28.11.91
My dear Pranab,
I thank you for your characteristically generous response to my letter. Agreeing with you that we have to wait in patience, I wanted to let matters lie there. But of late there is a feeling that I must amplify my thinking.
First let me assure you that there is no question of diluting the tradition of the Guru. It is understood that for all time to come Sri Aurobindo and the Mother will continue to be the Gurus for every one taking to the path of Integral Yoga. There cannot be a successor to the Mother. When Dakshinapada asked Her (unwisely) in the early fifties: 'Sri Aurobindo has left us, one day you also will leave us. Then who is to lead us?' She replied: there will be no need for it, the Truth will guide. So the Guru continues to look after the spiritual aspect of our life. The question is of the general life of the collectivity which is formed as the material base of their operations. It is no use saying—as is being done—'Mother will do'. It is sheer shirking if not escapism. There must be some arrangement to see that the Teaching is properly applied, the Ashram develops on the right lines so that the Ideal is not deformed in its translation. Looked at from this angle there is a deplorable hiatus between what should be and what is. The present administration is or feels powerless to arrest degeneration and deviation. It has not the will to face the blackmail, the threat of non-cooperation that looms large. They know what is right, what should be done, but find it expedient to let things drift under the plea that the Mother alone can do it. Illustratively we may point to the steady deterioration in the standards of the Education Centre; a few elements hold the progress at ransom. Talent, initiative, originality, are stamped down. the Mother, in Her own life-time, deplored the fall in standards at the Centre; things are much worse now. Why should it be so? Where is the boldness that is required in such pioneering efforts?
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The Mother had practically stopped new admissions at a particular stage and asked us to tell people to go to Auroville if they wanted to stay here. She had Her own way of screen- ing entrants. In the absence of that insight, the trustees had wisely decided that we do not need to expand, admissions were to be made only in exceptional circumstances. But that policy has been given up. Apart from that there has been an increasing invasion of non-ashram elements crowding the ashram environs and straining our Services. Some of us warned die authorities to keep back this invasion but it fell on deaf ears. Today every third person in the ashram community is a non-ashramite, freely drawing upon the Services with his money-power, putting genuine sadhaks at a disadvantage. Some of the departments have been converted into private fiefs. Vested interests are forming and holding up the healthy development of the ashram life. Superannuated individuals rule the roost with the result that youngsters are denied opportunities. One has to wait for the incumbents to die before hoping for any change for the better.
This is only to illustrate the areas where things have got to be urgently rectified. A supramental being is not required to organise and run the life of what the Mother called 'this small world'. In any case, the supramental being is something far, far off. It is not going to be in our life-time. Are we to wait and watch developments helplessly?
It is here that the role of collective wisdom steps in. Since we do not have—nor is there a prospect—anyone of outstanding higher consciousness who will be accepted by all in general, if not by every one, we have to fall back on a pool of a core of minds and hearts who are essentially spiritual in their motivation, impersonal in their dealings, capable of holding to the Mother's LOVE in all conditions. Once the unit is formed the Mother's Force is sure to vitalise it and function boldly and uncompromisingly. In the actual working there can be no question of superiority or position of eminence. Within the group the select persons forsake their
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individuality and function only in the greater interests of the collectivity. Naturally X prevails in one matter, Y in another and Z in still another. One person need not always be the deciding factor. With enough humility on the part of all, the premium will be on achievement of the whole than getting one's way through. The higher the consciousness the more the humility and readiness to look from the standpoints of others.
Well, Pranab, I have done for the moment. I have trodden many a path in these matters and have acutely realised where and how I could and should have done vastly better. But lost opportunities do not come again—at any rate in the same form. I have a deep feeling that the Mother is offering us opportunities to vindicate the truth of Her life.
With much love,
Yours affectionately,
Madhav
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Dear Madhav-ji
I thank you very much for your letter dated 28.11.91 and for trying to put a little sense in my blunt head with your valued arguments, being moved only by your sense of extreme goodwill. But I am absolutely convinced that in the present set-up of the Ashram, nobody can do anything except a Superman.
All the malpractices and movements of the lower nature prevalent in the Ashram, that you mention in your letter, are nothing but the play of the ordinary human consciousness, in which man dwells at present. It has plagued humanity with multifarious problems and made man extremely miserable throughout the ages. Wise men tried to find out various solutes. The East approached through inner pursuits and ultimately found out an escape through philosophic and spiritual culture; and Western people, through their practical mind, took the outer approach and ended in materialism. But the problem of man is not solved.
Just then, Sri Aurobindo came and told us that nothing will change the fate of man unless he is transformed integrally and emerges into a better species by the radical change of his consciousness, and that is possible only when he realises the Supramental Consciousness. That is why the Mother and Sri Aurobindo worked throughout their life to establish the Supramental Consciousness in the earth's atmosphere.
Once the Mother told me that however you fight with darkness you can not move it. But just light a candle and the darkness is removed. In the same way whatever we try to do through a rational set-up, as regards our organisations and plannings, it will produce no result unless we acquire the Supramental Consciousness.
My question is—Is the majority of the people in the Ashram trying to work for the Supramental Consciousness seriously and sincerely? How many of us have a clear picture of our real problems and the method for dealing with them? Only the reading of the Life Divine or Savitri and doing regular
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pranams at the Samadhi will not help much. Hours of deep study and meditation, working like a donkey from morning till night will mean nothing. It needs something more. On the other hand, we see so much of pretence and hypocrisy in the name of a Spiritual life.
