Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part Two. Letters of Historical Interest
1. Letters on Personal, Practical and Political Matters (1890–1926)
Letters Written While Employed in the Princely State of Baroda (1895–1906)
A Letter of Condolence1
Gulmarg
July 10 1903
My dear Dr. Sumant,
I am desired by His Highness to write to you expressing
his sorrow at the death of your father and his sympathy with you in your great
and sudden loss. This sympathy cannot come to very much, but His Highness hopes
you will accept it as a tribute and expression of the regard he entertained for
your father. Even when Dr. Batukram was in the State service, before he entered
on personal duties, he came much into contact with His Highness, and afterwards
when he was in personal service, His Highness had special occasion to become
acquainted with his character and personality. In that character there were some
fine qualities which His Highness can never afford to forget. One of these was
the sincere and steadfast interest he took in the welfare of His Highness and
the State; he was a friend with whom His Highness could always converse and
interchange views freely, a thing which is very rare amongst our countrymen and
particularly in these days when the personality of the Raja is being detached
from the administration and the interests of the servants being secured by rules
and regulations. As to his professional abilities His Highness has not the
requisite knowledge which 
would entitle him to
say anything, but as a personal physician His Highness had great confidence in
him; he was, he thinks, prudent, sympathetic and strong, able to withstand
influences, which are not uncommon in a palace and surroundings, such as obtain
in a Native State. His Highness feels that it would be long before his place can
be filled, if indeed it can ever be filled at all.
His Highness would like to do something which would show in a slight degree his appreciation of the good qualities and services of Dr. Batukram and since your father has left two young sons and a little daughter, His Highness intends to give a scholarship of Rs 25/ to each for ten years while they are being educated, by which time, he hopes, they will be able to look after their own interests. If at the expiry of this period a farther continuation of the scholarship is necessary, His Highness will take into consideration a request to that effect.
I am forwarding this letter through the Minister who will give effect to its contents unless you wish anything different.
Yours sincerely
Aravind A. Ghose.
Secretary
1 10 July 1903. Another letter written by Sri Aurobindo as secretary to the Maharaja during the Kashmir tour.