Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 4

Letter ID: 933

Sri Aurobindo — Roy, Dilip Kumar

September 4, 1938

Herewith Kalyan’s (my cousin who came if you know whom I mean ?) letter. A little long – forgive – but you have to read it. No go. The fellow means business. That is why. He is very anxious for your reply.

A few words about him. I’ll be brief.

Last year he had a turn in this direction. Had suffered I understand in life. Is a hydraulic engineer but was recalled by his father (who thought he wouldn’t live long) and so didn’t pass his final exam in Italy. Earned money on contracts but no fixed income – no service thanks to want of diploma. His father (who married my mother’s fifth sister) was very rich once – but spent most of his money in fashion and fallals. They have one of the loveliest palaces – for it is a palace, so to speak – in Calcutta. Kalyan, eldest son, has one brother and two sisters. Now they are not very well-off – have to let their upper storey for Rs. 250 a month. Kalyan and his mother and sister live in the ground floor. As he says his personal income would come now to about Rs. 50 a month or thereabouts. So far about his finances. I am sure however that he will give all that he has at his command. The fellow is earnest.

His character: very intelligent, not lazy, fairly well-read, very fond of reading, idealistic, talked once on subjects he didn’t know, improving with years, conscious of his defects, very popular, affectionate, not a little sad due to the fact that his professional life has not been a success, has been well over four years in Europe – Italy.

For the rest you know better than me – I mean re his capacity for yoga etc. His coming here will do some good I think as he belongs to our Ballygunj aristocracy where Cod has no chance – his coming may cause some stir causing far-reaching ripples.

One thing is well-known: he is courageous, energetic, of very robust health, intelligent, sincere and warmhearted.

So he may do well if your grace falls on him. A reply – somewhat decisive – is expected by him and urgently – please [note].

The main question is whether he is ready or feels himself ready for the Ashram life. He is coming next November; does he want to settle the question before. When he saw the Mother, he seemed not to her sure that he was ready.

As for the money, there is no compulsion. Those who have nothing, are received without giving anything. Still it is expected that those who have will give. The Ashram has heavy expenses to bear excluding the maintenance of 200 persons. The other questions you can yourself, I think, answer.