Biren : Roy, a spy who had infiltrated Sri Aurobindo’s household as a servant of Nāgen Nag, a cousin of Bijoy Nag who had come with Sri Aurobindo in April 1910. Nāgen was allowed because he had TB & doctor had advised him move to a resort on the sea or a hill. Nāgen & Biren came in July 1913. The next year, when exposed, Biren went back.
... servant, Biren Roy, who was really more of a companion and was also a very good cook. Actually, Nagen's coming had eased the financial position for he was a man of means and he readily helped in securing the house on rue Francois Martin. By the time the shift was made Biren had proved himself a very useful member of the household. One day, after the change of residence, the inmates saw that Biren had... suit. Biren tried to dissuade him but Suresh was insistent and he too had his head shaved. A day or two later, the inmates had gathered round Sri Aurobindo in the evening when there was a dramatic scene. Biren suddenly stood up and declared in highly emotional tones that he wanted to make a confession. The atmosphere at the time was rather gay and at first no one took him seriously. But Biren started... house, Biren was asked to shave off the hair on his head so that the substitute could identify him easily. When Suresh decided to cut his hair also, Biren was extremely upset for he thought that the young men had seen through his game and that the day of reckoning had come. Consumed by fear and remorse, he decided to make the confession. Nagen, Bijoy and the others were of course furious with Biren but ...
... matter ended. Biren-da used to come to our house every night after our dinner in the D.R. Pantulu would be home just lying down or teaching astrology to some (like Arun-da of the D.R.) or just talking on any subject with Dr. Nripendra, Sisir-da, etc. They would all go for the night meditation in the Ashram later. He was probably most relaxed during this period of the day. One night Biren-da was at the... receiving end of his mood. Biren-da had very recently shown on Dec. 2nd a “rope trick”. He was tied up, upper arms and chest, with a stout rope. He was to get out of his bonds. (Actually he failed as the rope was, it seems, dipped in oil and it tightened so well that it cut into the flesh.) But this night Pantulu said, “It seems you showed some rope trick in the Playground?” Biren-da grinned and nodded... brothers. “Okay, tie this fellow up. I want to see how he gets out.” We brought a strong rope and started to tie up Biren-da (embarrassed and helpless). We went round the body, but Pantulu said, “No, no, not like that. Make a figure of eight under each arm each time you go round the body.” Biren-da meekly protested, saying the rope has to go just round. Pantulu had a good laugh and said, “Let him go — no ...
... decided to act immediately. They started from the Karmayogin office at about 8 o'clock at night, Sri Aurobindo and Ramchandra Mazumdar leading. About fifty paces behind them was Biren, and about the same distance behind Biren, Suresh followed. They went zig-zag in order to evade the surveillance of the C .I.D. men who were posted ¹ . Cf. A. B. Purani, Evening Talks , Second Series (Pondicherry:... the Strand at Chandernagore. Suresh and Biren got out and informed Charu Chandra Roy of Sri Aurobindo's arrival and asked him if he could make arrangements ¹.Sri Aurobindo, On Himself(Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 1972), pp. 70-71. Page 130 for his stay. Charu Chandra was afraid and did not know what to do. In the meantime, while Biren and Suresh were thinking of going back... [trying some automatic writing] and we knew about the search that was going to be made with the object of arresting me. There were some people there [Ramchandra Mazumdar, Suresh Chakravarty (Moni), Biren Ghose, Bijoy Nag and Nolini Kanta Gupta]. Ramchandra was there preparing to give fight to the police and many other ideas were flying about when suddenly I heard a voice from above saying – No, go ...
... words came to our lips, all of us kept silent and still. This is how it came about. Biren had shaved his head in order that the police spies might spot him out as their man from the rest of us by the sign of the shaven head. But they were nonplussed when they found Moni too with a shaven head. And Biren began to suspect that Moni, or perhaps the whole lot of us, had found out his secret and that... the world!) and came running here in the nick of time for the police to claim another two months' holiday in Pondicherry. However, I think their fangs have been drawn. THE INCIDENT OF BIREN ROY Extract from Nolini Kanta Gupta, Reminiscences (Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 1969), 52-53. The British Indian police set up a regular station here, with a rented house... just because Birendra had done it. That very day, or it was perhaps the day after, there occurred a regular scene. We had as usual taken our seats around Sri Aurobindo in the afternoon. Suddenly, Biren stood up and shouted, "Do you know who I am? You may not believe it, but I am a spy, a spy of the British police. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I must speak out, I must make the confession before ...
... words came to our lips, all of us kept silent and still. This is how it came about. Biren had shaved his head in order that the police spies might spot him out as their man from the rest of us by the sign of the shaven head. But they were nonplussed when they found Moni too with a shaven head. And Biren began to suspect that Moni, or perhaps the whole lot of us, had found out his secret and... just because Birendra had done it. That very day, or it was perhaps the day after, there occurred a regular scene. We had as usual taken our seats around Sri Aurobindo in the afternoon. Suddenly, Biren stood up and shouted, "Do you know who I am? You may not believe it, but I am a spy, a spy of the British police. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I must speak out, I must make the confession... at Sri Aurobindo's feet. We were stunned, almost dumbfounded. As we kept wondering if this could be true, or was all false, perhaps a hallucination or some other illusion— māyā, nu matibhramo nu —Biren started, again, "Oh, you do not believe me? Then let me show you." He entered the next room, opened his trunk, drew out a hundred rupee note and showed it to us. "See, here is the proof. Where could ...
