RAGNI VOL 2 eBOOK

1709, he defeated the Swedish army by purposely directing their troops to the city of Poltva, in the midst of an unbearable Russian winter. In 1712, Peter established the city of St. Petersburg on the Neva River and moved the capital there from its former location in Moscow. Shortly after, Saint Petersburg was deemed Russia’s greatest connection to Europe.” “Under my husband’s rule, Russia became a great European nation. In 1721, he proclaimed Russia an empire and was accorded the title of Emperor of All Russia, Great Father of the Fatherland, and under Peter’s rule, Russia became a great European nation. Although he proved to be an effective leader, he was also known to be a cruel and tyrannical emperor. The high taxes that often accompanied his various reforms led to revolts among citizens, which were immediately suppressed. Peter was six and a half feet tall and very handsome. However, he drank excessively and harbored violent tendencies. I tried my best to cool down his rages.” “The Russian Orthodox Church was reformed. The traditional leader of the Church is the Patriarch of Moscow, but when the office fell vacant, Peter refused to name a replacement. Peter followed the advice of Feofan Prokopovich and created the Holy Synod, a council of ten clergymen, to take the place of the Patriarch and Coadjutor. Peter implemented a law that stipulated that no Russian man could join a monastery before the age of fifty. He felt that too many able Russian men were being wasted on clerical work when they could be joining his new and improved army; few people lived to over half a century; therefore, very few men became monks. Peter created a new order of precedence known as the Table of Ranks. Formerly, precedence had been determined by birth. To deprive the Boyars of their high positions, Peter directed that precedence should be determined by merit and service to the Emperor. Peter decided that all of the children of the nobility should have some early education, especially in the sciences. Therefore, he issued a decree calling for the compulsory education of all Russian ten to fifteen-year-old children of the nobility, government clerks, and lesser-ranked.” “Now, tell me about the battle he fought for Russian supremacy in the region?” 249

“He launched about thirty ships against the Ottomans in 1696, cap- turing Azov in July of that year.” “Peter, overestimating the support he would receive from his Balkan allies, attacked the Ottoman Empire, initiating the Russo-Turkish War of 1710. Normally, the Boyar Duma would have exercised power during his absence. Peter, however, mistrusted the boyars; he instead abolished the Duma and created a Senate of ten members. Peter’s campaign in the Ottoman Empire was disastrous, and in the ensuing peace treaty, Peter was forced to return the Black Sea ports he had seized in 1697. In return, the Sultan expelled Charles XII, but Russia was forced to guarantee safe passage to the Swedish king, who in the end traveled back to Sweden through Germany.” “In 1714, the Russian fleet won the Battle of Gangut. Most of Finland was occupied by the Russians. Peter’s navy was so powerful that the Russians could penetrate Sweden. Peter also obtained the assistance of the Kingdom of Prussia. The Treaty of Nystad ended what became known as the Great Northern War. In 1721, Russia acquired Ingria, Estonia, Livonia, and a substantial portion of Karelia. In turn, Russia paid two million Riksdaler and surrendered most of Finland. The Tsar retained some Finnish lands close to Saint Petersburg, which he had made his capital in 1712. Peter’s last years were marked by further reform in Russia. On the twenty-second of October in 1721, soon after peace was made with Sweden, he was officially proclaimed Emperor of All Russia.” “In the winter of 1723, Peter, whose overall health was never robust, began having problems with his urinary tract and bladder. In the summer of 1724, a team of doctors performed surgery, releasing upwards of four pounds of blocked urine. Peter remained bedridden until late autumn. In the first week of October, restless and certain he was cured, Peter began a lengthy inspection tour of various projects. According to legend, it was in November, while at Lakhta along the Finnish Gulf to inspect some ironworks, that Peter saw a group of soldiers drowning not far from shore and, wading out into near-waist deep water, came to their rescue.” 250

“Catherine, where are you now? the angel asked. “I am in the palace in our bedroom. My husband is very sick with his bladder problem. It is early in the morning, and I am weeping.” “I know his bladder has become infected with gangrene. I am in the same room with you now to help make him comfortable. He has a great soul. His soul is ready to leave his body. I am going to touch his body to take the pain away. Ask him if he is feeling my presence.” The angel touched Peter’s body. “My dear husband, can you open your eyes and talk with me,” Catherine asked, crying. “I feel my end is coming shortly though I am in peace. My body has no pain. I can see pure, white light in the room. Peace and love are floating all around the room,” Peter said and opened his eyes. “Peter, my dear husband, an angel is with you. The angel is saying that you have a great soul in your body. You are a great warrior. You have done great things for your country. You have made Russia a very powerful country on this planet. But the angel wants to know why you tortured and killed your innocent son and many others who committed no crimes?” “The short answer to your question is fear and bad temper. They are the worst enemy of humans.” He was holding his wife’s hand. There were tears in the eyes of the warrior emperor.” I am realizing now that I could conquer it with love rather than rage. Catherine, you were a great wife. You stopped me many times. It is now my time to say goodbye.” Peter died on the eighth of February in 1725 at exactly a quarter to five in the morning. There was no voice in the room as the angel was relieved from a very important task. Ragni was back from her past life trauma. She looked at the clock; it did not move even a minute; it was a quarter to five in the morning—the same time she had left. She was surprised by the time on the clock. 251

