Rohit Mehta

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Rohit Mehta was born on August 3,1908 at Surat in the family of Hasmanram, a professor of physics at the Elphinstone College, Bombay. After several years of political activity with Mahatma Gandhi, Mr. Mehta became a leader in the Theosophical Society in Adyar. He was a major lecturer and contributed greatly to Theosophical literature. The University of Lugano in Switzerland awarded him an honorary doctorate.

Political work and imprisonment

While attending Gujarat College in Ahmedabad, the 18-year-old led a student strike that lasted three months, over a rule prohibiting political activity by students. From 1926 to 1934, young Mehta was jailed five times for his political activities with Gandhi, including participation in the famous Salt March. In 1934, he was sentenced to a two-year term of hard labor at the Ahmednagar Fort:

The heat and hard work in breaking stones there led to a terrible illness. He suffered a sun-stroke and then was partly paralysed. The alarmed authorities rushed him to the KEM Hospital in Bombay under the care of Dr Jivraj Mehta, who was to later become the first chief minister of Gujarat.

Rohitbhai had refused even to go on parole but the Mahatma intervened. According to Prof Bababhai Patel, a Congress worker, Jamnadas Dwarkadas took J. Krishnamurti to see the ailing Rohitbhai. Krishnamurti kept his hand on the parts of the sick man’s body wherever it was paining. The therapeutic touch is said to have cured Rohitbhai completely. He walked next day, and was discharged from the hospital soon.[1]

Theosophical work

While serving as General Secretary of the Indian Section, Shri Rohit Mehta and his wife made a nine weeks' tour of East Africa, including Tanganyika, Uganda, Belgian Congo, Kenya and Zanzibar. "Huge audiences heard them at 137 meetings held in 24 communities and 80 new members were admitted to the Society."[2] He recognized that the Indian Section could play a useful role in bringing together racial and ethnic groups in East Africa.

Marriage

Rohit Mehta and his wife Shrideviben were effective partners in their theosophical work. She sang bhajans and hymns at his lectures, and his words illustrated the meaning of the music. Professor P. G. Mavalankar recalled that Mehta would advise the audience before his talks, “You cannot leave while Shridevi is singing the bhajan. However,you can leave when I am talking.” Hardly anybody would go.[3]

Writings

Dr. Mehta wrote at least 25 books. In 1955, he was awarded the Subba Row Medal for his contributions to theosophical literature.

  • The Call of the Upanishads Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
  • The Creative Silence: Reflections on The Voice of the Silence. Adyar, Chennai, India:Theosophical Publishing House, 1957. Available online at Theosophical.org.
  • Dialogue with Death: Shri Aurobindo's Savitri, a Mystical Approach. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
  • Eternal Light Adyar, Chennai, India Theosophical Publishing House
  • From Mind to Super Mind: A Commentary on Bhagavad Gita Motilal Banarsidass Publishers and South Asia Books
  • The Fullness of the Void: The Yoga of Theosophy - The Transcendental Wisdom, 1982. A study based on the teachings found in H. P. Blavatsky’s Voice of the Silence, this book deals in detail with what the author calls “the Yoga of Theosophy”, the mystical side of the theosophical teachings. Available at Theosophical.org.[4]
  • J. Krishnamuri and Sant Kabir: A Study in Depth with Shridevi Mehta Motilal Banarsidass Publishers and South Asia Books
  • J. Krishnamurti and the Nameless Experience Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
  • The Journey with Death otilal Banarsidass Publishers and South Asia Books
  • The Negative Approach. Adyar, Chennai, India:Theosophical Publishing House,
  • Science of Meditation. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
  • The Secret of Self-Transformation: A Synthesis of Tantra and Yoga. South Asia Books
  • Seek Out the Way. Adyar, Chennai, India:Theosophical Publishing House,
  • Yoga: The Art of Integration. Adyar, Chennai, India:Theosophical Publishing House,

In addition, Mehta wrote numerous articles, including these:

  • "The Raging of the Storm". Available at Theosophical.org.[5]
  • "The Three Objects". Available at The Theosophical Library.[6]

Notes

  1. ↑ Tushar Bhatt, "Rohit Mehta, A Gujarati philosopher Ahead of His Time," Opinion magazine.[1]
  2. ↑ Canadian Theosophist 37:7 (September 15, 1951), 104. Available at Katinkahesselink.com.[2]
  3. ↑ Tushar Bhatt, "Rohit Mehta, A Gujarati philosopher Ahead of His Time," Opinion magazine.[3]
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