... wrote to you." It was sometime in December that suddenly one day Biren was seen with his head completely shaved. That took Moni's fancy. Although he liked being well turned out and present a smart appearance, he now was adamant on a clean-shaven head! Biren tried his utmost to dissuade him, but to no avail. After this Biren seemed rather depressed, as though an anxiety hung like a dark cloud at... cousin? Everyone burst out laughing. But Biren persisted in his story. He told them that he had shaved his head so that a new man who was to replace him and was to meet him at Margie's Hotel could identify him. The police had arranged for this substitute. But how was he to identify Biren from among the four or five other Bengalis living with Sri Aurobindo? Biren in his letter to the police had said to... something drastic. Biren, however, got frightened. When he slept he kept his room locked. After a few weeks he went away of his own accord. The others heaved a sigh of relief. Never a dull moment with Sri Aurobindo! When the war broke out, Biren joined the Indian army and with it was sent to Mesopotamia. When Moni went to Page 398 Khulna in 1922, he met Biren who had a tea shop ...
... Imprimerie (Printing Press). Biren-da too shifted to the Imprimerie. Why? I wondered at times — I thought that would be the natural sequence of events. Now I learn that the Mother, with Her all-encompassing mind, had sent Biren-da to Calcutta to learn Book Binding! It was from Biren-da that Soma-di, Niharika-di, Kusum-ben, etc. learnt the art and worked in the Imprimerie! Biren-da was at first (or long... street, he (Biren-da) was offered the place. He thought he should not have such ‘ease’ or ‘desire’. He declined the offer. He did not know, neither do I, to this day, who the benefactor was! What I do know is that Nolini-da told him: “Chupchap cholé ésho!” (come quietly or without protest). Biren-da could not protest nor ignore! One may think “Why all this fuss over him?” That is because Biren-da was a... (Binder of Books) Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves. ThomaS Carlyle Biren Palit was from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) — Chittagong (many would prefer Chottogram). Diwanpur was his birthplace, may have been a small town or village. Biren-da was an ordinary looking man in build and appearance — like many other Bengalees, i.e. of medium height, rather of ...
... was that the new man should come to the Magry Hotel to meet Biren. As there were four or five Bengalis living with Sri Aurobindo, Biren had identified himself in a letter as the man with the shaven head. If the new man inquired about Biren, the fact of their being secret agents would perhaps become known! When Moni got his head shaved, Biren felt sure that all the inmates staying with Sri Aurobindo... good apprearance. Biren tried to dissuade him from shaving himself, but Moni was insistent and carried out his resolve. Page 153 This was, or looked, accidental. But its result was very strange. Biren was in fact a secret agent of the Bengal government. As he had joined Nagen Nag at Khulna there was no chance of any suspicion being aroused against him. Biren wanted to return... called Birendranath Roy, who was employed as Nagen's cook. After coming to Pondicherry, Biren became the general manager, cook etc., of Sri Aurobindo's house. Being a Bengali, he became, like the others, a member of the household. One day, after they had been living in 41, Rue Francois Martin for some time, Biren had his head shaved completely. Suresh Chakravarty – alias Moni – took a fancy to give ...
... any good boxer. Besides learning boxing in Biren-da's club, I also learnt to do free-hand exercises, weight-training, wrestling, asanas, folk dances, volleyball, drills, parades, etc. Biren-da used to always encourage me a lot and taught me everything with a lot of care. Soon I became his favourite student. Along with physical development, Biren-da taught me how to build an ideal character and... After losing, I began to practice my boxing in earnest.At that time a couple of Jagat-babu's students used to come to assist him in coaching. One of them was Sri Biren Chandra. I think here something needs to be said about Sri Biren Chandra. He was one of Jagat-babu's best students and quite well-known in the boxing circles of the time. The period was 1934-36. In his weight-category he was the... Ray was an "Oxford Blue" in boxing. He held a high post in the Railways. In his free time he used to organise boxing associations in the country. He nicknamed Sri Biren Chandra the "Knockout King". In the Civil Military Championship Sri Biren Chandra knocked out eight British soldiers successively in order to win the Championship! Page 205 One day, when he came to teach boxing in our ...
... little distance were Biren and myself — in this way a "dumb procession" was formed. ‘Usually the police kept a watch over Sri Aurobindo's movements but that evening, when he came out of the office, there was no vigil anywhere. After walking for about fifteen minutes we reached a ghat of the river Ganges. Rambabu called out for a ferry boat. Sri Aurobindo stepped into it — Biren and myself followed... The eleventh day of the moon, The sleepless moon Is ferrying all alone in the dream-sea! ‘After a long night's crossing the boat reached Chandernagore in the early morning. Sri Aurobindo sent Biren to Charu Chandra Roy, well-known in revolutionary circles, to ask for shelter. But he was singularly unhelpful and indeed suggested that Sri Aurobindo should leave India and go to France! However the ...
... of coming inside. Around this time, a young man named Biren Roy joined our group, and one day he decided to shave his head. Moni, on seeing this, felt like shaving his head too - he was like that, our Moni, often quite impulsive. So there we were, one evening, sitting all together, the two of them with their clean-shaven heads, when suddenly, Biren shouted out loudly: 'I am a spy, a British spy! I can't... But the matter became clear in a few days' time. There was a gang of spies waiting outside and he had shaved off his hair so that they could identify him. But when Moni too appeared without his hair, Biren believed that we had discovered his plot, and out came his confession born partly of fear, partly too out of genuine repentance." Rohit said, "Hearing about all these innumerable ruses of the British ...
