Ba and Bapu

Book excerpt: Bapu's betrothal with Ba took place when Bapu was only six and Ba seven. The actual marriage came off when he was thirteen years of age. Thus, they lived a long married life of sixty-two years. This means that Ba alone of all persons had the unique opportunity to see and understand Bapu's life in all its completeness - both at its weakest and strongest. She was a close witness of Bapu's spiritual progress from overindulgence in sensual pleasure to perfect brahmacharya. When he made a resolve to observe brahmacharya she readily accepted it as her own. Her noblest virtue, to quote Bapu's words, was this that 'she was never the temptress.' Thus, as his partner in the performance of life's duty Ba played the role of a real helpmate in the making of Bapu's life. She never came in the way of Bapu's efforts for his spiritual progress. Writing about it in his Autobiography Bapu says: “Willingly or unwillingly, consciously or unconsciously, she has considered herself blessed in following in my foot-steps and has never stood in the way of my endeavour to lead a life of restraint.” —From the Book