12
A Dream and An Unbelievable Experience
Here I also can’t help recalling a dream I had during those formative years—a dream that has clung to my subconscious mind like my skin to my body.
I saw in that dream a hurricane, a tempest, a rainstorm— whatever can bring to one’s mind a feeling of fright—-and can cause chills to run down one’s spine.
But it was not water that I found myself swimming in. it was a river of blood. I heard a kind of echoing song coming to my ears from the skies—the heavens. Then I saw something dropping by my side.
It was a sword. Hesitantly I reached out for it and held it in my grip—- the song attained a crescendo— then as everything went silent, I woke up perspiring.
Was it because of the impact of some story I had read? Or my subconscious mind urging me on to fulfill my destiny as a fighter?
I want to mention here that in those formative years, I had started reading extensively. And some books that I read were beginning to sow the seeds of doubt in my mind about God and my Faith.
It was during those months that I went through an experience that drove me decisively into the embrace of Faith.
I had been a cricket-maniac since Fazal Mahmood had downed England’s pride in the Oval Test (1954). And I used to follow cricket with great passion and zeal. I was also a good fast bowler—and a regular member of my school team. I remember an innings when my team was 28 for 8, and I had walked in to bat. I scored one run in a partnership of 98 in which our opener went on to complete his century.
The experience I am narrating here is related to a match between West Indies and England. West Indies at that time was studded with new stars like Sobers, Butcher, Solomon, Hunte, Hall and Kanhai. England had Graveny, Cowdrey, Peter May, Statham and Freddie Truman.
I used to listen to commentary on Shortwave which often caused suspension due to bad signals. At 5 p.m Radio Colombo used to run the pre-lunch commentary. The day it happened, was the second day of the match. On the first day West Indies had scored 201 for two—Hunte and Basil Butcher batting. The new ball was to be taken in the morning of the second day. Freddie Truman had Butcher caught in the very first over of the day. Then the short Wave transmission failed, and despite my frantic efforts I couldn’t get myself tuned into Christopher Mortin Jenkins. It was a June afternoon, and I fell asleep. My greatest desire at that time was to listen to Jenkins.
In my sleep, I had a feeling that the commentary was going on, and the West Indies wickets were falling one after the other to Truman. The score stood at 229 for 9 when I woke up. I looked at my watch. The time was exactly five and I switched on the radio and got tuned to Colombo.
The commentary was going on. And the score was exactly 229 for 9 !
My mind whirled in disbelief. I got up immediately. And went down in SAJDA.
“Oh dear God— thank you for pulling this stupid, ignorant creature of yours out of the wilderness of Doubt, and Darkness”.
I think that was the moment of my life. It was June 1955.
