Relationship with his Father

A young Surendranath Jauhar holding his little son Promesse in his arms, in a garden

New Delhi, 23rd December, 1956

My dear Promesse,

Today is your Happy Birthday. I hope you received my telegram in poetry early in the morning. I am remembering you very much and send you my love and good wishes.

You must have gone to the Mother today many a time. Please write to me fully as to how you celebrated your Birthday.

I have written a poem for your Birthday which, is enclosed herewith. I hope you will like this. You can show this to the Mother.

With love and kisses,
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

A child you were till yesterday
And boy you are today
On your tenth birth day
Wish you be more happy and gay

Your age and time are for play
Yet spend not all time that way
Also study and constantly pray
That you make progress day by day.

Promesse, O, dear Promesse, on this auspicious day
Mother’s blessings may open your way
From her path you never astray
What we heartily pray

11.12.1959

My dear Promesse,

I have never received any letter from you. Still I have been trying to send you some cricket cuttings. I hope you have been receiving these, but you have never acknowledged.

I will be sending more cuttings through some gentleman, who is going to Pondicherry and reaching there on the 17th. Please write to me as soon as you receive these. On the 23rd of this month is your Birthday. I will not be there this year. I understand that you wanted a Cricket Book for your Birthday. If Ladi can write to me the full details of the book you need, I may try to secure the same and send to you…

Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

New Delhi, 11 May, 1961

My dear Promesse,

Chitra informed me that you made certain contract with your mother that she would eat everything which is cooked and prepared and served at the Dining table and in turn you would eat all the things which are cooked. It was really very interesting and encouraging. I hope this contract is being honoured from both the sides and there is no going back.

I am writing this letter to you for a special purpose, rather for a favour. This is about the story of war between Russia and Japan which Mr. Lambert narrated in the playground. This was very interesting and humorous and we wish to give the same in our Basant which is already in the Press. You narrated this story to all of us at the Dining table and I would request you to please reproduce the same in writing and in the same language in which you expressed. You need not worry or fear about the language etc.

Our editor, Mr. Trilochan Singh will improve and make it up. We only need the outlines and the narration of the story which you have by heart. I hope you will oblige me and send the same at the earliest.

If there may be any hesitation in writing you can even narrate and dictate the same to Chitra or Ladi and we will do the rest.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

10.1.1966

My dear Promesse & Victor,

Durand Football Tournament

This time I found that both of you were very much interested in football because both of you were asking for football match boots.

Durand tournament is held every year in Delhi. It is a regular yearly feature of Delhi and is being held every year for the last about eighty years. Mr. Durand was one of the topmost officers in the railway in British times. He had started this tournament. Naturally he must be very much interested in this game and maybe that he himself was a very good player of his times.

I went to see this final match yesterday which was played between Mohanbagan and the Punjab police. I wished I could see one or two semi finals because they are more interesting and exciting. But this final was not very interesting because apparently Mohanbagan was much superior to Punjab police.

Mohanbagan have also a name in the history of Indian football for the last about 50/60 years. I am given to understand that once Sri Aurobindo was also President of this team.

The interesting thing was that in the Punjab police there were nine Sikhs and only two without hair and in Mohanbagan there was only one sikh and he had the real and proper name. i.e. GENERAL SINGH. You perhaps do not know that in Sikhs there is a tradition and proverb that one sikh is equal to 1.25 Lakhs (Sawa Lakh). He really proved to be that. Rest of the players in Mohanbagan were pigmy and short-statured. General Singh was a full-back and was wonderful in his position. He never allowed anybody to intrude.

The other important feature of the play was that the Punjab police players were only kickers. Their most of the kicks especially from the back covered half the field and sometimes three-fourths of the field.

The Mohanbagan players were not at all kickers. Theirs was the game of passes only. It was so delightful to see that they were so alert and their every pass will go to the right place and to their own players only. It was surprising. What a practice they had! There was hardly any pass which they will miss or which will go to the players of the opposite party.

The whole stadium was packed to capacity with about two to three lakhs spectators and perhaps all the Bengalees of the Capital were in the ground. Surprising thing is that most of the other people were also sympathetic towards Mohanbagan. The gentleman who was sitting by my side was a staunch Punjabi and served as a commentator for me. He knew names of all the players and was always commenting by names. In spite of his being a staunch Punjabi he told me before the start of the play that Mohanbagan should defeat the Punjab police in no time. Punjab police is no match for them. He said that Chunni Goswami and Dipu Dass were very cruel and were terror for Punjab police. They will dodge Punjab police and make goals and knock them out.

I hope both of you will be writing to me occasionally, specially about your studies. This time I felt so happy that I want to keep in touch with your developments of studies very much.

With Love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

4th March, 1966

My dear Promesse,

I have always been so much thinking about you, but I have never been able to write to you, I hope by the Mother’s Grace you are progressing nicely.

This time I remembered about your letters which the Mother had written to you when you were only 3.5 to 4 years and I mentioned about these letters to the children of the Mother’s School on the Mother’s Birthday on 21st February, 1966.

As you were always keen to get these letters, I have sent the same through Shri Kireet Joshi and I hope you have already received these.

You must have been very happy to see these. In fact, you must have felt excited to have seen these for the first time as you were too young when these letters written to you by the Mother were received.

It will really be a great privilege to keep these letters with you all your life. I would like to hear from you as to how you felt after seeing these letters.

With love.
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

7.3.1966

My dear Promesse,

I was very glad to receive your letter of 8th inst. and I can quite appreciate your deep sentiments. It is really difficult to give expression to such things.

I had hoped that Sri Kireet Joshi will handover the letter to you immediately when he reaches but probably he did not have any time and you had to go to him to get your letters only after you heard from me.

It is really a Grace, the manner in which you had your life with The Mother. It is not only the incidents but the whole of your life has been like that. Perhaps you can sometime show these letters to The Mother whenever there is an opportunity to meet. Is there any possibility of getting an opportunity to meet her before your next birthday?

Re: Your progress, when I met the Mother last time She was very happy but then what is there to ask Her. If you are happy and satisfied as you wrote to me in one of your last letters, that is the greatest thing.

Re: “Collected Poems and Plays” – it is very difficult to find out but certainly I have some copies with me and I can spare one but I will have to find it out and I will send one copy as soon as I get the next opportunity of anybody going from this place but in case you may be in a hurry, I can send it by post parcel also. Please write to me by return of post.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

14th April 1966

My dear Promesse,

I am so glad to receive your letter. How can I forget you? You are always so much in my heart.

