Among the Not So Great

Birendra Kumar Palit

(Binder of Books)

Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.

ThomaS Carlyle

Biren Palit was from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) — Chittagong (many would prefer Chottogram). Diwanpur was his birthplace, may have been a small town or village.

Biren-da was an ordinary looking man in build and appearance — like many other Bengalees, i.e. of medium height, rather of the leaner category. He sported a thick black moustache, also common enough. What stood him apart were big black eyes that seemed unblinking, gazing at the world around and the unusually long hair, also thick and black, that hung below his waist (could be the envy of many a girl). I have no recollection of his hair turning grey (I have noticed this phenomena in some others from Chittagong — not the length but the non-greying). Biren-da was born on the 27th of February of 1906. He arrived here — Ashram — on 27.7.30 at the age of 24.

Biren-da was a man after my heart. What in him that makes me say so is the Slowness with which he went through all his doings — talking, walking. Also I have never heard him raise his voice in anger or of necessity! I wonder to this day if he could at all shout! I almost forget one “hallmark” of Biren-da’s. He had, at most times, when outdoors or maybe even indoors a beret (cap) of cloth perched on his head — maybe to keep the hair out of any breeze’s way (a positive point of relief for the young girls!).

Biren-da worked in the Binding Department when it was a modest affair, situated in our Guest House (now a table-tennis room). This Dept. was absorbed into our Imprimerie (Printing Press). Biren-da too shifted to the Imprimerie. Why? I wondered at times — I thought that would be the natural sequence of events. Now I learn that the Mother, with Her all-encompassing mind, had sent Biren-da to Calcutta to learn Book Binding! It was from Biren-da that Soma-di, Niharika-di, Kusum-ben, etc. learnt the art and worked in the Imprimerie!

Biren-da was at first (or long ago) lodged on the 1st floor of our Guest House. The window in his room had glass panes which allowed light into the room. He thought it would be good if he could paint the panes to prevent the glare. He wrote to the Mother (I think) seeking Her permission. The reply came from Sri Aurobindo: “What luxury!” There ended the episode.

Biren-da and several others were shifted to various other houses (from Guest House) when the Mother decided to turn it into Dortoir Annexe. Biren-da was given a room in a new complex called Ambika House. He was allotted a room on the 2nd floor. He was well satisfied as was his wont. But someone had kept his “comfort” and welfare in his/her mind. So, when a room was available just behind the Ashram, across the street, he (Biren-da) was offered the place. He thought he should not have such ‘ease’ or ‘desire’. He declined the offer. He did not know, neither do I, to this day, who the benefactor was! What I do know is that Nolini-da told him: “Chupchap cholé ésho!” (come quietly or without protest). Biren-da could not protest nor ignore! One may think “Why all this fuss over him?” That is because Biren-da was a gentle slow tortoise not racing the hares of the place! And what of the fact that it was the Mother who chose this tortoise to go to Calcutta on a mission? Biren-da was of the old, old stock of people. He never did learn to cycle. The speed would probably have upset his ways of thinking and maybe more. He moved at a slow, very slow pace. The pace was good enough for going to work, on long walks to lake or the countryside. He would at times even read a newspaper when walking (the traffic was neither so fast nor chaotic as today). Two young ladies Ajanta and Ellora often accompanied him.

Biren-da was born on the 27th of February 1906. Age might have just slowed him down a bit more. He shed his mortal shackles in June of 1987 aged 81, having lived here a mere 57 years.

I hope by now it is clear as to who is the tortoise and who the hare — and what or to which End is the Race?

The Mother has said that “The Tortoise is the Symbol of Immortality.”