EARLY CIRCUMSTANCES

~ 14 ~ mingled with company of their own sort, which nullified the school influence altogether. The only solution to this problem, as the Maulana saw it, lay in separating them from their milieu, and it was decided that they should be withdrawn from it in groups for a period of time, and gathered together in mosques or religious institutions away from bad spheres of influence. Thus detached from their worldly and material atmosphere, they would be imparted education by counsel and guidance in the company of religious people. This formula proved the right one. Engaging them in religious activities round the clock for some length of time made them into new human beings. Once the trial proved effective, this pattern was to be followed in future. The attempt proved to be harder than the previous one. The Mewatis, loath to spare their children even for part-time study in local schools, could not easily be persuaded to let their children leave home altogether. But the Maulana’s sincerity of intention, perseverance, and prayers came to his rescue once again. Gradually a new consciousness was awakened in them, and his efforts were finally rewarded. Here are two of the many incidents in his