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4 Going Down the Memory Lane Relating to the Divine Mother An Interview with Dr. Suresh Dey & Mrs. Tripti Dey Beena: There are moments when this happens—when you feel like leaving and you feel, what is this? Where is Auroville? And while expressing to Syamala one day about the possibility of publishing (in a book form) the experiences of the devotees who had met the Mother or had worked under Her instruc-tions, we felt that it was like "Food for the Soul". At the same time the task is like.... "Pumping the Air"! To organize something on a large scale it takes some time and serious work, and it is not easy. Today, I would like both of you to join us and tell us about the Mother, going down your memory lane. Dr. Dey: Let me please clarify—our treasures are quite limited; of course, my wife and myself had Darshan of the Divine Mother a number of times—i.e., both special-darshan in her room as well at the general balcony-darshans. In a way, there was a sweet psychic connection with Auroville, because in the year 1968, we had our first visit to Auroville during its 'Foundation Cer-emony'— a glittering ceremony and truly unforgettable. We re-call with the deepest gratitude that it was only the Mother's miracle that took us there to Auroville at the time of its spec-tacular manifestation on Earth. We had come to Pondicherry, for the first time, from Orissa. At that time we got the opportunity of visiting Pondy unexpectedly because we suddenly made up our minds after
Page-119 hearing some details from an officer of the State Government, about the cleanliness, the general discipline, the flower decorations, and the Sports activities etc. which impress all visitors to Sri Aurobindo Ashram. When we heard at Pondicherry that some big event was going to take place at Auroville on the 28th February, 1968, we tried to contact some known person who had the experience of visiting Pondy earlier. On the 27th Feb. morning we could know from one such person, who was a Chief Engineer from Orissa, that he was planning to visit Auroville the next day. We proposed to share the taxi with him and he agreed. Naturally we did not try for any other transport arrangement and remained busy for discovering the new Ashram slowly; needless to say that we had a tough time because everyone seemed to be too busy to answer our simplistic questions and persistent queries. Added to our perplexed state of mind, while trying to be acquainted with the new environment, our daughter, Leena (a naughty child of about 2 1/2 years then) was getting more and more restless. In a situation like this, news came almost like a bolt from the blue, late at 10 p.m. of the 27th night that we had to make our own transport arrangement because the aforesaid Chief Engineer had changed his plans for the next morning's trip to Auroville! Crest fallen, as we were, there was nothing that we could do in the night. Next morning we started moving desperately on foot thinking that we would get some guidance from some local devotees, at least to move in the direction of Auroville. No taxi or auto with vacant seats was in sight! Moreover, it appeared to me that all roads (on that fateful day) were leading to Auroville. And nobody, on that busy unknown street that we were trying to cross with desperate looks, had the time to answer our anxious queries. At that critical juncture, one car suddenly screeched to stop near us! Mr. Sarat Patnaik (well-known as a photographer, he was working in the Bureau Central of the Ashram in those days—and we had just met him as a new friend after our arrival from Orissa), who was seated in the car, by the side of Mr. Kameshwar Rao, the then chief of the Bureau Central, invited us to step into the car for going to Auroville! After our quick introduction with Mr. Rao, the car started speeding towards Auroville's majestic amphitheatre, decorated like a beautiful
Page-120 royal bride, for the grand inauguration ceremony. During those golden moments of our happy journey, we felt as if the Divine Mother had sent something like a Pushpak Vimaan (a flying-chariot of Indian mythology) for us to be lifted from Pondicherry to Auroville! One may call it fanciful imagination or a magic story, but it is a fact that but for the intervention of the sweet Mother's unexpected Grace, we would have missed the grand occasion of the birth of the City of Dawn in a matter of five seconds only! Beena: Can you describe the event since I was not there— the inauguration ceremony? Dr. Dey: What I remember is the 'fairyland'-type of environment, the enlivening multitude and the most fascinating, colourful ceremony—the young boys and girls marching, with wonderful uplifting music, in a spirit of grand Harmony. It was such a well-organized ceremony to pour morsels of holy mother-earth (symbolically), brought from each country, into the white lotus-bud shaped marble urn, erected aesthetically at the centre of the lovely amphitheatre! As we were fully charmed to witness the most spectacular sight of the national flags of different countries fluttering in the morning breeze, the sweet, enthralling voice of the Divine Mother was broadcast by the All India Radio, Pondicherry. She read out the Charter of Auroville with a majestic voice which sounded like a Celestial Proclamation! Truly the entire vision, the concept, the experiments and the ground realities relating to Auroville have no parallel in the world; it can't have any comparison at all! Auroville has always been a fond Dream; we would like to visit it again and again, particularly the Matrimandir, the Amphitheatre and Savitri Bhavan. * * * Dr. Dey (continues): Incidentally, we had taken Krishni, our granddaughter, a blooming child of about 2 1/2