Madhav-ji, you say that Superman is not needed to steer the Ashram and its people in the right direction. I am tempted to suggest that please do and show us what you say is true. You say that the Supramental being will come only after many many years, when we shall be no more on the face of this world. But I feel that the leader comes only when there is a pressing need and demand in the world for man's relief from his miseries, and the Superman has to come now because never in man's history has there been so much of chaos and confusion in his life.
Our new leader must come with so much power and such a personality that his physical presence itself will be sufficient to make man do the right thing in the right way. It holds good in the cause of the world, India and the Ashram.
I an extremely sorry that I have to write all this to convey my feelings to you, who are my elder, who are greater than me in every respect and possess all this knowledge. But I have only tried to express my mind, which speaks what it feels.
With loving regards,
Pranab
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Individual and Collective Progress
Man is a gregarious animal. He likes to live with others and in groups.
Originally, fear and the feeling of insecurity must have prompted man to do this. Then, when the finer qualities started gradually developing with the growth of the soul, the collective living gave man a higher meaning. These qualities were love; affection; sympathy for others; mutual co-operation, collaboration and understanding; a feeling of brotherhood and comradeship etc. These sentiments brought in a collective spirit amongst them and an united effort for improving the quality of life started.
Normally, individual life and collective life depend on each other for their betterment. Collectivity creates opportunities for the individuals to grow and to progress. The individuals, by their achievements in various fields of human activities, make the collective life rich and fruitful.
It has often been found that an individual, having exceptional qualities, grows into a very strong personality and when selfishness creeps in him, he tries to exploit the collectivity for his selfish and personal gains. To check this tendency, the collectivity adopts certain measures, which bring in some control, but the freedom of the individual is very much restricted. With this, the possibility of getting the best and the most from the individuals becomes impossible.
This battle for individual freedom and collective control is going on since time immemorial and as a result the progress of humanity is greatly hampered. Sometimes, this disharmony even threatens to destroy the existence of man.
Freedom is a very important condition of progress. But freedom must not be confused with license. When more than one person is involved in any project or when an individual wants to achieve something, certain outer rules and disciplines are necessary, at least in the initial stages. Afterwards, with the growth of consciousness, these outer rules and disciplines
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:could gradually be relaxed and replaced by inner rules and inner disciplines. But discipline is a must and without it nothing can be done.
Man, all over the world, is facing various overwhelming problems. If we probe into them we find that most of them are his own creation. They are the result of his greed and selfishness. These problems are growing to such a colossal stature that one often wonders whether they are going to wipe man out.
So far all the attempts of man to solve these problems have failed miserably. The problems are beyond the capacities and capabilities of man to tackle successfully. Our Master has pointed out that man has to change his nature, transcend himself and evolve into a higher species with the help of a new consciousness. Then only will he be able to come out of his, difficulties.
Now let us examine the problem in our own context.
With regard to our individual and collective progress, taster has given us a program, in which He states that our target is Supramental Realisation and Integral Transformation.
In the early fifties or late forties, the Mother told me one day—'Pranab, this time there will be no tragedy. I shall do what I have come here for. Nolini, Pavitra, Amrita and all the sadhaks are waiting to see the Supramental Realisation and physical Transformation. I cannot disappoint them. It must happen.'
For some reason or other Physical Transformation could not be done on the Mother's body. But that does not mean that Her Work has been postponed for the time being, as many, people believe. She is constantly working from above for its fruition and helping those who are open to Her. We could not see it on Her own body. But She must have found a number of good instruments through whom She will realise Her vision, and we shall surely see it during Her epoch.
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Our community will progressively find out ways and means to create favourable circumstances so that the individuals will be able to work for Supramental Realisation and Physical Transformation. And each individual will seriously and sincerely work for the Great Ideal, keeping himself free in his attitude from all diversions that tend to take him away from the mission set before us by our Master.
Man has waited long, too long. Now the time is pressing for this Great Realisation. The advent of Superman is not very far. It is now inevitable. Our Master has assured us so. He seems to be giving indications that it is going to happen here and now.
* * *
A Western gentleman came to Dada's office. He was rather tall and he had a short golden beard. His body was quite well- built and compact. He looked like a naval officer. As soon as Dada saw him Dada exclaimed:
"Ah, Norman! Come, come! I was just talking about you the other day? So where are you staying? How are you?"
Norman answered in flawless Bengali: 'Dada, I am fine. I am staying at Cottage.' And saying this he presented to Dada a beautiful calendar of Australian birds. Just birds, and what exquisite printing!
"So this is Norman! His father, Norman Dowsett, was a professor of English here at the Ashram. He has written books of poems and English grammar."
Once a director of some educational institution came to see the functioning of our Ashram school. Norman was then very young. We told this gentleman to talk to a little girl to judge how well English was taught here.
The girl spoke impressive English. The man was quite astounded.
Now meet this young boy. He is English but he'll speak with you in Bengali, we told the director. As I told you Norman
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was then very young. He spoke impeccable Bengali with him. The director was wonder-struck listening to this little western boy speak such beautiful Bengali. He asked him in Bengali:
Tomader adi nibaas ki England?' (Are you originally from England?)
