Champaklal Speaks

Sri Aurobindo’s Feet

1947-02-02

It was my birthday: 2.2.1947.

I was very happy, indeed very very happy. The Mother was very gracious, as on every birthday of mine. When she came to Sri Aurobindo's room where we all were waiting for her, she looked at me with a broad smile which had a deep intimacy in it and told Sri Aurobindo: “Today is Champaklal's birthday.”

Sri Aurobindo's response was immediate and equally intimate, “Umm!”, he said with prolonged emphasis, and gave me a smile that touched me deeply.

For a long time I had wanted to draw an outline of Sri Aurobindo's feet. But it was difficult as I did not want to inconvenience him in any way, or break his routine. With Mother it was different; I could freely ask her whatever I wished. Once when I asked her for it she herself drew an outline of her feet. Sri Aurobindo too, when we asked and if it was necessary for our progress, did everything.

So I thought out a plan. After sitting in his chair, Sri Aurobindo would raise his feet for the footstool to be kept, and raise them again when he wanted to get up so that the footstool could be removed. I decided that after removing the footstool I would put a sheet of paper there so that his feet would automatically come down on the paper. And at that moment I would qiuckly draw the pencil around his feet and get their outline. But one problem remained. The paper would be on a carpet and it might not be easy for him to keep standing on the paper. Besides the pencil would not move evenly and the outline would not be properly drawn. Then another thought occurred. If a big plank were brought and kept on the carpet and the chair placed over it, the paper would remain flat and the pencil could move smoothly, and Sri Aurobindo would be able to stand steadily. With everything thus thought out, I put my plan before Sri Aurobindo. He gave his consent with a soft smile.

Then I executed my plan and I was happy that it was done without any change in his programme. His expression when I did all this was worth seeing. You know I was very fond of watching his expressions—it gave me immense joy. You have seen some of the sketches I have drawn of him in different postures and of the different expressions on his face.

Later that day, I took the paper with my drawing to Sri Aurobindo to get my name and his blessings written on it. Once again he gave me a gentle smile and happily wrote below the sketch:

To
Champaklal
my love and blessings
February 2, 1947

Sri Aurobindo

The same day I also prayed Mother to let me have an outline of her feet and she drew it with her own hand. Under it she wrote:

To Champaklal
2.2.1947
With love and blessings

Mother