Surendranath Jauhar
(Loretta:) “Surendra Nath Jauhar, along with his wife, was jailed as a freedom fighter in the Mahatma Gandhi movement – the Quit India Movement of 1942. He had been involved in politics since 1919. He became a leading member of India's Congress Party; and he became a member of Parliament. He was a very wealthy man.
Surendra Nath was a wonderful storyteller – a raconteur of wit and charm. And we have his story of the first time he ever saw the Mother.”
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “When I was in jail as an under-trial for the Quit India Movement I used to write from the jail-cell detailed reports to Sri Aurobindo about the cases lodged against me.
Sri A. B. Purani used to tell me that he was reading my letters to Sri Aurobindo at midnight. And Sri Aurobindo used to listen very attentively and many times used to laugh and laugh.
Once during the trial of the cases against me I was put in a very difficult and awkward position. One of the Deputy Superintendents of Police, Pandit Sita Ram made a serious error in his statement in the Court which went against the Police and in my favour.
Now if I made the correct and truthful statement it would go against me and the false case which the Police had fabricated and instigated against me would be proved right. And if I did not make the correct statement I would be telling a lie and an untruth which my conscience would not accept and permit.
So I referred the matter for guidance to Sri Aurobindo in a detailed letter. I was told by Purani-ji later that when this letter was being read to Sri Aurobindo He snatched the letter from his hands and went through the same Himself.
Purani-ji wrote to me:
“Sri Aurobindo says:
Surendranath must take full advantage of the discrepancies of the Police; Truth is taken as a whole and not by bits.” ”[1]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Now there was a complete hush. But lo! my eyes suddenly beheld something which looked so utterly superb but so dream-like. A slender lady, draped in light and wearing a gold mukut on her forehead was lightly stepping down on the heavily carpeted curved staircase. In her gait there was majesty, in her face a glowing grace and her eyes flashed gleams that pierced the darkness below and around. My gaze was fixed on that fairy-like figure whose calm and beautiful face was radiating light and making the whole atmosphere so supernatural that she looked every inch an angel descending from Heaven.
She now stopped and stood at the bend of the staircase, her wide open eyes surveying the scene from one end of the hall to the other. In a few moments, she went into a trance which made her look even more rapturous. While she stood there statue-like, I felt as if she was suddenly soaring above. Though her eye-lids were now locked in an embrace, yet I almost saw them passing sweet messages and exchanging glances with something or somebody that was not perceptible. All her limbs seemed blended in harmony and her entire figure was wrapped in ecstasy. The halo of serenity and divinity around her was like a circular rainbow in the multi-colours of which my eyes perceived visionary images and indications.
And now suddenly a smile dawned on her lips and with the speed of lightning it stole across her cheeks, eyes, the whole face. The smile blossomed into a flower and then the petals of blessings and grace showered down on the entranced devotees, who, in deep gratitude, uplifted their eyes, only to behold that she suddenly turned to return to her abode. Her departure was as blissful and mysterious as her advent and my racing gaze in a few moments lost the heavenly track on which trod that divine figure. As the congregation dispersed, we learned that she was the Mother...”[2]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “ “Mother, my children are too small and you know there is no proper care, environment or atmosphere at home. Was it not possible that a Hostel could be opened for the children to be kept and taken care of.”
The Mother said, “Why not? If you want I can immediately do that.”
She quickly called Chandulal, the engineer of the Ashram, and asked him by making signs in the sky, “Chandulal, you know that dilapidated building at the back of the Playground?”
Chandulal said, “Yes, Mother.”
“In how much time can you clear the debris and raise a double-storeyed building on the spot?”
Chandulal, trembling, said, “Mother, in three months!”
The Mother said in a loud voice, “Three months! I want it within fifteen days!”
Chandulal said, “Alright Mother, alright Mother.” And perhaps within a few minutes or an hour the work was started and continued day and night, for fifteen days in three daily shifts. During the night, work was carried on under the dazzling lights of the gas-lamps.
Poor Chandulal! He was alone all the twenty-four hours there. HE never went to his room to sleep. He was supervising the work standing, dozing or sleeping simultaneously, perhaps sometime in the chair. His whole anxiety and concentration was to raise the structure within fifteen days as desired by the Mother.
The structure of the building was of course ready within fifteen days.”[3]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “On my next visit to the Ashram the Mother called me.
She said, “I have very happy news to give you. You see the Boarding-House for your children is now ready, I have made very beautiful and perfect arrangements for your children to be looked after. Suitable persons have been put as wardens. You can now send your children to the Boarding-House.”
“Separate arrangements have been made for the boys and the girls to be lodged in the Hostel. On ground floor boys will live, and on the first floor the girls.”
The Boarding-House was started only with my five children, Sneh Lata, Tara, and Chitra in the Girls' Dormitory and Narendra and Jitendra in the Boys' Dormitory. On the 15th of January, 1945.
Of course gradually in about a year or so other children were also admitted and the number became about twenty.
