Sri Aurobindo : conversations
Talks with Sri Aurobindo is a thousand-page record of Sri Aurobindo's conversations with the disciples who attended to him during the last twelve years of his life. The talks are informal and open-ended, for the attendants were free to ask whatever questions came to mind. Sri Aurobindo speaks of his own life and work, of the Mother and the Ashram, of his path of Yoga and other paths, of India's social, cultural and spiritual life, of the country's struggle for political independence, of Hitler and the Second World War, of modern science, art and poetry, and of many other things that arose in the course of conversation. Serious discussion is balanced with light-hearted banter and humour. By recording these human touches, Nirodbaran has brought out the warm and intimate atmosphere of the talks.
THEME/S
SATYENDRA: The British Government has issued a notice that France and her African possessions will be treated as enemy countries as regards trade. All trade is forbidden with them. They don't mention Indo-China or Pondicherry perhaps because they have declared a status quo. They know that if there is no trade, they won't get anything from outside.
SRI AUROBINDO: And nothing from inside. (Laughter)
PURANI: Sammer must be glad over the arrest of workers in France. He says that Fascism, will help towards bringing about communism in France.
SRI AUROBINDO: How? It is Germany that has arrested the workers because they refused to work.
PURANI: Oh, I see.
SATYENDRA: But that was one of the conditions of the armistice.
SRI AUROBINDO: The workers didn't make the armistice! (Laughter) Gandhi ought to be happy because of their passive resistance.
PURANI: I think Germany may try to push the French soldiers to war against England.
SRI AUROBINDO: Not likely, because to do that Hitler will have to arm France which he doesn't want to do. He hoped to get the navy.
NIRODBARAN: He must have made a mistake if he hoped that.
SRI AUROBINDO: Evidently he hoped. Now that he can't get it, he is getting whatever he can by plunder.
SATYENDRA: Yes. All the money and jewels in the banks. Investments are prohibited without permission.
NIRODBARAN: England has made a three-month agreement with Japan regarding the Burma route. But China may not be affected much.
SRI AUROBINDO: It will be affected considerably.
SATYENDRA: The Japanese radio has been declaring that England must concede the demands. Otherwise they will have to take the necessary steps. So England has given way.
SRI AUROBINDO: England can't deal with anything else now except Hitler. She can't deal with Japan or Russia.
SATYENDRA: Churchill saw long ago the necessity of alliance with Russia and also the need of increasing the air force.
NIRODBARAN: And Chamberlain did neither. And still he has a big influence.
SRI AUROBINDO: That is because he looks after the class interest while Churchill sees what is good for England.
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