The foundation of a child’s life is laid in childhood by the parents—especially the mother. Shyam was blessed with a mother who was truly good—exceptionally good. She was his ‘Guru’. He never forgot the debt he owed his mother for shaping his character through her influence. He always remembered her with gratitude. How his mother strove to mold his life, you will read in the various episodes that follow.

Shyam’s father was a khot—a village headman. He used to inspect the crops in the village.

To collect taxes from the farmers of Palovan, and then to deliver them to the government—this was the work that had fallen upon them, causing them to wander here and there. This task had come down in their family by tradition, from generation to generation. It was on such an errand that, one day, Umashankar had to go out. The people at home tried to dissuade Umashankar from going, but he did not believe in such superstitions. He set out in the morning, worked all day, and began his journey home at dusk. A servant accompanied him. The path wound through the wilderness. Shyam’s father was never afraid of anyone. The two of them walked on, fearless.

But, as they made their way through the dense, dark forest, a band of dacoits attacked them. Everyone called Shyam’s father ‘Bhau’—brother. The dacoits beat Bhau severely. They were about to kill him when an old man cried out in protest, and his voice reached their ears. The dacoits, frightened, ran away. Bhau and the servant hurried home, running all the way. They came and told the family what had happened. Somehow, they managed to bring Bhau home in his wounded state.

When she heard this news, Shyam’s mother was overcome with fear. She prayed to God, “Protect my husband. Be with him.” She did not stop at prayer alone. She took a vow—the vow of Vat-Savitri. In the ancient Purana, Sati Savitri had brought her dead husband back to life from Yama, the god of death—this was the vow she undertook. For three days, she worshipped the banyan tree and circled it 108 times. From that year onwards, she began to observe this vow.

But one year, as the Vat-Savitri fast approached, Shyam’s mother was struck down with a severe attack of malaria. She was too weak even to stand. Yet, she was determined to keep her vow. The vow she had taken for her husband’s life—how could she let it go? Even though her body was frail and weak, she would not give up. What could she do now? So be it.

A question arose in her mind. She called Shyam to her. At that time, Shyam must have been about eight or nine years old. Just a little boy! Yet, he too had to help with the household chores. The earlier days had now faded away. Circumstances had changed. Everyone in the house now had to work hard. They spent their days in poverty. Shyam