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
NIRODBARAN: Chamberlain has a majority of 81 votes. Is it good majority?
SRI AUROBINDO: A very narrow one, and about 150 have abstained. He has been criticised even by his own people. Amery's voice is the strongest. It shows dissatisfaction in his own party with his policy.
SATYENDRA: Hitler will perhaps consolidate his position in Norway before he makes any other venture.
SRI AUROBINDO: Perhaps. Unless there is too much economic pressure.
NIRODBARAN: The debate has shown how shabbily the whole affair has been carried out.
SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. Some admiral has said he could have taken Trondjheim if he had been given the command. He is a famous man.
(Later, to Purani while lying in bed) The Prabuddha Bharata has a remarkable article quoted from the Amrita Bazar Patrika. Have you seen it?
PURANI: No.
SRI AUROBINDO: See it. It is there on the table. You may find something familiar in the style.
PURANI: It seems to be from your Defence of Indian Culture. (Sri Aurobindo started smiling.) The ideas are taken from there.
SRI AUROBINDO: Only the ideas?
PURANI: Some words and expressions also.
SRI AUROBINDO: Only some? (Laughing) The whole thing is taken from the Defence.
PURANI: But who could have sent it?
SRI AUROBINDO: Perhaps M. Bagchi, but he may be in jail now. (Addressing Nirodbaran) You did not see this article in the Patrika'?
NIRODBARAN: No, I didn't notice it.
PURANI: Others have also done that. I wonder why they don't mention their quotation.
SRI AUROBINDO: If they did, they wouldn't get the credit for it. Some have made their names by taking passages from me.
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