Introducing ...

Since this issue is devoted to karma marga, we have chosen two householder devotees to introduce this time.

DR. T. N. KRISHNASWAMI was known in Bhagavan's lifetime as a great bhakta. He was captivated by the resplendent beauty of Bhagavan and when he left his busy medical practice in Madras to come here for a few days or a few hours he used to bring his camera and take photographs. Indeed it is mainly due to him that the Ashram has a large and varied collection of photos of Bhagavan. In recognition of this the Sarvadhikari appointed him official Ashram photographer. Some of his collection he has had enlarged to life-size on canvas and painted over in oils or water colour. One such is the picture shown in our issue of April 1964 that is kept on the couch where Bhagavan used to sit in the Old Hall.

When Bhagavan left the body Dr. Krishnaswami called a meeting of devotees at his house in Madras to pledge continued loyalty to the Ashram administration and to offer what help they could in the difficult times ahead. He was a member of the provisional Ashram Committee that was then set up and that continued up to January 1964 when, as mentioned in our Ashram Bulletin of April 1964, it was replaced by a Board of Trustees on a scheme laid down by the Government. According to this, two members were to be nominated by the Ashram President and two by the Government, with the Ashram President himself as the fifth. Dr. Krishnaswami was one of the two members nominated by the Ashram President.

Bereft of the physical presence of Bhagavan, Dr. Krishnaswami turned seriously to the study of doctrine and amassed wide learning. This was vivified by profound understanding. Indeed, many who had known him only as a bhakta were surprised by the mastery of doctrine shown in his article 'Outside the Scriptures' in our inaugural issue and again by his short note on 'Jnana and Bhakti' in that of October 1964.

MRS. FIROZA TALEYARKHAN is of a prominent Parsi family of Bombay. In the days of British India she moved in the highest society, knowing maharajas and viceroys personally. She had, however, an urge for a more meaningful life and this inclined her to seek out more than one swami and guru. She met Gandhi and was strongly drawn to him and to his work. The real turning point came, however, when she came to Tiruvannamalai. She was completely overwhelmed by Bhagavan. Withdrawing from the society life she had previously led, she built a small house here and settled down. It is a practical illustration of Bhagavan's true catholicity that she never felt any need to change from her Zoroastrian faith to Hinduism and he never urged her to.

Mrs. Taleyarkhan has always been an active and energetic force in Ashram affairs. Especially in the troubled times following Bhagavan's mahasamadhi she was a staunch and loyal defender of the Ashram and its President and had much to do with rallying the support of devotees. Those days are passed now, but the President still finds her loyalty a strong support. She, like Dr. Krishnaswami, was a member of the original Ashram Committee, and she is the other one of the two members of the present Board of Trustees appointed by the Ashram President.

It is largely due to her influence that so many Parsis have been drawn to Bhagavan and so many members of the former princely families of India