Police encounters

Police encounters—(with a difference.)

Mahatma Gandhi was in the thick of Public and Political activities for well over 50 years of his life and there is no wonder he had several confrontations with the Police and other law enforcing agencies. Mahakavi Subramania Bharathiyar was in exile from the British India in the erstwhile French territory of Pondicherry. He, a few other compatriots and admirers were severely harassed by the British Police which had almost besieged Pondicherry to nose in on the activities of a few patriots like Bharathiyar, Sri Aurobindo, V.V.S. Iyer and others. The Posse of Police posted at Pondicherry numbered 200 under a deputy Superintendent of Police and included 2 Inspectors under whom several sub Inspectors, head Constables and constables worked... Just to watch the activities of patriots who numbered less than ten. There were several funny and ridiculous exercises made by this force which we will see some time later.

But what the Police force did have to do with a wandering monk like Swami Vivekananda? Yet, there were a few occasions when the Police had encountered Swamiji. These instances have been recorded by Shri Nagendra Nath Gupta in his “reminiscences.”

Swamiji was in Bihar when there was great excitement in that province on account of the marking of mango trees with lumps of mud mixed with vermillion and seed grain. In a number of districts in Bihar numbers of mango trees were marked in this fashion. The British Government sensed some evil designs of a mutiny in this and they associated with this the moving about of sannyasis in the Province. In these circumstances, a mounted Police officer followed by some Policemen, accosted Swamiji and made enquiries about him. Suddenly the officer became rude and accused that all sadhus were rogues and threatened to arrest Swamiji. Swamiji asked him calmly, how long he would be put in jail. The officer replied, “For about a month.” Swamiji went near him and in an ingratiating and appealing voice, said, “Only for a month? Can you not put me away for six months?” To the surprised official, he explained, “Life in jail is much better than this. The work there is not hard compared with this wearisome tramp from morning till night. My daily food is uncertain, and I have often to starve. In the jail I shall have two square meals a day.” The official abruptly ordered Swamiji to go away. It is an interesting sidelight that the marking of mangoes was merely by way of an agricultural mascot for a good mango!

Another encounter took place at Calcutta. One day Swamiji met a police officer who was a family friend. He was a superintendent of Police in Criminal Investigation department. He invited Swamiji for dinner at his residence. When Swamiji went there, there was no sign of dinner. The host was dragging on with several inanities and suddenly told Swamiji abruptly, “Come on, you had better make a clean breast of it and tell me the truth. You know you cannot fool me with your stories for I know your game. You and your gang pretend to be religious men but I have positive information that you are conspiring against the Government...” Swamiji was amazed and indignant. He confronted the officer to come out with the facts if we knew any thing. The Officer raised his voice, and said that he would be arrested as he was the ring leader. and if he became an approver, he would be let off.. Swamiji was unperturbed. Rising from his seat, he quietly closed the door. He said,  “You have called me to your house on a false pretext and have made a false accusation against me and my companions. That is your profession. I, on the other hand have been taught not to resent an insult. If I had been a criminal and a conspirator, there would be nothing to prevent me from wringing your neck before you could call out for help. As it is, I leave you in peace.” And Swamiji opened the door and went out, leaving the redoubtable police officer speechless with ill concealed fright.

That was the last encounter Swamiji had with the Police!