Sri Aurobindo

Letters of Sri Aurobindo

Volume 1

Letter ID: 218

Sri Aurobindo — Roy, Dilip Kumar

March 1932 (?)

No, you need not send the review to me – a review of Galsworthy ought to be the most innocuous thing in the world: I shall read it in the facile ease of print. By the way, it is curious but true that one can often get a more final judgment of a thing written when one surveys it in print or even typescript than in manuscript. Perhaps in the letter what is active but irrelevant in the personality of the writer comes in and evokes the personal response of the reader and so prevents detachment?

As they stand, there would be the same objection to the publication of my letters on A. E.’s criticism as to sending them to A. E. But I have cut out or modified the too personal passages and like that they can go. I have also made some verbal alterations; writing hurriedly, as I have always to do now, there were defects in the language or in the expression of the thought which I have tried to correct or smooth over.

I have not forgotten the “positive side” – but I have had no chance recently to do the needful. Krishnaprem has been progressing slowly and by spasms, but is approaching completion – only it is at once too short and too long, too long for your purpose, too short for mine. It ought to be ready before the week is out.