January 29, 1979--Begg to Moineddin

In Moineddin’s letter of February 28th, he wrote, “Incidentally, when the group was in Ajmer W.D. Begg took them to Moineddun Chisti’s Dargah. It was a real opening for him; he wrote me the kindest letter [see below] describing their meeting. Then two nights ago Fatima phoned from New Delhi and told me that Mr. Begg had passed away; it must have been just after they left Ajmer.”

Begg’s letter is especially unique in that his stationary is highly decorated, with quotes, his titles and his list of publications. To give a flavor, all except his photo which appears in the top left corner and a sketch of  the Dargah of Moineddin Chisti at the top right corner is included below:

Mirza W.D. Begg, M.P.F (London) Karma Yogi (Madras)

Independent journalist & author of (1) The Holy Biography of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti of Ajmer (1960) (2) Holy Biographies of “The Big Five of India in Sufism” (1972) (3) Cricket & Cricketers of India (1929) (4) The Rajput Hero, Ajmer (1940-1947) and (5) The Past Glory of Indian Cricket—A Commemoration Volume on 100 years of Indian Cricket (ready to go to press)

TRUE RELIGION IS THE FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY WHEN IT IS ONCE SHAKEN BY CONTEMPT, THE WHOLE FABRIC CANNOT BE STABLE OR LASTING—Burke

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Begg, Topdara, Ajmer

REF NO. 37/79

Begg Building, Topdara,

Ajmer (India)

29thJanuary 1979

Hazrat Pir-o-Murshid Moinuddin Jablonski, -- Assalam Alaikum wa Barakathu.

God is gracious, Merciful and Compassionate towards both His devotees and enemies. To be His devotee is awfully difficult in this particular irreligious age of Science & Technology. It was His grace upon me, an insignificant creature, that Murshida Fatima Jablonski, Sheikh Vasheest Davenport and several other dervishes called on me on 25thJanuary, 1979, with your holiness’ two inspiring letters after a telegram from Delhi. I cannot express on paper the tremendous happiness I had in receiving and entertaining this devoted party in my bedroom as I am bedridden due to prolonged illness. Their visit put new life in me as I embraced each one of them so affectionately.

They had many visits to the Holy Dargah of our Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti, one of which I personally undertook with them in presenting them at the feet of the holy saint. They are all happy and they left for Agra last night after 4 days stay in Ajmer.

I am now perfectly satisfied that so far as Islamic Sufism is concerned, they are on the right path to salvation. Many wars and controversies in this world are due to ‘misrepresentations’ created by middlemen for selfish reasons. I beg you, as a benefactor of the late Murshid Ahmed Murad Chishti, to forget the past arguments I had with you in some of my letters. [Murshid went toe to toe with Mr. Begg on numerous occasions, with Murshid generally trying to expand the consciousness of Mr. Begg.] Magnanimity is the salt of Oriental Sufism, as you know. I am praying here for your holiness’ health to guide your mureeds for many many years to come.

I am restricted by my doctors to complete rest and dieting, hence this is only a small and brief letter to thank you for sending your party to see me. God willing, I shall be writing you again in more details. Just now a 4theditionof “The Holy Biography” of Hazrat Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti is in press. It is expected to come out by the end of March. My both books have proved a tremendous success all over the world by the grace of God. I have kept copies of your gracious letters in my office for future reference. With prodound regards, best wishes for your health and divine services in the New Year, believe me,

Yours sincerely,

W.D. Begg

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A MULTITUDE OF READERS IN INDIA, PAKISTAN, CEYLON, IRAN, MID-EAST, AFRICA, EUROPE, U.S.A., CANADA, MALAYSIA & AUSTRALIA