Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 2. 1934 — 1935
Letter ID: 646
Sri Aurobindo — Roy, Dilip Kumar
November 12, 1935
It was Mother’s sweet grace to offer to translate my song of Kali into French that made me launch into this desperate attempt to render it in English somehow. So please correct and make it presentable. I have at places put within brackets alternatives; which to retain, if any, please indicate by deleting the ones to be rejected. Often your deletings too are as indecipherable, strange!!
I keep your translation and will look to it. But a verse rendering is not very apt for translation into French. A prose (but not prosaic) rendering would be better.
Read however the portions marked in blue of two letters enclosed: one is that of a savant professor, the other of the foremost Musalman novelist of Bengal. So you see I have waxed somewhat of a celebrity in literature too, what? But if you doubt this, hear this convincing datum: an unknown 
gentleman from a town of Bengal writes they have to present an address to a Doctor there honoured by a Raja. So whom do you think he approaches, eh? – this Dilip striving frantically to be humble! But how to do it when fame puts him into such embarrassing and unheard-of predicament? Has such a thing happened to any other celebrity from the day of Adam’s fall? Only I hope this will not accomplish the last of his old Adams?
I sympathise. Three cheers though for Abul Fazal and the savant. I don’t feel so enthusiastic about the Doctor even though honoured by a Raja. An address in honour of a Doctor! What are we coming to? N.B. Please don’t read this to Nirod. But perhaps it may be on the principle “Honour thy Doctor that thy life may be long in the land.” To call an eminent novelist for the purpose is after all appropriate. You could give a long address on the romance of medicine beginning with Dhanvantari, Charaka and Galen1 and ending with Nirod Talukdar and Dr. Ramchandra.
Romen has drawn a design for Jyoti’s wrapper (of her stories which we have made into a book). How do you like it? I find it rather a nicish thing – but I am no judge of painting, you know? So-sorry to trouble you in your seclusion.
It is excellent – very cleverly done and suitable to the purpose.
Joking apart, believe me I was greatly touched by your voluntarily asking me not to mind your notice. Only tell me in confidence (I will be moved nevertheless) is it to 121 out of 150 that you have entrusted this grace or to 97 only? But truly Guru, however irreverent my pen is my heart is truly much moved by such abiding consideration from you. But I won’t abuse your kindness. I will write as little as possible. Only forgive the two letters enclosed. Can’t resist such temptations for the life of me, vous savez?
The number specially exempted is two by tacit understanding, two by express notice, two – well by self-given permission. There are also “urgent” and indispensable letters – tending to be rather numerous, though not overwhelmingly so. If it had been 97 or 121 I would have had to translate myself to Lake Manas or the Gobi desert in the style of Bejoy Goswami.
What about Nalina? I dreamed yesterday that she was receiving force from you or something of equally good portend – I have forgotten ninety per cent; the one per cent remaining means that you told me or suggested Nalina was progressing, is there anything in the dream?
Well, she is receiving force. It is also certain that she has been progressing. So your dream as far as the remembered one per cent goes is all right. Dreams are not dreams except when they are – which cryptic statement will I hope, be clear to you as crystal.
1 Galen: a Greek physician of the 2nd century CE.