On 28 January 2001, Pramukh Swami Maharaj visited Padra, a small town near Vadodara. He had previously visited Padra on several occasions, but today it was a special visit at the requests of his disciples. Swamishri arrived at the Padra high school where, as Shantilal, he had studied way back in the 1930s. Despite being the guru, today he had momentarily become a student by sitting in the same classroom and on the same bench. Many who were present there were reminded of his classmate Ambalal Babarbhai’s revealing testimony, “Shanti and I went to school together. I was a little lazy, whereas he was very punctual. Thus, he hurried me into getting ready for school. We travelled to school together on one bicycle. Either he or I pedalled the cycle. Whenever we came across an incline I would tell him to take over. He never complained about it and pedalled with joy. He was very tolerant from the beginning.

“In studies, he stood first. Sometimes I secretly hid behind a train wagon to smoke a bidi. Whenever I tried to urge him to have a smoke, he replied, ‘God sees all our doings.’ He never uttered abusive words nor did he harass or play mischief with anyone. If someone scolded him he never answered back. He always tolerated.
“Our school’s headmaster trusted him only. He knew that Shanti would never say a lie. So, whenever there were any rows or mischiefs in class the headmaster always referred to Shantilal’s account and opinion and did as he said. Shanti was very honest.”

Shantilal’s integrity and belief in God’s pervasiveness gave credibility to whatever he said or did. He had always nurtured an inclination to learn, to accept whatever that was good and to be always honest in all his thoughts, actions and feelings.