As we refined our strategy, I suggested using different languages or encryption for sharing intelligence. Sufiyan was taken aback at first, but he quickly recognized the benefits. He pointed out the challenge of educating everyone involved, which would take time, so we marked this as a long-term goal.
After discussing the detailed plan with my father, he was impressed and promised to arrange 10,000 rupees by the next week. Sticking to our agreement, I knew I couldn't directly involve myself in field operations, so Sufiyan took the lead. Each day, we would discuss our plans and refine our approach.
We decided to start by recruiting orphans and beggars, telling them we were planning a robbery and would pay for any information they could provide. This would allow us to gather intelligence while identifying trustworthy individuals among them. Our goal was to find at least one person who shared our vision for fighting for the nation or even had a spark of nationalism.
For the next month, Sufiyan was busy organizing our intelligence network. As time went on, it became clear we were going to need a lot more money. The state of the country was dire; hunger was rampant, and people were losing faith in their leadership as British exploitation intensified.
During this period, we identified several individuals already planning small-scale revolts and some looking for ways to contribute. After a month of trial runs, we decided to restructure our organization.
We established an area-wise network with two or more information collectors in each locality. These collectors would gather intel from orphans, beggars, and local merchants. They would then report to city-level collectors—also two or more for reliability—who would send the information to a central hub.
For the next four months, Sufiyan worked tirelessly, covering much of Delhi and its surroundings. My father also provided an additional 30,000 rupees last month. We finally decided that instead of using different languages, it would be more practical to stick to English and encrypt our messages. Each area would encrypt its information, which would then be decrypted at the city level before being encrypted again in a different format. This way, if the British intercepted anything, they would think it was just an ordinary piece of writing—an unremarkable story, paper, or poem.
After four months, we identified many individuals who could aid us and began planning the soap factory. Sufiyan met with three merchants: Babu Ram Narayan, Kishore Lal, and Raja Jai Ram. He explained the soap production method and our reasons for venturing into this business.
After some discussions, they decided to form a joint company, presenting it as pro-British to secure funding and tax benefits. They even thought about making it international, which would help forge connections with other nations. They chose to name the company "Lux."
In the following weeks, Babu Ram, Kishore, and Raja focused on organizing and experimenting with various soap recipes. They decided to launch three versions: an expensive one for royals at 20 rupees (the average monthly salary for a soldier), a second for wealthy merchants at 7 rupees, and a budget version for ordinary people at 10 paise.
The royal version would have floral fragrances, the 7-rupee soap would be similar but with less palm oil, and the 10-paise version would be plain, without any fragrance. We also decided to insert a small piece of paper with thoughtful quotes or poems inside each soap, which could subtly convey information to our contacts. And will not offset the brithishers.
Production for Lux began. As soon as the first batch was ready, they decided to first appease the British by gifting them soaps and a bit of money. They then sent some soap to the royal family, using Sufiyan as the sole point of contact; neither they nor the British were aware of my father's or my involvement. Even Sufiyan remained unknown to others—only Babu Ram, Kishore, and Raja were aware of his connection.
When the soap was gifted to my father for the royal family, we exchanged a knowing smile. Some of the soap was also distributed to the general public, setting our plan in motion.
For the next months, Sufiyan dedicated himself to the intelligence organization. While it wasn't as extensive as in Delhi, it was gradually taking root in various states and kingdoms of India, including Awadh (Oudh), Punjab, Hyderabad, Mysore, the Maratha states, and Rajputana (Rajasthan). As the intelligence network expanded, so did its financial needs. Thankfully, with the success of Lux, this wasn't an issue.
Lux had been well received across India and had even started trading with the British, which allowed it to transport goods to various regions of Europe. Seeing the profits rolling in, the British tried to influence the company. However, recognizing its seemingly pro-British structure, they merely increased the taxes and let it operate independently. For them, profit was the only concern, regardless of how it was obtained.
My father advised me to travel to different states to understand the people better. If I truly wanted to help them, I needed to familiarize myself with their lives and struggles. Fully grasping his wisdom, I prepared for a royal journey across India for the next year.
As I set off, I was filled with a mix of excitement and determination. I aimed to listen to the voices of the people, learn their stories, and grasp the unique challenges each region faced. This journey was not just about gathering information; it was about building connections and sowing the seeds of unity among the diverse tapestry of our nation.