Acarya Pratapadiya, Gorakhpur, India

Namaskar. We are very sad to inform you that a very senior and well known Grhii Acarya-Pratapadityajii breathed his last today at 9.00 am. He was suffering from throat cancer which was detected late. He was very close to Baba and was always busy in Pracar work. He was a very senior and renowned advocate of Gorakhpur -was practising as Government Pleader and was teaching in local Law college. His depth of knowledge of philosophy was second to none. He was 79. He left behind his wife, 3 sons and a daughter. His family is one of the most respected families of Gorakhpur (UP). Baba made him His attending secretary - several times. When Baba went to Kushinagar (where Lord Buddha left his body) -Baba told him several stories about Lord Buddha. Whatever he used to eat, first he used to mentally offer it to Baba. He used to take biscuits with tea and as usual was offering it to Baba. Once when he went to have Baba's Darshan in Kolkata, Baba had some stomach upset. Baba told to Keshavanandajii that one devotee is offering me biscuits every day containing eggs. That has upset my stomach. Keshavanandajii was very disturbed -he never did such a thing. Then who is doing it? He told this story to Pratapadityajii. Pratapadityajii was startled and enquired with the manufacturer of the biscuit (a local manufacturer) if they mix eggs with their product. The company confirmed it. He stopped the biscuits then and there. (The story explains how deep are the relations between Guru and Devotee -whatever one offers is accepted by Him). He has several beautiful reminiscences with Baba. He was working with Publications Department and translated several books of Baba into Hindi. He used to write in several Ananda Marga publications. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family. We are sure that Baba has taken him in His loving lap. Ac. Kalyaneshvarananda Avadhuta