Sir Banerjete used to consult grandfather frequently.

Once there was a discussion of his horoscope and I was allowed to be present. Sir Banerjee was born on 10-10-1871 at 2 p.m. at Bristol. At the time he consulted grandfather, he was particular to know whether the term of his Dewanship would continue after 1927. This consultation was in 1926. Grandfather seems to have felt that a "budding astrologer" like me should not be entirely ignored and he wanted my "opinion". I figured out that Mercury in Rahu lasted till 23-31927. Mercury is a Yogakaraka because of his association with the Sun and placement in the 10th. Rahu, the major lord, occupying the 7th which happens to be Mercury's sign should give the results of Mercury. And I felt I was fortified in my conclusion by a sloka in Jalaka Chandrica, according to which, a shadowy planet should give the results of the lord of the sign he is in. Therefore Sir Banerjee would continue to be the Dewan not only throughout Mercury's sub-period but also during Ketu's sub-period as Ketu is in Sagittarius and the dispositor Jupiter is exalted. Grandfather cut me to size and said that in the latter part of Mercury he would cease to be Dewan. I stuck to my guns. He said that I was young and immature and that my application of text-book principles verbatim should give place to an appreciation of the exact import of a combination and how it would express itself. He said : "Look here, you are intelligent, sincere and persistent but you lack experience and intuition which you can acquire gradually." He went on: "Though Mercury has all the qualifications of Raja Yoga, he is in conjunction with Venus lord of the 6th (and 11th) in the constellation of the Moon, lord of the 8th." I interjected: "But the 8th house blemish does not attach to the Moon." But he silenced me with the remark that the dictum applied only to maraka cases. As anticipated by him. Sir Banerjee had to quit the Dewanship before the end of Mercury's sub-period. This deflated my ego to some extent and I began to appreciate the virtues of humility. As I progressed in my astrological knowledge I could not easily reconcile to the dictum that the 8th lordship of the Moon could always be malefic. And I must say with due deference to grandfather's own opinion, that after more than five decades of experience I have not changed my view. The Moon, as lord of the 8th can be harmful if he is a malefic and if he lacks pakshabala. But if he is a benefice and well-placed, he cannot produce harmful results though owning the 8th. This 8th lordship is peculiar to Sagittarius. Most persons bom in this sign have had initial disappointments but phenomenal rise especially when Mercury and the Sun are in the 9th or 10th and'the Moon occupies the 3rd, 6th, 10th, or 11th. Sir Banerji's personal life was a tragic