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: Tomorrow Germany is going to attack England.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, tomorrow night and finish it in a week. On the 26th the preparation and on the 27th the triumphal entry into London.
PURANI: But there is no sign yet anywhere of the attack. Nolini was saying that just as Napoleon was scratching his head at Boulogne thinking about how to invade England, Hitler also must be doing the same. (Laughter)
SRI AUROBINDO: During the reign of King Harold, the last invader crossed over to England.
NIRODBARAN(after a pause): Huque has paid a high tribute to Bose.
SRI AUROBINDO(laughing): Yes. With tears in his eyes he had to arrest him.
PURANI: What has he said?
NIRODBARAN: That Bose is the most lovable person in Bengal politics, reputable, admired, revered, etc.
PURANI: He is trying to humour him so as to have a smooth time when he is released.
SRI AUROBINDO: I think everything was ready for the monument to be removed when Bose started the agitation. All the parties have agreed, Europeans and others, to have it removed.
PURANI: He found an easy way of combining the Hindus and the Muslims. Now the women are also starting Satyagraha on the men.
SRI AUROBINDO: On the men? What for?
NIRODBARAN: For equal rights. (Laughter) Hamida Begum said this at some conference of women.
SRI AUROBINDO: No cooking, no conjugal rights and no housekeeping? Is that the programme?
SATYENDRA: That is secret yet. They don't let out their strategic moves.
NIRODBARAN: That's all they can do.
SRI AUROBINDO: All? That is a great deal.
PURANI: Men will start cooking.
SRI AUROBINDO: But they may upset the whole thing. An irruption of women suffragists may invade and upset everything. (Laughter) But after they get their rights, they should combine and fight Hitler because wherever he goes, he deprives women of their rights.
PURANI: The Fascist slogan is back to the family.
SRI AUROBINDO: That is the Fascist and Nazi and now the French slogan—Famille. Women will have no other duties except the household one.
EVENING
SRI AUROBINDO(in a grave tone): We have lost eighty-seven crores of rupees due to the collapse of the Bank of France. (Seeing us all agape) That is why we are dismissing many servants. (Laughter)
PURANI: I was wondering why it was eighty-seven.
SRI AUROBINDO: And neither has the Bank of France collapsed. Today Dyuman heard people talking in the bazaar—"Ashram, Ashram!" When he enquired what it was about, he came to know that this was the news they were discussing. It is the bazaar radio!
SATYENDRA: They have very big ideas about our wealth and think we are very rich.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, the underground of our new Secretariat is supposed to contain an immense mass of gold, and formerly some British police thought it was a fortress we were building!
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