Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

28 January 1940

Purani: I have read The Secret of the Veda. There is no pronouncement against Sayana. I don’t know if Nolini’s introduction to his own madhuchhanda has any reference to him. (Sri Aurobindo read the introduction.)

Abhay has come; he had to go to Hyderabad and through the intercession of Sir Akbar managed to obtain the release of two local Arya Samaj prisoners. The Nizam by his reserve power refused to release them as he feared that they, being local people, might start trouble again. Sir Akbar told him through his secretary that if he didn’t release them the people would again start the agitation and Sir Akbar shouldn’t be held responsible. The Nizam had to give way.

Nirodbaran: What about the Nizam’s reforms? When do they come into operation?

Purani: I don’t know. He seems to be thinking of an independent kingdom and of being a king like the king of England.

Sri Aurobindo: He wants to include Berar also – it seems very easy!

Purani: He has plans of conquering India too after the British have left.

Sri Aurobindo: But he seems to have said that the native states wouldn’t exist for long if India got Dominion Status. In any case their existence is now at an end. He is a man who has moods; so he may say different things in different moods.

Purani (showing a book): Abhay has given this Vedic concordance to us. A man is bringing out the Vedas at a very cheap rate – five rupees for the three Vedas.

Sri Aurobindo: We should get a copy then.

Purani: He will send it, I think.

Sri Aurobindo: To me or to the library?

Purani: To you.

Sri Aurobindo: Then it won’t go to the library. (Laughter)

Purani: The library doesn’t need it. Who will read such books? Those who are interested have copies – like Vedavrata and myself.

Nirodbaran: Why? We all may read it some day.

Sri Aurobindo: After the supramental?

Nirodbaran: Yes.

Satyendra: A remote chance.

Nirodbaran: Everything is remote. The divine realisation is no less so.

Satyendra: I am not concerned with these things or what will happen in the next life.

Nirodbaran: I am not talking of the next life.

Satyendra: If the sun burns out after millions of years as scientists say, it doesn’t interest me. I am concerned with this life.

Sri Aurobindo: The stars may collide. The astronomers are always predicting that.

Nirodbaran: You seem to mean that the divine realisation is quite possible in this life.

Purani: Everything is possible.

Nirodbaran: Then why not the supermind?

Sri Aurobindo: You mean you are within reach of the Divine?

Satyendra couldn’t give an answer and began to smile.

Purani: I heard of a chhaya-jyotish (shadow-astrologer) who by measuring the shadow of a person and then correlating the signs, can exactly predict the future. A friend of mine had the experience of such a prediction.

Sri Aurobindo: The bhrigu-jyotish also, by studying the lines of the hands, can predict things. The pattern of the lines of the thumb seem to indicate the individuality of persons and no two patterns are alike. I showed my hand twice or thrice but the readings about the future didn’t come true.

Nirodbaran (after a lull): Tagore will present a copy of his entire works to the Ashram. Sisir Mitra told him that since he gets a copy of every new book of yours, he should also present us with his own books.

Sri Aurobindo: Does he get my books?

Nirodbaran: Yes, the Arya Publishing House sends them to him.

Purani: It is a matter of common courtesy to return the compliment.

Sri Aurobindo: You can’t expect uncommon people to act in the common way.

Purani: Some astrologers have said that Gandhi will see India realise her freedom during his lifetime.

Sri Aurobindo: That is quite possible. If by freedom is meant Dominion Status, India can get it tomorrow if Jinnah comes round.

Nirodbaran: It seems Gandhi is ready to accept Dominion Status.

Sri Aurobindo: Of course. That is common sense. If after Dominion Status you can secede from the British Government at any time and thus get without fighting what you want, what is the sense of fighting now? Only the defence question and British interests will remain. After a few years, when these problems have been solved, you can get rid of the British Government.

Nirodbaran: As Ireland did?

Purani: Yes. See how England can’t force Ireland to enter the war. The Irish are quite independent, though so near to England.

Sri Aurobindo: Only, there is a Northern Ireland there. That is due to people – the Southerners – who didn’t want to join the British Empire. Otherwise the British Government would have been willing to concede full Dominion Status to Ireland as one whole. In India, if Jinnah had had the good sense to come to an agreement with the Congress, the British Government would have granted Dominion Status. The real problem then would have been after Dominion Status, what?

Nirodbaran: Why?

Sri Aurobindo: There would have been a fight between the communities, and also the extreme Socialists would have had to be fought.