ERNAKULAM-ALLEPPEY 251
•called tlie Christian Institute. In the Institute, Ramdas
came in touch with two self-sacrificing Christians, sadhu
Mathai, an elderly man, dressed in ochre-coloured robes,
and Thomas, a young man. Both of them showed great love
for Kamdas. Thomas was quiet in his way whereas Mathai
was not •, he set about hammering into Rarndas Christ's
teachings as the only true revelation of God. He worked at
the proselytism in season and out of season with all the
ardour of a Christian missionary. Ramdas told him
finally:
"God has given Ramdas1 head a permanent shape. You
may hammer on as much as you like but you cannot
change its shape into what you wish it to be!11
Mark Sanjivarao, who was watching, burst into roars
of laughter. He would ask Ramdas humorously:
"Has Mathai been able to change the shape of your
head?"
" Mathai cannot perform the impossible. Ramdas' head
is cast in such a mould that a permanent shape has already
been given to it," Ramdas would reply. And they would
laugh. Whenever Mathai approached, Ramdas would
remark: "The hammer has come." At last Mathai gave up
his futile task and Ramdas concluded that the hammer
had broken!
Those were jolly days that Ramdas spent in the Insti-
tute. In the spacious upstair rooms of the building, Ramdas
freely frisked, danced, jumped, and ran about like a
playful kid. Sanjivarao remembered Ramdas* oft-repeated
•expression, 'wild joy'.
Sanjivarao delivered in the Institute two sermons on
"Why I became the disciple of Christ." After a few days'
stay, Ramdas with Mark Sanjivarao and Thomas pro-
ceeded to Kottayam, On the day he reached the place,
he had an attack of malaria. He was accommodated in the
house of a pious Christian who was all hospitality and
kindness. The fever continued only for one night.