I thought I had replied to your previous letter. I do not get any time. I have to work so much and so hard. If you keep in touch with Ladi you can always know the interesting developments which are always going on here.

I have sent for you both the volumes of Sri Aurobindo’s Poems and Plays thro’ Mr P. Sharan who had left this place yesterday and he will reach there tomorrow afternoon. I have also sent thro’ him a ball of cheese for all of you. Please write to me as soon as you have received these.

Both the volumes are very old and the paper used is so brittle that all the papers and the pages are loose. First of all I thought to get them properly bound and repaired here and then I considered that you could get better work done through Biren-da. Perhaps you can request your sister, Chitra to help you. Please go through all the pages so that they are arranged in serial numbers and are not misplaced and for all such pages which are worn out, if you take a little pain and sit with Baren da, all those pages can be repaired with proper gum or gum-tapes. Of course, the whole binding has to be properly done and you will be able to use the same for a year or two. In the meantime, I can surely hunt for some better book for you and perhaps in course of time, it may be printed also; otherwise it can’t remain out of print for a long time as it is such an important work of Sri Aurobindo and is one of his key works.

I am glad that you are doing extremely well in your athletics competition and also in your studies. I pray to the Gracious Mother to give you more and more help to become her true and powerful instrument.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N. Jauhar

P.S. Please convey my love to your brothers and sisters and your mother and to your Bhabiji

25.4.66

My dear Promesse,

I was so glad to receive your letter dt. 21 instant. Yes, you are right. You can use the ‘Poems and Plays’ as they are. I hope Purnima has given you one new - perhaps the second volume which she had received from the Mother and one was naturally spare with her. Please confirm if it is the second volume. I will try to find the first volume from somewhere and will send you in due course. In the meantime, you can return the torn second volume.

I never liked your over-exertion and over-enthusiasm. I had been telling this to Ladi for the last about ten years. I have never felt happy when on account of over-enthusiasm and over-exertion some injury takes place. Everything should be done within the limits. Perhaps that is the main feature of Yoga. I am feeling very much about the hurt in your muscle. I hope it is much better now. Kindly advise me by return of post.

I hope you all are enjoying with Purnima when she is there with you. Has Jitender come there? I was told that he was also likely to go there.

I had also sent a ball of cheese with Purnima which I hope you have received and some dry fruits also.

I very much wish to come there but I am unable to do so for reasons which are not in my hands. Let us hope and pray.

With love,
Affectionately yours,
S.N.J.

08-03-67

My dear Father,

I received your letter and was glad but I find myself at a loss to explain to you exactly why the 4th May is such an important date. In this yoga the first step is faith and the Mother Herself has given it such importance.

If you remember the date 29.2.56 where Mother mentioned the involution into the matter of the new life – which now has undergone the process of evolution and seeks a fit instrument to inhabit. It is the apparition of the first Superman which should be done on the 4th May and the Mother has been describing the change of Her physical in the Bulletin and from there we suppose that it is the Mother who has to hold the weight in her first, and then pass it to the world like Shiva took the Ganges on his head and then allowed it to flow on earth. Thus, we see we can sum up and say that in the evolution of the world, man has reached the stage where a new race has to come and the beginning of this evolution in the matter begins on the 4th May. That is why I say that it is an important date in the history of the Universe. But as you will notice that my explanation has plenty of holes in it and there are plenty of questions which could be asked, but it is too difficult for me to explain it in a letter, and moreover I don’t have the grasp over it and therefore it is still more difficult. I ask you to come because if anything is to happen (something will happen but I mean on the physical plane) you could witness it and be blessed by it.

Yours loving son,
Promesse

16.3.1967
c/o Sri Aurobindo Ashram, New Delhi – 16

My dear Promesse,

I received your charming letter dated 8th March. I am very much moved and touched with your thoughts of deep flights.

I have gone through your explanation about the 4th May Darshan. I know it is so difficult to give expression to such subtle and occult phenomena. But inspite of all this you have done so well.

As far as my coming is concerned, your letter is very alluring. Inspite of this I have some impediments in my way but if you guarantee that whatever something will happen on that day which you have said on the physical plane, will happen in me, then of course I can certainly come. I just don’t want to be a mere witness to it.

Your article is of a very high level. I have read it twice and I wish to read it some more times to have a deeper grasp. I am not going to publish the same. Where could I do that. I will just show to two or three people in the campus.

I am surprised at the fate of your beard. How has it become so hard. You must consult someone. My beard would naturally become hard at the age of 63 but still Erasmic has done quite well. However you will be receiving some very good quality of Gillette blades directly from Saigon. Please keep me informed of the behavior of your beard.

With love,
Affectionately yours,
S.N.J.

21.3.1967

My dear Father,

I received your letter and am replying immediately to it. Now our terminals have started and that is why it is difficult to answer you soon.

Why do you want a physical change in you, if there is a physical change in the world, is it not sufficient, for you are a part of the world. And apart from that, if you have a strong need for a change it will certainly come about, but the important part would be to believe that you have changed. You did not want to be a mere witness to the event, but it is not possible to be a mere witness for some change is bound to come in every individual, though not necessarily on the physical plane.

Your loving son,
Promesse

14.7.1967

My dear Father,

As I had promised to write to you, I am doing it, although I have nothing much to say. I have just completed my terminal tests and as a consequence am free for few days. I took this opportunity to write to you. With this introduction let me begin my letter.

My dear father, how are you? I have not received any letter from you for quite some time now. I was just reading an article by John Kelly on the Ashram in Mother India, and this reminded me of some of our conversations which we had when you were last here. Now I seem to see why you did not quite agree with me and seemed often hurt with my attitude towards the Ashram.

But I believe the feeling arose from a misunderstanding of my statements. For although I seemed to throw cold water on the works going on there, I really did not mean it in that way. Let me explain my position. I do appreciate about the work which is going on there, although if I were there, I would have preferred a few changes but this point is minor.

The main fact of my disinterest or rather apparent disinterest is that I have chosen to lead a yogic life and unless the Mother Herself gives me this work, it is difficult for me to take it up myself and when one does not actively participate in a work, one likes to balance the pros and cons to it; and what I presented to you were the cons – as you automatically present the pros to me as though to solidify your argument.

Thus, I was able to get a better picture of the work going on there for this way one knows it more fully: That is why I believe that you had misunderstood me and felt hurt that your own son did not appreciate your work, whereas all others did. To put it squarely, I do appreciate your work a lot but I am sorry that I cannot help you until a need in me tells me to help you. For I believe for my own progress I have a long, long way to go.

