17. Indian superstition
It is an Indian superstition that when someone in your family dies, you become impure. When my father died, I had to shave off my hair. For one month we had to go through such austerities.During this month I had to sit for an examination with about three hundred students from many different schools. During the examination I was not allowed to sit on a bench; I had to sit on the floor. Because my father had died, I was considered an untouchable. The students that were around me laughed like anything. For at least an hour I suffered because of their mockery.
If you remain in an uncivilised village atmosphere, this is what happens! Again, there were teachers who were very compassionate when someone’s father died.
Sri Chinmoy, Awakening, Citadel Press, Edinburgh, 1988
