Kalidas Vira
Kalidas Vira was converted in 1898 at one of Booth-Tucker’s meetings held under the shade of a large banyan tree on the outskirts of Vishrampura, near Pedlad. Born into a Brahmin family, which serves as the priesthood in Hinduism, Kalidas accompanied his father on his rounds in the neighbouring district as a young teenager. He assisted his father in his priestly duties and collected fees from the community.
When Kalidas returned from Booth-Tucker’s meeting, his appearance had changed; both his shikka (Hindu topknot) and janoi (sacred neck thread) were missing. His father's furious reaction was immediate, as no Brahmin could perform religious duties without these symbols. The family threatened, pleaded, and cajoled him, but nothing swayed his determination. Finally, his father appealed to his sense of duty, arguing that if he refused to participate in the rituals, their family's reputation and income would be ruined, resulting in starvation. Regretfully, Kalidas stood firm and urged his parents to accept Jesus as their Saviour and place their trust in Him.
After several months, impressed by the transformation in their son, his parents also became Christians. In 1899, Kalidas Vira entered the training garrison at Gamdi, where he became an officer. Over his 42 years of active service in The Salvation Army, he led many people to Christ through his singing and preaching. He was blessed with a good voice and a passion for music and poetry, often composing his own songs. He also initiated what became known as gayantolis—groups of singers performing Indian bhajans (songs). These singing brigades played a significant role throughout Gujarat.
In the early days, it was customary for groups of corps to host large annual gatherings known as 'melas.' Gayantolis from different corps would participate in these open-air events during the day. At night, they would gather under a large pandal (tent) to sing their own songs, often continuing well into the night or early morning and drawing large crowds.
Source: *By Love Compelled* by Solveig Smith