In actuality it is John Kelly’s article that led me to these conclusions, but it was only a medium for me to reflect. For all that he said was already known to me.

By the way I do not see the reason why Promesse as a name should hinder in Business. Mother has given the name to me and I would like to withhold it through all difficulties and would never like to change it. I do not care if others think me to be a Christian for I am also a Christian.

Hope to receive from you soon.

Your loving son,
Promesse

13-12-1967

My dear Promesse,

I am writing to you on the auspicious day – your birthday. I have not been able to write to you earlier in spite of my best wishes and serious efforts. I apologize for that. When I think of you, I feel so happy and elevated and inspired. When I was just going to wire you last evening, spontaneously, without any thinking or without any further efforts, the following words came which I telegraphed to you:

‘Happy Birthday, may you be the
Seer of the times with the Mother’s Grace.’

I pray and with my immense love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

20.12.1967

My dear Son,

I am writing this letter to reach you on your happy and auspicious birthday. When I think of you I feel so deep and proud. May the Gracious Mother give you all the strength, purity and wisdom to prove worthy of her.

I made a mistake and sent you the telegram and letter on the 13th. In any case that was what spontaneously I felt and wrote to you and it holds good for ever. All of you must have enjoyed, that I have now become an old Baba and forgetful person but let me hope that I make only good mistakes.

You will be going to The Mother and I would like to hear all what she tells you and all about your interview with her.

With my deep love.
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

4.3.1968

My dear Promesse,

I was so happy to be with you after such a long time and I was glad to see you progressing and flowering.

You were talking about your taking up some work in Auroville or perhaps staying over there. You did not tell me any details. I would like to know all that if you could please write to me.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

Promesse & Lata with Surendranath Jauhar in Khurja

16.5.68

My dear Promesse,

In my sleeping papers’ I found your last year’s letter dreaming in a pitiable and dilapidated condition which is just enclosed as a proof of evidence.

I am also enclosing a typed copy of the same for your convenience. You will find in this letter your dreams of that period. Of course these dreams were most healthy and based on purity and truth.

I do not remember whether I replied to you for this but now I wish to write to you this letter.

My dear son, How are you? Now I wish to sincerely know how your dreams developed further since then and I hope you must have been hearing further some news about this place and if you could in any manner help and guide us.

I presume if the people or the Sadhaks like, they can certainly have a Yogic life here also. As physical distances should not be a bar to spiritual life, I also seriously believe that the Mother’s Ashram is not going to be confined and restricted to Pondicherry and near about and if this place may even be considered as one of the off-shoots or one of the Departments of Pondicherry Ashram; perhaps it is doing comparatively good and deeper work.

I hope to hear from you.

With lots and lots of love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

20.5.68

My dear Promesse,

There was a couple, Shri Henri Bhai and Mrs. Bell from Zambia who stayed with us for two-three days on their way to Pondicherry. They were very nice people with tall and huge bodies and were always mentioning that they were going to Pondicherry Ashram to settle in Promesse. I was amazed and asked them, “What do you mean by Promesse?” They retorted, “It is the first township in Auroville and you do not know?”

Will you please acquaint me all about your township. How and when did you create that?

Have you read my reminiscence in the Mother India - ‘NOBILITY - a True Incident’. I am receiving so many letters of appreciation. What about you? But believe me, I never sent this for printing in Mother India otherwise perhaps I would have made it better. I just sent to Shri Manoj Das for his recreation.

With Love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

21.5.68

My dear Father,

I received your letter describing my condition earlier, but I do not know if I truly agree with you. As for ideas I have none to suggest and I hardly ever get any news about what goes on in Delhi especially in the Ashram. Personally I have too many problems of my own.

Being a teacher, I feel that I know too little about how to teach and now I am wondering about what I should teach. Mother has quite definitely said that the important thing is not the subject but the inner growth. To understand this is very difficult and from there to be able to do it is still more difficult.

As yet I do not know of anyone who would like to come there but I hope to know of someone soon, and then I could inform you.

I do not have much to tell you except that I am happy and hope to receive from you soon another letter.

Your loving son,
Promesse

18.11.1968

My dear Promesse,

About 100 of our school children with 4 teachers are coming to Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry, leaving tomorrow i.e 19th instant evening by G.T. Express and reaching Pondicherry Railway station on 22nd morning by special railway reserved coaches. They will be staying there for eleven (11) days and leave Pondicherry on the 3rd of December, 68.

I am particularly writing this letter to you to please give some time with your worthy friends to them as and when possible and convenient to you to acquaint them with the deep spirit of the Ashram, its various educational institutions and activities which would enlighten and uplift their general consciousness. I know these are only words but you will naturally say or do in a manner whatever spontaneously comes to you. And also please guide and help them as much as possible.

I know you will all be extremely busy these days for the 1st and 2nd December Celebrations and therefore all that I have said above is subject to the circumstances. These are grown up children of classes 6th and 10th. They are very good and well-behaved children and will be very receptive. So whatever possibly you could do would be extremely useful and valuable in their life.

I am missing yours, Chitra’s & Victor’s performances in the forth-coming Play and I am feeling very much for that. I pray to The Mother that she makes you all worthy of her.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

21.7.70

My dear Promesse,

I am getting this opportunity to send you the lost card received from Anil; you will be happy to receive this. You should regularly write to me to keep me fit and in good spirits. That is your Dharma.

There can always be so much to express and write. If you write to me about your work, how you are teaching and how you are progressing, that will always be very interesting.

There is no news about Victor’s Hitch-hiking - as to roaming. Personally, I do not like this. But everyone has his own destiny. In any case, he will now be “Europe-returned” which is a great qualification.

With Love,
Yours Affectionately,
Surendranath

16.9.70

My dear Father,

I did not know that the reason of your not answering letters was bad health. I thought it was because you were busy. If you are not feeling well I think you better come to Pondy and rest here for some time. Who told you that I can do nothing about your health if I am far away from you.

Victor is at present in France learning tape-recording from some experts. He seems to be quite happy and I just received a letter from him yesterday.

About my going to Europe, I don’t think that at present I would like to go at all, perhaps if in the future I find any use of going there or any strong desire I might make a trip, but at present it does not attract me at all.

Now about my teaching work. This is very difficult thing to explain because the atmosphere in our school is not a thing to be explained and the teacher-student relationship is something to be felt and then understood. But outwardly or rather from the standpoint of idealism this is what my work is.