Norman answered: 'I don't know what 'adi' means.'
Everyone in the office had a good laugh.
I tell your story of the red-faced monkey inside and outside to a lot of people. You had retorted: 'Lekin baharka lalandar hindi samajhta!'(But the red-faced monkey outside understands Hindi!)
Norman too laughed as Dada recounted that story of the, Australian zoo once again.
From Rostov in Russia, one Mr Gleb Nesterov, a disciple of' the Mother and Sri Aurobindo, wrote to Jayantilal-da. He wanted to know something about Dada. In reply Dada wrote his life-sketch. He wrote in the letter that accompanied this life-sketch:
"Well, to write a life-sketch of mine by myself is a bit embarrassing. But if I get it done by some other person he may write something which is not necessary and he may omit some important points. So I have written something myself to you some information about myself. I have written in the person. Perhaps it will do." (Originally in English)
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Information about Pranab
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya was born on 18.10.23, in a family of respectable lineage staying at Berhampur, a district town, 116 miles north of Calcutta. His father's name was Dakshina Pada Bhattacharya and mother's name was Prafullamayee Devi.
At the age of five, his education started at home in the traditional way, as was the practice in a Brahmin's family in those days. Then, for about a year, he studied in Berhampur Krishnanath Collegiate School. At the age of seven he was taken to Calcutta where his father was serving as one of the engineers in Bengal Telephones. He stayed with his parents and was admitted to a private school called Anandamayee Institution, which was founded and run by a patriot and idealist named Charuchandra Dutta. Pranab imbibed here, along with all the academic subjects, the spirit of discipline, high morals, great ideals and patriotism.
After six years of studies, his school course in Anandamayee Institution was over and he was admitted to a high school at Ballygunge, Calcutta, called Jagadbandhu Institution and he passed his matriculation examination from there in 1939, at the age of 16.
Then one year passed in trying to find out whether he was meant to take up science or arts for his higher studies and finally he took admission in arts at the Krishnanath College, in his home town at Berhampur. He graduated from there in 1945, under the Calcutta University.
From his early childhood, Pranab was highly interested in sports and Physical Education and he wanted to build a strong, healthy and powerful body. He had his first lesson in Boxing at the age of seven, in Bhowanipore Y.M.C.A., at Calcutta, which his father was a member. In Anandamayee Institution he had to go through a programme of Physical Education in a minor way, as a part of his education. Later, at Jagadbandhu Institution also he had to go through a
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programme of Physical Education, not in a very serious y except for Boxing which he practised seriously under a famous boxer of that time named Jagat Kanta Seal and his assistant Biren Chunder. But his real Physical Education started when he joined Biren Chunder's club. The Ballygunge School of Physical Culture at the age of fifteen. He had his real training here in various activities and in addition to physical culture he learnt here under Biren Chunder's guidance the supporting spirit, the spirit of sacrifice and self-negation for a higher cause, and the love for patriotic life. He also got from this institution the idea that there was a great possibility of building a great India, in every way, through sports and physical culture.
In the first year of his college studies in Berhampur founded a physical culture club called Vivekananda Byayam Samiti, with the idea of building up the younger generation for a higher life. It was successful from the very start a many fine, honest and capable people, from all walks of life, were members of this club. It is still running with full vigour and the club celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1990.
At this time, the idea came to Pranab's mind to open physical culture clubs in every town and every village of Bengal (Bengal was not partitioned at that time), which would produce strong, healthy, honest and capable people, who would build up a great India. He had a scheme of supporting each unit with a suitable industry that would create the finance for building up health, education and the economy of the country.
But he had a small doubt. He did not know yet the ultimate aim of life towards which the organisation should be oriented.
Pranab's family had had contacts with Sri Aurobindo Ashram since 1934. His uncle Charupada, visited the Ashram in 1936 and his father Dakshina Pada in 1938. Since then they frequently visited the Ashram.
So, it was natural that Pranab would come under the influence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
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During his college holidays after his intermediate examination, he came to have Their Darshan and to see the Ashram in April 1942, in order to get firsthand knowledge about the Ashram and the ideal and teaching of Sri Aurobindo. He stayed here for about 4 months, took up work as a service in the Ashram Laundry, started learning Sri Aurobindo's yoga and teaching and enjoyed the true Ashram life. He liked the Ashram life. But the idea of his nation-building work remained in his mind.
He went back home after his four months' stay in the Ashram to finish his studies and to prepare the ground for his future work.
After 3 years, in 1945, when he was about to take a state scholarship for the study of silk technology in England, he got a definite inner command to come to the Ashram, and he obeyed it at once. (He wanted to give a financial support to his main physical culture club through the sericulture industry which is why he had been trying to get this state scholarship in silk technology. Silk trading had also been his family business for four generations. So he had a great liking for this business.
He came to the Ashram in 1945, and took up work in the Laundry, as a 'service', as he had done during his first visit in 1942.
The Mother had a liking for him from the very beginning and She opened opportunities for him so that he could come closer to Her.
Gradually, children started coming to the Ashram and the Mother had to make arrangements for their education and play. So our school and playground were opened for them and Pranab happened to take up the playground work. Then slowly and steadily the Mother started building the Physical Education organisation and made him Her instrument. She had seen great possibilities in Physical Education for the work of Physical Transformation which is our true aim. That is why She gave so much importance to Physical Education in the Ashram.