... and still. 23. Biren Roy who had come with Nagen Nag and stayed at the Guest House as already stated. Page 376 "This is how it had come about. Biren had shaved his head in order that the police spies might spot him as their man from the rest of us by the shaven head. But they were nonplussed when they found Moni too with a shaven head. And Biren began to suspect that Moni... ripen. After 5 we would go straight to the beach and join other friends. "Bejoy Nag's relative, Nagen Nag, who was suffering from tuberculosis, came to Pondicherry with his friend and attendant, Biren Roy, and stayed at this house. His doctor had advised him a change of air and he hoped that Sri Aurobindo would cure him by his yogic power. "Some evenings when engaged in conversation with ... time between 12 noon and 3 p.m. He ordered me not to disclose this posting of letters to any one." Sri Aurobindo's household moved to 41, Rue Francois Martin in October, 1913. Nagen Nag and Biren Roy also moved with them. Ramaswamy went back to Tanjore before the end of the year. Page 375 V (THE MOTHER ARRIVES) "The luminous heart of the Unknown is she ...
... Dattagupta. Satish had been with Biren but had managed to come away; it was doubtful if Biren could have escaped. Shams-ul-Alam had more than distinguished himself during the Alipur proceedings and in other political cases by his excessive zeal to get the accused convicted, and the revolutionaries had had their eye on him for some time, and on their behalf Biren had now - as he thought - settled... Karmayogin in his absence. Preceded by Ramachandra, and followed at some discreet distance by Biren Ghose and Suresh Chakravarti (Moni), he walked to the river-side and reached the Ganga Ghat in about ten minutes' time. A boat was immediately engaged, and Sri Aurobindo boarded it, and it made for Chandernagore; Biren and Suresh were with him, while Ramachandra returned. The journey took the greater part... had to drag rather than row the boat. Anchoring at last at the Strand at Chandernagore when it was still dark, Biren sought Charuchandra Roy (who had been arrested in the Alipur case but later released) and asked him to make arrangements for Sri Aurobindo's stay. Finding him hesitant, Biren turned to one Sisir Ghose who took them to Motilal Roy, a prominent citizen. On coming to know who had come, Motilal ...
... Among the Not So Great Expansion We started with hardly any equipment to speak of. Maybe half a dozen balls, two sets of croquet and a volleyball net. Biren-da was sent to Madras (Chennai) to buy some gym apparatus — a vaulting box, a spring-board (now old-looking to our eyes — one would hardly be able to guess that the square bucket-like wooden pieces... exponent and teacher. He looked somewhat fierce when showing us. He was agile for his age and build. All these were due to the push of Pranab-da. But boxing was the sport close to his heart. He and Biren-da were our teachers. We saw P knock out one Govindaraju in a practice bout — Govindaraju was near P’s age, well-built but slow. Pranab-da’s constant pushing brought forth rapid expansions. We got... did not object. I only hope I have satisfied the Mother. I am most grateful to Her for having kept a tab on me, my moods and movements. I would end my write-up on Pranab-da with a short eulogy on Biren-da. He was my brother Narayan’s, sister Bhavatarini’s and my favourite. He it was who taught me boxing, lathi, weight-lifting, swimming, a bit of football and lastly all about outings to the countryside ...
... to time breaking my old rule of seclusion. I am also in need of a pair of shoes as Bharati has bagged the pair I had. Then for more important subjects. You write about Biren being here. I do not hold the same opinion about Biren as Saurin etc do, who are inclined towards a very black interpretation of his character & actions. It seems to me that events have corroborated all he said about his relations... blemishes; but I could not understand who wrote the accompanying letter or what gentleman he refers to. The letter you sent me last time from our man in Chandannagar is practically answered here. Biren may have made some mistake about my "shoes". It was intended that they should be got from Amiyas. The glass case theory is all right,—only the exhibits have got to be maintained. Kali [3] ... to Calcutta from his place; as his mother was ill, he would not stop to see you on the way. But perhaps other reasons prevented him just then, for I believe he did stop a day or two in Calcutta. Biren is all right, I believe; he said nothing to anybody about that matter. There were some legitimate doubts in some quarters owing to his unsteady nature & other defects of character. I thought it right ...
... had been the mainstay of Government in the Alipore bomb case, had just been shot down, on the steps of the High Court, by Biren (Birendranath Datta Gupta). He added that he too had been with Biren, but had managed to escape, although he doubted if Biren could have escaped. Biren actually got arrested and was hanged. But the young man absconded. Afterwards he came to us in Pondicherry and stayed here... education, and perhaps, nay certainly, our initiation too. Three of us were permanent residents, Bejoy Nag, Suresh Chakravarti and myself. But there turned up practically every day Ramchandra Majumdar, Biren Ghosh and Saurin Bose (a brother-in-law of Sri Aurobindo) who came with us to Pondicherry and stayed here for some years. A frequent visitor was Ganen Maharaj of Ramakrishna Mission who acted as the... just now." He had received the Divine Command, as he told us later, to leave immediately for Chandernagore. He came out of the house and made straight for the river-side, accompained by Ramchandra, Biren Ghosh and Suresh Chakravarti. Suresh has given an accurate and full account of what happened next, and I shall not repeat that here. You should read it in his Reminiscences. Page 397 ...
... him, had a pencil in hand and a paper in front of him. Sri Aurobindo was doing automatic 'speech.' It was Bejoy's room. Bejoy was there, as were Nolini, Saurin, Hem Sen, Biren and Moni. 2 Saurin Bose was Mrinalini Devi's cousin; Biren was related to Sri Aurobindo. The day had been quite normal for Sri Aurobindo. After his morning work he had taken as usual his midday meal, then worked on his articles... astonishment. "Now. This very moment." Sri Aurobindo stood up and left the house. With him, and walking by his side and guiding, went Ram babu. Biren followed a little behind, keeping them in sight. Moni brought up the rear, keeping Biren in sight. That particular evening, there was "no trace of any policemen anywhere about the house," Moni noticed thankfully. In fact, when newspapers came... On arriving at the ghat, Ram babu hailed one of the boatmen and asked him if he would take a fare ; and the two talked in a low voice for a few minutes. Sri Aurobindo then got into the boat. Biren and Moni followed. Ram babu took his leave. The boat sailed off. "It was a common Ganges boat rowed by two boatmen," Sri Aurobindo said, setting all doubts at rest. "As we sailed up the river and reached ...