This year we were a batch of teachers and we had 30 students under us. The aim we decided on was to throw off all subjects or rather unite all subjects and teach them as one. Naturally you would be thinking that it would be a nice jumble and the students would learn nothing, but that is why I must first clarify what our aim in teaching is.

Our main aim is to widen the consciousness of the student so that he can face the new world with an open mind and leap into it and not get held back by the ideas of the past.

It is true that most of the subjects help you to widen your consciousness but these are mostly taught not from this point of view but from the point of view of accumulation of knowledge which is totally false and valueless for us. If you wish, this point could be more elaborated in my next letter.

Well, this being our aim, we find that if we keep this in mind and teach, the subjects lose their place and give rise to a new way of teaching which is much wider. This is the line I have been working on this but I am not satisfied this year due to many reasons. I think I must stop now and continue my explanations in my next letter.

Would you like to have shells from Pondy, I can get plenty, but the cleaning must be done there. If so please tell me soon so that I can send them with Sujit who is supposed to reach there soon.

Your loving son,
Promesse

24.9.70

My dear Pitaji,

In this letter my main aim will be to try and tell you what we mean by education here and how we hope to follow it.

To educate a child is to help him to bring out the best of himself, or otherwise to widen his consciousness so that he is ready to receive new ideas without difficulty.

If this is the aim, the role of the teacher as I believe, is only to enter in contact with the student, watch his interests and try and help him to follow them up as best as he can. Many teachers come up with the problem that some of their students show no interest in anything, and by anything they mean the eight classical subjects of English, French, Maths, etc… This is absurd because I believe that only a handful of students may show interest in these lines; most will not.

The work of the teacher is often to be able to place new subjects and new choices before him. The interest of the student may be very strange in nature, but I believe that still the teacher must follow it up. For instance, if a student is interested in the world of cinema, I believe that the teacher must find out what in this line attracts him. It may often be the fame you get, often the beauty, often the colourfulnes.

Each of these attractions are basically healthy and the teacher can show his student by guiding him correctly to new regions of fame (like the conquest of the Moon) or new regions of beauty (like nature) or new regions of colour (like the study of crystals and then breaking up of light) and thus step by step the student is led deeper and deeper into different realms which helps to widen him and also to fulfill his desire or interest. If the pupil is told not to take interest in cinema and forced out of it, his desire for that will be stronger, he has to look through the cinemas into a new world which is better and greater. This will reveal to him a new mode of looking into things which helps him also to see beyond them and not get caught into its web.

On the practical plane, these ideas present quite a few difficulties, but I believe that they can easily be overcome. The first condition for such a method of teaching is that the teacher must be perfectly fit to take it up and must believe in it fully. The second is the question of knowledge or the wideness of the teacher. The third is the need of material to suit his ideas, but this I believe if the teacher is ingenious, he should manage with less material, because the important point is the spirit in which the student must progress.

I believe I have given you a general outlook on my ideal of education and so will stop here and wait for questions from you to explain further if necessary.

Your loving son,
Promesse

19.8.1971

My dear Pitaji,

Happy birthday, I hope you are coming to see the Mother for the occasion. I believe this will be a day of turning for all your difficulties and from now onwards the school will run much better and all around the conditions will change. As Jay Smith compared the school to Bangladesh it may so happen only the roles will be reversed. As you see Bangladesh has already issued its first postage stamps and will soon be independent.

Bonne fete once again and more in the next letter.

Your loving son,
Promesse

8.11.1971

My dear Promesse,

You never write any letter to me. You forget that I am your father. I would like to know all about your activities and developments.

Our school party consisting of about 65 students will be coming there this month.

I hope you will help them as best as you can. I very much wish that the students achieve the purpose for which they are sent there and do not just go to visit the place, which has hardly any meaning.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

21.12.1971

My dear Promesse,

You were born in 1946. India was partitioned against the will of the Divine and Pakistan came into existence in 1947 which you could not tolerate.

It was after 24 years that the first blow was struck and it was a good one. I pray that on your birthday you resolve to smash this fully so that India achieves her unity.

In August 1947, myself and your mother went to Lahore to wind up and collect our belongings, and we left you in Delhi in a cradle under the care of a servant. You did not like this and you cried very much and resented. When we returned after a month or so you will be surprised so learn at this age that you did not like us and showed your indifference towards us for a few months in spite of our best efforts. It was so clear that you did not like our action of leaving you alone and you showed your extreme resentment.

You are 25, and I hope all that phase has been passed. And the age of getting education at the Ashram, according to old traditions, is over. You should now immediately come here and take up the next phase of life.

On this auspicious day, I send you thousands of Patton tanks loads of love and I am ordering the Air Force to convey this so as to reach you on the 23rd December 1971.

I pray to The Gracious Mother to give you dynamic wisdom to do Her work in this world.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

10-6-1972

My dear Promesse,

I am so happy to receive your letter. My health is always ‘as it should be at this age’. I don’t have much movement as the body now refuses, all joints always cracking & paining. But I have no regrets. I have done quite a lot in my life, of course it is always comparative. I have used the body mercilessly, so I have to suffer. I can’t blame anyone. So, the net result as we say in ‘Punjabi’ is that only the balance days of life are difficult - after that it is all well & nothing but Anand.

Celebrations about Sri Aurobindo Centenary : our condition is exactly the same as at Pondicherry. We have no programme or preparations so far and nobody is coming here as in Pondicherry. So, we are free. In fact, I can’t think of anything as our whole life and whole conduct every minute & every breath is dedicated to Sri Aurobindo’s work…

…People run after miracles which do not give them anything. But they don’t want to go to places where they are expected to change themselves.

Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

13.06.72

My dear Promesse,

I hope you have received my previous letter and found it interesting and satisfactory in answering your queries.

I forgot to send you the school Higher Secondary results for 1972. Result is not very good but considering the difficult period we passed through it is satisfactory to some extent.

We never had any 3rd Division, this time six have passed 3rd division. 1st division has also fallen, only 12 out of 51. It is just a grace that there are no failures. Our top student has missed the merit list only by 3 marks. Last merit is 787 and our student got 784.

Please show this to everyone. I have already conveyed to the Mother.

With love,
Your’s affectionately,
Surendranath

P.S. How did you enjoy Sardarjis’ experience - not a joke, sent to Chitra.

20.12.72

My dear Promesse,

You had come with a Promise. That Promise you have justified and that Promise is now over. I am now expecting a new Promise from you on this auspicious day 23rd December 1972.

