Sri Aurobindo
The Mother
to Prithwi Singh
Correspondence (1933-1967)
Editors' Note
We present here letters from Sri Aurobindo and Mother to Prithwi Singh Nahar, whose birth centenary falls this 3rd June 1998. This correspondence covers more than thirty years, beginning with Prithwi Singh's first stay at the Ashram in 1933.
Extracts from these letters were published in the Centenary Edition of Sri Aurobindo's works, but almost always incompletely, with one portion of a letter somewhere, another portion of the same letter elsewhere, and a third part nowhere. Here, the letters have been placed in chronological order and in their integrality, except for a few letters or passages of a very minor nature.
Regrettably, many of Prithwi Singh's own letters to Sri Aurobindo and Mother are missing or incomplete. Nevertheless, what remains will give the reader a sufficient appreciation of Prithwi Singh's personality, in particular his refinement and unswerving fidelity to his chosen Masters. One trait found in published correspondence with several other disciples is almost entirely missing here : Sri Aurobindo's or Mother's constant struggle against incomprehension, depression or revolt. That probably makes this correspondence less voluminous than it might have been otherwise, but on the other hand more concentrated and substantial.
All letters have been carefully checked against the originals, and several errors in the published portions have been rectified. A few letters reproduced in actual 
size will give an idea of the difficulty in deciphering Sri Aurobindo's handwriting; it should be remembered that for years on end, Sri Aurobindo spent most of his nights scribbling letters to his disciples, many of whom were not as patient and discreet as Prithwi Singh.
A brief biographical sketch of Prithwi Singh Nahar is given at the end of the book to help the reader place the letters in perspective.
February 1998