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The Mother started taking him more and more into Her fold. In August 1947, the Mother permitted him to see Her whenever he needed to. He would go to Her for various kind of work and to attend on Her. Gradually he became a part of Her life and by November 1973, when She left Her body he used to be on duty by Her side for about 16 to 18 hours every day.
She taught him personally all about Sri Aurobindo's yoga and His teachings. She guided him integrally in every field of life's action. And She gave Her Ananda that remain with him all the time. He was able to see the True goal of life.
After She left Her body, he has continued doing Her work as one of Her "Uttar Sadhaks" (Uttar Sadhaks carry forth Guru's work from where the Guru has left).
Outwardly, now his work is to guide our Ashram Phys Education organisation when needed, to look after the Ashram film and photographic work, to see people who visit him, to answer letters that come from the devotees of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo staying outside the Ashram.
At the age of 75, he is in good health, in high spirits, exercises regularly and is determined to go on right up to the end.
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Pranab in his youth
Pranab in 1965 aged 43
Pranab in the 1944 Bengal Amateur Championship (the only Bengali boxer to reach the Finals)
The Red-cross Boxing Competition in 1944 (Pranab and the other competitors)
Twenty-five Years Ago
This article was written on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Vivekananda Byayam Samiti - a physical culture club that Dada himself founded when he was just 19 years old. The club still exists after 56 years with a few hundred members consisting of men, women and children from all walks of life.
The article is a remarkable revelation of how destiny guided Dada's footsteps and prepared him for a very important role that he was to play in the Master's and the Mother's Work of Physical Transformation. What began in 1941 as a mission guiding the youth towards a vision of a greater India became a spiritual destiny of the body's journey on uncharted paths of Physical Immortality - a work embracing the whole of humanity.
One day I received an unexpected letter from the new secretary of the club, Sri Niranjan Choudhury. The club was celebrating 1966 as the silver jubilee of its founding and they wanted me to send my suggestions and to write something for the publication that they were planning to bring out on this occasion.
"How quickly twenty-five long years have flown!" I wondered. It was only the other day, was it in May or June, in the year 1940, that half a dozen boys of the Bhattacharya house- hold started a club in the courtyard of the house.
All the equipment we had then was a set of barbells that belonged to my uncle, a mirror of the house, a mat and a couple of skipping-ropes.
We took to exercising with great enthusiasm. The role of the group's instructor fell on me and I began working in earnest in order to improve the health and physical fitness of the group as well as my own.
I was taken up with physical fitness, the body's strength and its education right from my childhood. My real initiation, in fact, took place in 1937 at the Ballygunj Jagatbandhu Institution where the well-known boxer, J.K. Seal, started
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teaching me boxing. Then I became a member of the Ballygunj School of Physical Culture, a club run by Biren Chunder. There I started learning boxing, wrestling, freehand, barbell, train ing on parallel bars, tumbling, drills, parades, volleyball, asanas and some Bratachari or folk-dances.
The enthusiasm of our physical exercising spread from the Bhattacharya house to the Bhattacharya locality. Quite a few people started joining in ones and twos in the courtyard of the house. Soon we were short of space and decided to move into the garden adjacent to the house for doing exercises.
The garden was strewn with rubble and weeds and we cleared one part of it ourselves. We set up the bodybuilding area near the door that opened onto the garden which enabled us to take out and put back the barbell, mirror, mat, etc more easily. An entrance was provided for the members to go directly into the garden from the road. A boxing-ring was set up on one side of the garden and a punching bag was hung nearby from a jack-fruit tree. Some space was left on one side for drills, parades, tumbling, lathi-practice and folk-dances-a A pair of rings were suspended onto a mango-tree. And there the club was in full swing!
What name should we give the club? In those days the idealistic young were familiar with Swami Vivekananda and his teaching, his attraction for physical culture, his heroic inspiring figure, his organisational strength, his preaching of power In both action and thought, his deep-rooted love for the country. He had raised for the great Indian mass an ideal based on the rich Indian heritage and his fight was against all kinds of baseness, pettiness, weakness, selfishness, unconsciousness or anything that hindered progress. There was much then that! drew us to Swami Vivekananda. His message to the students, in particular, enthused and inspired us: "Make your body and muscles like iron and your nerves like steel" and "You'll attain God faster by playing football rather than by reading the Gita". And so we named our club Vivekananda Byayam Samiti.
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The creation of an organisation brings expenses with it. Therefore, every month, it was decided to collect one anna from the younger ones and two annas from adults. Besides this, we used to save our pocket-money and contribute it to help run the club. Receipt-books and letter-heads were printed. Arrangements for a roll-call were made. We didn't leave anything unattended.
However, we could not get all the equipment for the club with the members' contributions and so we had to make do with some wood and bamboo that we managed to "pick up" from here and there. It did not perturb us for after all we were doing all this not for any personal end but for the club. Our club, however, came to be known in the area as the "chora club" or the club of thieves.
The club began developping very well. The boys were regular in their exercises and soon enough the whole of Behrampur knew about its activities. Boys started coming to the club from not only the surrounding areas but also from distant places and they were all students from schools and colleges.
