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that the latter became uncon sc10us. At once Mr. Modi became the popular hero

and the exemplary courage shown by him was praised by all the Indians present
at the auction.

Mr. Modi was happy, for he knew that he had done the right thing. But since an

Englishman was involved, it was considered necessary to apprise the Dewan of
the State about the whole affair. The Dewan, Raja Daya Krishan Kaul, appreciated

the sense of courage shown by the young man, but he had a genuine fear that
the Maharaja, who was known to be a blind follower of the British, would not do

justice if the case was brought to his notice by the automobile engineer. Mr. Kaul,
therefore, advised Mr. Modi to move out of the State for sometime so that things

might cool down. He agreed and left for Hapur in the State of United Provinces
(now known as Uttar Pradesh). Mr. Salig Ram and Mr. Tara Chand, his two elder

cousins, were running a successful business there. From here he had to keep
moving to different places for some time.

The atmosphere in British India was quite different from the one prevailing in the
princely states, and his brief stay at Hapur naturally afforded him an opportunity

to study public life from close quarters. He was able to see how the British rulers
generated communal disharmony by following the policy of divide and rule, in

order to exploit the Indian people. He was also able to see how the evil of specu-
lative trading was ruining the business community. He himself had been attract-

ed to this type of trading under the influence of his maternal uncle, Mr. Musaddi
Lal. However, the failure of a well-establishecl firm, M/s. Tota Mal Jagga Mal made

him realise the disastrous effect of speculative trading. He even advised his elder
cousins at Hapur to run their business on the industrial trading pattern which he

himself demonstrated to them.

Meanwhile. after a week’s stay at Hapur, Mr. Modi was called back to Patiala and
was produced before the Maharaja. He was asked to explain his conduct at the

auction. The question was “Why did he beat Mr. Turner when he knew that the
latter was an Englishman and was to be respected as a superior.” Quick came the

reply “In that case I have certainly made a mistake, for I had all along thought that
in the State of Patiala, there was none superior to the Maharaja, therefore, when

an ordinary servant of the Maharaja abused the Maharja. how could I tolerate it?”

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