A FEW YEARS BACK IT CAME to my knowledge that a close friend and classmate of Sri Bhagavan, then a retired police inspector nearing 80 years, unable to see and hear properly, was living with his son at Neyveli. When Ramana Maharshi, then Venkataraman (of Tiruchuzhi), was attending the American Mission High School in Madurai in his 4th, 5th and 6th forms, a Muslim boy was his intimate friend. Venkataraman was very fond of him and used to call him Sāb Jān [term of endearment in Urdu] though his real name was M. Abdul Wahab.
I went specially to Neyveli to meet him. Abdul Wahab welcomed me very kindly. I was struck by the serenity in his face. I requested him to give me an account of those days that he spent with Venkataraman in school. It was a thrilling experience to listen to his reminiscences of the friendly intimacy that he enjoyed with Venkataraman, the great Sri Ramana Maharshi in later years!
“We were inseparable mates. Venkataraman was very good in Tamil and stood first in the class in this subject. When the teacher wanted to refer to some portions in the Tamil text book he used to ask Venkataraman to quote that passage, which my friend did with remarkable clarity. He was particularly well-versed in Nannool Soothram (Aphorisms of Tamil Grammar) . Our Tamil teacher was very fond of him. Venkataraman was not so good in English. Though in other subjects also above average, in general, he was not much interested in his school books.
“He was very fond of playing games and was an expert in football. He used to encourage me to join him in playing the game, saying that he would teach me how. We used to play together in the same team and I was particular to be always on his side. In those days Brahmin boys were not encouraged to take part in games and Venkataraman’s relatives were not pleased about it. Once when we were playing football Venkataraman, while defending the game, received a severe knock on his right leg which immediately started swelling. He could not continue to play. So I carried him to a hospital where they attended to the injured leg and brought it back to normal. He was very happy and thanked me for the timely help.
“Even as a schoolboy he was very religious-minded. Every Saturday and Sunday he would go to Tiruparankunram (one of the famous six centres of Lord Subrahmanya) and go round the Subrahmanya Swami Temple with fervent devotion. Sometimes he used to take me with him and make me go round the temple saying: ‘God’s creation is alike and there is no differentiation in it. God is one and the same; the apparent differences in religions are created by man.’ In his company I never felt any difference between a mosque and the Subrahmaya Swami temple. This instruction of his really implanted in me a better understanding of the inner approach to religion and thenceforth I stopped differentiating between them. I am certain that because of such an outlook implanted in me by Venkataraman in those early days, I could later become an ardent devotee of Sri Varadaraja Perumal of Kancheepuram, who actually gave me the experience of divine rapture. I had visions of Varadaraja Perumal in dreams and they proved to be of great help to me.”
(Abdul Wahab's strange attachment to Lord Varadaraja is interesting. He told me that for 12 years, in spite of objections from some Vaishnavites, he was able to take part actively in the Garuda Seva of Sri Varadaraja Perumal, by helping to carry the deity in procession in the streets of Kancheepuram, which he regarded to this day as a great privilege. This service increased his devotion to Perumal, who once assured him in a dream that his wife would recover from a sudden illness which was causing anxiety, and so she did.)
Continuing his reminiscences Abdul Wahab said: “Suddenly one day Venkataraman disappeared. It was a shock to me that he did not even tell me about his intention of running away from home. His disappearance caused great anxiety and sorrow to his mother. Here I must mention the great kindness and love with which mother Alagammal used to treat me. Some weekends Venkataraman would go to Tiruchuzhi to be with his mother and relatives; I would also follow him there. Mother Alagammal would immediately, on seeing me, announce my arrival with affection saying: ‘Your dear Muslim friend has come’. She used to give me whatever food was ready. If by chance I did not turn up for a weekend she would enquire about my absence and give Venkataraman titbits to be given to his ‘Muslim friend’. I can never forget the maternal love of Alagammal and her kindness to me. Muslims were not so kindly treated by caste Brahmins in those days; they were regarded as untouchables.”
I interrupted requesting him to tell me how he learnt of Maharshi’s whereabouts.
He said: “In 1903 in one of the medical shops at Uttiramerur, where I was employed in the police force, I was surprised to see a portrait of Venkataraman but completely changed in appearance. I was curious to know how the shopman happened to possess this photograph of my classmate. He informed me that this was the Brahmana Swami living in Tiruvannamalai and that the Swami was in mouna then.
“I was very eager to meet Venkataraman and at last after several years of strenuous efforts, I was able to come to Sri Ramanasramam, the abode of Sri Maharshi, my one time dear friend! I was taken to Bhagavan by a cowherd woman who used to supply milk to people. I introduced myself as his classmate Sab Jan, but Maharshi’s face clearly showed that he had recognized me at once. He was pleased to receive me but did not speak. He simply nodded his head with a radiant face. I was thrilled to meet my classmate as a Swami — all the more beautiful and resplendent with a mark of saintliness.
“Again I went there when I was the inspector of police at Tirupattur. I was very sad then because my father had passed away. Bhagavan showed me his mother’s tomb, which consoled me since I understood from his action that death is inevitable as far as the body is concerned and that no one was ever either born or died. He was very gracious and offered me some refreshments asking me to stay for a couple of days, but I could not do so since I was on duty. After that I went to see him several times and on all occasions he showed me special attention and introduced me to whoever was present 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 change brought in by Sri Maharshi is the greatest boon he has showered on me. He showed his greatness once through a dream in which he forewarned me of my wife’s passing away and, consoling me in a mysterious way, he prepared me for the shock. It did take place very soon afterwards and my beloved wife passed away as predicted. By the grace of Bhagavan I gained enough detachment not to be afflicted very much.
“In 1950, on the 14th April, the memorable day of his Brahma nirvana, I had the opportunity of coming to the Ashram unexpectedly, because it would have been absolutely impossible for me then to come to Tiruvannamalai under ordinary circumstances as I was on duty in some place far away. I came just in time when Bhagavan passed away that night. That day I had no time to go to a hotel for a meal.
“I paid my homage to my friend and guru who left his mortal coil 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 arid it was late in the night. I flatly refused preferring to fast the whole day as an act of reverence and homage to my intimate friend and revered Guru.”
I thanked Abdul Wahab and took leave of him as the ‘classmate’ of Bhagavan with reverence. He did not stop at being a classmate but went further and understood Venkataraman as Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi!
Reprinted from The Mountain Path, April 1970, where it appears under the title ‘Sri Ramana: Friend, Philosopher, and Guide’.
We know nothing about SEIN, the pseudonym used by the author of this article.
This page was first published on July 6, 2024 and last revised on July 6, 2024.