There were requests for "demonstrations" from several places and soon our boys gained a reputation for their skills in boxing, lathi, clubs, dumbbells, freehand, drills, roller-balancing and ground-diving. The boys' health began to improve considerably due to regular exercises.
From the club's very inception we had resolved that apart from developping physical fitness and strength the atmosphere in the club should be one that helps to raise the moral character of the students and imparts a high sense of idealism to their life and action. We had observed that the closeness we could have with the youth through sport and physical culture was not possible in any other way. And we made full use of this opportunity for the good of the youth and for moulding them into upright human beings.
We set up a library in the house of the Mandals in a room of the thankurbari (a part of the house reserved for the
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worship of the family deity). Biography, books on travel, history, health and sport, patriotic books and beautiful inspiring stories formed our modest collection. The boys could read these books in the library. From time to time we used to meet to discuss and debate on various topics. Sometimes a member would read out something he had written. We also brought out a hand-written magazine which helped us express, in our modest way, our youthful minds' thoughts and feelings.
When people needed help or when they were in difficulty, we tried to assist as much as possible. For occasions like Gangs puja, the Ramakrishna Mission celebrations in Berhampur various meetings and gatherings, charity-shows, exhibitions we were requested for voluntary work and our boys performed their tasks to the best of their ability.
In a short time we became quite well known for the work we did. Parents started encouraging their boys to join our club. They felt that their boys were less likely to fall into bad company and ruin their character by being in our club.
We used to watch more attentively the boys who were promising. By giving them more time and helping them in various other ways we tried to ensure that their progress was not hindered in any way. Those who showed leadership qualities were given the necessary opportunities to develop them further. And we succeeded in this. All those boys, today, thanks to their ability and brilliance, are well-established in life. And I air sure they must be quite conscious about our contribution in their success. We also noticed that in the twenty-five years of the club's existence, never did we lack good leaders for running it. Not that we had a lot of means or brilliance but we made full use of whatever we had and we also reaped the fruit of our efforts.
There was a bond of love and kinship between the members of our club. There never took place any quarrels or any groupism nor was there any struggle for selfish power or leadership. We also received a lot of sympathy and goodwill from the people of the town. Enemies we had none.
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There were also arrangements for fun and festivity. During the winter we had our annual picnic and we organised it with great verve. On Vijayadashami day we used to hire a big boat and the boys of the club had a lot of fun on the Ganga. Some- times we used to go exploring, on foot or on our cycles, distant places. During the monsoon when the Ganga was in full mighty flow swimming was great fun.
A lot of time had to be devoted to all these various activities. College had to be regularly attended and homework had to be done too. Then there were all kinds of house-errands. But since we did everything with sufficient concentration we never lacked any time for the running or organisation of the club. Parents never laid any restrictions from their side; on the contrary, they encouraged us but on one single condition: we had to to pass the examinations and on that score we never disappointed them.
Our club then was growing extremely well. The boys' health continued to improve. The equipment for exercise too began to come. The whole town of Berhampur was appreciative about the club and its activities. One day, Beni-babu, the Physical Education organiser for the districts of Nadia and Murshidabad at that time, came to visit our club and he was very happy to see our work. He especially praised the fact that we had ourselves made most of the equipment we needed. On seeing the tumbling-mattresses he was astonished that we had made them. It was by his efforts that our club was recognised by the Government and we started getting a grant. That was, perhaps, in 1941. Subsequently the first governing body of the club was constituted.
The club then was doing really well. The regularity of the boys was irreproachable. Fortune was smiling on us from every side. Then suddenly disaster struck. The guardians of the house decided to convert the garden into a vegetable-orchard. The club naturally had to move from there.
We started looking for an alternative plot for the club all over the town. But nobody was willing to give us some land
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even if it lay unutilised. There was always some problem or the other. Had all their appreciation then for our work been merely lip-service? Something that we had created with so much effort, such a wonderful organisation couldn't disappear just for want of space, could it?
In the end, Sambal-babu (Sashankshekhar Sanyal) said that he had a piece of land on the eastern part of Laldighi. He had acquired that property to build a house for himself but until the construction-work began the club could make use of this space. We were all very happy and once again hope glimmered before us. Our hearts overflowed with gratitude for Sambal-babu.
And once again the work of converting this new piece of land into a club resumed. We cleared a veritable jungle growing a metre above our heads, filled up the holes, levelled the mounds and the place was ready. We never used any paid labourers for the club-work. We always did all the work ourselves. Two objectives were attained by this: one, it helped us economise and two, we learnt to become self-reliant. We felt such a joy doing the club-work ourselves and it is through this work that progressively we began to understand and value the dignity of labour.
In fact, while trying to set up our club we learnt so many things that helped us immensely in life too. Learning to use the spade and the crowbar, carrying a load on one's head and all sorts of physical work, to mix heartily with the boys, to be able to establish an easy and spontaneous rapport with new people, to run an organisation, to remain calm in adversity and to try and come out of it with a level-headed solution, to stand on right principles at the required moment and then single-mindedly and firmly to follow them, to keep proper accounts, to be able to say a word or two in public, to be able to write something, these were all qualities that we developed while doing our club-work and in later life these proved to be invaluable in discharging our duties and responsibilities.
