This happened when my son, Promesse, was about three years of age. In those days, children below the age of five were not allowed for the Darshan of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, and on Darshan days they were not even permitted to enter the Ashram. Darshan days have always been special at the Ashram and the entire Ashram wore a festive look. The sadhaks and devotees, dressed in their finest clothes, arrived at the Ashram eagerly awaiting the Darshan.
That day, as little Promesse tried to enter the main gate of the Ashram, the sadhaks on duty gently stopped him. He burst into tears and, through his sobs, he kept insisting, “I will definitely go for Darshan today!”
When I reached the gate, he immediately clung to me. Looking up at me, he said that he wanted to go to The Mother herself and ask her why he was not being allowed inside. There were still a few hours left before Darshan. After speaking to the sadhaks at the gate and obtaining their permission, I took Promesse into the Ashram. Once inside, I told him, “You may go directly to The Mother. I will not come with you.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, he ran up the stairs to The Mother’s room. Standing before her, he said with the innocence and determination that only a child can possess, “Mother, I will definitely come for the Darshan today, but the people at the gate are not allowing me.” The Mother listened to him with her characteristic compassion. She immediately wrote a note addressed to the sadhaks at the gate. In it, she wrote, “Promesse is not three years old. He is more than five years old. Let him be permitted for Darshan.”
Promesse came running downstairs, his face glowing with happiness, with the precious note tightly clasped in his tiny hands. I repeatedly asked him, “What did The Mother say?” But he did not even show me the note and instead walked straight to the sadhaks at the gate and gave it to them. They were surprised on reading the note and broke into laughter filled with affection and wonder at the Mother’s loving response to the earnest plea of a little child.
Meanwhile, Promesse hurried home, took a bath, dressed himself in a fresh dhoti and kurta, and returned with great excitement for Darshan. From that day onward, whenever Darshan came, Promesse walked through the Ashram gates without anyone ever stopping him.
— From My Mother by Surendranath Jauhar
The Favourite
Promesse shared a very special bond with the Mother. Having been with her right from a very young age, his world revolved around Her, with the Mother donning different roles — as a teacher, as a mentor, as a confidante.
Surendranath narrates in his book My Mother:
“Promesse became the favourite child of The Mother. The Mother used to sit in the Playground on a chair with Her Feet on a little foot-stool (Chowki) in front of Her. Promesse, from his tender age of about two, would go every day and just drag the Chowki from under Her Feet and would sit quietly on it, between the Mother’s Legs. This became a daily phenomenon and went on for months. The Mother never minded that.
One morning, while coming from the Ashram, I was going home and Promesse was following me on the road. I suddenly heard a loud scream. I turned and saw that he had fallen and got badly hurt, with a deep cut on his forehead. His clothes, white shirt and white pyjama, were completely soaked in blood.
I ran to lift him up and bring him home but, in the meantime, he got up crying and, instead of coming towards me, ran towards the opposite side. I was surprised. I ran after him but he ran very fast and went into the Ashram. I called and called him but he would not hear and ran even faster. He went straight up the staircase and reached The Mother. It astonished me that, instead of coming to me, he ran back a long distance to reach The Mother.
The Mother caught hold of him and asked, ‘Mon petit, what happened?’ He was barely three years of age and could not converse with the Mother either in English or French. In his way of narrating the incident to the Mother, he just fell down again on the floor before Her, gesturing that he had fallen down on the road like this. Though he was still profusely bleeding, he was not crying, since his focus was on communicating what exactly happened to the Mother.
The Mother went in and brought First Aid equipment, washed his forehead with spirit, and bandaged him nicely. She gave him a lot of love and solace and spoke to him in French, consoling him. She also gave him nice ‘sweets’ and then sent him home with me.
This is an example of deep Divine Love — that a small child, when hurt, instead of coming to his mother or father who were standing close to him, turns back and runs to the Divine Mother who apparently was much closer to his psychic.”
The Mother, during her classes, used to sometimes give dictations spontaneously.