I was happy and felt relieved.”[4]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Purnima was the youngest and she was the next who was admitted in the Boarding-House.
She remained in the Boarding-House for quite a number of years and she was continuing her studies there in the Ashram.
When she was perhaps past seventeen years of age, the Mother wrote to me:
“Purnima may be called back to Delhi to study there. She is not fit for yogic life. She is more fit for wordly lfe and in course of time she may be married. Perhaps she very much likes to be in foreign countries.”
... It took me several years to find a suitable match for her and it was only a miracle and the Mother's Grace that the person was found who was a businessman in Germany.
Within a day the man was taken to the Ashram by air and produced before the Mother by my son Anil K. Jauhar.
Surprisingly Mother was keeping a golden-ring concealed under Her hand and She had told Tara: “If I approve of the boy I will put this ring on his finger and if I don't approve then I will not lift my hand from the ring.”
The Mother approved the match and put the ring on Kewi's finger.
... Purnima is now happily settled in Hamburg in Germany. She has two sons Viresh and Nitesh, aged eight years and seven years respectively with their names also given and blessed by the Mother.”[5]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Even after my contact with the Ashram Promesse was born on 23rd December, 1946.
I came to the Mother and with great hesitance revealed the fact to the Mother.
The Mother said, “It is alright. His name will be Promesse.”
Then She said, “This is now a promise!” which meant for me that I will have no more children.”[6]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Now again on the 13th of December, 1948, Victor was born. I was feeling very nervous and perplexed to face the Mother.
But how could I escape? I had no other course and revealed to Her the fact.
The Mother was silent for a time and She gave the name, ‘Victor’.
For me She indirectly indicated that now there should be victory.”[7]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Every time I would go to the Ashram I had to make scores and scores of complaints to the Mother about the behaviour and conduct of my children. There was no limit.
Every other day I would go with fresh complaints to the Mother about one child or the other in respect of the serious difficulties I had t o face.
The Mother would always patiently hear and say, “Oh, I see! – I see!”
“Oh, I see!!! I will look into the same.”
This perhaps went on for some years but She never did anything and the difficulties and the complaints continued. She only dodged.
She may however be indirectly acting through Her occult powers about which I could never understand anything.
One fine morning when I went to see the Mother, naturally to complain about my children, She just stepped back erect as if She was going to hit me. I felt scared.
She said furiously, “Who are you to complain about the children? They are not your children. They are my children.” She repeated and repeated, “They are my children.” “They are my children.” I was thunderstruck.
“Hereafter I will never hear and tolerate any complaints from you about my children.” ”[8]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Now the relationship between the children and myself went on changing from day to day. Whenever I would go to the Ashram they would just come one by one and say:
“Pitaji we are very busy. We are preparing for a new drama.”
“This is now the athletic season and we are preparing for the same.”
“We have to prepare for the gymnastics.”
“We have to go on a fifty-mile walk.”
“We have to go a hundred miles, cycling.”
“We have to go for trekking and picnics.”
“This is now our studies season.”
“We have to go deep sea diving.”
“We are preparing for the Darshan Day.”
“We have to look after the Special Food Service of several thousand visitors.”
“We are preparing for the Annual Day.”
So on and so forth.
There are scores and scores of stories of my fate but I am just mentioning two:”
Many years back I was just standing on the road-side and my youngest son Victor was shooting off on his bicycle. Seeing me he pulled the brakes, got down, came to me and said, “Pitaji you are still here?”
Quite recently (about three or four years back) I wrote to my son Promesse.
“My dear Promesse.
This is just to remind you that I am your father. I have never received any letters from you.”
Promesse replied.
“Certainly I remember that you are my father. But I didn't know that if I write letters to you, only then you are my father.”
Further he said,
“But even if I try to write to you I do not know what to write, as there is hardly anything to write.”
This is how the relationship is going with my children! But with deep love and respect.
Now they are all grown up and whenever I talk and discuss any matters they reply in a jet-speed of spiritual wisdom which I never follow.”[9]
(Surendranath Jauhar:) “Mother whenever I come to you, you take me to skies and heavens with your power, influences and talks. It is always pleasant, soothing and encouraging to hear. But as soon as I leave you the effect goes on diminishing and in course of time everything fades away. It is because I have no capacity to sustain.
“It is not possible that you give me something of a permanent nature which I could grasp and hold.
Perhaps you could speak and I may record the same on a tape-recorder so that I would refresh myself by hearing your voice from time to time...”
Mother said: “I have no objection but you see I am suffering from a very bad cold and throat-trouble. I am unable to speak. But I cannot refuse you. You can bring the tape-recorder and I will try to speak.”
My daughter Chitra was with me. By chance or by Divine miracle the tape-recorder was already in her shoulder-bag.
She said, “Mother, here is the tape-recorder.”
I had some questions ready in my hand.
Mother said, “What is it?”
I said, “Shall I read this?'
Mother took the questions in Her own hands and studied these.
After a while She started speaking...”[10]
Conversation with Surendra Nath Jauhar, 11 May 1967
See also