Champaklal Speaks

A few Characteristics of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo

The Mother relished macaroni. There was a cook here who had been to France and she alone among us could make it with a truly delicious taste. In the early years, I remember, olives and macaroni were practically the only food for her. Afterwards Dyuman¹ tried his level best to find out what other dishes she liked and provided them.

When she was living in Library House, Mother always had her bath late in the evening. While bathing she would sing, and the song often continued for a very long time.

In the beginning the Mother always wore tabi—a type of Japanese socks split at the toe, which can be kept on indoors like slippers and when going outdoors sandals can be worn over them. For many years she did not permit anybody to touch her feet, as she did not like it at all. But later she stopped wearing them for the sake of her children—because they wanted to touch her feet during pranam.

Sri Aurobindo always kept his feet bare however cold the weather, he never covered them at night. They were always bare.

Sri Aurobindo had the utmost dislike of flies. If any fly suddenly touched his body or came near during meal-times, though we tried our best to ensure that no flies came, yet, if ever it happened, an expression of dislike would immediately appear on his face. It was the only thing that brought dislike to his face.