Shri Nathji was greatly concerned about Lala Hargopal Khanna, the father of Mateshwari, who had bravely stayed on at Lahore when all others were leaving. He was a tall, fair skinned person with white hair, who looked like an Englishman. His dress was very westernised. He always wore a suit and necktie and a felt hat. There was a time when he was walking down the street when a group of rioters spotted him. They came up to him with knives and swords in their hands to kill him, but, coming within inches, stopped short and left, after saying amongst themselves: “Let him go, he is an Englishman!” It was yet another instance of Shri Nathji’s protecting power.
It was learnt later from a letter of Bal Kishen that Lala Hargopal had finally left Lahore on the 3rd of September 1947 by plane.
He had come to Delhi where the Bhutts had offered him the hospitality of their home till the time the Punjab National Bank could make some arrangements for his stay.
Shri Nathji was greatly pleased when Gangabai Bhutt wrote to Shri Nathji that her husband and son, Jagdish, were daily driving Lala Hargopal to his office at the Punjab National Bank in their car and were looking after him in every possible way.
Gangabai Bhutt often compared Lala Hargopal with Raja Janak, the father of Sita Maharani, the consort of Lord Rama. She considered it a proud privilege to be able to serve him.
Gangabai Bhutt wrote to Shri Nathji from Delhi:
“Baaooji – Lala Hargopalji – is with us, and we are very fortunate that we have got the chance to serve him. All your devotees of Lahore have reached Delhi, safe and sound.
“Even though they have left their properties behind there is not a trace of sorrow in them. They accept everything that has happened with perfect equanimity as Thy Will.
“Aapke bhakt magan hain!
“Your devotees are lost in a bliss of their own! This is your miracle, giving peace and happiness in the midst of suffering! Only you can do this!”
By September 1947, the disturbance had spread even to the otherwise quiet and peaceful town of Mussoorie. A curfew was imposed in the city. It was entirely due to Shri Nathji’s presence that not a single act of violence occurred and the entire city of Mussoorie went through this severe phase with relative peacefulness.
Those were the days when Shri Nathji would be seen frequently going out of the house to purchase household items and medicines for Priya Nath. He would always come back home before the curfew was imposed. It was thus that Shri Nathji was able to have a taste of the living conditions of people in a virtual state of war with each other.
Albeit Shri Nathji’s divine power, working invisibly, brought an end to the otherwise intractable strife prevailing in the country. Though thousands of lives were lost, yet thousands were saved. While one saw the destruction that had occurred, one could not fathom the destruction that was averted.