It was a lot more difficult to attend court now as we were living in Sommanahalli, 78 km from Bangalore. It meant that many arrangements had to be made before we travelled to Bangalore. We usually left early in the morning leaving the children either with their grandparents, or sometimes we risked leaving them at the factory. We did not like to leave them so far away.
There were times when I wondered how the situation had gone for the American lady whom I had met the first time I appeared in court. She had been there for the same reason as I. She had told me some of the details of the case against her and her mother. She had indicated that she too had decided to fight the case and was intending to plead not guilty. The rest of the foreigners, who were mainly Iranian students, had pleaded guilty, paid the fine and were rid of the problem. This American lady had said that she was the principal of her own private school which was situated in Basavangudi very near to my in-laws. I used to pass the school very often. One day I saw her advertisement in the local newspaper where she was advocating meditation and asking those interested to come to her school. She had a small pyramid-shaped structure, painted blue, erected in the compound. I learnt that she was a theosophist. Since she was living so close to my in-laws' home, one day I thought that I would go and find out what had happened to her case.
I hesitated because she was strongly associated with spiritual practices of a type that I had avoided. I made it, however, quite clear in my mind that I was not going to see her in connection with spiritual practices - the only basis of interest was her going through an experience similar to mine: being prosecuted as a foreigner for similar reasons. She had told me that she was not certain of what happened to her papers of registration, she thought they had probably been blown off her table and got lost. Our stories were quite different.
One afternoon, quite hesitantly, I walked into her school premises, found her residence and rang the bell. She answered the door and looked surprised to see me. She could not perhaps place me correctly. After all she had seen me only once and in unusual circumstances. I introduced myself and reminded her where we had met before. She called me in and asked me to sit down. She did remember the time at court and what she had told me. I asked her how her situation was. She told me that because she got invitations to lecture abroad and she had to urgently attend a meeting in Sri Lanka she had wanted a quick solution. She had pleaded guilty in court, paid a fine of Rs. 2000 and recovered her passport and mobility. She said that she had not been in a position to wait as she had missed her registration date that had been given to her. It had not been worth fighting the case. I did not want to take any more of her time and left.
I was fighting on a principle. I had been given an unjust ruling from the Lower Court, I had won the case in the High Court, and the case was in the process of being withdrawn altogether by the police. Our stance and efforts were being rewarded. Although our family and friends had, without exception, advised us to give up the case, we had continued. We now thought that it would not take much longer. After each court appearance we visited my prosecutor, the police department. They were very sympathetic towards me and regretted the troubles caused by their predecessors. In fact I got a lot of encouragement from them and it helped me.
Several months passed. The comment from the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Harlankar was: "This was totally unnecessary." Mr. Chandulal was the Additional Commissioner of Police. We were directed to be in constant touch with him. He had obtained his M.A. in English Literature from Delhi College, the University of Delhi, a few years before Jacob graduated from St. Stephen's College, also from the University of Delhi. His son was a mechanical engineer. Mr. Chandulal had joined the police force in 1962 and had served in various places in Karnataka, Shimoga, Hubli, Dharwar and Mysore. He had come to Bangalore only in the late seventies.
His first comment after talking to me was "This is a most pitiable and pathetic case." He went on to say "If I were in the lady's position I would have committed suicide." He explained that with the change of the Police Commissioner "The rules have now been changed and in cases in the future, without the specific authority of the Commissioner of Police it is not possible to launch a prosecution. " In another interview he said "I am shocked to see the destruction of the family by the unthoughtful action of a Sub-Inspector."
All this gave me comfort. A lot of progress had been made in the withdrawal of the case. However, were it not for Jacob's hard work of ensuring that every department of the government went through the papers and approved them, up to the office of the Chief Minister, we would still have been waiting. The prosecutor had decided to withdraw the case. The government fully accepted the withdrawal.
We could have rejoiced for the battle should have been won at that moment. In fact there, now, was no case against me. There was only one more procedure to be gone through for the matter to be closed. The magistrate had to sign the approval of the withdrawal of the case from his court.
