Champaklal Speaks

Unforgettable Touch

While living at Library House, Sri Aurobindo was using a net. But after coming to Meditation House it was used only short time. Thereafter anti-mosquito coils were placed at the four corners of his cot. Four small round trays in brass were specially prepared for the purpose in Pavitra's workshop. The coils came in small boxes that were imported by the Mother from France; Prosperity used to issue them to some sadhaks also. The supplies I stopped during war-time.

Mother would keep two boxes on Sri Aurobindo's table. He himself would separate the coils which would normally be stuck to each other; each had to be carefully separated from the other if they were not to break. One day I saw Sri Aurobindo busy separating the coils. Thereafter I started keeping them ready for his use and he let that work to me. This was before his accident.

The burning of the coils was stopped after his room was renovated in 1946. Why it was stopped has remained a mystery. When there were neither coils nor the net, it was natural that he was bitten by mosquitoes in several places. He would then ask Insectol. I used to give an open tube of it in his hand; he would hold the tube in one hand and rub the ointment with; the other.

Sometime afterwards this changed. He would call “Champaklal”, and I would rush the moment my name was uttered and stand by his side near the bed. Sri Aurobindo show me the different places where mosquitoes had bitten often there were more places than he had indicated and I showed them to him, he would give an unforgettable smile.

The joy at the touch of his body while rubbing the ointment indescribable. So too, I remember the unimaginable joy I felt when he would put his arm around me while walking—it is inexpressible.