Hazrat Maulvi Nooruddin - Khalifatul-Masih I — Page 6
BACKGROUND Hadrat Maulw i Nur-ud-D i n ra — Khalifatul Masih I 6 'Oh, indeed. That is well. You are a man of integrity. You do not partake of food offered by a teacher. How good that is!' Having said this I continued with my meal, and he, while holding his pony, waited for me to tell some student to go and hold his pony. When he saw that I made no move, he asked me: 'Kindly tell a student to hold my pony. ' I answered: 'Sir, you are so punctilious that you do not partake of food offered by a teacher deeming it to be a bribe. Then how can I ask a student to hold your pony. They come to school to study and not to serve as stable boys. Besides, you might ask for it to be tethered and fed; but how could the pony be fed when you yourself are not willing to accept the hospitality of a teacher?' The pony was getting impatient, but in the meantime the Inspector’s staff arrived and began to look after everything. Presently he signified that he would proceed with the examination of the students; whereupon I put the students in order and myself withdrew and sat apart. The Inspector held the examination, and then said to me: 'I have heard that you are very capable, and hold a distinguished diploma from the Normal School. Perhaps that explains your imperious attitude. ' I replied: 'Sir, I do not regard a few square inches of paper as God. ' Then I sent for the diploma and tore it into pieces before his eyes, and demonstrated that I did not associate anything with God. The Inspector regretted the