The Indian Army, advancing along four fronts, defeated or bypassed Pakistani forces and captured Dhaka, forcing the Commander-in-Chief of East Pakistan, Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi, to surrender his forces. Instead of attacking Pakistani positions head-on, General J.S Aurora had ordered his troops to bypass them wherever possible and head straight for Dhaka. Liberation forces and East Pakistan were divided into eleven sectors, headed by eleven sector commanders. All sector commanders were Bengali officers from the Pakistan army. This started the Bangladesh Liberation War. The freedom fighters joined the war in December of 1971. Four hundred thousand Indian soldiers faced the Pakistani Army of one hundred thousand plus paramilitary and collaborationist forces. An additional approximate twenty-five thousand ill-equipped civilian volunteers and police forces also sided with the Pakistan Army. On the sixteenth of December in 1971, the Pakistani Army surrendered to the joint liberation forces of the Bangladesh freedom fighters and Indian Army, headed by Lt. Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora and Air Vice Marshal AK Khondoker, represented the Bangladesh freedom fighters. Pakistan General AAK Niazi signed the surrender letter. Bangladesh quickly gained recognition from most countries, and with the signing of the Shimla Accord, most of the countries accepted the new state. Bangladesh joined the United Nations in 1974. Sk. Mujib returned to free Bangladesh on the tenth of January 1972. Upon his request, India withdrew all of its forces. Ninety thousand Pakistan soldiers were transferred to India as prisoners of war. Pakistan lost fifty-five thousand  square miles of its territory and seventy million of its people, after the eventual intervention by India into the Bangladesh Liberation struggle, in an operation meticulously prepared months in advance by Aurora and others. Aurora had also been involved in training and equipping the Mukti Bahini, an independent and effective guerrilla force that had been formed by the Bangladeshis. This guerilla force and the newly formed regular Bangladesh Army had already been fighting the Pakistanis for eight months prior to the arrival of the Indian Army. General Aurora had helped to oversee the logistical preparations for the coming battles, including the improvement of 252

roads, communications, and bridges, as well as the movement of thirty thousand tons of supplies close to the border of East Pakistan. On the sixteenth of December in 1971, a day familiar to every Bangladeshi, Aurora accepted on behalf of the Allied Indian and Bangladeshi Forces, the surrender of Pakistani forces led by General Niazi. The signing of the document ended the war and led to the formation of Bangla Desh, the name of the new 253

CHAPTER 20 The years passed, and after the war, ended Sophie’s love bond was so strong she continued to walk with Gunter’s spirit. She isolated herself from everybody, not wanting to have anything to do with anyone but him. He told her of life on the other side of the veil of death, of how he was able to meet with his deceased father, as well as the Rosenbergs. He knew it was not natural for him to be meeting her like this, but her love for him was so strong, he could not bear to be apart from her. Still, he also felt it was part of his responsibility to get her to accept her life as it was. “It’s really much nicer on the other side, Sophie, but you have to keep on living where you are. I no longer have a physical body,” he told her on one of their many walks together. “Then why can’t I join you now?” she asked him. “They would send you right back if you take your own life. You’ll have to wait until it’s your natural time to go. The only reason I’m telling you this is so you’ll never have to fear death again. Take care of yourself the best you can, and don’t do anything foolish or careless, but never hold yourself back because you are afraid of death.”   She longed to hold him and join him where he was, but it wasn’t her time yet. As much as he encouraged her to take part in the living, she per- sisted in meeting him by his grave. Margaret considered committing her to 254

an institution, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. She was also worried that taking Sophie away from Gunter’s grave would push her off the edge that she teetered on. There were also the curious incidents where Sophie would seem to have a strange kind of protection, which made Margaret not altogether discount some of the things Sophie said.   Margaret remembered the time the local police officer relayed a story about her. It happened when Sophie was so grief-stricken after Gunter’s death. She took the car and drove to a nearby village pub, where she promptly got herself drunk. Stumbling into her car, she started the engine and drove off back home. The constable, just pulling into the pub, saw her in her shaky state and decided to follow her in his car. A few hundred yards out of the village, he saw Sophie slump to the passenger’s side of the car, but the car continued to stay on the road. As the car pulled into her driveway and parked in front of the house, the constable pulled in behind her. Margaret came out from the house just as the constable opened Sophie’s car door and found her still slumped over on the passenger’s side, sound asleep. “Ma’am, I followed her home because I saw she’d had a little too much to drink and was worried she might not make it back safely. A little past the village pub, I saw her slump over to the passenger’s seat where you see her now, but the darndest thing about it all was that the car made it home all by itself, almost like there was an invisible person driving it home for her. It even slowed down on the corners and parked perfectly! She must have a guardian angel or something!” he exclaimed as he helped her carry Sophie into the house.   After the end of the war, life in Britain struggled to return to normal. London was busy rebuilding the damage done by the German air raids, but the aftereffects of the war took their toll. Great Britain would only be a shadow of her former greatness.  “Sophie, I must leave you soon. They are calling me to take another body.” Gunter said during one of their late evening walks by the stream.  “What do you mean? Aren’t you going to stay with me until I can join you?” she asked.  255

