Life of Sri Aurobindo

Appendix 4: Data on Birthplace

It is well known that it was in the house of Monmohun Ghose that Sri Aurobindo was born on 15 August 1872. Some say that the house was on Lower Circular Road; others say that it was on Theatre Road. It is understood that Sri Aurobindo used to refer to a house on Theatre Road. On making enquiries, we find that in the old directories there is no mention of Barrister Monmohan Ghose as a resident of any house on Theatre Road between 1871 and 1878, but rather that he is mentioned as a resident of 12, Lower Circular Road. At that time. Circular Road was not only divided into "Upper" and "Lower", but its numbers were grouped also under the series, "Town Side" and "24 Parganas Side". That is to say, the side adjoining the city of Calcutta was the "Town Side", and the south and the east were called the "24 Parganas Side", each bearing the same numbers in a consecutive series. Barrister Monmohan lived in number 12 on the "24 Parganas Side". We gather from hearsay that this particular house was later purchased by Barrister Byomkesh Chakraborti, and afterwards it became the "Ranjani" of Naliniranjan Sircar. (Translated from the Bengali) ⁷⁶

11 June 1956

Sree Aurobindo Ghose was born in my father's house at 237, Lower Circular Road.

In or about 1879 my father moved to 4, Theatre Road. Subsequently Mr. Byomkesh Chakraborti, Bar-at-Law occupied 237, Lower Circular Road and I believe it was purchased by him. Later on late Mr. Nalini Ranjan Sircar purchased the property and put up the new structure after demolishing the old. It is now occupied by the Chinese Consul General.

Showlota Das

(Mrs. Banbihari Das)

Youngest daughter of the

Late Mr. Manomohan Ghose,

Barrister-at-Law.

No record could be traced for 1872. First available records date from 1881 and we find that No.12, Lower Circular Road was changed into 237, Lower Circular Road in 1885. That the then 237, Lower Circular Road corresponds with the present 237, Lower Circular Road, is corroborated by the following change of ownership:

1881-1885 Coomar Kali Kristo Roy (owner)

1900-1905 Coomar Kali Kristo Roy (owner)

1906-1909 Coomar Kali Kristo Roy (owner)

1927-1934 B. Chakraborti, the official receiver of the High Court

1934-1940 The official receiver of the High Court, Hindusthan Cooperative Insurance Society, Ltd.

(With thanks to Mihir Mukherji, Calcutta)