By Prof S.N. Pherwani

1. The first Impression
   That tall, commanding, noble figure, the Governor and Founder of the Gurukula, Mahaltma Munshiram – that was my first impression of Swami ji as I joined my work as profession at the Gurukul University, Kangri. Always accessible, affable, he had his own way to all human hearts that came in contact with him. Kula – Pita, the father of that family, the larger family of the teachers’ Home he had founded, he was such in fact and not only in name. The Brahmcharis as well as the workers could approach him at all times, lay their private and personal difficulties and distresses before them, and get soothing, satisfactory advice and aid from him. It was wonderful how he tried to mould the minds of this large mental progeny, to help their hearts and link their lives to larger ideals of service and sacrifice. His was a dedicated life, and his clarion call to all was to consecrate and dedicate their lives to service of the motherland.
2. Deeper Significance
   Gradually the deeper significance of his life dawned on me, here was a living example of the Aryan Hindu plan of life- the four stages of Brahmcharaya, the student stage, Grihastha, the stage of householder, Vanprastha, the stages of the retired forest dwelling public worker – enlarging and extending the range of his domestic duties, providing material, mental, moral and spiritual fare for the children of all around him, and finally enlargement of life even beyond this narrow institutional range- country wide all-embracing care of the untouchable, uncared for the forgotten out-caste brothers and sisters of our Motherland, I met him when he was in Vanaprastha stage. His vitality and learning before witness to the embodiment in him of Bram-charya ideals. His message how the Brahmchari stage of life was to be lived, was there planned out in full details in Gurukula Programme. I witnessed his detached domestic relationship, the way he behaved with his family members during his Vanaprastha. I learnt from his life what real Vanaprasth should be – a dedication to larger civic ends and regional regeneration, social sanitation and self-preparation for Sanyas, the widest conceivable sphere of human service, I witnessed how he gradually outgrew the Vanaprastha stage, his mental struggles to dissent age and detach himself from his dearest creation, the Gurukula, and render himself free for a still larger sphere of service. I saw his triumphant entry into Sanyas – as Swami Shraddhanand. My relations wihhim continued to be of the happiest. We met off and on the Bombay. IN the days of Satyagrah I remember how he was in raptures when discussing with me Thureaus doctrine of civil disobedience as he had just come back from Sabarmati, there in his life I saw the truth of the poet.
   Grew old along with me,
   The best is yet to be
   The last of life,
   For which the first was made
   here were the two stages of Nivritti Marga, the spirit now using its earthly tabernacle its conserved and trained manhood and ripe experience of family life for larger regenerative ends. The Vanaprasthi Mahatma Munshiram the sanyasi Swami Shradhdanand are to me living realities the truth made visible of a glorious life plan for an all-round well lived life, May Arya Hindus all realize that at least the third quarter of a well lived life is for dedication to ends larger than the domestic for social and civic service and that beyond that lies further extensive of services and that beyond that lies further extension of service as true Sanyasi. Brahmcharya and sound education is the birth right of all sons and daughter of the should ordered self-controlled family life should be made possible for majority and that these thing should be we need revival of true Vanaprashta and Sanyas of the kind Swami Shradhanand exemplified in his life
3. His crown of Martyrdom
   He lived in our hearts and the “Happy Warrior” at last got his crowing close, a glorious end to a life gloriously lived. The tangible and visible the perishable part of Swami ji was shot through by a fanatic, but his invisible and permanent essence remains. His martyrdom brings to life his life ideals in the hearts of multitude. He lives in the hearts of millions of his countrymen and will continued to live and inspire as objective life has closed a little earlier his subjective life has by that very fact taken a firmer footing. He occupied and will I am confident continue to occupy a prominent place in the glorious gallery of the great and good. To the calendar of great men has been added this great name and the Hall of Greatness is all the grander for the entry of this Hero the true Martyr Swami Shraddhanand .