“I wish I could, but it’s not that simple. The timing is very exacting, and lords of Karma have arranged for me to take a new incarnation somewhere in India. Today is the last time we’ll be able to be together like this,” he said. Sophie panicked. “What do you mean? What are Lords of Karma? “Lords of Karma, or some appointee of Divine Power, keep track of all earthly actions by all humans. Karma is just a term for action and reaction. God gives us free choice, and every human is the product of his own choices. Humans act with free will creating their own destiny. If one sows goodness, one will reap goodness; if one sows evil, one will reap evil. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determines our future. The conquest of Karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate response that must balance it out.” “Then I’ll have to journey to India and find you there!” Sophie said.   “Sophie, it doesn’t work like that. I’m going to be born again, don’t you understand? I’ll be in a baby’s body. I’ll have a totally new memory, and more than likely won’t remember any of this lifetime,” he said.   “Well, if our love has enough strength, it will help me track you down where ever you are going to be, and as long I am here, I will definitely miss you and wait for you so we can be together again.” She couldn’t control her tears. “I’m sorry, Sophie. I must go now. I love you and always will, even when I can no longer remember you. Goodbye, my love, goodbye.” His image faded into the moonlight that was shining on the banks of the little stream.                                                 It was early morning; she touched Kanwar’s forehead, “Are you still asleep, dear?” “I think I am done for the night,” he said and opened his eyes. 256

“I think I got the last puzzle piece in place from my past life or pretty close.” She was sitting on the side of the bed with him. She was looking deeply at him. “Dear, what is new this time?” he asked, holding her hand but half-asleep. “I saw it all; I know what happened. I left Germany during the war and went to England at my grandmother’s place, and you were going to meet me there, and we were going to go away together, but it didn’t work out! You were killed in an airplane crash, and after you were gone, I was still able to see you even after you had died, but then you had to go away, and I missed you so much!” Ragni rattled out, unfolding the secret. “Ragni, it is not a surprise for me anymore. I am glad you are reaching the bottom of our mystery, so we can live the rest of our lives in peace,” he said, looking at her with half-opened eyes. “Would you mind if we go to England next because we have to see Sophie’s grandmother’s estate? I can show you where you were buried!” Ragni exclaimed.   “Wait a minute; I’m not dead just yet!” Kanwar said, smiling at her. “Oh, I know—not you, I mean Gunter—Gunter Steiner. Remember the old woman, Mrs. Steiner, next to the old house—that was your mother from the lifetime just before this one! That’s why she was confused. She was feeling something special for you.”  “I understand, you told me before, and I felt the love from her. I believe you. So what is the plan?” Kanwar asked. “Let’s find out the rest of the puzzle and move on with our lives; other- wise, it will continue to haunt me, and before we go to England, I would like to say goodbye to Mrs. Steiner if it’s all right with you? I feel like her soul will be leaving her body soon,” Ragni said. “I am not surprised anymore. If that’s true, then let’s go there, and I can pay tribute to my past-life mother. ” 257

After taking their showers, they had a quick breakfast; they jumped into the car and headed for one last visit to Mrs. Steiner. Ragni bought a small bouquet of flowers to give to her, but as she and Kanwar pulled up to the house, there was an ambulance and a crowd of curious neighbors hovering around the front lawn. Spotting young Hans Steiner with a troubled look on his face, Kanwar asked, “Is there something wrong, Hans?”  “It’s my grand aunt. She has just died of a heart attack.” His eyes were full of tears. “We are so sorry to hear this,” Kanwar said, and they moved forward to see the face of Mrs. Steiner one last time. Kanwar touched her forehead and said goodbye. He was deeply lost in the suspense of nature. Ragni said, “wait a minute. I just remembered something. When Günter and I were little kids playing in the living room, his mother was cooking in the kitchen, and the gas pipe burst and flames hit on her right arm. There was a deep burn on her right arm below the shoulder.” They lifted the sleeve of her right arm and saw the scar below her shoulder.” Ragni and Kanwar looked at each other in awe.   “What are your plans for the day?” Hans asked, feeling oddly close to them. “We are leaving for London today, and from there, we are going back to India.” They both shook hands with Hans. “Good luck and take care.” Hans walked with them outside; he was extremely sad due to the loss of his grand aunt. His eyes were full of tears. They hugged each other as if they had known each other for a long time. After arriving at Heathrow Airport, they rented a car and drove west of town until they were out in the rolling fields of the country. At first, they tried reading maps of the area, but soon, Ragni put them aside and began to rely on her intuition and memories of her past life for direction. She had spent five years on these roads.  258

