This is about those days when Mahapundit Rahul Saskrityayan was unemployed. His wife was ill. He was unable to pay his children’s school fees. His financial situation was so bad, in fact, that he was barely able to eat.

Rahul ji, however, had a great amount of self respect. He never revealed his troubles or worries to anyone.

During that time the newspapers carried an advertisement which stated that the ALL INDIA RAHUL SANKRITYAYAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE had two openings, for a translator and a book editor .

Since he knew many languages, and since he had a great deal of experience in editing and publishing both his own books and many rare manuscripts, Rahul Sankrityayan applied for both positions.

A month later the the ALL INDIA RAHUL SANKRITYAYAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE sent him a card inviting him for an interview. Since he also received third-class train fare, he was able to go.

In the interview he was asked questions about From the Volga to the Ganges, An Introduction to Philosophy, Don’t Escape, Change the World and A History of Central Asia . Since Rahul Sankrityayan had written those books himself, he responded in a very matter-of-fact tone, and he often had to correct the mistakes committed by the members of the screening committee.

When he left, the Director of the Research Institute, who was also the chairman of the screening committee, asked the other members of the committee for their opinions about the candidate.

The committee members were in a quandry. Then one of them spoke up, “Sir, the question is one of qualifications and past experience . We have applications from twenty-seven people who have done Ph. D's on the work and life of Mahapundit Rahul Sankrityayan and many have done research beyond that for five to ten years.”

Another committee member voiced his opinion thus : “What’s more, this candidate responded to our questions in a very uncivil and insulting manner, and we have to always keep in mind the dignity of the Institute and the fact that these positions are permanent .”

The Director of the Institute, who was also the chairman of the screening committee, smiled and said, “ The committee’s opinion is one hundred per cent correct. I am in full agreement with it. From the start this man seemed to me to be unreliable and clever. My friends and colleagues, the well being of the Institite requires that we keep people with such characteristics away from it.”

Then the Director put some lime and tobacco in the palm of his hand, rubbed it down with his thumb, put the plug down under his lower lip, stood up and said, “Tomorrow I have to give a speech in Bhopal on the occasion of the Birth Centenary of Rahul Sankrityayan , so I’m leaving. You can let the short list out. In my opinion Mr. Mulayam  Chand Naunihal would be good for the post of translator, and the editor should be Mr. Girgit ji.”