You are now my friend and a guide. I am expecting a lot from you. I wish that a New Promise comes from you.

I pray to the Gracious Mother that She may give new light to you and you shine to do Her work.

With my immense love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

P.S. I take this auspicious opportunity to thank you very much for all you did for our students’ trip to the Ashram for the Mother’s Darshan. Everyone was very happy and full of praise for you.

08.12.1973

My dear Promesse,

You tried your best and made all out efforts to break my leg, but what has happened is that the pain has completely gone. You can now perhaps start this as your medical practice.

You wanted me to go on sending you some literature whichever is available. Today I have redirected one packet containing a book “Love” which you may please take and let me know if it is useful.

The book is addressed to me and I have redirected to Pondicherry, so please be careful that Victor does not send it back to me.

I usually receive some literature on African countries and also a quarterly magazine. I do not know whether you would like to have these. I can always redirect them to Pondicherry and you can get hold of them.

With Love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

21.12.73

My dear Promesse,

I wrote to you a letter some days back but you have never replied. You know how much relief and support I get when receive letters from you. That serves as a dynamic cure and tonic for me.

Now I understand You are going to be born once again and that you have chosen the same date i.e. 23rd December, 1973, shining, bright and luminous than ever before.

I pray that the Mother, who is ever present with us, gives you a further lift in your life to reach the skies. You already know the method of going into the Depths which you once explained through a model of a submarine which could explore and scan the depths and riches of the oceans.

Now that the Mother is not there in Her physical body, I would like to know as to how you have celebrated your birthday. It is very important for me.

With sheep, goats, donkeys, mules, camels, horses, ikkas, tongas, carts, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, tempos, trucks, train and aeroplane loads of love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

22.12.73

My dear Promesse,

I tried to use all the means of transport to send you My Love but I forgot the Elephant. So, I am today loading the elephant with love and sending to you. I hope you will receive in order.

In case, I may have missed any other transport, please write to me and I will send further. Here, of course, all the Government transports are at stand still, but the vehicles of my love are fluent.

With extra Love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

26.12.73

My dear Promesse,

On your birthday I wanted to send sweets or fruits for you but all the carriers including the elephant refused. They said they could carry only love - unadulterated.

Even the Government Railways and other carriers refused saying that on account of the loco strike the booking was stopped.

I have now sent a basket of apples for you although late, for your birthday, through your brother, Jitender K. Jauhar. He gladly agreed to take it. I hope that you will receive them in order.

With extra love,
S.N.J.

09.01.74

My dear Father,

How are you? How is your leg? I hope it is not giving you any more trouble? I am much better now and I feel I am perfectly alright, but the doctors have the habit of hunting out some sickness or the other and so I am forced to remain in bed all day. I sleep, or rather meditate, otherwise I listen to music or read, but I read very little.

There was recently a very good tape recorder for sale, a sewing machine and a movie camera but as the prices were very high I preferred not to buy them. Moreover, even if I thought it worth I did not have that much money.

Nowadays I am alone most of the day. I sit among my pills which I swallow after regular intervals and then dive back into bed. Now and then some of my students come to see me, then I talk a little or otherwise plunge back into my meditation. It is interesting for I have not tasted such a life. From a very long time I have not been ill and so I suppose all the sicknesses were thrust in me and I was down with Typhoid.

Now I believe I will stop here and more on hearing from you.

Your loving son,
Promesse.

12-01-1974

My dear Promesse,

I am very happy to receive your letter dt. 9.1.74. I have been feeling extremely worried and concerned about your health.

My leg is perfectly alright. There is no pain at all since about three weeks. It is really a miracle which you did.

If you were perfectly alright, the doctors were not fools to keep you in bed. It is a very wrong to think that the doctors are in a habit of hunting out some sickness or the other. You must obey and try to understand. At the same time, you should take it as a Divine’s will and opportunity to take rest and meditate.

Typhoid is a very serious illness and it is one’s own fault. In your own ego, you perhaps had not cared in the beginning and it turned out into typhoid. If you had taken care of yourself in the beginning, you could certainly be saved of this lengthy sickness.

However, what has happened should be taken as a Divine’s will. There are two aspects of typhoid. If one takes complete care long after the fever is over then it becomes ‘Kaya-Kalp’ and it is said the health becomes much better and stronger, but if one does not behave properly and takes care, then there is always the possibility of relapse and it is much more severe and bad. So, I request you to completely adhere to the doctors’ advice and take care of yourself in every manner. The doctor is your friend and well-wisher.

I shall be grateful if you write to me a letter everyday or at least on alternate days. It will be a little change for you, rather a recreation.

If you find anything worth purchasing and it is really a bargain, only then you should purchase things like type machine, camera, or tape recorder. Otherwise, no. There is no meaning in purchasing at a high price. As regards money, there is quite a good amount lying with Chitra on my account. You can always take from her.

Please explain to me your present condition as to what the doctors say, what is the name of the medicine they are giving and the name of the sickness. In any case you must try and obey and I pray that you get out of this long sickness.

It is much better that you talk as less as possible and build up your health. Occasionally, of course, if your students are coming to you, you can chat with them within limit.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

22.8.1974

My dear Promesse,

I was dreaming in my Palace-Sofa-Chair of high and high Palaces and lofty and lofty castles like Meera Bai and dreaming of windows all around to see the Divine.

Suddenly thick dark clouds came and I was surprised, why? Then soon it was revealed that your letter was in my hand.

After reading your letter I told the clouds, that it was a letter from my son, “Promesse” and the clouds at once retraced and went back. Usually the clouds like that come when there is something extraordinary or unusual.

It is very essential that you come here now permanently to introduce the new system. No one here can do that, when they have not lived that life. They do not understand anything.

Ashram is not to be restricted only in Pondicherry. This has to spread all over the world. Delhi is the most important place for that. That is what Mother has always been telling me.

In the meantime, I would like to know your experience of his weakness, so that we can be careful and we can help him to grow. I can’t create pain in my leg to come over there to get your treatment, unless you are praying like that.

My body does not accept anymore travelling. I am always in a miserable condition and where is the Darshan now? Whose Darshan? Now we can have all Darshans here.

Rest again.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

10.9.1974

My dear Promesse,

I have passed on all the application for ‘Lakshdweep’ to the Home Ministry through Mr. Ramesh Kapur - who is working in the same Ministry. He will do his best.

