Sri Aurobindo
Letters of Sri Aurobindo
Volume 3
Letter ID: 817
Sri Aurobindo — Roy, Dilip Kumar
September 7, 1936
Today I did a great deal of book-proofs and then a long article on Bengali free verse: the editor of Navashakti, Premendra Mitra1 had been requesting me for a long time. He has just written saying he will review Suryamukhi adding that “khūb bhālo legechhe ekathā eman asankoche 
balbār sujog bara beshi pāi nā” [Seldom do I get an opportunity to say without any hesitation that I like it very much]. He is looked upon by many as the greatest of modern poets – others say Buddhadev is the greatest: the number of Premandites almost equal the Buddhadevites. So – a glad news, what? As Premendra had never yet praised my poetry.
Very good indeed. Nous progressâmes [We have progressed],
Buddhadev however is still silent. I fear he is down on me still – but this is only my guess – the reports may be wrong – there is no means of verification.
Sotuda writes to ask if you had known about the impending calamity. Did you? A little disconsolate still.
Well, something within Mother seems to have known, but she refused to allow the formulation in her mind. In these things there is a play of different possibilities and one must allow a chance for the best possibility to happen; for Karma or Destiny is not so absolute as people think, except for a small number of things.
I went to the pier for a short walk. The Queen Mother of Dewas2 was there and pranamed me – almost sent her little son to me. I had to speak to her. She was very nice and cordial. I had never seen her before her Princesses told me. They were very vivacious. Said; they were six brothers and sisters. Talked as we were coming back just for a few minutes. Said they didn’t care for Pondicherry. Well. I felt very easy today however: I suppose because I was inoculated by another Princess. But they were very friendly all the same and spoke beautiful Hindi. They were Marathi they said however. The Queen Mother has a gentle face but does not look a mother of six children: she looks rather as the eldest sister. So that is that.
Now adieu, I have to finish this article quick to do 
meditation. A little coffee has revived me. I was a little tired at last this evening after long hours of work. Trying to dedicate but still getting absorbed in work. Help me there please. Or do I worry too much hereanent? But then without offering the work becomes undedicated, does it not? And such work can’t help the sadhana, can it? Hein?
Absorption in work is inevitable. It is enough to offer it when beginning and ending and to encourage the attitude to grow= for You and by You.
Still dovelike as ever. No wrong impulses even. I am so glad of this. I was so fed up with constant struggle with my impulses.
Very good.
A little confidential request. Arjava has staked out a claim for a particular place at evening meditation, a kind of niche, I believe. Nobody is supposed to do that, as there are no fixed places at this meditation. But he pleads that it is the only place in which he can sometimes get a good meditation – all others are a howling wilderness of restlessness and non-meditation. He seems to have made his claim good, only sometimes when he is not there and in occupation, you occupy the place. He is as nervous as Hell and the loss of his niche even for a day throws him into despair. We told him that there was no fixed places for anyone and each must take his chance. But he laments, especially today after returning from his illness, he is in the abyss. De profundis clamavit [Out of the depths he cried out]. So I take refuge from his [crises] with you. I suppose you are not particular about this or any place, and don’t mind leaving the niche to the monk? It will be a great relief for me. Only keep it dark – mum’s the word.
1 Premendra Mitra (1904-1988), born in Banaras of Bengali origin. A poet of eminence in post-era Tagore, a journalist and writer of children’s’ stories. He received all the major regional and national literary awards as well as awards from Russia and the United States.
2 Dewas, a small kingdom in Madhya Pradesh.