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was destined to lead a life of renunciation, and so he suggested the
name Vairagi, which was immediately adopted by the parents as
they had an unbounded faith in their Guru.
The causes which contributed to the high physical and
intellectual stamina of Pandit Guru Datta were various and
manifold. His high spiritedness was due to the race from which
he descended, the patience and forbearance which were so largely
reflected in his life were the result of the strong influence of his
mother. The strength of purpose, acuteness of vision, subtility of
intellect, were, in a large measure, drawn from his father.
Pre-School Education
Guru Datta was hardly five years old, when he was put to
Alphabet. His father, being in the educational line, had a happy
knack in teaching children. The child remained under the special
care and supervision of his father who carefully studied his habits
and tastes. He was very anxious to educate his son himself. He
took him to the suburbs of the town and answered his interesting,
though somewhat crude, questions with some degree of minuteness.
The child finished elementary lessons in Arithmatic, Urdu, Persian
&c., in the course of a short period. He had now to learn English.
In those days, 'How to Speak English' by Colonel Holryd, the then
Director of Instruction, was taught to the beginners. Lala Ram
Krishan set to reading it with all his vigour and, despite the
disadvantages of advanced age, went through it in a very short
time, and then taught it to Guru Datta.
School Career
At the age of eight, he was sent to the District School at Jhang,
his father being a teacher in that school. In English he was just as
well up as boys of his class, but in other subjects Persian, Arithmetic
&c., he was far ahead. Of Persian he had read several important
books; and before he left the school, having finished his education
there, he had read and assimilated the poems Maulana-i-umi,
Shamas Tabrez and Diwan-i- Hafiz. These books were not without
their effect on the little
Vairagi.
Already mystic by nature, he was
profoundly influenced by them. For hours together he would look
towards the heaven with an attention that was seldom disturbed
by the noise and bustle of the people around and contemplate the
majesty of the all powerful Lord who bespangled the immeasurable
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