An interlude
After the High Court decision when we were waiting for the case to be finally over, on the afternoon of Tuesday, 17 January 1984, a car pulled up in front of the factory in Sommanahalli. We were not expecting anyone and we wondered who had come. Almost the first thing the visitors said as they came in was that a miracle had happened in their lives. They were a couple, Raj Shekar and Lakshmi, who had both worked in our company. Raj Shekar had tied the 'rakhi' on my hand a two years earlier and considered me to be his adopted sister. This is an old Indian custom, and probably derives its origins from when a soldier, who had no sister of his own, on returning from war, adopted as his the sister of a friend who had died in battle.
Despite fierce family objections, the two had got married. They had their small son with them. It was certainly apparent that some change had taken place in their lives. They looked a very prosperous family. Lakshmi was bedecked with gold jewellery and dressed in a silk sari. Not so long ago they had been facing a lot of financial troubles and had no car. Now they had two. They told us of their good fortune which had so unexpectedly come to them. They had moved to a new home, furnished it to their taste and bought all the necessary household gadgets, all within a very short time.
They had received a circular letter which promised them good luck within a certain time if they sent forward the letter with a prayer to four more people, but misfortune was forecast to anyone breaking the chain. They had sent the letter forward, in fact one to Jacob, who had promptly put it in the rubbish bin. They had started receiving money in a big way as promised. This was the source of their prosperity which they called a miracle.
After some hours with us they decided to leave. We walked down to see them off at the roadside where their car was parked. Just before they got in I asked Raj Shekar if the car had ever given them any trouble. He replied proudly "No, it is a new car". He then pointed to a miniature religious ornament that hung from the windscreen and said "Nothing can go wrong with this car because of that." Our youngest daughter Joanna told him that he should not speak too soon. We said our good-byes and Raj Shekar tried to start the car, but it refused to start. He tried everything possible. Then we tried to start it by pushing it. Nothing worked. His wife, Lakshmi and their little boy had to spend the night at our place while Raj Shekar went back to Bangalore to get their other car.
As I was talking about the event with Jacob, I remarked that the car not starting and also that the miraculous way they had received the material goods showed that it was certainly not from God. I reminded Jacob that the God I worshipped did not promise sudden riches but that He gave life and saved people. He had saved our lives many times already. It was the false gods that promised gold and they may even give it in plenty to those who could then be used for their purposes. In the end, however, they would destroy their followers and condemn them to an eternal death. The true God promised both life and to give it to all those who desired and accepted His love.
Back to the final round
On 24 February 1984 we were given a copy of the letter No. HD 12 KWP 84 dated 18/21-2-1984 from the Karnataka Government Secretariat, Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore addressed to the Director of Prosecutions, Bangalore. The subject related to the withdrawal from prosecution against me which was pending in the court. It read as follows (italics supplied by the author) :
Sub:- Withdrawal from prosecution against Mrs. Annikki Rauha Matthan in CC. No. 651/81 pending before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore.
I am directed to convey approval of Government, in public interest, to withdraw the case from prosecution against Mrs. Annikki Rauha Matthan registered in Basavangudi P. S. Cr. No. 128/81 u/s 301(2) (c) r/w 14 of Foreigner's Act and pending trial in CC. No. 651/81 before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bangalore. The Public Prosecutor concerned may be requested to file an application before the Court for leave to withdraw the case from prosecution.
Action taken in the matter may please be intimated to Government.
The government also informed the Commissioner of Police of Bangalore City of the decision. A copy of the letter was sent by the Commissioner of Police to the Circle Inspector of Police of Basavangudi, the Police Sub-Inspector Law and Order of Basavangudi Police Station who had arrested me, and a copy was given to me through the Circle Inspector of Basavangudi. All the mischief that had harassed and tested me for almost three years appeared to have been blown away in one final short letter, and now only one step remained.
The magistrate of the II Additional Chief Magistrate, who was different to the one who had made the error earlier, was informed of the decision by our lawyers and the public prosecutor at the next hearing. Surprisingly he indicated to my lawyers that he was not likely to accept this order of the withdrawal of the case, and had expressed his unwillingness to sign the paper to give me my freedom. He directed the prosecutor to give the court an explanation of the term 'in public interest'.
