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As this aeronautical engineer sat
behind a cupboard or a chair wiping the furniture in Sri Aurobindo's
Room , he heard the words of this marvellous epic
being recited by the Master. Years later this poem became his mantra and his
whole life. For more than 15 years, starting in the 80's, he recited Savitri every morning, at first in the
school then in Golconde and finally at Harpagon and there were many who went regularly to hear
him recite.
-
Golden Chain -
Every morning She used to give me
a rose in the early days. And one day, in addition to the rose, she gave me a
white flower. I was surprised, I didn't know why. I was very happy, I didn't
ask why she gave me the flower. The second day, she again gives me the
flower; third day when she gives me again, she asks: "Don't you want to
know why I am giving you this flower?"
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Udar reciting savitri for the Children's Centre of Integral
Education, Bhubaneshwar -
18th May 1976 |
I
said, "Mother, you give me something, I am so happy, I don't know why, I
don't ask."
She said, "But you must know why!"
I
said, "Then tell me?"
She
said, "You know the meaning of this flower? It is a very beautiful
flower, it means power of expression. This is a gift I am giving you and one
day you will know why I am giving it to you."
And after that I began to learn Savitri and
to recite it.
Udar |
Page - 159
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Savitri readings at Harpagon
Udar started learning Savitri
by heart. Everyday he would memories one page and in the morning when he
would come to the office he would recite it to me.
- Lilou -
Udar had memorised the whole
of Savitri at one time and could quote
long passages from it with ease. Whenever there was an auspicious ceremony
or an opening of a department etc. he recited from Savitri
as an invocation.
He had recorded the whole of Savitri on
tapes, cassettes and later on CDs many times. These recordings were passed
around among friends or people who liked listening to them. During his last
years this became his most cherished work.
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Udar started getting interested more and more in the
reading of Savitri. I think it was
after the age of 80 that he even started memorising
lines and passages of this epic poem. He could recite from memory, pages
and passages nonstop. I too was looking for someone with whom 1 could read Savitri. I saw that a person who loved Savitri so much would be the best person
for me. I requested him to read Savitri for me.
He very readily agreed and we started the regular classes once a week in
the school. He was always very, very punctual and even before time. 1 was
feeling embarrassed to make him come especially for me as he had always so
much work. So I suggested that I go to him and he asked me to come to Golconde during the tea time so that many others could
join. This was not really the right place or time. It disturbed the normal
running of the place, so we shifted to Harpagon
in the mornings. Many more joined. Even those just on a visit during Darshan used to come while they were here.
- Lata -
Savitri readings at Harpagon
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Page - 160
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Udar before the Savitri reading at
Harpagon
Reciting Savitri - 15th
March 1987 - Matthijs and Udar
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Every
afternoon, at tea time, those who stayed at Golconde
would sit by Udar's side and listen to his
stories on various topics. To listen to his Savitri
recitation, initially at his office and afterward at his home, and
thereafter to sit by his side and listen to his reminiscences of the old
days was also an uncommon privilege.
The Mother told him to make Savitri his
life's work. With his perfectly clear diction he daily read aloud the epic
poem and began to memorise it. Later in his Harpagon office he would give daily readings to a group
who came to listen. He knew most of it by heart and read with his heart,
sharing and teaching the rhythm to others. Often he was moved to tears by
certain passages, you could hear his voice break and then its strength flowed
through him again. He tells of how he went to Sri Aurobindo's
room to polish the furniture that Mother had asked him to make and was able
to quietly let his presence be forgotten while Sri Aurobindo
dictated Savitri to Nirod.
Savitri accompanied him through his life;
even as he was in the Hospital in Madras
in a state of shock, hearing Savitri read
to him gave him back energy to live longer.
-OlivierP. -
Reciting Savitri - 15th
March 1987 - udar and Olivier
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Page - 161
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Savitri Bhavan,
Auroville - may 1999 - Shraddhavan introducing Udar
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Reciting Savitri
at the Nursing Home - Sept.1999
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Every time I see the book Savitri in my mind I hear the rich voice of Udar reading. It was always a blessing to hear him read
from the book or to recite from memory.
When I
first learnt about his reading sessions I went to the one in Harpagon where I believe he used to read everyday.
After the first reading I decided I would never miss the opportunity every
time I was in Pondicherry.
These readings were really special and they always filled me with peace and
energy.
-
Dr. Venkataswamy -
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Reciting Savitri
for Dr.Venkatsawamy - 1st Oct.2001
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Page - 162
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Anie:
Can you describe Sri Aurobindo's
voice and do you have other impressions of Him that you remember?
Udar:
Sri Aurobindo's voice
was a beautiful, a well modulated sound. If you did not see Him, you would
think you were listening to a Cambridge-
educated Englishman speaking. Sri Aurobindo just
sat there looking as though He were gazing out into eternity in His great
lonely days of descent into mortal life in order to help humanity.
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The Mother's sketch of Sri Aurobindo
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Page - 163
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He will ever be remembered as the
Mother's hero, Her warrior soul, the Divine's ideal karma yogin
and the first of the supreme singers of Savitri.
-
Narad -
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Mother told me that the whole of Savitri is a Mantra for
the transformation of the
world.
"Udar,
make Savitri your life!"
And after that day I took up Savitri as my life. I began to learn the whole of
it by heart. I can't say I know it by heart now, but at one time I knew
twenty four thousand lines!
Truly my
whole life is the Mother now; even Savitri
for me is the Mother. When I read Savitri
I read it to the Mother and I read it with so much feeling, so self-
possessed. Savitri is the book of the Mother
for me.
-
Udar -
Victory Day - 7th Oct. 1954 |
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Page - 164
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Lakshmi Puja
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I
believed in the Divine Mother. If I think of the Divine 1 think of the
Mother. If 1 think of Sri Aurobindo, I think of
Him in the background, supporting the scene. Even now She remains the
Divine to me.
- Udar-
Mother
told me that the whole of Savitri is a
Mantra for the transformation of the world.
- Udar -
Udar – The Mother’s lamb
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Page - 165
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