“In the beginning, when the children were few in number, the Mother would correct each child’s notebook Herself and give points according to the number of correct words written by the child. If there were twenty words in the dictation and the child got eighteen words right, he would get eighteen points, which She would put down in her own handwriting in the child’s little notebook.
Interestingly, the notebooks were all made out of the cuttings and scrap from the Ashram Printing Press. After the Second World War, due to a shortage of paper, the Mother had little notebooks made out of discarded or cut paper from the Ashram Press. These were distributed to the children for their dictations, and a few extra notebooks were always in my wooden almirah to be given to the new children or to children who sometimes lost or had filled up their notebooks. The Mother would often write each child’s name on these little notebooks.
…She would still see every child’s notebook to give the final points based on the number of correctly written words, in her own hand, thus showing us how to maintain the enthusiasm and interest of every child. By these methods, She also taught us how to bring perfection into every little detail of any work without taking shortcuts.
These dictations started in 1951 for children of four to ten years of age, but as new children of four years kept joining in, the age gap kept increasing. By the end of 1952, there were children of four to twelve years in the same class. In November 1952, the Mother then divided the class into two sections, which she called ‘Grand’ (big) and ‘Petit’ (small). For the little ones she gave short dictations of a few words only, which they would prepare in advance.”
— Excerpt from Living with The Mother by Tara Jauhar
Correspondence with the Mother
Presented here are a few letters written by Promesse to the Mother on different occasions, together with Her replies, Her anniversary messages for Dortoir, and other messages and wishes.
Sweet Mother, the more I understand why I am here, the more I see the necessity of accomplishing this task. But I do not find the strength in myself to accomplish it. Help me, sweet Mother.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Very gladly, my child — my help is with you. You will find it at the depth of your heart.
22.2.69
Sweet Mother, can we go by motor-boat out to sea, then catch fish and bring back specimens of shells and other things that interest us? We will start at about 5 a.m. and return at 10 a.m. We will be going mostly on Sundays and other holidays.
The persons going will be Norman and me, and a few others interested.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Are you good sailors?
Sweet Mother, I think I did not make myself sufficiently clear in my last letter. It is not us who will direct the boat but the fishermen who go out every day. We will only accompany them, and the sailing will be done only by them. Our main interest is to see what they catch and bring back what interests us. Mother, do you think that we should go or not?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
It is better not to go — Blessings.
Sweet Mother, I think I did not very well understand the question of deciding my future that you put to me. I thought that it was up to me to decide the work I wanted to do in the Ashram. But now I believe that you meant for me to decide what I wanted to do in life.
For this question, my answer is: I want to stay here.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
It is very good, my child, and I am fully in agreement with your decision. My tenderness and my blessings are with you.
12.3.68
Sweet Mother, I have been asked to teach Mathematics and Sciences in the “Towards Perfection” classes, but according to what you have recently said about education, I believe I must teach the Truth instead of these subjects. But for that, Sweet Mother, I must know the Truth myself.
Mother, I find only one solution: to stop teaching, but that, Sweet Mother, is no longer a solution but a lack of courage.
Sweet Mother, give me the strength, energy, will, and illumination to be able to always do my work better than before.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Truth is not an absolute — it is progressive.
For what concerns teaching, the best you can do is always aspire constantly to be true — and all will be well.
With my blessings.
Sweet Mother, it seems to me that the general atmosphere of the school is deteriorating, and the only reason I can find is that Your presence is not felt as much as before.
Is this feeling valid? Or is it that I am not penetrating sufficiently into the true reality of this atmosphere?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
As you become more and more aware of my constant inner presence, you simultaneously become more sensitive to what does not manifest it, or manifests it less.
This is probably what is happening to you. It may also depend on the fact that you have changed class.
Blessings.
23.2.67
Sweet Mother, I have often imagined that you were taking our class even these days; gently, this imagination becomes a sensation that overwhelms me, and I experience great joy in attending this class.
Mother, I would really like you to take our classes sometimes. If you agree, tell us when. The class consists of: Manoj, Swadesh, Prakash, Kiran P., Promesse.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Very gladly, I will come in spirit to your class.