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In any case, we had got the new property ready and the club was transferred from Kadaipara to Laldighi. The club looked even better now. We had quite a lot of new equipment: two sets of parallel-bars, four sets of wooden bars for dund, rings made of bamboo, a wrestling-pit, a boxing-ring, a punching-bag, two sets of barbells, two mirrors, some equipment for gymnastics, some material for folk-dances, dumb- bells, clubs, material for drills, lathis, etc. On one side of the ground a Gadi-court was made and on the other, space was left for parade and drills. In one corner a room with bamboo and clay was erected to keep all our equipment like barbells, mirrors, boxing gloves, punching bag, etc. and the room was locked.
The club resumed its activities in full swing. The members would come to do their exercises regularly. The mango, lichi, coconut trees surrounding the entire area made the place beautiful, quiet and peaceful, a place fit for sadhana. One felt as if we were in an ashram straight out of the Ramayana or the Mahabharata period learning the dharma of the student.
But then trouble came knocking once again. One day on arriving at the club I saw that the roof of the room had been broken and a lot of expensive equipment like barbells and mirrors had been stolen. However, it did not demoralise us. We set about trying to replace the stolen equipment.
When we shifted the club to the bank of Laldighi there was only one thing that was buzzing in our heads. If the club had to be saved, then the club absolutely needed its own premises. As long as we were on others' premises we could never be permanent. And if no alternative premises were found to shift to, it would mean the end of the club. That's why during our occupation of the Laldighi premises we kept looking for a plot for our club. And that is how the present premises of the club were found. How we managed to get this property is a very interesting story.
Around the same time as our club started the Murshidabad District Sports Association led by Sri Pranab Sen was also
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taking shape. Inspired by Pranab Sen's enthusiasm and organising capability our District Association grew up and progressed with new hope, energy and activity.
Our club had a very close relationship with Pranab Sen. As we had followed his advice we had been able to come up successfully in the present premises. The club had been running almost by word of mouth. It was also thanks to his efforts that the constitution of the club was prepared and with the setting up of the club its office too came up. We collaborate fully with the District Sports Association and we also got quite a lot of assistance from it.
We used to participate regularly in the tournaments and competitions organised by the District Sports Association in football, hockey, volleyball, athletic sports and swimming Our club used to do well in athletic sports and swimming The volleyball team was quite good too and even though our club did not have good football and hockey teams, we would take part in the tournament. Our club was primarily for body building and boxing. Even then we had made volleyball,. gadi and a badminton court in our premises. We did not haw our own ground for football or hockey. In those days then were many good open grounds in Berhampur. We used to make use of whichever ground was available for these games. If no ground was free then we would go to the horse-racing area and play there. Towards the end, a few days before I came away to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, we received from the government, thanks to Pranab Sen's efforts, a triangular shaped plot. Although the plot was not very big, we could still manage to play football, hockey and practice the athletic sports. I am told that this piece of property is no more with the club. A huge building has come up there.
Quite a few good boxers, both young and grown-up, were. trained in our club. The older ones among them (from the Berhampur Krishnanath College) were sent to the Inter-Collegiate Boxing Championship organised by the Bengal Amateur Boxing Federation in Calcutta. We had a lot of problems
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for sending our team. The College authorities were just not willing to send their students and I had to practically fight with the then Principal of the College, Jyotish Chandra Mitra. The College did not give either the train-fare or the entry-fees for them. All the money came from our pockets. I myself could not go as I had to sit for the final year B.A. examination within a few days.
In any case, we kept following the progress of our boys in Calcutta and when we were informed that our boys from the Berhampur Krishnanath College had won the championship we went to meet the Principal. He had already read about it in the papers. On seeing us tears welled up in the old man's eyes. "You did well to send them, Pinu" he said.
Then everything happened as it should. A holiday was declared in the college and the college reimbursed all our expenses. The Principal paid a visit to the club to felicitate us. I was told later that the College had donated some boxing gloves to the club. I had by then come away to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
With the growth of our club another thing happened. Our members came from all over Berhampur. However, many found it difficult to come from distant places and so it was decided to open some more clubs in the town. They would all run independently but keep in touch with one another and extend help when needed. This had the advantage that many more people could take up physical culture and this would give a boost to physical culture itself.
And so several clubs opened: in Gorabazar under Kamaksya's guidance, in Barrack under Pankaj's guidance, in Lower Kadai under Tarit, in Babupara under Shorsi-babu, in Saidabad under Taradas and in Kasimbazar under Santosh. The Vivekananda Byayam Samiti remained in the same place. We used to go each day to a different club to instruct them. And even though we had no official link with the Vivekananda Byayamagar club run by Madan-babu next to the Berhampur Co-operative Bank, but as our relations with their organisers
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were very good, I used to go and teach them boxing. Obviously all the clubs could not develop fully and for want of a right leader some of the clubs folded up. The police closed the Gorabazar club. After Santosh passed away the Kasimbazar club also closed down. I had already come away to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram by then.
It was 1945. It was time for me to pass out of college. I had sat for my B.A. examination; the results were to be declared soon. Now I had to take my own responsibility and stand on my own two feet. I did not know still where I would go to earn my livelihood. It was difficult to say if I could continue my work for the club. A club nurtured with so much care. For the last five years the club had been all to me, my sadhana, my pursuit of knowledge, my only attachment and love.
