Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

1 July 1940

Sri Aurobindo: The Governor has stopped mobilisation because of the general confusion everywhere. Nogue’s army does not want to surrender and in Syria the army is dissatisfied. They want to continue the fight and an invasion of Indo-China by Japan is imminent.

Purani: Applying the Monroe Doctrine?

Sri Aurobindo: But you can’t dispossess them of their colonies by that Doctrine. America too has her colonies.

Purani: America may not like it.

Sri Aurobindo: That is another matter. It is apparent that the Pétain Government is breaking up the French Empire.

Nirodbaran: Why have they stopped mobilisation?

Sri Aurobindo: Because of the general confusion. Moreover, they have no money – they have to depend on Indo-China.

Purani: It seems the Indo-China Bank is refusing the money from the Bank of France.

Sri Aurobindo: Because nobody knows what the state of France will be.

Nirodbaran: I hope Bonvain won’t join the Pétain Government.

Sri Aurobindo: Even if he does, he will be removed and the British will occupy Pondy and he knows that.

Purani: Some astrologer from Gujarat says that by the end of August the war will be over and England will win.

Champaklal: This August?

Purani: Yes.

Satyendra: Not likely. If the invasion of England begins it is not going to be over so soon, or if Hitler is defeated England will still have to conquer back the European territories.

Sri Aurobindo: It is only possible if apart from the repulsion of Germany by England, the Italian fleet is destroyed so that a complete blockade of the whole continent can be effected and, as a result of general starvation, Hitler may be assassinated.

Nirodbaran: Meher Baba has gone again into one year’s silence. No communication at all except regarding urgent telegrams.

Satyendra: He has asked all his followers to fast for one day a week or to take only water and milk and to abstain from lust and greed and to inculcate love. He says that chaos is necessary for the uplifting of humanity and the higher manifestation. He has a big role to play. He is always charged with a mission. His philosophy is difficult to understand. Some say that he believes in one Atman everywhere.

Sri Aurobindo: Then why does he want the higher manifestation?

Satyendra: Then again he says the world is Maya, illusion.

Sri Aurobindo: Then it is an illusory higher manifestation he wants?

Satyendra: No, it is an illusion only from the phenomenal point of view.

Sri Aurobindo: Why doesn’t he say so then?

Evening

Sri Aurobindo: The Viceroy hasn’t given any new proposal, it seems. Still Gandhi is calling Azad and the Working Committee to meet at Delhi. How is that? Has he been in telephonic communication with Azad or does Azad take a different view and want the Working Committee to meet?

Purani: Maybe the Viceroy wants a quick reply. (After a while) Gabriel Monod-Herzen says that Mandel has been freed by Pétain. Perhaps he has threatened him with imprisonment if he continues any subversive activity in the future.

Sri Aurobindo: Mandel is not a man to be frightened by his threats. He himself told Pétain either to make a public apology or to detain him.