THE LIBERATOR
THE LIBERATOR
SRI AUROBINDO
INDIA AND THE WORLD
SISIRKUMAR MITRA
JAICO PUBLISHING HOUSE
DELHI BOMBAY CALCUTTA
All rights reserved by Jaico Publishing House
Copyright, 1954, by Jaico Publishing House
THE LIBERATOR
Jaico Book edition published December, 1954
First printing........November, 1954
This edition is complete and unabridged
Printed in India by V. D. Limaye at the India Printing
Works, 9 Bakehouse Lane, Fort, Bombay, and Published by
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NEW DELHI BOMBAY 1 CALCUTTA
We are extremely proud to present The Liberator: Sri Aurobindo, India and the World by Sisirkumar Mitra —printed and produced in India for the first time, in our Jaico Pocket Book Series—before you.
Hitherto, our Jaico Pocket Book editions were printed in U.S.A. due to lack of certain printing facilities here for this type of production. After incessant research and great efforts since our first presentation to you in the year 1948, here's the result we achieved. This we can call a complete National Production and we are sure that you will extend your hearty welcome and generous patronage, especially to encourage our Own Pocket Book Publishing Industry. Further we assure that we will continue to take all pains to provide you with Best reading material for Cheapest price possible.
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उद्यते नमः| उदायते नमः| उदिताया नमः|
विराजे नमः| सवराजे नमः| सम्राजे नमः ||
udyate namah udayate namah uditāya namah
viraje namah svaraje namah samraje namah
Salutation to the One about to rise!
Salutation to the One rising!
Salutation to the One risen!
Salutation to the Pervading Splendour!
Salutation to the Self-ruling Splendour!
Salutation to the All-ruling Splendour!
. . . Peu importe qu'il ait des milliers d'êtrs plongés dans la plus épaisse ignorance, Celui que nous avons vu hier est sur terre; sa presence suffit à prouver qu'un jour viendra où l'ombre sera transformée en lumiè re, et où. effectivement Ton règne sera instauré sur la terre.1
Le 30 Mars 1914 La Mère
.
... It matters not if there are hundreds of beings plunged in the densest ignorance. He whom we saw yesterday 2 is on earth: His presence is enough to prove that a day will come when darkness will be transformed into light, when Thy reign shall be indeed established upon earth.
March 30, 1914. The Mother.
1 Prières et Mèditations de la Mère.
2 The Mother met Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry for the first time on March 29, 1914.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To write on a life, by nature silent, subjective and for the most part, beyond the world's gaze, is in all conscience an uphill task. I felt my first few days' shrinkings subdued in the hope that I might derive help from the subject itself as well as receive it from those in a position to give it. I am thankful that I have had this. And with a grateful heart I acknowledge my indebtedness to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother who have been a constant inspiration to me.
Grateful acknowledgements are due to Sri Nolini Kanta Gupta, a life-long associate and disciple of the Master and an authentic exponent of his teachings, for the invaluable help he has given me; to Sri Surendra-mohan Ghose, Hony. Member-Secretary, Board of Editors of the History of Freedom Movement in India, who in his capacities, official and personal, has done me immense service; to the authors from whom I have quoted; to friends and comrades in and outside the Ashram for their hearty co-operation.
The book took shape out of the materials collected at the instance of the Government of India, for the writing of the History of the Freedom Movement in India.
Sri Aurobindo is a truth too vast for the mind—a truth that by its very dynamism is and will be revealing itself more and more to the nation and to the world as time rolls on. Any effort, however well made, at all events mine, is bound to fall short of the mark.
I have scrupulously refrained from stating facts and incidents for which I found no historically sufficient authenticity. Wherever available, I have used the Master's statements in his own words.
Sri Nalinikanto Gupta has very kindly read the whole thing through.
The Mother has graciously given her Blessings to the book.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram, SISIRKUMAR MITRA.
Pondicherry.
August 15, 1954.