years, along with her mother (Leena),
to the amphitheatre of Auroville to attend the pre-dawn bonfire, with meditation
etc. on the New Year's Page-121 Day of 1995—with a special mission, i.e. for the sacred ceremony of the commencement of her educational career. We remember that the child's mother, Leena had begun her educational career at Baripada (in Orissa), way back in August, 1969, after receiving the holy Blessings from the Divine Mother, in Her own handwriting. This traditional Indian ceremony for Krishni could have been performed at some famous temple in Pondicherry or even at home, i.e. Aditi, the official residence of the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, where we were staying at that time. But we purposely chose the New Year's Dawn at Auroville for invoking the Blessings of Mother Mahasaraswati for the child. We made her write OM on a piece of white paper after touching her hands and the new pen on the most beautiful floral decoration (on the floor surrounding the marble-white bud of the amphitheatre), made by the devotees of Auroville, with the Sanskrit symbol of OM, aesthetically designed at the centre. I believe, this decision and the arrangements were certainly ordained by the Divine Mother! * * * Dr. Dey (continues): Some facts about a special publication , tided, 'Auroville, The City of Dawn'—which was brought out by the Sri Aurobindo Centre of Sri Aurobindo Society, located at Adhchini, New Delhi (in 1995), may be mentioned here. The specially designed, voluminous magazine was arranged to be published entirely under the leadership of Dr. K.M. Agarwala (erstwhile Freedom Fighter and famous Homeopath Doctor, who was in-charge of the Sri Aurobindo Centre for a long time); he had put me at no.1 of the Editorial Board, in consultation with all concerned. When this idea was mooted for bringing out a comprehensive publication on Auroville, some eyebrows were raised in the growing international city, particularly by those who were highly critical of Sri Aurobindo Society! Naturally, Dr. Agarwala was greatly shocked, especially because nobody in Auroville (and not even any one at the Sri Aurobindo Society headquarters) had to spend a single rupee for this. When he consulted me, I clearly told him that the Divine Mother had given him the role of a 'Bridge over the emotional divide' between
Page-122 Auroville and Sri Aurobindo Society and that I would carry out my additional duties and editorial responsibilities (at that time I was posted as the Secretary, Auroville Foundation, on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India) without any fear or favour or prejudice. It is now a fact of recent history that it was a life-time achievement of Dr. Agarwala, as the magazine has been liked by one and all, both inside and outside Auroville. Moreover, the then Honourable Rashtrapatiji had received the first copy of the magazine from Dr. Agarwala. Not only this, the then Hon'ble President of India had himself contributed the first descriptive essay on Auroville for our magazine, which is truly a rare event! I express my deepest Gratitude to the Divine Mother for Her protection, guidance and Benedictions . . . and also my hearty Thanks to all those Aurovilians who had helped and cooperated with the Editorial Board of this special publication. * * * Dr. Dey (continues): During my Governmant service (in the I.P.S.) I was posted at different places of our country. We had the good fortune of starting some Sri Aurobindo Study Circles, with the Blessings of the Mother, mostly in Orissa. Sri Babaji Maharaj and Prof. Prapatti (who are no more physically) had given us a lot of support and guidance from the Ashram for those Pathachakras (study circles). Even when I was posted at Kalimpong, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal, we had organized a seminar and book exhibition relating to Sri Aurobindo's Purna Yoga, after receiving the Blessings of the Divine Mother. When posted in Kolkata, the cooperation and encouragement received from Himanshuda (late Himanshu Ku. Niyogi) and other devotees of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan, Kolkata, enabled us to organize and present a Dance-Drama on Sri Aurobindo's Savitri, during the birth-centenary celebrations of the Divine Mother (21/2/1978). With this backdrop, a few words about the open-air Savitri study circle and the gradual blossoming of the SAVITRI BHAVAN at Auroville may be quite relevant. On 24/11/1994 (the Darshan-Divas celebrated at the Ashram,
