. Then again in the evening I ask her if she is Ok,” I replied. [Rest of the day I basked in the spiritual association of the monks, feeling that the riots was a blessing in disguise. This temple stay, I felt, was a brief opportunity to live the life of a monk, free from family hassles.]
“That is why you are a rascal,” Radhanath Swami exploded. “Your wife should perceive your care, love and protection. Otherwise she will become miserable. And then, in due course, both of you will become miserable.”
Spiced with numerous rascals, I found the magic porridge for happy family life served out before me, in minutes. Holding up a spoonful of that, Radhanath Swami proposed, “Now, immediately, you take her to the Chowpatty beach and spend with her a half hour. Tell her how you care for her. And when you return, come back here and report to me all that you told her.”
I bustled about the temple, and finding my wife in the temple kitchen, hustled her out. She was appalled. Were the rioters coming? Saying nothing about the discussions that had just transpired, I told her we were going out to the beach nearby to spend some time together. Her eyes widened, and her expression changed to wonder. As we walked to the gate, I spotted Radhanath Swami watching us from the first floor balcony. Sweetening the secret we shared, both Radhanath Swami and I laughed heartily. And my poor wife—her wonder now transformed to bewilderment.
Radhanath Swami’s standing up there, I felt was symbolic. He watched out for riots, both communal and familial—with deep concern, compassion, and wisdom.
–Mr. Ashok Parikh.
168 replies on “Radhanath Swami and the 1992 Riots”
HHRNSM is a perfectionist in all aspects and is a true spiritual master with lot of love and care for all his devotees, haribol, rajesh
HHRNSM is a perfectionist in all aspects with lot of love and care for all his devotees, haribol, rajesh
wonderful experience and thanks for sharing it with all of us, haribol, Maharaj ki Jai! bhakti
very inspiring article and thanks for sharing it with all of us, haribol, Maharaj ki Jai! bhakti
Thank you for sharing.
Radhanath Swami is the most concerned spiritual guide, he is not only guiding his students in their spirtual lives but teaching them to be reponsible householders.
Hari Bol
How cute is that!
A million thanks for sharing this nice past time.
its wonderful! Radhanath swami knows how to please anybody with love & concern
Such an amazing post. Thank you for sharing it.
As sweet as the sweet porridge. Thank you very much.
Very nice pastime..which easily reflects that how Maharaj is sensitive ….
Maharaj is so sweet!
more we are neophyte we are absorbed in our own problems/anarthas/troubles/confusions/disturbances etc …many of which are self created… 🙂 and we look/expect/demand others to support …the more we are advanced more we are sensitive to the needs of others and trying to serve them even causing inconvenience to one self…
Just goes to show the care,concern and love Radhanath Swami has for each of his devotees.
Very nice
Simply amazing to see Radhanath Swami’s deep genuine personal concern for every one of his disciples. He could easily have justified keeping away from such matters as he was a monk but his care and concern overflowed beyond that.