Please tell Snehlata that two Murhas are being sent through Mr. Gerard although he is very unwilling. He says the cars is packed etc. Probably they are leaving tomorrow morning, Tell Chhote to write to me.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

02.03.76

My dear Father,

This will be my third letter to you, and still I have had no reply from you. If this is because of your health, please let me know.

Yesterday Ladi left for Delhi and I believe by the time you receive this letter she must have already met you.

The system of Education here is slowly evolving and I am personally concerned that finally what we will have will be a system of learning Yoga; that is to say a system which insists primarily on self-realization and self-perfection. Today we find that science is failing and is no more capable of explaining things in what it is used to call a rational method. The very basis of their logic seems to be changing and the scientists are no more clear on what is going on in this universe. Tomorrow I will be giving a talk on the 4th dimension, and I intend beginning scientifically and then letting the students question me and I will try my best to answer. The difficulty lies in the fact that I have no experience and so whatever I say will be more of what others with experience have said.

Most of the teachers here are now convinced that for a better educational system, the first and foremost point is that we ourselves must be Yogis. So I feel I cannot talk much about my work but must go on doing it.

I am sure this letter will find you in good health and that I will get an answer from you this time.

Your loving son,
Promesse

19.6.1976

My dear Promesse,

No letter from you. Evolution is going on and the world is changing, but which way it is so difficult to understand.

You may be aware Dr. Iyengar is writing ‘The Mother’s Biography’. He is working very hard on the same and continuously. Just now I have received a letter from him giving some description. He writes that he is giving some reference to ‘My Fateful Journey’ i.e. my first glance of the Mother. Dr. Iyengar is coming here on 22nd for 2-3 days.

It struck me that I could show him 2 or 3 letters which Mother wrote to you when you were between 3 and 5 years of age, I suppose and you come here. These letters may be very interesting to give in ‘The Mother’s Biography’ as to what was Mother’s life like in those days.

I suggest you send these letters to me by ‘Registered Post’ on Monday positively.

Rest again.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

23.12.1977

My dear Promesse,

Today is your birth day. Very auspicious day. When I look back upon your career since you were born, I feel touched. How lucky you are and what a privileged career you had.

I am in a most difficult period of my life, therefore I could not write to you earlier, so that this letter could reach you today. I have however viewed your Express praying for an Higher Life for you, which I hope you will receive today. And I hope you will write to me. Since you left, you have not written a single letter to me.

Country has decided that your birth day will be celebrated and observed as Agriculturists and Farmer’s day every year. Today there is a rally of 2 lacs farmers in Delhi from all over the North.

With Love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

Jauhar Family at Chitra's Farm, Puducherry — Jauhar Family at Chitra’s Farm, Puducherry

April 13, 1978

My dear Promesse,

Thank God you got an Excuse.

I have never written any articles on the Mother. There is a serious misunderstanding. I am incapable of writing on the Mother. I was only writing small “Reminiscences” of the Mother. If you mean these then I am glad that Noliniji has liked them.

I do not hope he will be able to write to me in his present state of health. It will be good and worthwhile if you keep on reminding him as and when you meet and find an opportunity.

Rest again, as I am unable to write at a stretch.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

P.S. The books have not yet been received.

17.7.78

My dear Father,

I am sorry I was busy with the Delhi students and Christmas and the opening of the next session, so I could not attend to your work immediately and I asked Chote to do it and he too did not finish it soon. I am now enclosing the photocopies: 1. is the envelope inside which 2. was sent and 3 was a separate postcard.

I was happy to hear that your operation was very successful and that all went well, I am sure that now Chitra can bring you back with her to Pondy. I spoke to Ganpatram about the proposal you had made to him and he agreed finally but has two conditions: 1. That you should clear all your previous payments immediately. 2. In future all delivery will be done only against cash. Then only he can give you the 12.5% discount you asked for. So, please send the money immediately so that I can clear all the past payments.

Your loving son,
Promesse

P.S. Mr. Gambelon wants to know that if you can get permission from the government to bring two cassette recorders duty free from Europe for your school. He is ready to offer one and would like to keep one for himself. Please let me know soon. He would also like to know if there are means of bringing in a refrigerator and an air conditioner into India duty free.

Sri Aurobindo Ashram Ban Niwas, Nainital, May 4, 1978

My dear Promesse,

I have received your letter dated 25th here. You will get complete news from the copies of the letters enclosed.

Here the air-strip is in Pantnagar which is about 40 or 45 miles from Nainital. It is a beautiful place in the plains at the foot of the hills. Most fertile land in the province of U.P. There is a famous agricultural university in Pantnagar. In the olden times this air-strip used to be called as “Brij-Raj”. Recently there was serious trouble there and during the police firing 17 or 18 persons from the air-strip I drove to Van Niwas. The car was sent from Delhi to receive me at the air-strip.

Anil had lot of difficulty for arranging the small plane. They said that such planes could only be arranged for the Ministers, High Government officials and the V.I.Ps. Perhaps Anil could impress upon them that those V.I.Ps are in fact “Very Inferior Persons” and my father is a real V.I.P. (Very Important Person). So it was agreed.

I hope you have since received the copy of the letter which Nolinida sent me. It was really an excellent letter of appreciation. I am glad that your pursuance and effort brought fruit.

I hope the matter about the Mother’s Posters is clear by now. I have sent a letter to Balkrishan. The consignment was in the name of SABDA and delivery could very easily be taken on an Indemnity Bond.

I have gone through the Auroville and Ashram affairs as detailed by you. Please advise me of the latest developments and keep me fully and truthfully informed. But, I would give you one positive advice: that you should never involve yourself in any of these affairs directly or indirectly or even mentally. You should be free from all such ugly quarrels.

Regarding the purchase of things: I have already explained to you many times. Only such things should be purchased which will be useful. Otherwise there is no meaning. We do not want to purchase and hoard the things for any motive of making any profit in the future. That is not activity. The things should only be purchased if you can get them at a throw-off price.

If you can ask any particular questions from time to time I can reply immediately by wire. Some money is already with you. You can write to Anil and he will remit to you on my behalf and in my account.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

20.12.1978

My dear Promesse,

I hope this letter will reach you in time on your birthday - a most auspicious occasion for me.

I am sending you my love and blessings from the Himalayas where all our traditional Rishis, Mahatamas & Sadhus used to live in Tapasya for the Humanity and the world.

It is now eight months since I am here in Tapasya but who will believe that. Since about a month or so I was remembering you & I was seriously thinking to write to you to come here for your birthday. You would have really enjoyed.

