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)
To R. C. Dutt1
Baroda
July 30. 1904.
My dear Mr. Dutt,
I received your two letters this morning and they have
been read by His Highness. There is no necessity to apply to the Government of
India previous to engaging your services, now that you have retired. With an
English Civilian it would have been different, but that would have been on the
general rule against engaging Europeans or Americans without the previous
sanction of the Govt.
The position is that of Councillor with Rs 3000 British
as pay; Baroda currency is not at present in use, as we have given up the right
to mint for a season.
His Highness
sympathises with you entirely about your health and will give you every facility
possible in that respect. The only difficulty that could arise, would be in case
of some considerable emergency or some very serious question cropping up which
would necessitate your presence. But as you will very easily understand, such
contingencies occur rarely enough in a state like Baroda and are not really
anticipated. The details need not be discussed just now, as they will be
satisfactorily arranged by personal conversation when you come.
His Highness would like you to join as soon as possible
and if you can do so within the month, he will be glad, but he does not wish to
put you to inconvenience. If therefore you require a full month for your
preparations, you will of course take it. Please let me know, as soon as you
find it possible and convenient, when you propose to join so as to give me a
little notice beforehand.
Yours sincerely
Aravind. A. Ghose
