Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Letters
Letters Related to the Andhra University Award [1]
SRI AUROBINDO ASRAM.
PONDICHERRY.
–
July 15, 1948
To
Sir C. R. Reddy
Vice-Chancellor
Andhra University –
Waltair
I have been unable to give an early answer to your
letter of the 28th June, 1948 which
reached me rather late owing to accidental causes. This was due to some
hesitation arising from my position as head of the Ashram at Pondicherry. I am
not a Sannyasi and my Yoga does not turn away from life; but still I 
have always followed the rule of not accepting titles, honours or distinctions
from any Government or public institution and have rejected or stood back from
even the highest when offered to me. But after long consideration I have felt
that the distinction which the Andhra University proposes to confer upon me is
not of the same character and need not fall within this rule. In any case I do
not feel that I can disregard the choice made by the Andhra University in
selecting my name for this distinction, and even if things were otherwise, I
would have felt that I must accept this as an exceptional case and I could not
disregard the choice by an institution like yours of my name for this prize. I
authorise you therefore to consider my name for this award and if the University
confirms its choice of me, my acceptance of your National Prize. One difficulty
remains; you know perhaps that I have been living in entire retirement,
appearing in public only on the occasion of the four Darshans on which I receive
the inmates of my Ashram and visitors from all parts of India. Otherwise I do
not go out of the rooms in which I live and still less ever leave the Ashram or
Pondicherry. This makes it impossible for me to go to Waltair to receive the
distinction conferred upon me. I would have therefore to ask for an exception to
be made in this matter in my case.
Sri Aurobindo