An official attached to one of India’s greatest princes gave me every assistance in meeting those I most wished to know. When I told him the nature of my work, he exclaimed, “I too am a believer in Bahá’u’lláh, but I have never had the courage to openly admit it as it would mean absolute ruin overnight if it was discovered that I had embraced a new Revelation.”

Another of India’s princes received me with a most inquiring stare. Rather abruptly and in a most unusual manner, he said, “There is something different about you than anyone I have yet known. It is magnetism, but not personal magnetism, rather more of a spiritual quality. What is it you have come to tell me?” Now when one visits these Indian rulers who are so extremely polite, it is not customary to state one’s mission at once, but I came straight to the point and said, “If there is anything spiritual about me it is because I love Bahá’u’lláh the Revealer of the New Revelation.” He replied, “I might have known it. I also believe Bahá’u’lláh has brought a message to the world, but until now I have not looked seriously into His Teachings.”

The beautiful hill stations are the ideal place to teach, for prominent men and women from all parts of India spend the hot months of the plains below up in these hill stations: Professors of the universities, Maharajas and their entourage, and others. Never has a country been nearer to accepting the divine teachings than India is today, and the opportunities for service are without limit.

Mr. Hashmat’u’lláh Koreshí, secretary of the National Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly of India, is a man of marvelous character and great culture. It would be impossible to record in detail the story of the remarkable assistance I received from the hands of this very brilliant spiritual worker in the vineyard of the new creative Word. From eight o'clock in the morning until evening this distinguished and enthusiastic brother invited to visit me at my hotel the most prominent of Calcutta’s thinkers of both sexes, or arranged luncheons, teas and dinners daily. In turn I visited many homes, and carried the Message of Unity into every available place. Many of these very fine families were deeply moved by the narrative of the early life of our beloved Teachers.

A Western Bahá’í believer can always have a sympathetic audience, for since he loves all religionists, his method of approach is constructive and harmonious. There are many so-called dead creeds today in the daily life of the Indian. One can scarcely credit the doings and misunderstandings between the different outstanding religious fanatics. One thing is clear, however, and that is that there are many noble souls and deep thinkers in India who are far above and beyond the illusions of the past.

The cultured Indian is one of the finest types of manhood in the world. My visit to the home of Sir C. P. Bose, the great world-renowned scientist, was a revelation in itself. I walked through the gardens of his home and actually saw the heart-beats of trees as we passed. Marvelous instruments placed near the trees register upon delicate machines the pulse of the tree, and the effect was instantly noticed by a long dash when anything unusual happened such as a person passing suddenly or when some anesthetic was administered. A tree can become intoxicated with certain drugs, and the heartbeat took queer staggers and long swaying movements on the parchment by the needle of these delicate inventions of Sir C. P. Bose, of Calcutta. This was a very eventful afternoon.