confidence between staff and students was never broken; and though the College was unjustly suspected by ill-informed or prejudiced persons of disloyalty, it was in reality performing a work of reconciliation the value of which cannot be overestimated. And the credit of this and for its immunity from disruption in the most recent and overwhelming upheaval of non-cooperation was due to one man above all others, to Principal Rudra.
“He also took a prominent and useful part in the affairs of the Punjab University of which he was for many years a Fellow and a Syndic. He was one of those who first conceived the idea of a university at Delhi and its foundation was in a large measure due to his efforts. Mr. Rudra was for some years President of the Social Service League of Delhi and Secretary of the Indian Student’s Advisory Committee. After 37 years of work he retired from his post in February 1923. Testimonials, presentations, and farewell function from old students, staff, clubs and all the different communities represented in the College showed the affection and esteem in which the veteran educationist was held by all with whom he had come in contact.
“Among others there came a deputation of old Jat students, headed by Rai Sahib Ch. Chhottu Ram, now Minister to the Punjab Government. As a memorial to his work they announced the endowment of a Rudra Memorial Scholarship and made a presentation.
“Mr. Rudra’s power lay in his absolute freedom from all communal or sectarian bias and to this was due the confidence he won from all men of all sections and creeds both in and outside the College.”
Young India contains an article on Mr. Rudra by Mr. M. K. Gandhi, who was his personal friend. He calls him “a silent servant,” “a selfless and self-effacing worker.”
“There was a kind of spiritual bond between him and his pupils. Though he was a Christian, he had room in his bosom for Hinduism and Islam which he regarded with great veneration. His was not an exclusive Christianity, that condemned to perdition every one who did not believe in Jesus Christ as the only saviour of the world. Jealous of the reputation of his own he was tolerent towards the other faiths. He was a keen and careful student of politics. Of his sympathies with the so-called extremists, if he made no parade, he never made any secret either. Ever since my return home in 1915, I had been his guest whenever I had occasion to go to Delhi. It was plain sailing enough so long as I had not declared Satyagraha in respect of the Rowlatt Act. He had many English friends in the higher circles. He belonged to a purely English Mission. He was the first Indian Principal chosen in his college. I therefore, felt that his intimate association with me and his giving me shelter under his roof might compromise him and expose his college to unnecessary risk. I therefore, offered to seek shelter elsewhere. His reply was characteristic: ‘My religion is deeper than people may imagine. Some of my opinions are vital parts of my being. They are formed after deep and prolonged prayers. They are known to my English friends. I cannot possibly be misunderstood by keeping you under my roof as an honoured friend and guest. And if ever I have to make a choice between losing what influence I may have among Englishmen and losing you, know what I would choose. You cannot leave me’ ‘But what about all kinds of friends who come to see me? Surely, you must not let your house become a caravanserai when I am in Delhi,’ I said. ‘To tell you the truth.’ he replied, ‘I like it all. I like the friends who come to see you. It gives me pleasure to think that in keeping you with me, I am doing some little service to my country.’ The reader may not be aware that my open letter to the Viceroy giving concrete shape to the Khilafat claim was conceived and drafted under Principal Rudra’s roof. He and Charlie Andrews were my revisionists. Non-cooperation was conceived and hatched under his hospitable roof. He was a silent but deeply interested spectator at the private conference that took place between the Maulanas, other Musalman friends and myself. Religious motive was the foundation for all his acts. There was, therefore, no fear of temporal power, though the same motive also enabled him to value the existence and the use and the friendship of temporal power. Not many people know that we owe C. F. Andrews to Principal Rudra.”
In Young India Mr. Andrews has himself written, “he (Mr. Rudra) taught me to understand the ideals for which India has always stood and to reverence the mother-land in purity and truth. He also taught me, by his silent life of prayer, to love God with all (illegible text) heart and mind and soul.” One of ths sentences which he uttered, before he became unconscious was, Oh my country (illegible text) my dear country!’ And last of all, he said twice over quite distinctly, ‘How wonderful is God!’
The first leading editorial note in the first issue of Lala Lajpat Rai’s new weekly “The People” is on Mr. Rudra, who is called “one of the noblest characters in Indian national life.”
He was the very first member in his community to raise his voice against any special privilege or special communal franchise being demanded by Indian Christians as such. He wished to merge his own community in the wider life of the nation. His home was the meeting place for Indians of all creeds....In Delhi itself he was a peacemaker between the different communities, while leading his own quiet and devoutly religious life. In the Mission College, of which he was principal, he appointed a Hindu to serve as Vice-Principal. Later on, another Hindu_served in the responsible post of Treasurer and Bursar. Both Hindus and Muhammadans were elected from the staff to serve on the Governing Body....He lost his wife quite early in his married life and never married again....the people of Delhi, through the old students and the Indian Christian Community and in other ways, sent a request that his body might be brought to Delhi for a public funeral. But such a thing would have been entirely against his own modest and retiring nature. Therefore he was laid to rest in the bosom of the hills in a very beautiful