... No words came to our lips, all of us kept silent and still. This is how it came about. Biren had shaved his head in order that the police spies might spot him out as their man from the rest of us by the sign of the shaven head. But they were nonplussed when they found Moni too with a shaven head. And Biren began to suspect that Moni, or perhaps the whole lot of us, had found out his secret and that... just because Birendra had done it. That very day, or it was perhaps the day after, there occurred a regular scene. We had as usual taken: our seats around Sri Aurobindo in the afternoon. Suddenly, Biren stood up and shouted, "Do you know who I am? You may not believe it, but I am a spy, a spy of the British police. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I must speak out, I must make the confession before... at Sri Aurobindo's feet. We were stunned, almost dumbfounded. As we kept wondering if this could be true, or was all false, perhaps a hallucination or some other illusion – maya nu matibhramo nu – Biren started again, "Oh, you do not believe me? Then let me show you." He entered the next room, opened his trunk, drew out a hundred rupee note and showed it to us. "See, here is the proof. Where could ...
... 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... Jagatbandhu Institution where the well-known boxer, J.K. Seal, started Page 79 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... 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 ...
... in the Alipore bomb case, had just been shot down, on the steps of the High Court, by Bifen (Birendranath Dattagupta). He added that he too had been with Biren, but had managed to escape, although he doubted if Biren could have escaped. Biren actually got arrested and was hanged. Satish himself absconded. Afterwards he came to us in Pondicherry and stayed here for some time, perhaps for a year... education, and perhaps, nay certainly, our initiation too. Three of us were permanent residents, Bejoy Nag, Suresh Chakravarti and myself. But there turned up practically every day Ramchandra Majum-dar, Biren Ghosh and Saurin Bose (a brother-in-law of Sri Aurobindo) who came with us to Pondicherry and stayed here many long years. A frequent visitor was Ganen Tagore of Ramakrishna Mission who acted as the... just now." He had received the Divine Command, as he told us later, to leave immediately for Chandernagore. He came out of the house and made straight for the river-side, accompanied by Ramchandra, Biren and Suresh Chakravarti. Suresh has given an accurate and full account of what happened next, and I shall not repeat that here. You should read it in his Reminiscences. The story of this sudden ...
... much organisation into groups or of timings. Pranab-da then took charge. He called in Biren Chunder his erstwhile mentor and a family friend. Both P and Biren Chunder were wellknown boxers in Calcutta. Biren-da was known as K.O. King. Their aim was to K.O. as many Britishers (Tommies) as they could. Biren-da took charge of the older ones and P of the younger ones. The Mother was informed of all ...
... accompanied by Rambabu. A little behind them followed Biren and I came out next and followed the three. We thus formed a small procession, not a festive one but a silent procession, with Sri Aurobindo and Rambabu at the head, Biren following them from a little behind and keeping them within view, and last of all myself a little farther behind Biren keeping him in my view. This silent procession of... " These words of Rambabu and his voice still ring in my ears. The conversation that took place next between the boatman and our Rambabu was in a low voice. Sri Aurobindo now got into the boat and Biren and I followed. Rambabu took his leave. The boat sailed off. As we sailed up the river and reached midstream, it was clear that it happened to be a moonlit night. The waves danced and sparkled all ...
... with the rest. When one day Biren shaved his head completely, on a sudden impulse Moni shaved his head as well. Actually Biren was a spy, and after a stay of six months in Pondicherry he wished to be replaced by another, who should be able to recognise him easily on account of his shaven head. But when Moni also shaved his head in spite of being requested not to do so, Biren concluded that the truth was... was out. A few days later, after taking a little wine, Biren felt moved - "partly out of fear and partly from true repentance, for the most part no doubt by the pressure of some other Force" - to confess that he was really a C.I.D. man, and to sustain his word he produced the money he had received and placed it at Sri Aurobindo's feet saying: "This is the reward of my evil deed. Never, I shall never ...
... edge and his advice was strong medicine but had to be swallowed. He tried to teach the late Biren Bose (of Flower Room and Garden Service). The man was aged, thin, awkward with knobby joints, but was game and persistent — so Bhola-da tried to teach him. When some well-meaning passer-by suggested to Biren-da to straighten his arms, Bhola-da let go a barb from his seat, “Shara shorir annka bennka, hat ...
... Bindery. This was the first, original bindery, set up in the Guest House in the big room near the drinking water place (Children’s Table-Tennis Room No. 2). Many old long-forgotten sadhaks worked there. Biren Palit of long hair, probably started the department and headed it. There was also Chiman-bhai — big burly man built like a wrestler — a Malkhamb adept (he lived where I live now); Sudhir — bob-haired... but Dining Room bread well dried in the sun! The Ashram Printing Press — Imprimerie — was started in 1945-46. Sometime later the Bindery was closed, rather absorbed into this Press. The workers (Biren-da, Bhola-da, Chiman-bhai) too were absorbed. ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great The Legend Biren Chunder, better known here as Birenda, was born on 10.4.1915 in Baruipur — 24 Parganas. In the Ashram he was fondly known as Budo. He came here from Calcutta back in 1945, same year as I did, on the 11th of August. He was well-known there as a boxer. He was Pranabda’s teacher in Physical Education and ...