I wish you to come and stay with me for a long time. I hope you could make yourself free. It will be very interesting. I am anxious to have a talk with you here. It may be extremely fruitful and give a new phase of light to life.

With my deep love and prayers for a new and fresh light to life.

With my immense love again.
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

P.S. If there are millions and billions of steps to reach Bhagwan, I am 2 or 3 steps already upon the Ladder.

02.01.79

My dear Pitaji,

I had decided to start the year by writing to you, but I could not manage it, but anyway this is the first letter of the year and it is for you.

From many days, I am feeling like leaving everything and becoming a sanyasi and roaming all over the Himalayas. Somehow the feeling has not been strong enough for me to throw away everything and leave all my duties and march away into the wilderness. It is true that I have often felt that is the only way but I know from all that the Mother expects of me that is not essential and that for going higher even this is not necessary. This will lead me quite far but then I will have to come back and face everything again in a much stronger manner. That is why I am still not leaving. I truly would love to come to Nainital and stay with you, bur for the moment it is just not possible.

I was just thinking that you have done about 8 months of Tapasaya in the mountains you should come to Pondy and meet the world. You could at the same time have your eye operated and stay with us for some time.

Things here are moving slowly and I can see far off the hope of harmony and understanding building up. This can only come when this old generation here which has become a slave to money and money alone can leave everything, and ask for new guidance from Mother. I feel very strongly that things are now slowly changing. In my work too, I have to fight continuously and hope that something will come out of it.

More on hearing from you or on receiving you here.

With lots of love,
Your loving son,
Promesse

P.S. I am sure your next phase in Tapasya has to be done in Pondy so please come quickly.

10.01.79

My dear Promesse,

I duly received your letter. Taking Sanyas and running away from life is a negative approach. I never asked you to come here for that purpose. One can take Sanyas if there is a special purpose and a role to play like Shankaracharya.

I only wanted you to come to see me to hear my views and discuss with me about the positive and constructive approach to life. It was not difficult for you to have come here for some time. I do not see any purpose for my coming to Pondicherry because my body-frame does not accept such movements. But I am in the hands of a Super Power. I shall have to go wherever it takes me.

I again much wish you could come with me to the Himalayas and stay with me as soon as possible.

With love,
Yours Affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

04-05-1979

My dear Promesse,

I am in receipt of your letter. It is now after 15 days that I am able to think otherwise I have been in passing to most difficult time about which it is useless to express.

The cat trained the lion with all the tricks to hunt, jump and pounce on praise and when the lion learnt everything he turned upon the cat to eat it up.

But the cat was very clever. She never trained the lion to climb the trees, and so she was saved.

Now this is your position. I gave you training in all tricks and now you are jumping upon me.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

21.12.79

My dear Promesse,

Your happy and auspicious birthday comes on 23rd of December. I am remembering you with very high hopes.

Promising sons like you take very high and noble decisions on birthdays. I am praying to the Mother to transfer you here.

You have already done a lot of work for the Mother and now you should serve Pitaji.

When you were here for a few days I found you very suitable, much better than Shiv Shankar. Will you not take it as a privilege and a Birthday offer. If this may not be acceptable, please advise me of your next plans.

I was hoping that you will remember me on your return, but it looks that you completely forgot as if you had passed by.

With my Rockets full of love for you to reach you on the New Stars in the Life.
Yours affectionately,
S.N.J.

14-07-1980

My dear Promesse,

Once again this is to remind you that by chance I happen to be your father. I have always been remembering you so much, but there is nothing to write to you. I know so is your case.

Everyone thinks that I am in the Himalayas - Nainital enjoying the natural beauty, cold climate and living in luxury. But the facts are just the opposite of this. I am here to escape torture.

I am at the last lap of my life with so many discomforts of the body and complications of several ailments. These are causing gradual deterioration in the functioning of all my organs.

I cannot see anything with my eyes, I can’t chew or relish anything. My hearing power is also diminishing very much. Bowels are always severe and serious problem. I try my best to get up but get jerks to fall right and left. Then I have to return to bed again. I know all these things are natural and they had to come some day and no one else can feel or realize. It is not anyone’s fault.

But the happy position and the saving factor is that I am not dejected, depressed or frustrated. I try my best to face and accept the position and keep joyful. It is the rainy season here now, but that does not affect me in any way. I do not know my programme and also my habit and nature I have never known it. I do not know my destiny.

I do not know how and why I am writing this letter to you today. Perhaps this is also on account of some power and the destiny that has acted to write this letter to you. Please do not mind. Please give my love to everyone.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

16.11.1980

My dear Promesse,

I hope you have reached the Ashram comfortably in a good company.

It is good that you came here. It was a good change for you and also new experience of life.

Inauguration of the new house may be done as early as possible. I will not be able to come. My health does not permit and I cannot stand such a strain. I have explained all this to Anilji last evening. I need constant help and there will be no one to look after me.

The heavy expense is also a serious consideration for me. Your father may be able to afford but I consider this as criminal waste. Money could be used for some good purpose.

I am now awaiting some small notes on interesting aspects of astronomy. May it be quite small. I will develop the same in a humorous manner. You can go on sending such notes occasionally as and when and whatever you find interesting and striking – subject to your availability of time.

With love to you all.
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

11-12-1980

My dear Pita ji,

I had no reply to my last letters but I heard from other sources that your health had advised you not to come to Pondy. I think you should change your health minister and get him replaced by me. So you must come to Pondy for the opening of the new house or otherwise at least for my birthday. I will fix one whole flat for you too.

Now to begin our astronomy lessons. Before I proceed into the modern notions, I would like you to get some idea of a few basic things which are essential to understand the modern ideas.

1 second	300,000 Kms
1 minute	300,000 X 60 Kms
1 hour	300,000 X 60 X 60 Kms
1 day	300,000 X 60 X 60 X 24 Kms
1 Year	300,000 X 60 X 60 X 24 X 365 = 9460800000000 Kms

Now 9460800000000 Kms is called one light year.

The closest star to us is Alpha Centauri which is about 4½ light years away. One must also realise that being 4½ light years away, light from that star takes 4½ years to reach us. As we can see an object only when light from that object reaches us, therefore we can see this star with a delay of 4½ years in other words we see it as it was 4½ years ago.

We do not see it as it is today. Thus the further away we move in spaces the further back we move in times. If we look at it deeply we find that no event in the Universe is ever lost.

Now let us look at our closest neighbours the planets and the sun. Here is a rough sketch showing the positions of the planets as they revolve around the sun.

