Sri Aurobindo

Archives and Research

a biannual journal

April 1977

Volume I; No 1

Appendix

Documents in the Life of Sri Aurobindo

Birth 4

Proceedings of the Meeting of the Sub-committee of the Aurobindo Centenary Committee Held at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, January 30,1971, at the National Library, Belvedere, Calcutta-27.

The following members were present:

1. Shri Surendra Mohan Ghose, Chairman

2. Dr. Niharranjan Ray

3. Shri Debi Prasad Bhaduri

4. Shri K.N. Mookerjee

5. Shri A.K. Ghose

6. Smt. D.G. Keswani

7. Shri H.K. Niyogi

8. Shri Kanti Chaudhuri, Member-Secretary.

1. After a long discussion on the various suggestions in regard to the house in which Sri Aurobindo was supposed to have been born, it was decided as follows:

a) The arguments in favour of the present 237, Lower Circular Road could not be sustained since this was originally 12. Lower Circular Road, which came to be occupied by the late Shri Manmohan Ghose not earlier than 1876.

b) According to the Bengal Directory of 1871 and 1872, the late Shri Manmohan Ghose is shown as a resident of 48. Chowringhee which was a part of the then Ballard Building facing Theatre Road. It was, therefore, very likely that Aurobindo was born at this house, which on 15th August. 1872 was shown as the residence of the late Shri Manmohan Ghose.

c) In 1872, according to the Bengal Directory (Street Directory), No. 14 Lower Circular Road is also shown against the name of the late Shri Manmohan Ghose. But in the alphabetical list of residents of the same year, Manmohan Ghose is shown as a resident of 48, Chowringhee.

d) According to the same Directory of 1873, the late Shri Manmohan Ghose is shown as a resident of 14, Lower Circular Road, and not 12, Lower Circular Road, which is now 237, Lower Circular Road.

2. The Ballard's building consisting of numbers 47, 48, 49 and 50 at the corner of Chowringhee and Theatre Road does no longer exist: in fact, a multi-storeyed building is under construction at that place. The question of acquisition of this property does not, therefore, arise.

3. But in 1879, the late Shri Manmohan Ghose rented No. 4 Theatre Road (now No. 8 Theatre Road) and continued to live there for about fifteen years. It was in this house that Sri Aurobindo passed a number of his boyhood years from time to time; indeed it is the only house on Theatre Road with which Sri Aurobindo could be associated for a considerable period of time. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal who are now the owners of No.8 Theatre Road, to make over and dedicate this property to the nation in the name of Sri Aurobindo.