III

Now came the great Day, “15th August — the eternal birthday”, as the Mother calls it. The day, memorable in the history of India, is doubly momentous. First, because it is the birthday of Sri Aurobindo and, secondly, because it is the day of India’s independence, — “the sanction and seal of the Divine Force,” as the Master has called this wonderful coincidence.

At eleven o’clock the portrait was taken in a procession of cars from the Delhi Branch of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Nearly eighty people, including many ladies and children, marched in silence carrying the symbol flags of the Mother and of Sri Aurobindo in front. They were received by the Deputy Military Secretary at the entrance and they proceeded into the reception room. There the simple artistic floral decorations, the beautiful carpets on the floor, the attractive pedestal for the portrait, the alpana design in the foreground were not only befitting the occasion but reflected the sense of refinement possessed and the pains taken by the decorating artists of the Rashtrapti Bhavan.

At exactly 11.35 a.m., the Vice-President Dr. Radhakrishan and the Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru arrived. Our heart’s greetings went out to them with folded hands. All of us sat on the floor, grouping ourselves around the portrait. Some of the prominent guests were Dr. C.D. Deshmukh, Mr. K.C.Reddy, the Union Minister for Works, Housing and Supply, Shri Surendra Mohan Ghosh, M.P., Dr. M.S. Aney, M.P., Mr. Biswanath Das, M.P. and a number of other members of the Government.

The brief programme which preceded the actual presentation ceremony itself consisted of an invocation to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, then followed ten minutes’ meditation, after which there was sung a hymn to Sri Aurobindo. The atmosphere was not of this earth; in that meditative deep calm gathering, together with the whole assembly filled with dignity and grace, we felt completely transported.

At 11.45 Mr. S.D. Dhir made the presentation of the portrait to the Vice-President, on behalf of the Ashram, explaining the significance of the time of this portrait, when Sri Aurobindo was only thirty-five and fully engrossed in the political movement for the liberation of the Motherland. Then in a brief but impressive speech our learned Vice-President explained the central principle of Sri Aurobindo’s work and sadhana. He said that work was not divorced from the spiritual life of Sri Aurobindo, and Sri Aurobindo’s own life was a demonstration of this fact. He quoted relevant lines from the scriptures of the East and the West in support of Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy of life and yoga.

This memorable presentation meeting, which had lasted for half an hour, ended with the enchantment of a devotional song. Then sweets, sent by the Mother as prasad from the Ashram, were distributed to all while cold refreshments were served by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Then for a short time the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and all the distinguished guests mixed with the audience and chatted freely. Our Prime Minister, who had come just after the strenuous function of the Independence Day celebrations from the Red Fort, looked a little tired in the beginning, and it was evident that this sublime function and the atmosphere of meditation had toned him up and he looked quite cheerful and bright now. He was seen to be often admiring the portrait, and was interested to know about the artist who painted it; also when told about the photograph of 1907 from which the portrait had been painted, he immediately said that in that photo Sri Aurobindo was deeply engrossed in a discussion with Tilak.

Dr. Radhakrishnan added that Sri Aurobindo looked quite young here. “Yes,” remarked the veteran leader Dr. M.S. Aney, M.P., “I remember, for I was also thirty-five at that time. I remember quite well, for this face of Sri Aurobindo which is most uncommon of all is the only face that I remember, because I had seen him only in those days.”

The final gesture on the occasion was when Dr. Radhakrishnan called me over to him and in a jovial mood asked me, “Mr. Jauhar, are you happy now?” I expressed my gratitude to him for his kindness.

Everyone present, including the officials, felt moved, and spontaneously expressed their feeling that they had never had the opportunity of taking part in such a solemn function in the history of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

IV

When the ceremony was over, we were naturally very happy, as we had felt all along that it was the Divine Grace and Power of the Mother, which had conducted the whole movement to its final success.

But from the 16th afternoon I began to feel extremely restless. There was a very great pull such as I had never experienced before. But my work at Delhi was so important and serious that it was practically impossible even to think of leaving. I cannot say how I passed the next two or three days. On the 19th at about 7.30 in the evening I suddenly made up my mind to go to Pondicherry, and at 8.30 I phoned my son Anil to secure a seat on the plane to Madras for me and bring the ticket to the airport. I left for the airport at 9 p.m. and reached Pondicherry on the 20th afternoon.

Two hours after my arrival I had the happy opportunity of going up to the Mother for pranams. And She spontaneously said, “Oh, you have come after a grand success!” After my grateful pranams I told Her that soon after the ceremony I had begun to feel extremely restless to come over to Her; and to that She replied: “Yes, I know.” Then I told Her that if I had not come now it would have been only in December next, and that would have been a very long gap. To this the Mother said, “Certainly, it was necessary.”

As I entered the Ashram, I was surprised to see that the whole Ashram was full of enthusiasm. Everybody who met me expressed his appreciation and kindly feelings; many congratulated me; even those who are little known to me or are generally reserved looked at me with fond appreciation. It was a new experience to me. I was embarrassed but at the same time I was trying to understand why such a simple affair as presenting a portrait should move the entire Ashram. Certainly there must be some deeper significance to it, which we may not be able to follow just now.

Practically everyone wanted to know the details from me. But how was I to tell everyone? Then surprisingly I was asked to speak before all the brothers and sisters in the evening gathering at the Playground. As so many people were interested to get the full report of this divine drama, I could not refuse. I am not accustomed to speak before a big gathering, and least of all in English. Yet by the Mother’s Grace this was accomplished to the satisfaction of all.

Now that the ceremony is over, I see clearly that the time has come when we must realise how the Mother’s Grace is working constant miracles. Though the human in us still doubts, takes all as chance, yet if with a devoted and prayerful attitude we hold on to the work entrusted to us by Her, we shall have the privilege of discovering the secret of our success.

Then miracle is made the common rule,

One mighty deed can change the course of things;

A lonely thought becomes omnipotent.

Sri Aurobindo — Savitri I.2