The distances are all enormous but never even one light year away. We first have Mercury who revolves around the sun in 88 days, then Venus, then our dear Earth…

Feel how small the distance from Delhi to Pondy is make you rush to us here and help us to open the new house.

So come quickly.

With lots of love,
Your loving son,
Promesse

23.12.1980

My dear Promesse,

Happy Birthday
Telegram by post
‘chitti ko taar samjho aur thode ko bahut samjhein’

I am still confined to bed, unable to move. For your appointment as Health Minister please apply to Indira Gandhi. I have no authority.

On this auspicious day I pray that your consciousness may grow beyond this world and rise to stars, moons and suns of the Cosmos from the top of the New House and waves of the sea.

With my love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar

12-09-1981

My dear Promesse,

Again and again you forget that I am your father and I am still living. But I am now living in Heaven in the Himalayas. The conditions here have completely changed in respect of the buildings, gardens and also the atmosphere. You are cordially invited with everyone to examine personally. Here the old Christian Mission schools and colleges are still thriving because they are the only institutions to give good education. But in fact, their time and value is now over. Students those who come out have no character of higher nature and aspirations. They have snobbish habits and their time is also over for coming society or the generation.

I wish some group of young men like you can take this new challenge and venture a school with new consciousness according to the future needs. It is really very essential. But it cannot be imposed upon any person. There has to be a call. Material conditions are of course available here.

With love,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar, Faquir

15.12.82

My dear Pitaji,

I reached safely and without any problems, but I could not write immediately to you. I am sure this letter will find you in the best of health and that you will soon decide to come to Pondy.

I am getting ready for the opening of the school tomorrow, though I am not somehow very keen, I feel that this phase and experience of my life is over and that I do not need to enter again into it. In spite of everything I have agreed let us see how things turn out to be.

I have just finished setting my things in order and getting settled a little. I have started my work in the garden and will soon start repairing watches again.

The climate here is very nice and it is not too hot. The rains stopped just the day I arrived and now we are having very pleasant weather. More on hearing from you.

With lots of love,
Your loving son,
Promesse

19-12-1982

My dear Promesse,

Bonne Fete. This is the letter which I am writing to you to reach you on your Birthday. I pray that all your energies are concentrated towards scientific learning, knowledge and teaching. In the present age of science there is no limit. You know Dr. D.S. Kothari is a very close and dear friend of mine. He is a world renowned scientist and I am an uneducated person. Still he comes very often to see me. He came last evening also and is again coming on Monday or Tuesday to sit with me. It is Divine Lila. Dr. Kothari has received and earned scores of prizes, citations and honours, national and international for his contribution towards education in science. Only two days back he received another big award from the UNESCO and it was prominently announced throughout the day on All India Radio, Television and the Newspapers. You may be knowing that he is now Chancellor of the Jawahar Lal Nehru University.

I very much wish that sometime you specially come here to sit with him to learn, get inspiration and his blessings. And so that you could rise as a great star in the Horizons of Science. This is my deep aspiration and prayer on this auspicious occasion.

With all my love and blessings,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar Faquir
In the Service of the Divine

20-12-1982

My dear Promesse,

I am very happy to receive your letter. On the whole my health is gradually improving. But I am not yet fit to move about.

I never knew that you had given up teaching in the school and that were not taking interest in the Centre of Education. Now when you have made up your mind once again to join the school, it has given me immense happiness which I cannot explain. Teaching the young who are the future of Humanity is the greatest and the noblest work. There is no other work more important and auspicious. If the young are not educated no work can be done on this earth. And this is the work which everyone cannot do.

Garden work can be done by anyone. I am not discounting any work but imparting education is the highest work. Ashram is not doing well in the field of Education. In the beginning when I joined the Ashram I was hoping the Centre of Education will develop like Nalanda University of olden times. And thousands of students will learn here. As I told you I cannot discount any work but I never like that you should waste your time and energy in watch repairing.

I know, no one will obey me or agree with me and nothing can be imposed upon anyone. In spite of this I am expressing my views.

When you are teaching or imparting Education at the same time you have yourself to be educated more and more and further and further. I had an impression that you were nicely educated. I wish that you become one of the highly learned persons in the World.

With love and blessings,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar ‘Faquir’
In the Service of the Divine

23.12.82

My dear Pitaji,

I was very happy to receive both your letters for my birthday and decided to reply immediately to them.

My reason for moving out of the Centre of Education is quite different. I did not leave Education but what I left and still want to leave is the method of Education followed today. In this method one seeks to satisfy the needs of the parents, so that the child is like him (for he thinks very highly of himself). He should be able to establish himself in the social and economic world of today. I, on the contrary believe that we are here to build a new world where these standards have no value and that new valuations and standards should be put before the child. What these will be will get clearer as we seek for them or as we understand Mother and Sri Aurobindo in greater depths.

Teaching as it is done today is an experience which does not interest me any more, and that is why I have turned to new fields where I can grow better. It is more a need for me to progress and every field of life helps me immensely.

Science which is today’s God, if studied more deeply finally leads you nowhere. Today we find that logic does not work anymore and until science cannot grow out of its logical dimensions it cannot progress and if it leaves its logical background it will no more be science. As you say that science has no limit, it is true, but in science’s own terms it is ‘boundless but finite’ like our universe. If one has to truly progress one has to go to worlds far richer than science and those are the very worlds that Mother and Sri Aurobindo have offered to us and I am sure that some day this new life will take over, so why not prepare for it right now?

With lots of love,
Your loving son,
Promesse

23.12.1982

My dear Promesse,

Transfer Order

On this auspicious day, you are hereby transferred to Trance and reach Delhi and to be with your father to serve His cause.

The procedure will be explained to you in person.

With love and blessings,
Yours affectionately,
Surendranath Jauhar Faquir
President of the Universe

04.01.1983

Dear Mr. President of the Universe,

I got your order of transfer and am glad that I followed it. Since you are the President of the Universe you must be “timeless” and “space less” and therefore every place and all time are the same to you. On receiving your order I was instantly transferred and spent the day with you since I was in your heart. Because of this I spent a very nice and calm birthday. I thank you very much for the hopes you have in me and if these things have to happen they will happen only with the grace of the Mother and only for her work.

Pitaji I hope this letter will find you in the best of spirits since it cannot be otherwise as you have a lot of work yet to do. I have always served your cause since you brought me here and hope that will continue to do so.

Promesse – Relationship with his Father