... school. We had no band of our own. But we did celebrate the school’s Anniversary on the 2nd of December. In 1945 there were a few items, like Sukol drill or Wand drill etc. The movements went along with Biren-da’s or Pranab-da’s counts or whistle! There was even at intervals a crank-up type gramophone pouring out some western music (78 RPM records). In a year or two we got some sophistication. We called... The ranks were formed in the Ashram for the Mother to see and a rudimentary (1st) band — if one can call it so — was in the lead. There were just three pieces — one bass drum and two kettledrums! Biren-da at the bass, Hriday-da and Debou at the kettledrums. The marchers must have been quite deafened and bored to death with just those three beating up the same ‘rote’ of a music through an hour or so ...
... lovely letters on honesty he wrote to me from Curseong! Oh, do hum X & Co. to ashes by your brahmateja for a change ? What ? Why burn them to ashes ? What Biren complains of is what politicians always do in a campaign. If Biren wants to do politics he will have to meet a lot more of that and worse things and learn to bear all with a sweet ineffable grin. Politics is in that respect a kind ...
... Already at the age of fourteen I had resolved that my life was not for me. But I did not understand then who or what it was for. It was then that I entered Biren-da's exercise-club to learn boxing and take up physical culture. Biren-da used to lay great stress on character-development. Exercise and boxing instilled courage and self-confidence in me. And there began my search for the true path ...
... and She told me: Page 55 The newly constructed gymnasium of the physical Education Department Page 56 "Buy whatever equipment you need." So through Biren-da, I got from Madras a vaulting-box, a vaulting-horse, wall-pulley machines, a punching ball and punching-board, and so on. And with these I started organising physical culture in a more satisfactory... very violent and dangerous attack upon you. For my sake and the sake of the work, be very careful and take great care of yourself. My love never leaves you.) * A gentleman from Biren-da's club in Calcutta, where Dada used to practise body-building at one time, has come to meet him along with his wife. Both have now become quite old. Page 66 They were friends from ...
... There has to be training and also aesthetic faculty. One can see in Bhishmadave and Biren that they have not merely technical perfection and rhythm but also they enter into the spirit of music. And there one can see that it is the notes, – the musical value of notes – that create the atmosphere specially in the case of Biren who merely by playing on string instrument succeeds in creating a fine atmosphere ...
... order our boys transformed the place into a beautiful playing field. What is called today group D was then called group C. Mona, Manoj, Harit and several others were in this group and Biren-da was their captain. Biren-da was a well-known boxer. He used to coach them in boxing, vaulting and many other activities. He would designate two captains for each month and their aim was to give proper instructions ...
... as well as my pen have done full justice to the event. March 23, 1934 I have just received a letter from Biren Roy Chowdhuri13 who had a talk with Tagore in which he told him a good many things about you and his conception of you. Briefly it is this, Biren writes, "Rabindranath has a strand of atheism in his composition: he admits the nirākār brahma [formless Brahman] on the one... of the spirit—but I can't say that I have ever found the expression of a concrete spiritual realisation in his poetry— though ideas, emotions, ideal dreams in plenty. That is some- thing, but— Biren writes, "About Sri Aurobindo Tagore said that it has lately seemed to him that Sri Aurobindo-was steadily delving deeper and ever deeper into the strata of the inner realms, and added that probably ...
... words: 'Go to Chandernagore.' In ten minutes or so I was in the boat for Chandernagore. Ramachandra Majumdar guided me to the Ghat and hailed a boat and I entered into it at once along with my relative Biren Ghosh and Moni (Suresh Chandra Chakravarti) who accompanied me to Chandernagore, not turning Page 340 aside to Bagbazar or anywhere else. We reached our destination while it was still... on The Mother. Page 341 Alipore jail to request him to make some arrangement for Sri Aurobindo's stay. "Charu Chandra was afraid and did not know what to do. In the meantime, when Biren and Suresh were thinking of going back to the boat with a disappointing reply, one Sishir Ghose took them to Motilal Roy. Motilal, on coming to know about it, readily accepted to accommodate Sri Aurobindo... work. "My soul unhorizoned widens to measureless sight, My body is God's happy living tool, 179 178. Life of Sri Aurobindo — A.B. Purani (Suresh was in the boat. It was only Biren who went to Charu Chandra Roy) 179. From 'Transformation", a poem by Sri Aurobindo. Page 342 ...
... Mother…. ( The Mother turns the pages and looks at other photos .) The Mother: Oh, this one belongs to His group? Mona: Yes, Mother. He is Sushil Sen, the brother of Biren Sen who is here in the Ashram. The Mother: Biren Sen? Mona: Yes, Mother, he is here, he came a few years back. The Mother: I don’t know, I don’t remember. If I see him now I will recognise. Mona: Nolini-da surely spoke... Andamans. The Mother: The Andamans — that is where your father was sent? Mona: Yes, Mother. The Mother: I have heard a little about it. Well, I would like to see this man. What is his name? Mona: Biren Sen, Mother. The Mother: All right. There is no hurry. Let him come on his birthday…. These revolutionaries are exceptional. I did not know that Sri Aurobindo had such people around him. Their ...
... the beginning of 1945, Biren Da came and joined the Ashram. He had been running a club for young boys in Kolkata and knew many games and exercises which he then started teaching the young boys in the school Playground. Mid May 1945, Pranab Da came and joined the Ashram. He had been a member of Biren Da’s Gym club and had learnt Boxing, body building and games from him. Biren Da put him in charge of ...