“I think we take a right turn on this road coming up,” Ragni said, looking over the scenery as Kanwar was driving and she gave the directions. “After ten minutes approximately, pull the car onto a gravel road,” she instructed him. “That will lead up to an old English estate house, with a large field surrounding it and a stable and carriage house in the back by the barn.” A few minutes later, Ragni said, “Please pull the car over and let me drive it; I think it will come back to me better that way.” “All right.” Kanwar switched spots with her, so she could drive. “That’s the field you landed in.” Ragni pulled the car onto the side of the road and was looking at the field. “And that’s the house I spent all those years in during and after the war. In addition, over there to the right, by all those trees, is a stream. Do you see that willow? You were buried right under that tree. It’s all just like I saw in my dream!” she said. “Come on; let’s go see if anyone’s home.” Dubiously, Kanwar followed her up the front steps. Knocking on the great white oak door, a tall young redheaded woman answered. “May I help you?” she asked. “Hello, my name is Ragni, and this is my husband, Kanwar Singh. We have just come from Heidelberg, Germany, where we met a young man, Hans Steiner. His grandaunt told us an interesting story of her son, Gunter, who was a pilot in the war, and of how he died and was buried here on this land. She gave us your address because we’re interested in seeing his grave. Would it be possible for you to show it to us?” A look of curiosity came over the young woman’s face at hearing Ragni’s strange request. “Yes, I suppose we could arrange that,” she said, closing the door and walking on the little footpath to the stream. As they walked, the young redheaded woman said, “My name is Kay Bolling. I’ve been living here for a few years. Relative of the family, you know.” 259

  As they reached the gravesite, Ragni was surprised to see not just Gunter’s grave but Sophie’s as well.  “How did Sophie die?” Ragni asked Kay. “Oh, Aunt Sophie? She was a distant aunt of mine, though I did not know her very well. It seems she was in love with this German pilot, Gunter before the war broke out, and after he died while landing his plane on that field right over there, she went mad as a hatter. She hung on for another few years after he died, swearing he was able to visit her all the time,” Kay answered.   As they talked, Kanwar stepped down by the graves to get a better look. Embedded in the headstones was a rounded cameo picture of Sophie, with her blond hair and fair complexion. Next to her grave was Gunter’s, and his cameo revealed the handsome face that Ragni had drawn, the same one he saw in the heart-shaped locket. An old shiver ran up and down his spine, making goose-bumps rise on his skin. He looked at the land surrounding the grave, the willow, the little stream, and began to wonder about what Ragni had told him. Ragni wanted to stay there for hours. This pain had traveled with her from the past life to the present. Now she realized why she was so scared of airplanes and why she didn’t want Kanwar to be a fighter pilot. “Would you like to have a cup of coffee before you hit the road back?” Kay offered. “Sure, that would be great. We would love to have a cup of coffee with you.” Ragni wanted to spend some more time there. She opened the front door, “please come in; I am the only one here in this big house since my grand aunt has gone. I take care of this house. I got my master’s degree in psychology; my elective was international relations with cross-culture. I am looking for a teaching job here. I love the country- side.” Kay was about five foot six, with dark blue eyes, blond hair, and majestic features. “You are beautiful; how old are you?” Ragni asked, holding the coffee Kay had handed her. “I am twenty-three years old. Grand Aunt Margaret Mannheim used to tell me that I am a duplicate copy of Sophie.” 260

“What was your relation with Margaret Mannheim?” “My grandmother Mrs. Bolling and Margaret Mannheim were sisters.” Both Ragni and Kay became very friendly. “I have an idea; flying back to London now will get you there very late. Why don’t you stay here tonight? We can have dinner here, and after that, we can talk about cross-culture and your country. I am alone; it would be so interesting to spend little time with you both.” “Oh! We’d love to stay here tonight, and we do have a lot talking to do,” Ragni said without consulting Kanwar. “There is a bedroom up on the second floor; its window opens to the east side of the room. There is a painting on the wall of Gunter Steiner and Sophie Mannheim.” “Yes, you are right, but how did you know?” Kay asked, surprised “I used to live in that room.” “What? How is that possible?” “General Karl Mannheim sent us here.” It was a true but not an easy answer. Kay was confused, “let me show you that room,” she said. Upstairs, there were a number of framed pictures hanging on the wall. Ragni saw the faces of Karl, Margaret, Sophie, and Gunter. “This is the general you are talking about.” She pointed to the painting of General Karl Mannheim. “Yes, that’s him,” Ragni said, looking at her past life father. Kay was confused, but there was no explanation. Both were quiet. Finally, Ragni went to her bedroom. There was a nice painting of Gunter as a boy and one of him as a pilot. Sophie did both of these paintings with her own hands. Kay was preparing dinner. Ragni and Kanwar went outside to visit their past life graves one more time before they left in the morning. Both graves were side by side with white marble. Cool water was running in the creek. 261

