At the house of the Iranian dentist, Shri Nathji recited the following Persian verses of the poet, Rumi.
Bishno az nai choon hikaayat mi kunad
Vaz judaayee haa shikaayat mi kunad
Ask of the flute the meaning of its song
It plays the mournful notes of separation,
Taa maraa az naistaan babureedaa and
Az nafeeram mardozan naaleedaa and
Since the time I have been cut from my bamboo stalk
The sound of my song makes men and women cry.
It was strange that Shri Nathji should have chosen to recite Rumi in the Iranian’s house. He could have recited from Hafiz or Omar Khayyam or numerous other Persian Poets. The Iranian was surprised, too.
He told Shri Nathji that Rumi had been his favourite poet, and he showed Shri Nathji a large collection of books he had on Rumi.
When Shri Nathji spoke to him he was to receive yet another surprise. The Iranian’s father, who had been a spiritual leader in Iran, used to say the very same things!
All through his association with Shri Nathji during the brief visit, he mistook Shri Nathji for an Indian Maharaja and frequently referred to him as Your Highness.
The President of the Rotary Club joined them for dinner. After listening to Shri Nathji, he said:
What you say is exactly in line with our Rotary principles.
This was not the first time a Rotary Club member had extolled Shri Nathji’s teachings. Shri Ranjit Singh of Lucknow, who was the President of the Rotary Club in India, was a great devotee of Shri Nathji as also Chaudhri Hyder Hussein who was its Governor.