Nirodbaran

Talks with Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

10 December 1938 – 14 January 1941

29 September 1940

Sri Aurobindo has decided not to give Abhay a copy of his letter in support of the Allies. It is widely known in the Ashram that he has written such a letter and, as a matter of fact none of us thought it was confidential; on the contrary we thought that if people knew about Sri Aurobindo’s views they would be enlightened. Sri Aurobindo’s objection to publicising it was that it would raise controversies and spoil the work. He didn’t want to get into any controversy. When he decided that Abhay shouldn’t write anything to Mahadev Desai, Purani pleaded that if Sri Aurobindo didn’t want it he wouldn’t write anything in Sri Aurobindo’s name nor show the letter to anyone.

Satyendra: It will profit many people to know your points, especially Doraiswamy. He is much disturbed.

Sri Aurobindo: If one does not want to give up his idea nothing will induce him. The facts are there speaking for themselves. There is the three-Power pact.

(After a while, laughing) Some Patel has written a postcard to us saying that he is convinced Hitler is right and we are wrong in supporting Britain.

Nirodbaran: This pact seems to be directed against America.

Sri Aurobindo: Obviously!

Purani: It seems Spain is being persuaded to join the war and allow German troops to pass through Spain to attack Gibraltar.

Sri Aurobindo: Indo-China’s example?

Purani: But Franco doesn’t seem anxious to join the war. He has to reckon with the blockade too.

Sri Aurobindo: Yes. The Monarchists also don’t want Fascism in Spain. It is not the Republicans alone but Franco’s own men who don’t want war. The Phalangists, of course, want it. The Phalangists are Fascists.

Satyendra: Laski says that whenever the India-question is touched, he doesn’t know what the devil happens to Churchill.

Sri Aurobindo: At any rate, he is allowing discussion on equal terms with the half-naked Indian Fakir.

Satyendra (laughing): Yes, that was Churchill’s own expression.