The sun was setting, and golden rays fell on the graves. Birds were chirping; a light cool breeze was blowing. It was so beautiful and peaceful. Both Ragni and Kanwar stood there, looking at each other. It was such a serene scene as they stood thinking about the amazing secrets of the Universe. They had a nice dinner that night. Kanwar went to the room to sleep and left the two women to talk. Their friendship developed in no time. They liked each other. They talked all night. Kay was well educated. “Ragni, you went from India to Heidelberg to all the way here, farm country in England, to see these graves. What is the secret behind it? Now that we are friends, you can tell me.” Ragni had no choice, “Do you believe in reincarnation?” “Well, to some extent, yes.” Kay looked at Ragni, encouraging her to speak further. “The room where we are sitting right now was my bedroom during World War II. I stayed here for more than five years. Your grand aunt Margaret Mannheim was my mother. General Karl Mannheim was my father, and Gunter Steiner was my boyfriend. You see these paintings? I painted them. Those two graves outside near the creek—that’s my grave—Sophie Mannheim, and the other is my boyfriend Gunter Steiner’s. I am your past-life aunt. That is why I am here.” Ragni’s eyes were full of tears. Kay’s mind was blown, and her mouth was open. She was looking at the ceiling because she had no idea what to say. Kay thought deeply for a moment and then said, “There’s study I have from Cambridge University that has research on this topic. Let me get it; I’ll read the summary to you.” Kay went to get the paper and returned a few minutes later. “Here it is, it says that it ‘explores how contemporary “past life” and “reincarnation” practices in England draw upon and reproduce visions of divine connection formed in nineteenth-century metaphysical investigations. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with spiritual seekers in Cambridge demonstrates how contemporary past life beliefs and practices resonate with older concerns, questions, and understandings of the self in history. These practices allow contemporary American spiritual seekers to augment and 262

creatively rethink (and replace) their relations with intimate others, pro- viding rich experiential resources for placing the self in history and relation. At the same time, these practices displace practitioners’ interests in the metaphysical histories that scholars of religion have been most interested in recovering, raising new questions for historians and sociologists alike about how traditions are carried and recognized.’” Kay and Ragni talked all night and into the morning. Both promised to stay in touch with each other. “How are you feeling now?” Kanwar was holding her hand, sitting in the business class cabin on a British Airways flight to Delhi. Ragni was relaxed but also very sad with the memories of her past life and the tragic deaths of her biological parents and adopted father. “I am still sad that your past-life mother passed away. Unfortunately, you do not remember anything, but we spent our childhood together. She was like a mother to me, too. It is such a mysterious cycle of the Universe; how human souls are connected to each other. Good thing you are with me,” she said, holding his hand. Her eyes were full of tears. “Mr. and Mrs. Singh, what would you like to drink tonight?” the air hostess asked, looking at the handsome couple. “I would have a scotch on the rocks and a glass of club soda, and she seldom drinks, but I told her to have a glass of red wine tonight. She is a little bit stressed out.” The air hostess smiled at him. She put scotch and wine on the tray table along with nuts and a club soda. “Thank you,” Ragni said “You’re welcome.” She smiled at both of them and moved forward for the next passenger. “How do you know I am drinking red wine tonight? I feel like drink- ing scotch with you. I want to disconnect from my past-life memories for a 263

“What is our next scheduled event?” She asked as they sipped their drinks. “Remember, we have the invitation from the government of India to attend the Republic Day ceremony? It’s tomorrow in Delhi.” “Oh, yes, I remember now. But India got independence under British rule on the fifteenth of August. Why do we celebrate on the twenty-sixth of January?” Ragni asked. “It is a long story, but I will tell you anyway, so we can pass our time in the air. Nationalist leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru demanded that Congress resolve to make a complete and explicit break from all ties with the British Empire. Jawaharlal Nehru had introduced a resolution demanding “complete national independence” in 1927, which was rejected because of Gandhi’s opposition. Now, Bose and Nehru opposed dominion status, which would retain the Monarch of the United Kingdom as the constitutional head of the state of India, and preserve political powers for the British Parliament in Indian constitutional affairs. A large number of rank-and-file Congressmen supported them in their stand. “Then what happened?” Ragni was relaxed and had another glass of wine. In December of 1928, Congress met in Calcutta; MK Gandhi proposed a resolution that called for the British to grant dominion status to India within two years. If the British failed to meet the deadline, Congress would call upon all Indians to fight for complete independence. Bose and Nehru objected to the time given to the British—they pressed Gandhi to demand immediate actions from the British. Gandhi brokered a further compromise by reducing the time given from two years to one. Jawaharlal Nehru voted for the new resolution, while Subhash Bose told his supporters that he would not oppose the resolution and abstained from voting himself. The All India Congress Committee voted one hundred and eighteen to forty-five in its favor. However, when Bose introduced an amendment during the open session of Congress that sought a complete break with the British MK Gandhi, said: 264

