My Wanderings - 57. Pt. Shankar Kaul, a Great Teacher, a Reformist and a Spiritualist

   " What Shankar Knows is worth knowing and what Shankar does not know is not worth knowing "
           These were the lines written by Tyndale  Biscoe , a great educationist and first Principal of CMS Mission School Srinagar in his Book 'Sunlight and Shade' This reflects the depth of  Knowledge and illustrious  personality  of a great teacher  of his times and the son of soil Pt.Shankar kaul.
Pt. Shankar Kaul was born in year 1879 near  Batyar   Mohalla of Aali kadal Srinagar. After  completing his early education in State High School, he got admission in CMS Mission School Fateh Kadal,  where his personality began to develop  under the  worthy guidance  of Mr. Tyndale  Biscoe, Principal of the School.
Shankar Kaul proved to be  a brilliant student , good swimmer and a  magnificent hiker. After completing his education i.e. BA. and B.T from Lahore university  Shankar Kaul joined as Teacher in the same school and became famous due to his ability and knowledge .He remained attached with the school for fifty three years and rose to the position of Head Master. Pt. Sansar Chand Koul, Nandlal Bakaya, N.N. Fotedar , Shiv ji Koul and Master Zinda Koul   were great teachers and his contemporaries. While teaching at the school , he also became  instructor of swimming, hiking and Gymnastics. Being a devout Hindu, he was also having full knowledge of Christianity and Islam. He used to quote the sayings of every religion while proving his point or delivering lectures. He was a very good orator and his early morning lecture to gathering of students had a deep impact and a magical effect on the audience . He was also very much Intrested in social service. He along with a  group of students voluntarily visited the areas effected by epidemics , fires or floods  to help the people. He also raised his voice against the exploitation of animals.
He  initiated an agitation against child marriage , which was very  common those days . He also met Mahraja Hari Singh and persuaded him to pass  the bill for  Widow remarriage . Hindu widows of Kashmir got the right of remarriage in year 1928.  Mr. Biscoe has well appreciated the efforts of Master ji ,in this regard, in his book Sunlight and shade .        .
                 Being a  man of diverse qualities,   Master Shankar Pandit was appointed as Commissioner of city  Municipality by Mahraja Hari Singh. Master ji took much Intrest in the cleanliness drive of Srinagar city . The  Govt. used to consult him regarding social service schemes to be initiated by them.
Despite of being a teacher in Christan Missionary School , he was  a devout Hindu and  very much  interested in his own religion. During leisure time,he remained busy  in his spiritual pursuits and had attained greater heights in the field. He always helped poor and needy and laid much stress on the purpose of life. He used to say ,  to get destroyed for a purpose is better than living a purpose less life. He was a great Karmyogi pandit. He was having spiritual liaison with Bhagwan Gopi Nath ji, a great saint of Kashmir .
I would like here to quote an incident from the life of Master ji which justify his spiritual attainment.
Master ji used to  visit Hari Parbat  daily early in the morning  to pay his obeisance    at the feet of Mata Sharika ji. Once he had to stop his daily schedule because of fracture in his leg due to some accident. One day he looked in desperation towards Hari Parbat from the window of his house located on the banks of Jehlum  and murmured  ," Mata I am not able to visit you presently but you have also forgotten me ; can't you send me your prasad even?"
At the same movement an unknown  person named Bhagat ji who was at Hari Parbat got a vision of Mata , who ordered him to take some prasad from here and deliver it to Master Shankar pandit of Ali Kadal.
Bhagat  ji took some Prasad and entered  the house  of Master ji much hesitantly and sat just  near the entrance. He could not venture to handover Prasad to  Master ji. He thought Master ji will make fun of him if he revealed truth to him. But Master ji affectionately called him in and asked for the Prasad , which Bhagat ji most readily offered . Thereafter, Bhagat ji became a great desciple of Master ji.
He distributed  knowledge to all the student and believed in Nishkaam Karma through out his life.  Pandit  Shankar Kaul left this mortal world in year 1963 .
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