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 Indian Independence 1942–1947

On the Cripps Proposal [5]¹

[Telegram to Amarendra Chatterjee]

AMARENDRA CHATTERJEE M.L.A. DELHI

UNABLE LEAVE PONDICHERRY. AWAITING CONGRESS DECISION NECESSARY FOR TOTAL NATIONAL ACTION. HAVE APPEALED PRIVATELY CONGRESS LEADERS FOR UNDERSTANDING WITH BRITAIN AND FIGHT DEFENCE INDIA.

Sri Aurobindo

April 9. 1942

¹ In March 1942, Sir Stafford Cripps (1889–1952), a Labour member of the War Cabinet, came to India with a proposal from the British government. Indian leaders were invited to take part in the councils of war, and were promised a constitution-making assembly after the cessation of hostilities. Cripps announced the details of the proposal in a radio talk of 30 March 1942. Sri Aurobindo responded in several ways.{{1}}On 31 March, he sent a telegram to Cripps endorsing the proposal and offering his “public adhesion”. Cripps replied to Sri Aurobindo in a telegram of 1 April 1942. Sri Aurobindo’s telegram was published in many newspapers and reproduced in the pamphlet Messages of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (1949) and subsequently.{{1}}Sri Aurobindo telegraphed his old revolutionary associate Amarendra Chatterjee, now a member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly, who had written, asking him to play a more active role.

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