“You may take the name of independence on your lips, but all your muttering will be an empty formula if there is no honor behind it. If you are not prepared to stand by your words, where will independence be?’ “On the thirty- first of October in 1929, the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, announced that the government would meet with Indian representatives in London for a Round Table Conference. To facilitate Indian participation, Irwin met with Mr. MK Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and out-going Congress President Motilal Nehru to discuss the meeting.” ““If the conference would proceed on the basis of dominion status, what would be the response of the British government?’ Gandhi asked Viceroy Irwin.” “’He could not assure that,’ the viceroy replied.” “What happened at the round table conference?” Ragni asked as she was not aware of that piece of history. “Nothing happened in the meeting rather than they tried to manipulate the Muhammad Ali Jinnah to create another party in the Hindu dominating country to create the friction among the party members to weaken its strength. The British government was very cunning—divide and rule— that was their policy everywhere in the world, which happened anyway later. Mr. Jinnah became the president of the Muslim League, which created the civil war, and millions of people were killed, and it divided the country into two nations.” “I absolutely agree that if the British people did not divide India, there wouldn’t be a Pakistan in the present day. There wouldn’t be a nuclear threat in the region and the rest of the world. Today it would be prosperous, and the largest democratic country that touches the border of Afghanistan. Communist China wouldn’t have had the guts to invade India in 1961 and create the mess they did. The peaceful nation of Tibet would have helped to stop the revolution in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia and protect millions of lives because the shift of power would be different. India was a very strategic democratic country for the United States Of America against the Communist Soviet Union and China. These are the blunders in history which the clock cannot rewind and fix,” Ragni said, giving her opinion. 265

“Ragni, I am deeply convinced about your political views of the world. If we do the analysis, it definitely had a domino effect. When power is balanced, it brings stability to the region. According to my views, if America should build its influence with India, so India doesn’t have to depend upon the Soviet Union, and help to build the defense to be equal or better than China—India could be a center point to help America bring peace, stability, and democracy in Asia, as well as in the world,” Kanwar said passionately. “I agree with you. So, what was the next move of the Indian National Congress?” Ragni asked, wanting to know the rest of the history. “The Indian National Congress grew increasingly cohesive - unified in the desire to oust the British from India completely. A very large number of Congress volunteers and delegates, members of other political parties, and an especially large public gathering attended the session convened in Lahore. Jawaharlal Nehru was elected president, and veteran leaders like Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari and Sadder Vallabhbhai Patel returned to the Congress Working Committee. “‘The British government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually....Therefore... India must sever the British connection and attain complete independence.’” Mr. Gandhi Drafted. “President Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the tricolor flag of India upon the banks of the Ravi River in Lahore, which later became part of Pakistan. A pledge of independence was read out, which included a readiness to withhold taxes. The massive gathering of the public attending the ceremony was asked if they agreed with it, and the vast majority of people were witnessed to raise their hands in approval. One hundred and seventy-two Indian members of central and provincial legislatures resigned in support of the resolution and in accordance with Indian public sentiment. “The Declaration of Independence was officially promulgated on the twenty-sixth of January in 1930. Gandhi and other Indian leaders would 266

immediately begin the planning of a massive national revolt that would en- courage the common people to participate and help involve revolutionaries in a struggle committed to non-violence. Mohandas Gandhi and the Congress, in the first struggle for complete independence initiated the Salt Satyagraha. “The Congress regularly observed the twenty-sixth of January as the Independence Day of India—commemorating the sacrifices of Indians during the struggle. In 1947, the British agreed to transfer power and political independence to India, and then the fifteenth of August became the official Independence Day. However, the new Constitution of India, as drafted and approved by the Constituent Assembly of India, was mandated to take effect on the twenty-sixth of January in 1950 to commemorate the 1930 declaration. On that day in 1950, India became a republic.” Ragni was half asleep, listening to Kanwar. The British Airways flight landed at Delhi airport. The Indian Air Force’s driver received them and brought them to an air force accommodation. A grand parade was held near Rajpath in New Delhi, the capital of India. It began at Raisina Hill near the Rashtrapati Bhavan (presidential palace), went along the Rajpath, past India Gate, and on to the historic Red Fort in the old quarter of the city. Different infantry, cavalry, and mechanized regiments composed the Indian Army, the Indian Marines, and the Indian Air Force marched in formation. They were decked out in all their finery and official decorations—the true spirit of independent India was in the military parades and displays of military equipment. Indian Armed Forces relished the salute to the President of India, Mr. V. V. Giri, commander in chief of Indian defense forces. The chief guest of the parade was the Head of State Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, prime minister of Mauritius Island, who was sitting next to the president. It was so wonderful to see the many traditional dance troupes symbolizing the cultural heritage of India. It traditionally ended with a colorful fly-past by Indian Air Force jets in a triangle formation. Helicopters from the armed forces then flew past the parade area, showering rose petals on the audience. 267

