Prem Rawat Maharaji Biography Page 4

The audience was captivated by the interaction between Hans and his son. Even at that time, there were strong indications that Prem would continue in his father's footsteps. In the meantime, work continued on Prem Nagar Ashram in nearby Haridwar, where Hans often stayed with his students.

Prem joined his brothers at the St Joseph’s Academy, a Patrician Brothers school in Dehra Dun. Becoming proficient in the English language was the focal point of his education.

When he was 6 years of age, Hans taught him and his brothers the techniques of Knowledge, and he began to speak to audiences in Haridwar and Dehra Dun. On one occasion he organized an event at his school and invited his father to speak. Hans was away at another planned event at the time, but when he received the invitation he left it, and traveled through the night to attend the event that his son had organized. When his father asked him to address the audience in English and Hindi, the flame of expectation that young Prem would succeed his father was fanned, but there was no indication that things would happen so quickly.

On July 19, 1966, the news arrived in Haridwar that Hans had passed away in Delhi. Arrangements were made for his body to be returned to Prem Nagar. At the end of the mourning period, Prem Rawat spoke to and comforted thousands of weeping students, and was accepted by those present as the new teacher in accordance with his father's expressed wishes. While this was happening, Prem's mother, eldest brother and some senior officials of the organization were holding a meeting to decide who should succeed Hans. They emerged from the meeting and belatedly accepted Prem Rawat's succession. His mother and eldest brother then joined him on stage.

Prem Rawat continued his education at St Joseph’s Academy while beginning his life-long work, and began traveling throughout Northern India at weekends and during school holidays. The following year his mother, Mata Ji, arranged his schedule in advance and established an additional team of mahatmas [people who were trained and qualified to teach the techniques of Knowledge].

By 1969, westerners traveling in India had discovered him and would meet with him after school. Several stayed at his house in Dehra Dun. Indian students in London requested a mahatma to travel to England, and Charanand arrived in October. When the westerners heard this, several decided to return to England.

By the following year, new students arrived from the west and were present when, still only 12 years old, he announced at a gathering at India Gate in Delhi that he was ready to begin the task of bringing peace to the world. This gathering of 1 million people on November 8 was reported to be one of the largest ever in the history of Delhi, and was the culmination of an 18 mile-long procession. Some westerners had been staying at the Prem Nagar Ashram enjoying Prem Rawat's weekend visits. Now the time had come for them to return to the west.