In those five years I had seen so many boys of the club finish their studies and leave Berhampur in search of a livelihood or of some other pursuit. The sorrow of parting was felt by both those who were leaving and those who stayed on. The club too suffered their loss. Many among those who left had been excellent workers.
An idea rose in my head: If I could start a factory or something in or around Berhampur then all the problems would be solved. I would not be far from the club and through this factory, my and many of the fine hardworking club-members' livelihood would be taken care of as well. Besides, the club too would benefit from it.
We had been in the silk-business for the last three generations. "Why not take up the same line?" I wondered. I could cultivate sericulture gardens to breed silkworms and with their excellent silk-yarn weave fine looms of cloth. Just then there arose a possibility of going abroad on a State Scholarship to study silk technology.
I started weaving all sorts of dreams. After returning from abroad I would set my silk-weaving factory and provide for the employment and upkeep of all the good workers of the club. A part of the factory earnings would be used for the
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development of the club and to assist other youth-oriented institutions. "We would organise educational, health and various other welfare schemes. If the Berhampur clubs could all become self-sufficient then other branches could be set up in other parts of the district. Each of these clubs and their members could be supported by the setting up of an appropriate little industry in the area. Gradually, this work would spread from the district to the whole of Bengal. With all our strength we would try to recreate the "sujalaam sufalaam shashyashyamalaam" Bengal and infuse the Bengalis with health, knowledge and economic strength once again.
We had just opened a few centres of our club in Berhampur. Now requests were coming in from outside from a couple of places of the district to open clubs like ours there. "Things are moving just in the direction we planned." I said to myself.
But now a huge problem arose, a serious questioning within. If we continued working according to our plans then perhaps one day a massive organisation would be created in the whole of Bengal which would generate a tremendous power. But what then? For what work and in which direction would that organisation and that power be utilised?
With a powerful organisation and with the energy of the people both good or bad was possible. With a lofty ideal and great leadership abundant good for man could result. But if that same power went astray then it could also destroy man. At that time the burning example of the Second World War and its effects were hovering before me. The War was almost nearing its end. Hitler's mighty pride had been nearly crushed. All I could see was how under one man's rashness, ignorance and petty, blind leadership the powerful German race was being led to ruin. What a waste of human life, life-energy and organisational power and to what frightening end! The peace and safety of the whole world was about to be sacrificed. If our organisation too did not firmly found itself on some lofty ideal then that could cause endless suffering to human beings as well. What was that lofty ideal? What was that great Truth
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on which we could build our organisation and act? Somehow I was not taken up by any of the prevailing ideologies of the time. I always felt as if there was a big gap somewhere in al of them.
"When an organisation is set up man tries to serve his selfish interests in so many ways and to see how that great Force could be used for his personal ends. If we do not hold any high, powerful ideal before us then we too would end up as mere puppets in the hands of that force and dance to its tune A proof of that I had clearly got while setting up our small club, the Vivekananda Byayam Samiti. It was a small club after all, with very limited means. But even there, there was never any shortage of people wanting to use this power of the club for selfish personal ends.
On top of that I had some other personal problems too From my very childhood I had started asking questions to which I did not find an answer. And as I grew up these questions became even more pressing and I desperately started seeking their answers. I felt no attraction for the type and pace of human life I had been used to from childhood but then I did not know where to look for an alternative path. Who was I? Why was I born? What was life's aim? What were we moving towards? What was man's highest good? Was death an unavoidable necessity? And many more such questions echoed in my being. All sorts of books I read, all sorts of saints and hermits I met, but I could get no inkling of the path I was to follow.
I had been hearing about Sri Aurobindo from a very young age. When I was old enough I read His books. I do not myself know at what point I got attracted to Him. I started feeling that it was from Him that I would get the Light I was seeking. It was on this seeking that in 1942 I arrived at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for the first time and stayed here for almost four months. That was a time when I began understanding things. And in the end I felt that it was by walking on the path shown by Sri Aurobindo that all my questions would find their
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answers and I would attain my goal. But then I also resolved that I would join the Sri Aurobindo Ashram to taken up the path only if I felt an irresistible urge from within.
Then for three years there was a relentless conflict within me: should I join the Sri Aurobindo Ashram or should I dedicate myself to the work of our youth organisation? And allowing my conviction I absorbed myself in the latter and planned after passing my B.A. I went to Calcutta in search a State Scholarship to study silk technology.
And then what had not happened in three years suddenly was settled within a couple of minutes. I was convinced that I had to go to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Immediately I went back from Calcutta to Berhampur bid goodbye to my fellow-workers and friends. The very n day after taking my leave from them I left for Calcutta on way to Pondicherry to join the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. While bidding farewell to my friends and fellow-workers of the club I noticed that I did not feel any pain at leaving something that I had built up with so much care and love. The decision to forward had been taken and there was nothing that pulled back now.
So this is the history of my association with the club. The organisers of the club have kept in touch with me even after my coming away to Pondicherry. Some of them I have never seen or seen when they were very young. I keep getting all news of the club. From time to time they urge me to come and visit the club once. Even if I wanted to, its possibility is not there. My only need now is to remain here all the time. I have to be present here at every moment to be able to do the work here. Sometimes in my dreams or in my imagination I hop over to the club.
Besides, twenty-five long years have elapsed since then. And in this long period I have had so many wonderful experiences. I have seen much, I have had to live through many different situations. The infinite Love of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo has been with me and it is They who have been guiding me along.