Page-123 Auroville and other Centres to commemorate the Victory or Siddhi, in Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga), Ms. Shraddhavan, Mr. Helmut, Mr. Martin S., Lakshminarayanji, Mahendrabhai, Narayanbhai, Dr. J.P. Singh, Ms. Tripti (my wife) and myself, joined hands with some aspiring devotees like Ms. Aster Patel, Ms. Syamala, Mr. Varadarajan, Mr. Srinivas Murty, Ms. Chitra, Mr. Elumalai, Ms.Tapas, Ms. Lakshman Behn, Ms. Nargis, Ms. Bhavna and also a few others interested in the regular study of Savitri; thus having formed the dedicated assembly, we launched the weekly Savitri study-circle of Auroville, with the Mother's music, meditation, devotional songs etc. in the CIS of Bharat Nivas. Gradually we were attracted by the scenic beauty of the open-air Nature and shifted our venue to the present site near Bharat Nivas, where the beautiful Savitri Bhavan complex is now coming up in phases. There the open-air SAVITRI study-circle, in the lap of Mother-Nature, used to be conducted by us in a very simple manner; the solemn silence of the place and the sacred recitation of passages from Savitri by each one of us (by turn, and to the best of our ability) were simply soul-stirring! Apart from our occasional attempts to discuss amongst ourselves some portions without any intellectual veneer whatsoever, we used to invite some reputed speakers from Pondicherry (such as, Dr. Nirodbaran, Prof. Arabinda Basu, Shraddhalu, Prof. Nadkarni, Prof. Manoj Das and others) to deliver talks on Savitri. Meanwhile, as we started dreaming about the Savitri Bhavan somewhere near the Bharat Nivas, a few Aurovilians expressed their reservations on the project saying that the proposed study centre, housed in a mansion called 'Savitri Bhavan', would turn into just another centre for 'religious' activities. Apart from this, some Aurovilians opposed the idea of locating the Bhavan near the Bharat Nivas! Needless to say, the all-merciful Grace of the Divine Mother swept away all these objections in a trice and we started preparing for the foundation-laying ceremony to be held on the 24th November, 1995, with Nirodda as the chief guest. Thus, exactly after one year of the commencement of the weekly Study Circle, the foundation-laying ceremony for the 'Savitri Bhavan' was held in a very simple, solemn and befitting manner. After this sacred event, the weekly study-circle continued in a temporary shed till the grand blossoming of the Savitri
Page-124 Bhavan complex took place (with its day-to-day multifarious activities and interesting programmes), owing to the pioneering zeal and leadership of some keen aspirants like Ms. Shraddhavan, Mr. Helmut, Lakshminarayanji and a few other dedicated souls of Auroville. * * * Dr. Dey (continues): I may mention here very briefly the most serene, sublime and fulfilling event of my life when my wife, our daughter Leena and myself received the direct, personal Benedictions of the sweet Divine Mother, in Her room, in the first week of March, 1968, during the occasion, usually called the 'Special- Darshan'. After sending our written prayers to the Divine Mother and after spending several days of quiet and tearful prayers, one day Sri M.P. Pandit informed us that the Mother had very kindly granted us the permission to have the 'Special-Darshan' in Her room. On the previous day of the appointed Darshan, we remained quite busy in preparing ourselves for the grand event. During those days, a special (makeshift) sale-counter had been put up near the Ashram's notice board for the convenience of the large number of visitors and pilgrims. There my wife insisted again and again (rather unexpectedly) to purchase one gold ring, with the Mother's picture on the ring-stone, for myself, so that we could take it with us for the gracious touch by the sweet Mother on the next day. In the beginning I hesitated a lot because I was instinctively averse to the practice of adorning any gold (or other precious) ornament by male persons. Ultimately I yielded to my wife's advice and the ring was purchased. Next day, during those unforgettable and immortal moments of our special Darshan, I placed the ring on my open and extended palms and looked at the sweet Divine Mother imploringly, expecting the sacred moment of Her most gracious, personal touch. But something happened then far beyond our human expectations. Sri Champaklal who was standing on the right side of the Divine Mother intervened in a very pleasant and endearing manner; he took the ring from my extended palm and handed it over to the Mother with a smiling and prayerful gesture to do the
Page-125 needful. Then the sweet Divine Mother, with all Her celestial and earthly affection for a child, put the ring on my ring-finger of the right hand! I felt that those celebrated and auspicious moments of my life had gifted me the most unforgettable occasion of my 'coronation' as a child-King in the lap of the Divine Mother! * * * There is one more interesting anecdote which may be mentioned here. For the same day of our special-Darshan we had purchased two toffee boxes, with the fond hope that the Mother would accept one and touch the other one for distribution as 'Prasad' later on. As we were preparing to go upstairs to reach the Mother's room very carefully (with a lot of suspense, knowing not what to do of how to behave before the Mother), we noticed that our daughter, Leena (then a naughty child of 2 1/2 years) was getting more and more restless. We made efforts to conceal the toffee boxes from her sight lest she would scream and try to grab one; but this is exactly what happened at that critical moment! As her screaming voice disturbed the sacred silence of the Meditation Hall and the staircase leading to the Mother's room, I thought that we would be debarred from entering into the Mother's room. Therefore I took the fidgety child on my shoulders and did an about-turn in the middle of the staircase, with the idea of handing over our daughter to Saratbhai who was waiting downstairs. On seeing my desperate condition, Champaklalji who was standing near the entrance door of the Mother's room (and looked like a Himalayan Yogi) intervened with a very kind gesture. He gave loud and clear instructions saying (during those days he was not maintaining silence) that we need not feel nervous at all and that the child need not be sent away. Needless to say, those kind assurances came to us like a Heavenly boon! Thereafter we had a very wonderful and fulfilling Special Darshan of the sweet Divine Mother, who not only gave Leena a beautiful flower along with Her nectareous smile, but She also gave her complete freedom to romp about in Her room till we finished our Darshan-prayers. It was a miracle of sorts that the child did not create