When we visited the police headquarters and discussed the developments with them. Mr. Chandulal was extremely angry with the stance of the magistrate. He explained to me that the use of the term 'in public interest' was one used to save the face of the government and the police for the vindictive action by a police officer.
It had now become a battle of power and authority among my former prosecutor, the police, and the independent judiciary, the Lower Court magistrate. Mr. Chandulal invited the magistrate to join him to to discuss the matter. He refused to come: The magistrate appeared to be adamant. He seemed to be holding to his position from which he was resisting being moved out of his seat. The police were not only disappointed but were also furious. Mr. Chandulal made an uncharacteristic statement to us which summarised the extent of his anger. He said "If it were not in court I would have thrashed him."
It was the matter of only one technical point - the last one and an important requirement of the law to be fulfilled. Since there was no more a case against me it seemed to be pure obstinacy to stand in the way of closing the case. It would not benefit anyone to complicate it and make matters more difficult. Since the legal system in India is such that each representing department is totally separate from the other and fully independent, they function exactly in that way. One can admire the system very much because it makes it very difficult to manipulate and influence any department from outside the unit.
The police were thinking ahead about the next step to take in case the magistrate refused to sign the withdrawal of the case. They quickly found a way if this failed. Mr. Chandulal said "I have thought of what to do in case he dismisses the application. I will file a revision petition in the Sessions Court and I assure you that within 3 or 4 days you will get your passport."
To me all this was very exacting. It is difficult for anyone to imagine what I had gone through since this trouble entered my life. It was surely a hard time for Jacob as well. He had taken care of all the legal arrangements and thought always ahead of how to do anything. He studied the law relating to my position, presented his viewpoints to the legal advisors, my lawyers, besides seeking advice from all possible sources. He had done everything that was humanly possible. So had my former prosecutor. As far as they were concerned there was no case any more.
Although I had all the support from Jacob that I could have had, I still felt that it was not enough, for I was going through terrible turmoil. I was in a stormy sea continuously, although there were calmer seas in between. I was still there and the storm was shaking me badly. Though Jacob was in the boat with me, I cried for help from above because I believed that He was in control of everything after all. I went from fear to hope, from hope to desperation, and prayed that God would save me from this terrible plight, though all the time still strongly believing that there was a meaning and purpose to all this.
Prayer was no stranger to me. I had started praying as a little girl. No one can know how much I prayed and pleaded with God to release me from bondage and to help me. I believed that He could and would, when it was the right moment. I wholeheartedly believed in His promise that:
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you." St. John 15:17
He had already helped. He had given me courage when mine had disappeared. I used to view my situation from all angles and all possibilities, even if things had not gone as we had planned. I could see myself even imprisoned, but at such moments I believed that there was a meaning to all this. I left it to Him. I trusted that He would free me when and in the way He, in His wisdom, willed it to happen.
I had wept and prayed, especially before each court appearance and when I felt particularly gripped by fear and uncertainties I used to read the Bible and many books and writings of E. G. White. I went through a lot of soul searching.
I used to attend the small Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bangalore whenever I could. I told some people there of my predicament. They said they would pray for me. When I told my family in Finland about my troubles, my youngest brother, Eino, had written that they would pray for me in the small prayer group that gathered there regularly. I knew that my father and younger brother attended that prayer group and prayed for me. Both my parents pray for all their children, so they must have done so in this case too. God alone knows who else prayed for my freedom and for justice and that the whole family would be able to leave India together.
This case brought me very close to God and made me totally dependent on Him. I used to think of Him almost all the time. I can say that when my troubles were at their peak was when I felt closest to Him. I also knew that all good comes from Him alone. Above all I knew that Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God's Holy Angels prayed for me and fought for my case and for justice. I know that Jesus was my Defence Lawyer and Advocate, and that the devil was my Accuser, and had accused me without cause.
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered." Romans 8:26