A Centenary Tribute

Amal Kiran: The Clear Ray

I FIRST heard of him before I came to Pondicherry in 1972. One day some of my friends were going to visit him; I accompanied them so as to meet him. We all went to his house without prior appointment. We felt that all of us were part of the Mother's family and no formality was required. Truly, he received us very cordially, and made us feel free. Later, we were happy to have his contact.

Later, sometimes I had gone to show him my poems and articles. At such times, he used to treat me with the same frankness. Thus, an intimacy grew between us, and I was touched by his gentle behaviour.

Sometimes, in the 1970s, there used to be the Ashram Poets' Meet in the Hall of Harmony of our Centre of Educa-tion. Amal Kiran used to preside over such events at times. All of us knew his humorous temperament. He used to add his touch of humour while announcing the names of the poets. I do not remember all the comments that amused us, but one of them is still fresh in my memory. It was for a Gujarati gentleman (I still do not know his name) who used % to be on duty at the Golconde Gate. Amal-da announced his name as "GGG - Glory of Golconde Gate".

For quite many years, around 4 p.m., I used to go to the Samadhi with the Agarbattis given by our dear Ammaji (Navajata's mother). It so happened that it was also Amal-da's time to visit the Ashram. Mostly we used to pass by with a smile without any talk, but that smile was more than enough to keep the rapport intact. He would enter the Ashram holding two crutches and looked down as he walked towards the Samadhi. But he would never fail to see and smile at anyone known to him on the way. His seat was a

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chair near Pujalalji's room. Observing his temper free from mood of anger or antipathy for anybody, I was very much impressed. So one day, I told him, "1 feel very happy when I see you as you do not have any anger." Immediately, he replied, "You also do not seem to get angry." I said, "At times, in some situations, I do get angry, which I do not like." He told me very cooly, "Why should you get angry?" I reflected upon the worth of his statement. Because our getting angry never solves the problem or eases the situation. One has to just detach oneself from the unpleasantnesses and offer them to the Mother. His motto of life is "Remember and Offer". How simple but effective it is! But always we forget it and tend to react, which is a wrong step. We have to practise "Constant Remembrance of the Divine" and offer everything to Him. In spite of repeated failures we have to persist. Here we see him as the brightest example of this ideal. By regular practice he has established a divine equanimity in him. That is why we always see him as the same sweet person - Amal Kiran.

Another positive trait of his nature is that he never counts the outward worth of a person. Whosoever comes to him, he sees the divine possibilities and encourages him. A visitor from Orissa, a so-called layman, once came to meet him once. But he gave him much of his time and answered all his questions. One of such questions from this person was "Can I find the Divine in this life?" He replied, "Surely, you will!" Such a great assurance came not only from his surface mind bearing no weight, but from his insight which is confident and sure.

Years back, in 1991, when he had his accident after which he could not walk any more and was to be in a wheelchair, he was admitted into the Nursing Home for some time. When I went to meet him, I was surprised to see that he was sitting in his bed and editing the papers of Mother India. When he saw me, he immediately stopped his work and started talking to me. I felt rather guilty that his work suffered due to me. But he told me fondly that he could continue it after I

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leave, and he was not at all disturbed. Somebody else also came after me and he attended to the person gladly. I wondered how polite, humble and sincere is he!

A man free from ego is our dear Amal-da. He has received much of The Mother's and the Master's Grace that on the evening of the Supramental Manifestation upon earth in 1956 during the Playground meditation, he saw The Mother in his train compartment while he was travelling to Bombay. She had come there to inform him about the great descent in order to fulfil her promise to him years back.

In spite of all these divine boons, he is so humble and gentle that nobody ever feels any bar between him or her and Amal-da. He becomes a friend of all who come to him.

He is free from all useless gossip and politics. Never have I heard any criticism of anybody or anything from him. He is a true follower of The Mother's advice to the Ashramites. "When you have nothing pleasant to say about something or somebody in the Ashram, keep silent.

"You must know that this silence is faithfulness for the Divine's work." All of us have read this on the Dining Hall wall but how many of us practise it sincerely? Amal-da has succeeded and has kept himself engrossed in his work, read-ing and drawing more and more within to be closer and closer to our Gurus.

He never ran after any fame or recognition during his career but kept busy with his writing and sadhana. To quote him:

.. .1 am called and called beyond each mundane prize. Whatever Thy form, Thou unknown menace to my human heart, I love Thee. O sweet devouring wideness - from above and around and below Thou comest. No-where can I escape Thee then,...

(The Thinking Corner by Amal Kiran, p. 38)

Amal-da is a poet, writer, editor, critic and above all a Yogi. Learned and wise, he is always hopeful about the world.

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Whenever he is asked "What is the future of the Ashram", he replies in his assuring tone: " The Ashram will reach its goal of Supramental Transformation" for which The Mother and Sri Aurobindo are working ceaselessly. Let us all take a pledge to work towards this goal without wasting our time. Let us draw more and more inspiration from this full blossomed Lotus in The Mother's Pond. I end my tribute with a poem dedicated to Amal Kiran:

O Visionary Poet and Seer!

Behold! all around is full of cheer,

To see the great day of your Centenary,

At the Mother's Gracious Sanctuary.

Smiling, you can make others smile,

 Enduring, make us amaze awhile.

Sitting on the Throne of Confidence,

 Proclaim always future brightness.

A mother's love, tenderness and calm,

 Fills your heart as a soothing balm.

Yet detached and aloof in the wordly pond,

Bloom like a Lotus in the mud.

Fulfilling the mission of life ever,

Marching progressively, O great Victor!

 Lead us more and more towards the great goal,

O the Mother's worthy child, O Noble Soul.

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