Why was Kashiram so protective of that small bundle of sugar during the robbery? It seems like an odd thing to risk his life for.

The small bundle Kashiram risked his life for was incredibly significant to him due to his spiritual discipline. Chapter 0 clarifies that the bundle did not contain treasure, as the thieves suspected, but simply powdered sugar. Kashiram carried this sugar because a saint named Janakidas Baba had advised him to feed it to ants. This act of service was so dear to him that he resolved not to let the bundle go, no matter the cost. His decision to fight back was rooted in his commitment to this simple, sacred duty. Therefore, his bravery was not about protecting a material possession but about upholding a spiritual instruction, even in the face of death.