In the same year, Swami Vivekananda paid a visit to Punjab. It pleased Tirthram. In the capacity of the President of Sanatana Dharma Sabha he got the chance to serve Swamiji. He organised several discourses and meetings for Swami Vivekananda. He presented a gold watch to Swamiji at the occasion of his departure from Punjab.
An overwhelmed Swamiji warmly embraced Tirthram and put back the gold watch in the later’s pocket saying, “Your gift is lovely. Who won’t accept it? I also do but I will prefer to keep it in your pocket because we two are not different persons. We are one.”
Vivekananda left but his words spoken at his last discourse kept echoing in the mind of Tirthram—‘Nothing can be accomplished without sacrifice. We must give up our comforts and luxuries. We must say good bye to carnal pleasures, posts and hunger for glory. We must be prepared to lay down our lives even. Mother India is calling the youth to make sacrifices. Only then, we can redeem ourselves.’
Tirthram made up his mind to answer the call of Swamiji. He wanted to quit everything he had. No half ways for him.
The school where Tirthram taught was owned by Christian faith. Propagating Christianity was the duty of everyone working for the school. Since Tirthram had started working for the school the attitude of the Hindu students had become resistant to conversion. It was disfavoured by the organising committee.
A member said in a meeting of the committee, “Because of Tirthram Hindu students have begun to pride over their religion. They think that their faith is more universal, ancient and superior. They are openly saying that Christianity has nothing better to offer.”
“Even some converted Christians are having second thoughts under the influence of their new realisation. They might go back to their original faith,” another expressed his fears.
The third fumed, “It is no good. Why should we keep a person on our pay roll who is against Christianity? We can hire another mathematics teacher. Fire him.”
The attitude of the members pained the principal.
He spoke, “Gentlemen! A teacher gets his salary for teaching the students the subjects he is hired for. We don’t buy his soul. Your views look strange to me. Tirthram is a man of principles. He has not violated any code of the school so far. He has a good character and his conduct is faultless. He speaks his mind frankly and honestly. His method of teaching is unique. I think you are lending ears to those teachers who are jealous of Tirthram because he is better teacher than they are. Our own students will be the losers if we dismiss Tirthram without any valid reason or proof. Our own image will suffer.”
But the committee members turned deaf ears to the principal’s advice. They decided to fire Tirthram.
The principal sadly conveyed the news to Tirthram who happened to have come to his house. He was feeling very bad about it.
But Tirthram squealed to his surprise, “Sir, don’t worry for me or feel sad. The news you gave me gives me pleasure. God is merciful. He had finally liberated me from the worldly trappings.”
In the beginning of 1899, Tirthram was fired from his service.
In the evening of the day he was handed dismissal order, a friend dropped in to express his sympathies. He had learnt about the firing of Tirthram. Before he could say anything Tirthram offered him a sweet.
“Sweet! For what?” The friend asked.
“For getting fired. Now I will have all the time for meditation and worship of Krishna.” Tirthram announced.
Tirthram firmly believed that everything happens at the will of God. So, loss of the job was no shocker for him. He accepted it as a will of Creator. Hence, a matter of joy.
The university was now waiting for a new teacher from England to take up the task of teaching mathematics. He was yet to arrive.
The principal requested to Tirthram, “Would you mind to carry on teaching for a few days more till the new teacher arrives?”
“I have been relieved of all duties, sir. But I can’t refuse your request. It will be my pleasure to teach the boys for you. It shall be done.”
Tirthram took final leave when the new teacher arrived from England a few days hence.
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