Tell me when you have it and I will always be with you — of course, visible only to those who have the inner vision.
Blessings.
5.5.67
Sweet Mother, I heard that you had said I was Chandulal in my previous life and that he had promised you something, and that’s why you named me Promesse.
Sweet Mother, is this true? And if it is true, can you elaborate on this point?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Here is a nice story. It has only one flaw: it is not true. Chandulal never made any promise and he has not reincarnated in your body.
Blessings.
Sweet Mother, I will finish my studies this year. As you asked me to decide for myself how I could serve you, I would like to speak with you about a project I have in mind. Would it be possible for you to see me one of these days?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
I will see you on Sunday morning, July 30, at 11 o’clock. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, here is the list of boys who are ready to come with me to work in Auroville: Norman, Bokul, Pratik.
I would like to come to see you to understand and to explain to you my plan for next year. But if you prefer that I do this in the form of letters, I will write to you later with all the details.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
It would be better for you to write to me, because to see me might take a long time. At the moment I am very busy.
Blessings.
15.11.67
Sweet Mother, to begin work early in the morning, we would like to spend the night in Auro-orchard. Do you think this is reasonable, or would you prefer that we stay here and start work a little later?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Nava will explain. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, can we go to Gingee on the 15th of December by car? The following are the persons: 1. Promesse 2. Prabhakar 3. Norman 4. Grant 5. Milan 6. Benimadhav 7. Dilip A. 8. Tejendra 9. Prabal Kumar 10. Ranajit R. We intend starting at 3.30 a.m. and returning at 9.30 p.m. at the latest.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Blessings.
Sweet Mother, Jo has asked me for my collaboration to form the group of young people ready to welcome foreign visitors. Will you be happy if I accept?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Yes, it is very good, provided that it does not interfere with your work at the School and Playground. With my blessings.
Sweet Mother, my friends and I would like to have some information on the subject of Sex. We have asked Nirod-da to speak to us on the subject, but Nirod-da agrees only if you consent and give your blessings. Sweet Mother, do you think this will be helpful to us?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
This will help you if you do it with a sincere intention of learning, and not out of a badly motivated curiosity arising from the fact that the subject is generally forbidden.
From a material point of view, it is good to know the dangers of sexual life and the means of avoiding them.
From a mental and spiritual point of view, one must concentrate one’s thought elsewhere, moving forward.
Blessings.
Promesse’s Birthday Correspondences with the Mother
7.12.64
Dear Mother, December 23 is my birthday. I would very much like to see you on that day, at the time you choose.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Come on December 23rd at 9:45 in the morning. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, I would like to come see you on my birthday, which is on 23.12.65. Will that be possible for you?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
That’s very good. You may come Thursday the 23rd at 10 o’clock in the morning. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, December 23rd is my birthday. Do I ask to come see you that day?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Come in the morning at 9:45. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, December 23rd is my birthday. Is it possible for me to come and see you on that day? Mother, I would also like to talk to you about my work in Auroville.
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Come at 3:30 in the afternoon. Blessings.
Sweet Mother, December 23rd is my birthday; may I come to see you that day?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
At 8 o’clock in the morning.
Sweet Mother, December 23rd is my birthday; may I come to see you that day?
Your child, PromesseThe Mother’s reply
Come at 3:15 in the afternoon.
The Mother’s Birthday Messages to Promesse
To Promesse — Happy Birthday. With my blessings, so that the new year may be progressive.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings, so that this new year may be very progressive.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings for a year of ascension towards the Truth.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings for a year of great progress.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings for a year of progress and realisation.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday! With my blessings for a year of useful work and progress.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday. With my blessings for a year of light and progress.
To Promesse — With my tenderness. Happy Birthday. Blessings.
To Promesse — Happy Birthday. With my tenderness and my blessings.
To Promesse — With my tenderness. Happy Birthday. Blessings.
Objects given by the Mother to Promesse
(All these objects are now at Sri Smriti, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch.)
Photographs of Promesse with the Mother
