Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

27 June 1940

Purani: If Russia demands Bessarabia it might be through an understanding with Hitler.

Sri Aurobindo: If Romania accedes then Russia will next enter Bucharest.

Hitler has demanded all the German refugees from the French Government which means that he will harass them now.

Purani: Our people in Calcutta have asked whether, in the proof of The Life Divine, it shouldn’t be “founded on” instead of “founded in”. Not only that but in anticipation they have already put “founded on” in the final proof.

Sri Aurobindo: In the context concerned it must be “founded in” and not “on”.

Purani: It makes a big difference: “in” or “on”.

Sri Aurobindo: A big difference and quite a different meaning.

Purani: I came to know afterwards that they had already changed it.

Satyendra: Perhaps some Calcutta persons have pointed it out thinking it unusual.

Sri Aurobindo: What idiots some people can become.

Purani: They are familiar only with “founded on”, it seems.

Sri Aurobindo: All these people think that they know better English than I do.

Nirodbaran: They perhaps think that it may be an oversight or some mistake in typing or printing.

Sri Aurobindo: I have used the same expression in the previous pages and there I said it must be “in” and again they change it! Indians, when they write English, use stock phrases and conventional usages while a good writer will never do that. That is why their English is so flat and lifeless and gives the impression that they have learned English. A good writer will always avoid stock expressions and vary the usages. (smiling) Stephen Phillips, the poet, said that the English language is like a woman who will only love if you take liberties with her. (Laughter. After a pause:) Sir Dinshaw Wacha sent a book here he had written. I found on every page almost forty stock phrases – what are called clichés – and all the papers were praising it, saying, “What a wonderful style!” To an Englishman it would seem horrible.

Evening

The evening radio news said that the Pétain Government had asked the Governors of Indo-China and Africa to resign and that new men would be appointed in their places.

Satyendra: They haven’t yet repudiated the Pétain Government. Now they will be forced to decide what they should do, whether to recognise it or revolt against it.

Sri Aurobindo: Nogues of Africa has said that he won’t give an inch of French territory to Italy without a fight.

Purani: Will the Pétain Government send warships then to make them obey?

Sri Aurobindo: They may do anything. When they have recalled the Governors, it means that the colonies haven’t obeyed. What about Syria? The Pétain Government hasn’t recalled its Governor. Perhaps they know that he will send them to the devil.

Satyendra: Will Indo-China be able to resist Japan?

Purani: At least the French there will be able to give a good account of themselves.

Sri Aurobindo: It won’t be a promenade for Japan.

Nirodbaran: Besides, if Indo-China makes an alliance with Britain, Britain will have to go to her help. That means war with Japan.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes. Will Japan undertake all that with Russia and China at her back?

Purani: The Pétain Government may ask Japan to occupy Indo-China.

Sri Aurobindo: That will be too much. They will be shot in that case or bound.

Nirodbaran: But if Hitler presses?

Sri Aurobindo: Even so they can’t. They have been able to save face by saying that they have saved France from destruction by the armistice with Hitler, but to allow foreigners to kill the French people, that would be …

Purani: Germany has begun regular air raids on England.

Sri Aurobindo: But that is not an attack yet. After settling with France Hitler may start. He may also have to attack Africa. The situation won’t be safe if the French fleet falls into his hands.

Nirodbaran: According to Churchill’s speech some units of the fleet seem to have escaped. He is asking them to come to British or go to neutral ports.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes, but not to Spain, I hope. The understanding was that the full fleet would make for the British ports.