... reviving —I would recommend paying a member of the C.I.D. to attend our meetings. The Extremist, scornfully —Why only one, Professor? Why not the whole damned department? Professor —My dear Biren, pray take care of your words. They are highly irregular and seditious and may bring about your forfeiture under the Press Act. No, not all. There is such a thing as moderation. Besides, your proposal... wrathfully —There is such a thing as truth and self-respect. Professor, warmly —Truth? Are we not loyal? Do you dare to say we are Anarchists? Extremist —I decline membership— Professor —Well, Biren, well! Perhaps you had better. But you can drop in and have a cup of tea whenever we meet. What do you say? I think I too should have made my mark as a political leader! He beams seraphically on ...
... He watched two old sadhaks, namely Khirod-da and Biren-da (both late, one of the Building Service and the latter the Garden Service) sweeping the Ashram courtyard. Nowadays there are many such privileged sweepers — with some difference. Devendra approached one of them and asked, “Dada, I too want to sweep. I am free at this time and can help you.” Biren-da looked up and asked: “Bhai, tumi parbe ki.. ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Biren Chunder Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous drought. The wise for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work, for man to mend. John Dryden ...
... opening on the western side, there was an old Japanese seat, on which Mother sat when she worked or met people. It was here that, before going for the Balcony darshan, Mother would write the messages for Biren 1 which have been published in facsimile. And for a period she also had her meals here with Pranab. Beside this Japanese seat, there used to be a big cupboard in which Mother kept the books she gave... requests, she gave the same answer: “One should always be conscious” and refused to remove it. It is still there. × Biren Chunder (1915-97), a master in physical culture and physiotherapy, settled here in 1945. He met Mother daily as manager of New Bindery. The messages that she wrote in his diary from 1 April to 31 December ...
... defeats of Inge and Tagore and Russell and Huxley and Rolland and old-world Islam; but I never expected—outside their special province—any of these people or causes to conquer. As for Biren and Maya,—well, for Biren, I told him practically (it was no doubt a long time ago), that the time had not come for him to come here, and even now according to his own admission in one of his recent letters to the ...
... has to increase the force of pure mahima and of anima. Saundarya must still struggle with its obstacle without as yet prevailing and the Aishwarya with the obstacle to the equipment. Letter from Biren showing an improved mental state and a vague dawning of vyapti & speculative trikaldrishti. An instance of success in subjective-objective in its subtler or more subjective parts. The power of the ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Calcutta — 1937-1945 During this period much of India was again seething, trying to throw off the foreign ruler. The war too was on (1939). There was unrest and uncertainty. Youth all over the country was roused to action. Birenda, a young man of 23, full of strength and energy was naturally eager to take part in some ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Outing Birenda had great love for nature and the outdoors. That love he instilled into some of us boys. There it took root and grew. The first ever outing I remember was back in 1946. Birenda, Pranabda, Chimanbhai (teacher: de la Fond), Narayan (my brother) and I, set out at about 2 p.m. (God alone knows why 2 p.m.) ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Swimming The controversies may be more bitter in this sport. The element being foreign to humans, his or her true colours were more easily bared. Not many relished this. In the olden days, before the Swimming Pool was even thought of, swimming in the sea was not permitted. We couldn’t even wet our feet in it. It was ...
... his place and got him to eat the food we had brought. So the night passed. I returned early the next morning and went up to the Mother at 5.30 a.m. — my usual time to see Her, along with Richard and Biren-da (Chunder), and gave Her the whole “story”. She said “Ah! Louis cannot force them to any terms. It would be illegal. Moreover, just because they have gone down in their consciousness, we cannot do ...
... marvellously sweet and she is almost as quick to grasp. If she works hard she may sing for the Gramophone and fetch a considerable sum to the Ashram, I am sure. But there is time for that. Biren told me this morning in Calcutta the orthodox musicians are now willing to give me a real reception in the stately way. I feel a vengeful gladness, forgive me, for they have always decried me and ...
... pseudonym Bankim Chandra Basik. Likewise, Suresh Chandra Chakravarti was known to the people of Pondicherry by one name alone: "Sakra". Sourindranath Bose went by his own name. Nagendranath Nag and Biren Roy came later to stay in Sri Aurobindo's house. Among the inmates Nagendranath was laid up with tuberculosis. Some evenings when engaged in conversation with lyengar on the verandah outside his ...
... pseudonym Bankim Chandra Basik. Likewise, Suresh Chandra Chakravarti was known to the people of Pondicherry by one name alone: "Sakra". Sourindranath Bose went by his own name. Nagendranath Nag and Biren Roy came later to stay in Sri Aurobindo's house. Among the inmates Nagendranath was laid up with tuberculosis. Some evenings when engaged in conversation with lyengar on the verandah outside ...
... pseudonym Bankim Chandra Basik. Likewise, Suresh Chandra Chakravarti was known to the people of Pondicherry by one name alone: “Sakra”. Sourindranath Bose went by his own name. Nagendranath Nag and Biren Roy came later to stay in Sri Aurobindo’s house. Among the inmates Nagendranath was laid up with tuberculosis. Some evenings when engaged in conversation with Iyengar on the verandah outside his ...
... Inside the laboratory are Pavitra, Noren Singh, Sumantra, Suprabha and Sumkra. 2 Nolini and Amrita are in Pavitra's room. On the window-side, to the south of the passage, stand Pujalal, Nirod and Biren; in front of the table, Kalyan 3 and Mrityunjoy 4 . She greets them all, though not in the same way every day. She may look at them or just glance at them and go straight to the Balcony. As ...
... New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1980. Mukherjee, Radha Kumud. Ancient Indian Education. London: Macmillan, 1951. Rajagopalachari, C. Mahabharata. New Delhi; The Hindustan Times, 1950. Roy, Biren. The Mahabharata. The Indian Airman [Calcutta] 1958. 1. According to pragmatism, tile truth of a proposition cannot be determined by any intrinsic quality, coherence or clarity, or even by cor ...
