Vidyasagar and a Bengali gentleman

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One night a young gentleman was travelling by train. When the train stopped at Burdwan station, the young man got down from the train. He seemed to belong to a respectable family. He had a bag with him. He could easily carry it himself. But he was shouting for a coolie again and again. But no coolie came.

The gentleman looked around and found a man in simple dress coming towards him. Taking the man for a coolie the gentleman asked, “How much will you take to carry this bag?” “Whatever you please”, replied the man and taking the bag he walked on with him. When they reached the house (destination), the gentleman wanted to pay him some money. But he did not take the money and hurriedly left the place.

A few days later a meeting was held in the town. The gentleman attended the meeting. He was astonished to see that the president of the meeting was the carrier of his bag – Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar. He bent down his head in shame. His heart was filled with repentance.

When the meeting came to an end, he met the great man and fell at his feet. Vidyasagar lifted him up and embraced him with affection. He said, “My dear young man, do not forget that work is worship and self help is the best help. Do not be ashamed of doing your own work.”

Moral: Self-help is the best help.

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