The Mother
Agenda
Volume 12
September 22, 1971
It goes on, there's nothing new to say. It's like this: sometimes marvelous, sometimes really unpleasant.... But the body is making progress, that is, it knows better how to remain constantly attached to the Divine. So it's all right. That's all.
Outside it's like this (chaotic gesture).
But... (words are stupid), but I could say that the Divine intervention is becoming increasingly visible (words are stupid, it's not that; but it's all we can say, all words are stupid).
What do you have to say?
Not much. There's some interesting news. You've heard of André Malraux, the French writer?
Yes.
I believe he even came here to Pondicherry to see you. He has made a statement on the radio, and you know, he's a man who carries a lot of weight internationally: when he says something, he is listened to all over the world. So on French radio, he made a statement (you know that he was a minister under de Gaulle for a long time), a statement in favor of Bangladesh. He says:
The Indian Express, September 20, 1971
At 69, Malraux offers to fight in the ranks of Bangladesh.
He says, “I receive many letters from young people who write: if you form a foreign legion, we are ready to fight for Bangladesh.”
Malraux admits he is too old to serve in the infantry, but he claims he could serve in a tank.
“One cannot seriously help Bengal by merely talking in its favor,” he says. “One should go there in person and fight for her.”
Malraux acknowledged, of course, that India had been created by nonviolence, but in the present case, that kind of tactics is not possible. “You are facing a Vietnam. Either you fight and you will have the whole world on your side, or you don't fight and the cause is lost.”
“While intellectuals are signing petitions in good faith, the Pakistanis are throwing tanks into the battle. Consequently, the only serious thing is the defense of Bengal. Do it intellectually if you like, but with the support of combat.”
(Mother nods her head several times and goes within for a half hour. Then Satprem gets ready to leave and Sujata approaches Mother)
This can go on for hours....
(Sujata:) Mother, what does a white peacock with a golden tail mean?
Ooh! That must be the supramental victory. A white peacock is the integral victory; a golden tail is the supramental realization.... Did you see that?
Satprem saw it.
(Satprem:) I saw it last night.
Why, that's splendid! It's splendid. It announces the victory. What were you meditating on?
But I don't know, I just saw it in passing.
Oh!... That's very good. It's the supramental victory. (Mother seems delighted) It's good.1
1 “Coincidentally,” that day Mother was wearing a white silk dress with peacock feathers painted on it.