... Ashram. I shall get the pictures of both of you framed. To -whom shall I give them? I will do as you advise. Please reply to my letter. Yours Esha SRI AUROBINDO: You can get them framed by Biren. Mamma, I was very happy to receive Sri Aurobindo’s letter. Can I come to see you upstairs? I hope you have received my mother’s letter. Can Manu come to the music? I like music very much. My ...
... lamenter that I don't know if his body will respond in the same way. I am rather worried about the fellow. I have asked his mother to come and help him whenever she is free. S has written (through Biren) asking for that on her behalf. But at the same time he writes that she doesn't sleep, doesn't eat, was weeping all night—If she does like that, how can she help him—she will only depress him farther ...
... the Swimming Pool in 1957, our swimming activities started. Then in I960 we got the Sports Ground Annexe and the three Page 278 Mother taking the salute from Biren-da at the daily Marchpast (before 1954) Page 279 basketball courts to the north of the Sports Ground. The programme got further impetus. Our Judo section started in 1957, first in our ...
... 192ff, 195, 208, 211, 217, 219, 229, 266m, 274, 275-76, 281, 284, 288, 289, 290, 298fn, 320, 329ff, 523, 531, 537, 574, 763 Ghose, Benoy Bhushan, 28, 29, 31, 35, 36, 45,49 Ghose, Biren, 367 Ghose, Hemendra Prasad, 222, 324, 763 Ghose, Krishnadhan, 25ff, 33,35ff, 183,192; death of, 45ff Ghose, Manomohan, 28,29,3 1ff, 35,43,46, 49,192,223,695 Ghose, N. N., ...
... Bengali ) Four compatriots of the revolutionary era — A memorable meeting at Sri Aurobindo Ashram. From left to right Sudhir Kumar Sarkar, Nolini Kanta Gupta, Bibhuti Bhushan Sarkar, Biren Sen. ...
... coil Street to the locals. Sri Aurobindo lived in this fourth house for six months, from April to October 1913. With him were Bejoy, Moni, Nolini, Saurin and V. Ramaswami. Two Bengalis, Nagen Nag and Biren Roy, joined them in July 1913. With no improvement in their pecuniary state in sight, Sri Aurobindo wrote to Motilal detailing their plight. "Our position here now is at its worst; since all ...
... Early Cultural Writings Letters from Abroad - V Dear Biren, I suspect that it is a malady of your intellect to demand figs from thistles and cry fie upon the thistle if it merely produces thorns. After all, would it not be a monotonous world that consisted only of roses and sweetmeats, virtue and success? Thorns have their necessity, grief has ...
... Early Cultural Writings Letters from Abroad - VI Dear Biren, There are moments in the career of peoples, empires, continents, orders of things when the forces of life pause between a past vitality and a rapidly advancing decay, atrophy or dissolution. You have often heard me say this of our still persistent and reluctant mediaeval system in India ...
... Early Cultural Writings Epistles from Abroad - III 10-October-1920 Dear Biren, Your list of questions is rather a long one. I will answer you in the mass rather than in detail; and chiefly I will attack two fallacies with which your letter teems, if I may use such an Page 550 expression, and which lie at the root of your very ...
... Early Cultural Writings Letters from Abroad - IV Dear Biren, The idea that the Europeans have organised enjoyment just as the Hindus have organised asceticism, is a very common superstition which I am not bound to endorse merely because it is common. Say rather that the Europeans have systematised feverishness and the Hindus universalised inertia ...
... anandamaya vani, conversion of tapasic into luminous movements; (3) the definite faith in the power of dharma-karma; (4) the cessation of the dominance of relapse in the subjectivity, examples Br. [Biren,] Richard, X 5 etc. Trikaldrishti— (Script) 1) Inevitably tomorrow sahitya will be resumed, afterwards it will be arranged. 2) Work in the evening will be resumed Continued action & ...
... vijnana was again successfully clouded. It is noticeable that the trikaldrishti of exact time is growing in frequency, eg the return of B. [Bijoy] the other day at 7.55, the return of N [Nolini] & Br. [Biren] today by 7. Page 345 14 December 1913 There is a growing strength of Samadhi; shabda & sparsha returned & were combined with rupa & action; distinct & coherent lipis occurred; the ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great The Legend Found — The Man with the Miraculous Hands Birenda soon resurfaced — in the field of Physiotherapy — if I may dare use that name, risking a frown from the numerous conventional doctors. Here too Birenda’s methods provoked controversies, even condemnations. Here too his methods seemed crude, and oldfashioned ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Pondicherry Pondicherry, 1945 — Pranabda came here a couple of months ahead of Birenda, i.e. in May 1945 and took up the just nascent Physical Education (Ashram School). He invited Birenda to come and help him in this work. Birenda came, looked, and liked what he saw. Awhile he wavered. Common and worldly sense urging ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Work Birenda was a good worker. Some of us being very close to him followed him. Though it was difficult in the beginning, he pulling us along and we willing to be pulled — it became easier and later a good habit. He said and showed that no work is too low or demeaning. Much of this experience was gained during the ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Boxing He (Birenda) shows you the basic stance, the straight left and a bit of footwork. He says: “Keep your hands up, head down and use your left — if your left reaches its mark, your right is sure to land.” Then for two rounds — two long minutes — you keep chasing him round the ring. He ducks, guards or slips your ...
... he would do a ‘namaskar’ and say with some solemnity “Bhalo Pudeche” — “He burned well.” I received this information after my uncle’s cremation. Haradhan-da lived many years here. He lived where Biren-da (masseur, ex-boxer) now lives, i.e. groundfloor of the Archives building. Yet in all those years he had seen and walked just two or three streets of Pondy — rue François Martin and rue d’Orléans ...
