Nirodbaran
Talks with Sri Aurobindo
Volume 1
10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941
30 July 1940
Sri Aurobindo (starting the talk): So Hitler has changed the date to September 15th.
Purani: Yes. He doesn’t know what to do and the Balkan problem is also engaging him.
Sri Aurobindo: He must have relied on the French fleet surrendering to him. If he had attacked at once there might have been some chance of success.
Purani: Yes, time has been on England’s side. She has prepared herself and learnt her lessons. If the French had not surrendered, they could very well have carried on the war from their colonies. They still had a sufficiently big army and their navy was substantial. They could have at least taken hold of the Italian possessions in Africa.
Sri Aurobindo: Yes, and it would have been a great gain.
Evening
Purani: There is a rumour in the Cercle1 that Mandel is going to be shot.
Sri Aurobindo: Ah! If they begin shooting people, how will it all end? But on what charge?
Purani: On the charge of entering into some secret agreement with England.
Sri Aurobindo: But England was not an enemy. If it was for overthrowing the Pétain Government I could understand. No, it must be out of revenge. During his ministership he imprisoned many Fascists.
Purani: In this way the revolution may be quicker.
Sri Aurobindo: Yes, but people everywhere are tame and timid now. The Socialists and Democrats have no ardour like the Nazis and Communists. The Poles seem to be the only brave people: they are still continuing a guerilla war; they have not yet caved in. The Finns were also doing well but as soon as defeat began they caved in.
Satyendra: Where is Colonel Beck?
Sri Aurobindo: He is in Romania. Romania’s Government does not allow him to go to England. It is just as well, because he would clash with the Polish Government there and make a lot of mistakes.
Nirodbaran: Rajagopalachari says the English are a desirable lot.
Sri Aurobindo (laughing): Yes, he has seen what others are like.
Nirodbaran: And he says England gives way to public pressure.
Sri Aurobindo: That is true.
1 The French club in Pondicherry.