AN INTERVIEW WITH DR RAJAT MALHOTRA

All this thinking is due to Maulana’s personal attention and training. He unfolded the real world (the Hereafter) to the CPS members. For me, God, His angels and Hereafter are more real than this world. Once you discover this reality, there is no reason for focusing on anything else. When I read the life of the Prophet and his Companions and look at how Maulana lived and sacrificed his life, it inspires me to the core that I should follow in the same footsteps and not create new ones. I also realize my helplessness and lacking in all aspects, but then the Greatness and Mercifulness of God Almighty make me very hopeful. What tasks are you shouldering after Maulana Saheb’s demise? When Maulana was alive, my primary task was to manage all his programmes globally. It was also my responsibility to look after CPSrelated coordination and correspondence on his behalf with individuals and institutions. Post his demise, I am involved in daily correspondence of CPS with all those involved in the mission. I am part of decision making, networking, continuing weekly Sunday sessions and playing the role of CPS Trustee. Maulana’s central teaching was about being connected to God. Kindly share the most inspiring teaching of Maulana in this regard. His entire focus was on conveying the glory of God to humankind. Once he said that in the Hereafter, there would be seats reserved for pious people from human history. Most of these seats have been filled in except one. This seat, he explained, is the seat for those who dedicate themselves to the Love of God. Maulana said that this was his aim to instil the love of God in a sincere seeker. To my mind, this is the most beautiful thing to aspire for in one’s life. The love of God is everything. It is this love of God which not only fills a person with God-realization, but it would also become the reason to qualify for God’s neighbourhood. Earning this ‘Seat of Love of God’ not only is great hope for all of us, but at the same time, it gives us lifelong purpose to aspire for that seat. How did the CPS spiritual sessions start and develop? What is their significance? It started in 2001 when three of us, i.e., Priya Malik, Khalid Ansari and I met Maulana Saheb. The first interaction was so warm and nice that we asked Maulana if we could come again and then there was no looking back. The group kept getting bigger and bigger, and regular Saturday and Sunday classes began. Soon the word spread and we began to have the classes at CPS Hall.