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I had imagined that at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram my association with physical culture and youth organisation would come to an end. But within a very short time that once again my primary work. The Mother started special attention to the organisation of physical education at the Ashram. And it is under Her direction, administration and help that the physical education department be exemplary. People from India and abroad who have come and seen our organisation have remarked that such doesn't exist in this country and is quite rare even abroad.
The work of forming the new humanity is going at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram vigorously. And the limits of this work have gone beyond my town, beyond my district, my state, beyond my country to embrace the whole wide earth. There are people here from different parts of the world and centres of the Ashram have been started almost everywhere.
Did I find an answer to my personal questions? "Well, that too has been taken care of. What I have realised with my straight, simple understanding is this;
—
Man's aim is to move towards an integral perfection. Life is the field of action given to us for developing that integral perfection. And the path is the total surrender of our life and action.
Sri Aurobindo's sadhana does not exclude the world. It is the integral transformation of the world by bringing down from the heights the Divine Consciousness.
This is not possible solely by human endeavour. The human aspiration from below and the response from above: it is only in the union of these two that this work can be done.
Man with his mind can determine his conduct in the practical, material life but then the very imperfection of man's earthly life can completely unsettle everything. No political ideology, no religious discipline, no philosophical system, no intellectual understanding,
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no ethical solution or scientific discovery can bring about that perfection until man transforms his own nature. And once man's nature is transformed every activity can be utilised for the work of integral perfection.
But then the question arises: Should man just twiddle his thumbs until the transformation of his nature takes place? Not at all. He has first to be convinced of this truth in his mind and life. And then keeping this truth in full view he should develop himself in all the parts of his being, keep the flame of aspiration constantly burning within him and rely entirely on the Divine Grace.
Man should determine his work according to his nature, capacity and inclination since it is work that helps us in manifesting our inner truth outside. Then it is important to try turn oneself through one's work and one's work through self into something as beautiful as possible.
There is no high and low in work. It is not work that man great or small. It is man who makes his work great or small. One can advance towards perfection through any work as long as that work is done with inner sincerity.
At the very outset there is not much that needs to be changed in life from the outside. First one has to change one's attitude in life and then that takes care of the rest.
One has to discover one's inner Truth and then allow fully as possible to direct one's whole life.
It is not an easy path. At every step there is risk and danger.
At every step one's inner sincerity is put to test. But there is no other way.
My personal experience in my own life through all these years has shown me that an invisible Power has guided m along this path. And it is my innermost conviction that this same invisible Power that will continue to guide me till the very end of my life.
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While recounting how the Vivekananda Byayam Samiti came to be I have also told you something about my own life. I would like to conclude with a special request to all the members of this club.
Our club was founded and built on a great ideal. And even though I am far away I have been told that the organisers have continued to the best of their abilities to give shape to that ideal. It is my firm belief that that is the inner reason for our club having proudly survived all the ordeals and obstacles. My request to you is: "Never lose sight of that real goal."
The country today badly needs hardworking, enthusiastic honest and capable citizens. After a long period of sleep this great people has reawakened. Now it has to appear before the world-assembly with what are its gifts and contribution to the world. But before that, as a preparation, it has to organise its life first. And it is in this mighty sacred task that we need these innumerable, hardworking, enthusiastic, honest and capable workers. The club has limited reach and few at its disposal. Nevertheless let it use all its energies in building this real Man. Vande Mataram!
Dada said: I started learning boxing at the age of Calcutta at the Y.M.C.A. of Bhowanipur. Then Jagatbandhu Institution even though I started bodybuilding I started learning boxing with great seriousness. The famous boxer, J.K. Seal, and his student Biren Chunder taught me boxing at Ballygunje and at the Wellington Square in Calcutta. They had an assistant called Mr Francis. He was a south Indian Tamil but spoke excellent Bengali. I also learn boxing from him. I didn't know anything more about him.
Then after a long time in 1945 I came away to the for good. The department of physical culture came up in the
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Ashram. .The Playground was built. And the Mother gave me its charge.
Once on a Darshan day I was regulating the visitors' crowd so that they all stayed in line. Suddenly someone put his hand on my shoulder. When I turned around. I saw it was a Tamil gentleman.
"Mr Francis! It is you!" I said quite stunned
'Have you recognised me?'
"Of course, I have. But what are you doing here in Pondicherry?" I asked.
'Pondicherry is my home-town. Didn't you know that?
"What a strange coincidence. He told me that opposite park in front of the governor's residence was his house later became a coffee-house. His elder brother, Professor Condappa, was a teacher at the local French School. Lat came one day to visit the Playground and saw all the activities of physical culture.
*
Dada asked: You come from Calcutta? Have you bee the National Library recently? I am told that nowadays in a pitiable state. It isn't kept properly. Everything is decaying.
'Yes, Dada. The National Library is indeed in a sad state.
There is a lot of trade-unionism among the workers. Slogans and posters are pasted all over. There is no end to strikes. That former atmosphere of serious study is no more there sorts of rare books and journals lie stacked up in piles. The roof leaks and everything is rotting. The place is full of filth and insects.'
Dada was pained on hearing this: Such a great institution really! It was the pride of the country at one time. And look at its state today! We are just not capable of preserving thing. This building used to be the residence of Hastings in
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