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to remember soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. In the end, the president addressed the nation and reminded the fellow country people of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defense of the sovereignty of their country. Then, the president came forward to award the medals of bravery to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field. They announced the name of Four-Star General Jagjit Singh Aurora for the gallantry award, who saved millions of lives with his intelligence and bravery. “...recognition of the distinguished services of Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora Padma Bhushan. His contribution to the national scene will be ever remembered, and the future generations will continue to get inspiration from the life, sincerity, and commitment of this national hero.” A tall majestic Sikh general received his award. “Second gallantry award is going to the widow of pilot Hermanjit Singh. Mrs. Anita Katoch-Singh. Hermanjit Singh had a dogfight with six enemy fighter planes in the airspace in Kashmir state. They were entering Indian soil, but this brave pilot did not let them enter Indian territory and sacrificed his life. This young martyr will be remembered in the pages of history.” “Please, welcome Mrs. Anita Katoch-Singh.” She wore a white sari and was walking with her two-year-old son. They slowly made their way onto the stage where the president of India was waiting to deliver the award. The son was told that he was not going to be less than his father. “The third gallantry award is going to Kanwar Singh. He is highly trained in the Russian-built MIG plane and France-built Mirage. He is a pilot instructor and a very brave soldier. He made seventy-five sorties in fifteen days of the war. He targeted the defense infrastructures of the enemy with- out taking a single human life or even an animal’s. He is the best pilot in the Indian Air Force. At the beginning of his mission, his plane was hit by a missile that came from an f-50 American-built plane on the Indo-Burma border. One wing of his aircraft was absolutely destroyed, but with his expertise, he was still able to land on a space less than the size of two living rooms, on the base of a tall mountain in thick vegetation. The name of this brave pilot is already in the pages of history. 268

“Please welcome Wing Commander Kanwar Singh.” Kanwar shook hands with the president and received his award. “The fourth gallantry award is going to Dilawar Singh, who is an exceptional officer in the Indian police force. India has been abused by foreign enemies and drug traffickers who are spoiling the youth in our country. His detective work at the police department of India will forever be remembered. He caught the world’s most heinous crime syndicate and drug traffickers, the Cobra Gang. The leader of the gang was Mohammad Khan in the Maldives Islands. Who carried out the bomb blast at the very crowded landmark and train station in Bombay. He killed thousands of innocent civilians. His biggest crime was to fabricate the murder plan of DGP Mohinder Partap Singh of Punjab state. The Nation cannot fill the gap of this vibrant officer. With his hard work, Mohamed Khan faced death. Dilawar’s name is already entered into the history pages. “Please welcome Dilawar Singh.” Dilawar received his award. Moheeni thought about the strength of love and how it made him who he was today. It was true that behind every great man stands a great woman, and she was proud to be that woman. After several awards, the national anthem started. “Jan gana mana adhināyaka jaya he Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā Pañjāba Sindhu Gujarāta Marāthā Drāvira Utkala Vanga Vindhya Himāchala Yamunā Gangā Ucchala jaladhi taranga Tav śubha nāme jāge Tav śubha āśiha māge Gāhe taba jaya gāthā Jana gana mangala dāyaka jaya he Bhārata bhāgya vidhāta Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!” 269

The event closed with the Indian national anthem. After the event, Moheeni and Dilawar, Anita and her little baby, and Ragni and Kanwar were all happy to see each other. They promised to gather together very soon in the future before they all departed. The next day, in the afternoon, Ragni and Kanwar took the air force passenger plane from Delhi to Chandigarh. As soon as they departed the plane, an air force Jeep was waiting for them. Ragni had transferred from Kulu to Kusoli under the same convent school board administration, which was very close to the Sanawar school where she grew from a little girl to a young woman, and where she received a lot of love from the fellow students and the administration, which had helped her heal her past-life pain. Her parents built a big house a long time ago. The house was surrounded by hills, and a tall birch tree sat in the yard. They had a beautiful view of the snowcovered mountain peaks. Since her father died, her mother hardly lived there. Most of the time, the house sat empty except for the security person and the cook. They both lived in the back of the house in separate quarters. “Dear, would you like to accompany me to my mother’s residence in Kosuli Hill?” “Darling, I have so many important tasks to take care of due to the Euro- pean vacation we just went on. I will try to come to see you over there in a couple of days.” “All right, take care until then.” Ragni arrived at the house in the evening. The sun was setting. The golden glow of the sun touching the tree and filtra- ting through the mountain peaks was a sight to behold. As soon as the Jeep parked on the driveway, both the cook and security guard rushed to help her with the luggage. “Sat Sri Akal Mam (welcome gesture),” they called as the air force driver opened the trunk and took the bags out with the security guard’s help. Ragni went in her bedroom. A few minutes later, the cook came and knocked at the door. “Ma’am, what would you like to eat for dinner?” 270

