Talks with Sri Aurobindo

9 APRIL 1940

SATYENDRA: Senapati Bapat has been arrested. He was asked not to enter Bombay.

SRI AUROBINDO: No, he was asked to "remove himself".

SATYENDRA: Not only did he not do so but he addressed a meeting.

SRI AUROBINDO: That's all very well, but why on earth is he called Senapati?

PURANI: Because he led a Satyagraha movement against the Tatas' extension of their dam.

SRI AUROBINDO: Oh, commander-in-chief of passive resistance?

PURANI: Yes, but not quite, because they had swords with them.

SATYENDRA: He seems to try being spectacular.

SRI AUROBINDO: But the spectacle doesn't always come off.

SATYENDRA: That is not his fault.

SRI AUROBINDO: How? Is it because once, when he would have died by drowning, it was his friends who saved him and thus prevented him from being spectacular?

SATYENDRA: Probably. That reminds me of a friend of mine who took more than a lethal dose of opium to commit suicide. But he didn't die; he was quite conscious though he couldn't move his limbs. He was an intellectual and a rationalist and was fed up with the world.

SRI AUROBINDO: It was an intellectual attempt at suicide then, but some part in him that was not rationalist saved him. (Laughter)

EVENING

NIRODBARAN: Germany has entered Denmark.

SRI AUROBINDO: Oh! The war has begun then. Was this the measure they were considering? It is the direct result of British mine-laying.

SATYENDRA: Germany will now have two fronts.

NIRODBARAN: But why did they choose Denmark?

SRI AUROBINDO: Because then they can control the Baltic and the North Sea and from there they can enter any time into Norway and Sweden.

NIRODBARAN: So that was the reason for their troop-concentration there?

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. The Germans have the power to foresee and act accordingly, while the British act from hour to hour: "If this happens, we will do that—if that, then this."

NIRODBARAN: Rumania has been saved.

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, she is lucky. The attack on Finland saved her the first time and now the entry into Denmark has done it the second time.

NIRODBARAN: Unless Russia takes this opportunity and spreads her net.

SRI AUROBINDO: Now Finland will look on at them sharing the same fate.

NIRODBARAN: Poor countries! They wanted to preserve strict neutrality.

SRI AUROBINDO: Even now perhaps Norway and Sweden will say, "We must safeguard our neutrality at any cost." (Laughter)

NIRODBARAN: The Allies have pledged their support in case they are attacked.

SRI AUROBINDO: Yes, but they must invite the Allies.

PURANI: Well, the Allies will first send 500 men, then 1000, then 2000— like that.

SRI AUROBINDO: Step by step. (Laughter)

PURANI: The eleventh of this month seems to be an auspicious day. Something is going to happen.

SRI AUROBINDO(Laughing): Something is happening all right.

PURANI: There is the combination of Sun and Jupiter, Saturn and Mars. Sun and Jupiter being more powerful will counteract the evil influence of the others. There will be a dash for peace.

SRI AUROBINDO: Peace? Peace has been dashed all right, in Norwegian waters by the Allies and in the Baltic by Germany. Saturn and Mars are said to have dashed, aren't they? They seem to be more powerful than Sun and Jupiter.

PURANI: They may have the start.

SRI AUROBINDO: I see. The other two will come at the end or are working together now to run them out at the end? (Laughter)

It was afterwards learnt that the Germans had captured some ports in Norway.

SRI AUROBINDO: The British also should occupy other ports.