Mahatma Gandhi
(Sri Aurobindo:) “How many even among his own followers believe in his gospel of Charka? Such a tremendous waste of energy just for the sake of a few annas is most unreasonable.
- (Purani:) He made that rule perhaps to enforce discipline.
Discipline is all right but once you begin to concentrate on a particular thing you tend to go on concentrating on it.”[1]
- (Satyendra:) “Gandhi writes in the “Harijan” that there is not much to choose between Imperialism and Fascism. He finds very little difference.
(Sri Aurobindo:) There is a big difference. Under Fascism he wouldn't be able to write such things or say anything against the State. He would be shot.
- And he still believes that by non-violence we can defend our country.
Non-violence can't defend one. One can only die by it.
- He believes that by such a death a change of heart can take place in the enemy.
If it does, it will be after two or three centuries. Some reaction may take place and then somebody else may turn up. (Laughter)
- He does not seem to make much distinction between moral and spiritual force.
None at all.”[2]
(T. Kodandarama Rao:) “After Tilak's death [in 1920], Mahatma Gandhi sent his son Devadas Gandhi requesting Sri Aurobindo to lead the country, but the request was refused. Sri Aurobindo told Devadas and others that “the freedom of India is as sure as the rising of the sun tomorrow” and his future work would be on a different spiritual foundation and level.”[3]
(Sri Aurobindo:) “Mr. Gandhi, like the man in Macedonia with St Paul, sent me a message to ‘come over and help’, but I had to say that I was not ready to join in the old politics and had no new programme formed for a more spiritual line of work, and it would be no use my going out till I saw my way.”[4]
(Automatic writing by Sri Aurobindo, name ‘Gandhi’ noted in margin by the Mother, c.1920:)
“A big Karma Deva risen to a certain thought region into which he has carried his habit of rigid and definite action, associated with a psychic Deva of great purity but no great knowledge. The thought region is one which reflects rather than possesses a higher light, but he gives to it always the forms suitable to his concentrated impulse of action. It is this kind of combination that creates those who are at once saints and fanatics.”[5]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Soon after Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead at Birla House I reached the spot within minutes because I was living just close to Birla House, No. 1, Albequerque Road, now called Tees January Marg. I sat by the side of the body of Gandhiji with both my hands on his chest. After some time his son Shri Dev Das Gandhi reached there and he also sat near the body. The body was quite hot at that time. Very soon crowds after crowds started coming in weeping and crying. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel also came. After some time they went away to the All India Radio to speak to the nation. All this scene pained and shocked me very much.
After some time I came to the Ashram. I went to see the Mother in a very sad state with tears in my eyes and I expressed to Her that I was all my life fighting for the liberation of the country in Congress Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and this ghastly and cruel incident had severely shocked me.
Mother said, “It had to happen. But I am sorry of the way in which he has been assassinated.”
“Some other leaders may also have to go.” ”[6]
- ↑ Talks with Sri Aurobindo (Vol. 1), p.66, 27 December 1938
- ↑ Talks with Sri Aurobindo (Vol. 2), p.652, 21 May 1940
- ↑ T. Kodandarama Rao, “At the Feet of the Master: Reminiscences”, p.20
- ↑ Autobiographical Notes and Other Writings of Historical Interest, p.234
- ↑ Record of Yoga, p.1428
- ↑ Surendranath Jauhar, My Mother, p.66