... Biren Chunder Among the Not So Great Weight-training The first day anyone above 16 years who comes along is told very casually, “Ek sho dund, dui sho baithak” (100 push throughs, 200 deep knee bends). No more is said, no word of encouragement, not even an enquiry — perhaps you don’t even know if he is looking at you. After you complete the quota — an hour ...
... bespectacled. The eyes grew worse with time and the spectacles grew thicker. Perhaps he was an intellectual by temperament. But here, in the Ashram, he joined the Physical Education in khaki group with Biren-da as captain. He joined us in the Bodybuilding Gymnasium. We were his co-builders — Sailesh (late), Parna Kumar, myself and others. He built up a good, well-muscled upper body. He couldn’t do much ...
... education and how you became a captain? In the very beginning I was not so interested in games and sports but I did love gymnastics and swimming. We also had more of boxing than I enjoyed, since Biren Chandra, our captain and leader, was a well-known boxer. Later, when the Mother sat and watched the strong men, boys and a couple of girls doing strengthening exercises after group was over, I used ...
... Yes, I had forgotten to answer about the Prayers and remembered only afterwards. I think for Anilkumar to approach his friend would be the best, if he thinks it a likely source. I hesitate to ask Biren for anything—for his position is awkward, surrounded by fathers, Dewans and other guardian angels, and he wrote some time ago that he finds it difficult to get his own allowance regularly because the ...
... consulting anybody—even his colleagues and co-workers. Everything was done in fifteen minutes or so and in the utmost secrecy and silence. He followed Ram Majumdar to the Ghat, Suresh Chakravarty and Biren Ghose following at a little distance; a boat was hailed and the three got in and went off immediately. His stay in Chandernagore also was secret and known only to a few like his later departure to ...
... words; "Go to Chandernagore." In ten minutes or so I was in the boat for Chandernagore. Ramchandra Majumdar guided me to the Ghat and hailed a boat and I entered into it at once along with my relative Biren Ghosh and Mani (Suresh Chandra Chakrabarti) who accompanied me to Chandernagore, not turning aside to Bagbazar or anywhere else. We reached our destination while it was still dark and they returned ...
... SATYENDRA: Appreciation of pure music requires training. PURANI: Everybody can't appreciate or criticise music. The ear and the aesthetic faculty have to be trained. You can see in Bhishmadev and Biren that they enter into the spirit of music. Beethoven's Symphonies are played with instruments only. When Bhishmadev sings you can see that he is conscious only of the notes and not of the words and that ...
... When we started route marching on the 13th July 1945, under the management of the French Army of Pondicherry we hired a bass-drum and a kettle-drum from the town and that was our band party. Biren-da played the bass drum and Hriday played the kettle-drum. The following year, in 1946, we did the same thing. Then on 15th August 1947 India got its independence. A few months before that there ...
... pseudonym Bankim Chandra Basak. Likewise, Suresh Chandra Chakravarti was known to the people of Pondicherry by one name alone: "Sakra". Sourindranath Bose went by his own name. Nagendranath Nag and Biren Roy came later to stay in Sri Aurobindo's house. Among the inmates Nagendranath was laid up with tuberculosis. Some evenings when engaged in conversation with Iyengar on the verandah outside his ...
... among men. Let me tell you now about how two young boys heroically bore the torture inflicted on them by the police. They went on repeating Vande Mataram , Vande Mataram , Vande Mataram . Our Biren Sen (in the Ashram) like Sudhir-da was also sent to the Andamans and mercilessly tortured. His brother, Sushil Sen, joined the Swadeshi group as a young boy. Once, an English police officer banned a ...
... them languages, like French. Nolini began straight away with Moliere's L'Avare. Nolini and Moni and Bejoy were the permanent residents. Ganen Maharaj, of Ramakrishna Mission, was a frequent visitor. Biren Ghosh, Saurin Bose and Ramchandra Majumdar turned up almost daily. Amar Chatterji, Hem Sen and several others came once in a while. Almost every evening Sri Aurobindo would do some automatic writing—or ...
... connotation and psychological and metaphysical annotation of "would be" here? You see the photo is being eaten up by insects, so it has to be tightened and papered, I suppose. I should have written Biren's treatment, but since Sanjiban has drawn it, I thought it was his case. So all interrogations answered, permission granted? Yes. Why did you stop your treatment—or rather R's? Did you really ...
... At this, both Mother and Pavitra-da laughed even more. Sometimes Mother used to try and make Pavitra-da Page 240 Mother on a visit to Biren's room (Pranab also lived here) in 1954 Page 241 angry by teasing him. One day a devotee sent some fruits to Mother through him. I don't remember what fruit it was, it may have ...
... tion. At the same time with the diminution of the intellectual tapas, the daivya tapas manifests more & more & introduces often the most sudden & decisive movements in the object of the will, eg. Biren's fever expelled in less than an hour, the frequent cessation of disorder in the long-disordered washtap immediately on or soon after aishwarya, the repeated alteration by birds of their slow opposite ...
... kind of joy! The more energetic the better and if the vital feels it, so much the better for the vital. The poem [Yugal] is very beautiful indeed throughout. I enclose Biren's letter I received this morning. I am sending you a cheque from Banerji for endorsement. He has sent it to replace the former one which was not negotiable by endorsement because it was... human mother does her child and I lay at her feet and in her lap in great love and devotion. I did respond vividly to it all—and woke up in great joy. Very good. I enclose Biren's letter as he wants me to let you know about it all. He praised my music-book highly in the previous letter writing that my tunes, etc. are shining with beauty, had originality, etc. Truly, Guru ...
Share your feedback. Help us improve. Or ask a question.