Champaklal Speaks

Christmas Presents

Madhav: “Champakbhai, I remember you had a very interesting meeting with the Mother on one Christmas day. I shall just recall it; would you please confirm if all the details are correct?”

C: “Yes.”

M: “You had just come back from the Ashram Theatre [where the Christmas celebration and. distribution were held] and were sitting in your studio trying out the toys you had received—the whistle etc. Just then Amrita came out of Mother's room and told you: 'Mother says that if Champaklal wants to show his Christmas presents, she is ready to see them.' Accordingly you went up to her and showed those things. She took them one by one, tried the whistle and all. Then there was a small comb. She took it, passed it through her hair, then combed your beard and left it there in the beard saying, 'Au revoir.' Is that right?”

C: “Ah yes, I had forgotten. But now that you say it, I remember. It did take place as you have described. I had been to the Theatre on Christmas day only once, I could not go there afterwards. However, Mona would send two bags to me—one for me and one for the child in me. Mother used to take special interest and have fun with the toys—to please her child.”