Claims and Teachings - Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 76
76 The British came from the East like the rising sun and dis- pelled the dark clouds of Sikh tyranny. They gave the country not only peace and tranquility but above all" religious liberty which to me seems the greatest boon which a just ruler can confer upon a subject people/ "The victims 'of Sikh oppression once more breethed freely. The surviving members of our family returned to their native country to share in the general peace and received back a small part of their former state. . . . Time went on. At last my turn came; but almpst^nothing of my ancestral state" descended to me and at my father's death % - - , -. -. . . . ,-i f. j I was left quite forlorn. At this period of my life scarcely any body knew me. Even my fellow villagers gave me the cold shoulder and I was forsaken by everybody. But I was quite satisfied with my lot and never showed signs of discontent. . . >. ' - '. ''- Indeed, I had never at any time in my life sought honor and distinction- I was naturally inclined to lead a retired and an unknown life and never thought of being considered a distin- guished member of society. Even in my father's life-time, I never liked to receive visits. Long interviews were always irk- some to me and they made me sad and downcast. This disposition in me did not escape the notice of my father. He gave up all hope of me and regarded me as littlej)etter than a guest who ate his bread and did nothing for him. Being fully convinced that I was given up to solitude and a life of devotion, and had a fixed aver- sion to mixing with society, he had great apprehensions of my condition in the world. He urged me to improve my worldly prospects and do something for my material 'prosperity. Like a kind father, he painted before rue worldly greatness in very vivid colors, but in this matter found me quite deaf and blind. For me these pleasures had no attraction because I felt myself irresist- ably drawn to the source of all enjoyments.