Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part One. Autobiographical Notes
2. Sri Aurobindo’s corrections of statements in a proposed biography
Early Life in India and England. 1872–1893
The Riding Examination [3]
[According to Aurobindo’s sister Sarojini, Aurobindo was playing cards at his London residence when he was to have gone to appear for the writing examination.]
Sarojini’s memory is evidently mistaken. I was wandering in the streets of London to pass away time and not playing cards. At last when I went to the grounds I was too late. I came back home and told my elder brother, Benoybhusan, that I was chucked. He with a philosophic attitude proposed playing cards and so we [sat]1 down playing cards. [Manmohan]2 came [later]3 and on hearing about my being chucked began to shout at our playing cards when such a calamity had befallen [us].
1 MS (dictated) set
2 MS (dictated) Manomohan
3 MS (dictated) latter