Champaklal's Treasures

Sri Ramakrishna’s Photograph

Do you remember my coming to you[Madhav], now long ago, and asking you to send photographs of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother to anyone wanting them, irrespective of whether they are in a position to pay for the photographs or not? I came to you on hearing from Mother the nice things she said of your work, the spirit in which you do it and so on. And you readily agreed to carry out my wish.

MADHAV: Ah, yes, I remember; I still send photographs free to those who ask for them but cannot pay.

C: Very good, continue it. If you fall short of copies, let me know. I shall draw from my stock and give you. But first let me tell you the story behind my wish expressed to you at that time.

It is in May, 1919 when Punamchand had come to Pondicherry (that was before I came). When he was back to Patan I asked him whether he had seen Sri Aurobindo's room inside. I put him several questions regarding the room. He said there were two rooms connected by a door in between. The inner room was his private room. In the front room there was an almirah and on it was placed a photo of Sri Ramakrishna in a dancing pose. It was framed.

After some time I came across the same photo in a special number of a journal brought out by the Ramakrishna mission. I was happy on seeing it and thought of getting one for myself. But I had no money, not even a single pie. You know that in those days youngsters were not allowed to keep money with them. My father was ready to give whatever was asked, but somehow I could not ask for money for this purpose. If I had asked, he would surely have given me the necessary money. Then I wrote to the Ramakrishna Mission saying that I was a student, I had no money, but I would like to have a print of Sri Ramakrishna in the dancing pose, that was included in their special number. I wrote that I was very eager to have it and requested them to send me one free of cost.

I waited and waited, but I am sorry, to say, there was no response. I felt it sorely at that time that such an institution following the great saint should have turned a deaf ear to the plea of a young aspirant.

Then I forgot about it.

What happened later is interesting. As I told you, when I came to Pondicherry for the first time in 1921, I asked Sri Aurobindo if we could see his room. He stretched his golden hand and pointed to his room. That sight of him, sitting on the chair and stretching out his beautiful hand still remains etched in my memory. It is unforgettable. As soon as I entered the room I remembered what Punamchand had told me about Sri Ramakrishna's photo in the dancing pose; I looked for it in every corner of the room, but I did not see it anywhere. I thought it must have been removed.

Later in 1923 when I came for good and got the privilege of working in Mother's and Sri Aurobindo's rooms, I again looked for the same photo but could not trace it. I did not ask Mother about it.

In 1927 when they moved to the Meditation house from the Library house on February 8, 1927, Mother told me to carry certain things of Sri Aurobindo to the Meditation house. She asked me to carry them myself. At that time I found this very photo in one of the drawers of Sri Aurobindo's table. I showed it to Mother. And without my asking for it she gave it to me.

So there you are! Another instance of sincere aspiration getting fulfilled one day, is it not? Now you will understand why I am particular that when anyone asks for a photograph of the Masters out of aspiration or devotion, it must be supplied to him who has no money to pay.