Page-126 any problem during those golden moments of our lives although she could have pulled down certain things or demanded the toffee box or even disturbed the flower arrangements playfully! * * * Beena: What was your experience of Auroville as a person in-charge of Auroville Foundation, on behalf of the Government of India? Dr. Dey: My selection and appointment as the Secretary of Auroville Foundation was due to the unusual Grace of the Divine Mother. All other officers posted before me and after me were (and the present incumbent too) from the Indian Administrative Service, whereas I was picked up, on central deputation basis, from the Orissa cadre of the I.P.S (Indian Police Service) which is under the parent Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. During my tenure of two years as the Secretary (before I retired from the All India Service on attaining the age of superannuation), my experience at Auroville was quite thrilling and elevating, but often packed with suspense and legal complications. We shall never forget our physical, mental and psychic proximity to the Matrimandir, the (rising institutional complex of) Savitri Bhavan, our hearty involvement in the cultural programmes at the CIS of Bharat Nivas, the Pitanga Hall and above all our spirited participation in the musical Prayers and Meditation sessions at the Verite settlement, at the two Sri Ganesh Temples in different locations, also under the famous banyan tree and at the amphitheatre, on special occasions. Apart from my attendance of the Sanskrit language class at Bharat Nivas, both of us were participating in the evening music classes soulfully. Of course, I had to "face the music" on the administrative front in so far as the day to day official interactions were concerned. However, I received wonderful support from the staff-members of our Foundation Office at Auroville and many Aurovilians too. But unfortunately, there were a few Aurovilians who had some misconceptions and a lot of misunderstanding
Page-127 about Visa-renewal matters and the Central Government's Audit procedures. Naturally, it was my lot to face the cacophony and the cackle of those inveterate critics of the Govt., there being no other (senior-level) representative of the HRD Ministry of the Central Government on the spot. Despite the turmoil faced by us, I carried on my duties by offering everything at the Lotus-Feet of the Divine Mother. I observed that while more than half of the Aurovilians were genuinely committed to the Charter of Auroville and Integral Yoga, a few others had more time for groupism, lobbying, litigation, etc. Beena: Groupism for survival or.......? Varadarajan: It looks you were in a very difficult position. Dr. Dey : Before I joined at Auroville (on central deputation basis), I knew that I would have to face many odd and challenging situations there because it was not like any Government department or any Public Sector organization, under a Ministry of the Government of India. After gaining the experience of the new kind of work there and after observing the anti-establishment psychology among some influential Aurovilians, I wondered quite often as to why the Government's presence was needed there? Does it not appear to be like a funny situation where a bicycle is provided to a ten-year lad (with full normal growth) by his parents, with the instruction not to venture out with his bicycle! Which other spiritual (or religious or yoga-based) organization, having international ramifications, demands or depends upon such props? Syamala: The Divine Mother had mentioned about the 'Divine Anarchy". Beena: Yes, in the light of this, would you like to say something about the form of organization for Auroville and the style of living? Dr. Dey: As far as I know there is no short-cut or a cake-walk to reach the exalted and sublime status or the state-of-being
Page-128 called the "Divine Anarchy". No human organization (for administration) can be adequate to meet the requirements of Auroville which has already advanced on the path of evolution, even though imperceptibly.... And this progress has been possible due to the Grace of the Divine Mother. Since there are quite a number of 'Gems' and gifted children of the Divine Mother who are staying and working at Auroville, it should not be difficult for them to visualize the shape of future things, which are to be worked out, in the light of Sri Aurobindo's words of perennial Wisdom....A greater whole being, whole knowledge, whole power is needed, to weld all into a greater unity of whole life." This has to be achieved, in the Auroville Experiment, by sacrificing not only individual ego, but also by transcending the collective ego. Then only "the creative harmonizing light of the spirit" (words of Sri Aurobindo) and the Shakti of the Supreme Divine Mother will guide each and every moment of the consecrated living and dynamic endeavour of the seekers, Yoga-aspirants and workers of Auroville. OM NAMO BHAGAVATE
.....................all is their play: This whole wide world is only he and she. Book I,
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