Sri Aurobindo
Autobiographical Notes
and Other Writings of Historical Interest
Part Three. On Indian and World Events 1940–1950
1. Public Statements, Messages, Letters and Telegrams
On the Second World War 1940–1943
India and the War [2]1
It appears that there are some who think of Pondicherry
as a safe place and this is one of their reasons for remaining. This may turn
out to be a serious error. Pondicherry can be a safe place only if the Japanese
think it not worth their attention because it has no military objectives and no
importance as a port or an industrial centre. Even then bombs might fall by
accident or mistake, as the town is well in the war-area. But there are local
circumstances which might lead them to think it a place of capital importance
from the military point of view and in that case it would be exposed to all the
dangers and horrors of modern warfare, a place under military occupation and a
field of battle. Those who elect to remain here, must dismiss all idea of an
assured personal security. Either they should be 
those who prefer to die here rather than live elsewhere or, at the least, they
must be prepared to face any eventuality, any risk, discomfort or suffering.
These are not times when there can be a guarantee of safety or ease. It is a
time of great ordeals, an hour for calm, patience and the highest courage.
Reliance on the Divine Will should be there, but not the lower vital’s bargain
for a guaranteed or comfortably guarded existence.
1 Sri Aurobindo wrote this text around April 1942. It was not published during his lifetime.