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
PURANI: Russia has penetrated thirty miles further into Rumanian territory.
SRI AUROBINDO: Thirty miles beyond Bessarabia? Or thirty miles into Bessarabia? She had said she would cover the first zone; it may be that. If she occupies more than Bessarabia, then it becomes interesting.
PURANI: Hungary and Bulgaria are also pushing their claims.
SRI AUROBINDO: Hitler and Mussolini have asked them to wait for the present.
SATYENDRA: Why are the English people being evacuated from Hongkong?
SRI AUROBINDO: Because Japan is going to blockade the coast; in that case it will be very distressing for them.
NIRODBARAN: China will be put in a very difficult position then.
SRI AUROBINDO: There is Russia. She helps China with all that is necessary.
NIRODBARAN: Why is Russia against Japan?
SRI AUROBINDO: Because she doesn't want Japanese supremacy in China and, besides, Japan is her traditional enemy.
NIRODBARAN (after a while): The Gandhi-Viceroy meeting is another failure.
SRI AUROBINDO(laughing): Yes.
SATYENDRA: Is any proclamation issued?
NIRODBARAN: No; since Gandhi is talking of leaving Delhi one infers that the meeting is a failure.
SRI AUROBINDO: If the Viceroy is willing to give only three more seats in his Council, he can't expect anybody to agree.
EVENING
Radio news: Gandhi telephoned Azad to come to Delhi and the Working Committee meeting is called on Wednesday, 3rd July. This was the last item in the news written down from the radio.
SRI AUROBINDO(as Purani was reading out the news): The last item is interesting. Seems to be encouraging. I hope both the parties will have some common sense.
PURANI: Yes.
SRI AUROBINDO(when Satyendra arrived): Gandhi is staying on. He has called Azad and the Working Committee. There may be some hope. Something more than three seats, perhaps. (Laughter)
SATYENDRA: Better to end this stalemate now. They have been sitting idle for so many months.
PURANI: Gandhi also may now pressure the Working Committee. Since they have given up non-violence for defence, they have a good opportunity for training.
SRI AUROBINDO: Gandhi after thirty years doesn't find a single Satyagrahi as his follower.
NIRODBARAN: Azad seems to be more moderate and would like some compromise.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. But Nehru is stiff. (After some time) The Pétain Government is adopting the Fascist method of giving news—ambiguous and insufficient. They say that Reynaud had a motor accident but the doctors are not able to decide what is wrong. Motorcaritis? He was himself driving the car and for some unknown reason dashed against a tree. They don't say who was with him and where he is.
NIRODBARAN: Why don't the doctors know whether it is a fracture or not? If it were a matter of some disease, I could understand the uncertainty.
SRI AUROBINDO: That is why I say motorcaritis! (Laughter) You remember Daladier also had some accident. It was an attempt at assassination by some communists. The news was not given out but kept as official.
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