Guru-Shishya parampara is an age-old tradition in India and some of the classic examples of this relationship include Vishwamitra – Ram, Sandipani – Krishna, Parashuram – Bhishma, Dronacharya – Arjun and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa – Swami Vivekanand. However, with the passage of time, the Guru-Shisya parampra has almost lost its moorings. In a bid to continue the tradition, a student has dedicated his life to the service of his teacher.
In this dog-eat-dog world, terms ‘guru’ and ‘shishya’ gradually got replaced by ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ respectively. Not just the terminology, there has been a phenomenal transformation even in the nature of this relationship. Today both teachers and students have no time for each other. But if you come across Rabi-Narottam you will be taken aback to see their strong bonding in this era.
Meet Rabi Das and his guru Narottam Das. Rabi Das has literally devoted his life to the service of his guru. He takes his guru in a hand-pulled rickshaw and visits nearby villages to spread the tradition and Mahima dharma.
He has been doing it for last ten years. Every day he carries guru Narottam who is too old for a 20-25 km ride. Apart from preaching Mahima dharma, the teacher-student duo is spreading the lost guru-shishya parampara at Nayahaat, Kakatpur and Astaranga.
Rabi said, “It’s my utmost duty to serve my guru. I have found my guru after facing many difficulties. Now I am engaged myself in the service of my guru. You can’t believe I am literally leading a peaceful life after I came in contact of my guru and devoted myself completely in his service. I have not fallen sick since I surrender myself to him. When I carry him in my cart, I feel as if I am not making the cart run and I feel as if it runs spontaneously and I am flying in the sky. I will do my duty towards him till last breathe.”
Narottam Das said, “I have done good deeds in the past that I have got him as my shisya. For the sake of the country and our fellow citizens we are moving village to village. We are preaching about how to get salvation in life.”