Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part Two. Letters of Historical Interest
3. Other Letters on Yoga and Practical Life 1921–1938
On Yoga and Fund-raising for the Ashram, 1921–1938
To Durgadas Shett [8]1
Pondicherry. 9.12.30
My dear Durgadas,
Your letter of the 3d
instant reached me only on the 8th
afternoon, owing to the breakdown of railway communications between Madras and
Pondicherry. You must have received the 
telegram dated the next morning in answer. I perfectly understand the financial
advantages of your second and third proposal, especially the last; but my
experience is that clear cash transactions turn out usually to be the best. In
these long term or transactional arrangements I have found most often that
circumstances independent of the giver or receiver have interfered and upset the
calculated advantages. I therefore stick to my original preference.
The usual charge made by the Bank is 2 as [annas] per cent, which would amount for a sum of Rs 50,000 to Rs 62.8,2 and if the cheque is in the Mother’s name (it must be in the form given to you in my last letter, Madame M. Alfassa), they would probably make a reduction in the charges. A cheque from the National Bank would, I suppose, serve also; only there would be more delay in converting it because there are no direct relations of that Bank with the Banque d’Indo-Chine.
Sri Aurobindo
1 A member of a wealthy family of industrialists based in Chandernagore, Durgadas Shett (1895–1958) sent significant amounts of money to Sri Aurobindo through Motilal Roy before 1922. In 1934 his family property was distributed, and he gave most of his share to Sri Aurobindo. Afterwards he lived an austere life; at times he was dependent on Sri Aurobindo for cash for ordinary expenses.
2 That is, 62 rupees and 8 annas (one half-rupee). – Ed.