Life of Ahmad — Page 522
PT. LEKHR A M’S DEATH as 522 Lekhr a m’s death to fulfil the prophecy. Pt. Lekhr a m was declared a martyr for the Hindu faith and was immediately canonised. A large sum was collected to raise a suitable memorial to him. Semi-divine honours were paid to his dead body and the scene brought to one’s mind the worship of the molten calf by the Israelites. Reports reached Ahmad as from various places of the doings of Lekhr a m’s friends. A notable of Gujranwala wrote to say that Pt. Lekhr a m’s murder was publicly mourned there for two days. A reward of Rs. 10,000 was promised to anyone who would arrest the murderer and Rs. 200 to anybody who would give information which should lead to his arrest. A secret society was also formed to murder Ahmad as. Its members belonged to Lahore, Amritsar, Batala, Gujranwala, etc. The idea was to hire the services of a man to kill Ahmad as in consideration of Rs 20,000 which was to be raised by subscription. The Aft a b-e- Hind of March 18th, 1897, published an article on page 5, column 1, from the pen of a certain M. R. Basheshar D a s under the heading Mirza Qadiani Khabard a r. The writer said that Ahmad as had also only a few days to live. He threatened and warned Ahmad as and also other Muslims in general. The Rahbar-e-Hind wrote in its issue of March 15th, 1897, page 14, column 1: 'It is said that the Hindus will go to Qadian and murder Ahmad. It is also rumoured that the old man of Aligarh will also be finished'.