“I am not really hungry. A cup of tea is fine for me. Why don’t you take care of the air force driver, he might be hungry.” Ragni rushed into the shower room and took a bath. She was feeling tired due to the European time difference. She changed into her nightgown. The cook put the cup of tea on the table in her room and left. She took her tea down to the living room and watched TV for a few minutes, but she felt tired due to jet lag and decided to lie down on her bed. She was in a deep sleep within minutes. She woke up at three o’clock in the morning due to the time difference. She went into the bathroom and washed her face, sat down on the bed, and with the support of her headboard, began reciting Japji Sahib is holy prayer in the morning. In the Japji Sahib, Guru Nanak Dev Ji (First Sikh Guru) emphasizes the concept that there is only one God; we address Him by many names and that everything happens according to His Divine law. He is beyond human comprehension, and His Grace can only achieve union with him. Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of the Sikh faith. As soon as she finished her prayer and opened her eyes, her whole room was shimmering with light. “The soul is part of the Supersoul, and divine power called God. The most powerful force in the Universe is love. Love is holding everything in the Universe together. Peter the Great was a warrior emperor. He did a great service for his country, but at the same time, he hurt many innocent souls who had a direct link with the Supersoul. In the end, it balanced out with the bad karmic debt. When you were Catherine, you helped him lower his rages many times, and he listened to you because he loved you, and you protected him from more bad Karma. With the strength of your love as Sophie, you protected Gunter from killing when he was ordered to do the bombardment on the residential area in London, and you did the same as Ragni in the third life with Kanwar Singh, where the power of your love protected his life and balanced out the karmic debt.” 271

“We are beings, the messengers of the divine power. Some humans on the earth called us angels, some called us guides, but we are free-floating pure energy in the Universe. We are everywhere. When divine power sends a message or thought to humans on the earth planet, they receive it through the filter of their own experience of their own truth, of their own understanding, and with their own choices. There is no other way you can receive it.” “God sees the world as a teaching device for bringing you home to God. There is only timelessness. Try to see the Universe this way, and you will increase your knowledge and wisdom. He takes joy in your understanding and learning about the Universe. Do not hesitate in your spiritual journey- have faith and keep going on the path. God makes the destiny of the soul first and then selects the body.” “Do you mean that a soul chooses what kind of life it will experience ahead of time?” “No, you do not choose the life you will experience ahead of time; it is there for you. However, you may select the people, places, and events—the obstacles and opportunities—with which to create your experience.” “I tell you this; however, God is the creator. Yet, the creator does not rule. He creates and keeps creating. He created you, blessed you in the image of himself, and made promises and commitments to you. God’s word is not a command but a covenant. Here are the covenants to humans on the earth: You shall love God with all your heart, mind, and soul. Do not put false Gods before him. You should not use his name in vain, nor shall you call upon him for frivolous things. You shall keep a day for him and call it holy. You shall honor everyone you meet. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal what is not yours. You shall not lie. You shall not make friends with evil. You shall remember to help those not as well off as you are. “But God says you may come home whenever you wish. We can be together again whenever you wish. You will have me with you when you feel 272

the wind on your face, when you listen to a cricket in the silence of the night, and when you look up at the diamond skies on summer evenings. At the first sight of a rainbow and the first cry of a newborn baby, I will be there. At the last ray of a beautiful sunset and the last breath of your life, I will be there. I am with you always, even until the end of time. Your union with me is complete. It always is and always will be. You and I are one, both now and even forevermore.” Ragni was standing near her window with a black shawl covering her head. She was gazing at the stars covered with fog. A crisp wind was coming from the peaks of the mountain. And a bright, white light was merging back with the Universe. 273

ABOUT THE AUTHOR I try to be an inspirational writer and convey what I think are the moments in life that matter the most. My goal is to put love into words that will help people connect on a deeper level. After finishing high school, my father wanted me to study to be a doctor, but I wasn’t interested in following that path. When I came to America, I changed my major and later started my own business. Writing was a hobby that I had never considered a profession. When I imagine characters and scenarios and then create them through writing, it heals me and fills my heart with peace. Since childhood, I have loved nature and all of the mysteries of the spiritual world. Some incredibly special people came into my life and inspired me to write Ragni. One example of an extraordinary story came from my aunt, the elder sister of my mother. She died in her thirties, visited heaven for an entire week of our time, and returned back to life on the earth with a very interesting story. My aunt’s story was incredible in its own right, but there were more fascinating encounters in my life that led me to the path I am on now. I met a beautiful young woman with natural gifts similar to the premonitions and dreams Ragni has in the story. And I also had a previous employee who, since their child- hood, had the psychic ability to predict future events that actually happened. These, and other encounters, led me to write the kind of stories that I hope will inspire people to find the true meaning of why we are here and fill the world with hope and love. Therefore, the spiritual aspects, and certain parts of the history, featured in Ragni are non-fiction. Thank you for reading Ragni. I hope you enjoyed it and that it brings the same wonder and peace to you that writing it gave me. - Amarjit Singh [email protected] www.ragni.org