Haridas Viharidas Desai
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Haridas Viharidas Desai (1840–1895) was
In 1895 he was appointed by
Friendship with Swami Vivekananda
During Swamiji's first visit to Junagadh he was a guest of Diwanji in 1892. Diwanji was so charmed with Swamiji's company that every evening with all the state officials he would meet Swamiji and converse till late at night. Diwanji found in Swamiji unique personality and teacher and Swamiji in turn loved and respected him as a son does his father. The exchanged several letters, in one of the letters dated 22 August 1892 Swamiji wrote to Diwanji "The world really is enriched by men, high souled, noble minded and kind like you, rest are only abortions as some sanskrit poet says". On 22 May 1893 Swamiji wrote from
Swamiji continued to guide him in regards of the state that helped him to keep good relations with Nawab of Junagadh and the British Government. Swamiji wrote from Poona on 15 June 1892 "Perhaps by this time every hitch has been removed from your way in Junagadh, at least I hope so". Again when Diwanji was in distress, Swamiji wrote to him from Bombay 22 May 1893 "Often and often we see that the very best of men are even troubled and visited with tribulations in this world, it may be inexplicable but it is also the experience of my life that the heart and core of every thing here is good, that whatever may be the surface of waves, deep down and underlying every thing there is an infinite basis of goodness and love and so long as we do not reach that basis we are troubled but once reached that zone of calmness, let winds howl and tempest rage, the house which is built upon the rock of ages cannot shake. I thoroughly believe that a good, unselfish and holy man like you whose whole life has been devoted in doing good to others has already reached the basis of firmness which Lord himself has styled as "rest upon Brahma" in Gita".[2]
While Swamiji was on a lecture tour of America after attending the first Parliament of World Religions in 1893, some scandalous charges against his character and conduct were raised by certain vested interests, Diwanji wrote a letter to Mr G.W Hale on 26.6.1894 in staunch defense of his beloved Swamiji. This was a timely and important help that Swamiji received after which Swamiji wrote to him in September 1894, "your kind note to G.W.Hale has been very much gratifying as I owed them that much".