More Posters Against the Ashram Trustees

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Bring Aurobindo Ashram Under RTI Act, Demands AINRC MLA

 New Sunday Express, Chennai 14 July 2013

Citing several complaints of alleged misdeeds in Sri Aurobindo Ashram, ruling AINRC MLA Ashok Anand has petitioned the Lieutnant Governor Virendra Kataria urging him to take action to bring the ashram under the purview of the Right to Information Act.

In a memorandum to the Lieutnant Governor on Saturday, Anand said that since Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust is a charitable organisation receiving huge donations from devotees, the trust and all its operations should be brought under the RTI Act.

Further, he sought to bring the ashram under the control of an IAS officer in a similar way like the Auroville Foundation through a legislation. There are around 1500 inmates in the ashram who would feel secure if there is an IAS officer whom they could approach with their grievances, he added.

The ashram has been a beacon for spiritual seekers from all over the world, but there have been charges against the trustees of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, he claimed. The issue has been raised in the Territorial Assembly also.

Based on the complaints by a section of ashram inmates, the government had instituted a probe in September 2012 under the District Collector.

A team of senior officials took oral depositions of the women inmates. However, the ashram moved the Madras High court against the government and obtained an ex-parte stay on the government probe in October 2012.

Anand alleged that the trustees are destroying evidence on the allegations made. If the trustees had nothing to hide and the allegations were baseless, they would have cooperated with the probe, he added.

The MLA said that he would meet leaders of all political parties for bringing in transparency in the functioning of ashram.

[Yesterday, on 13 July, 2013, posters in Tamil on the corrupt practices of the Ashram Trustees had been pasted all over Puducherry. Below are photographs of some of these posters in various parts of the town.]
 

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Sridharan Replies to Aurofilio of SAICE forum

Filio: I am pleased to see that at least there is some convergence between us and you and that you are also thinking of adopting my suggestion no. 1 of my email dated 9th July 2013, i.e. to make a separate post for our exchanges. However, this seems dependent on what you consider to be “worthwhile.” According to me the other points I had raised in my email were worthwhile – in fact much more worthwhile than all of the posts that appear on your website - and didn’t deserve to be censured, although I admit that these points would have cast a poor image of yourselves.

Sridharan: Great self-defence for showering all those filthy insults at us! Don’t you think on the contrary they cast a poor image of you to the general public?

Filio: But let me focus on areas where we converge and therefore discuss the issue of Sri Aurobindo vis-à-vis the Ashram Trust which I, like you, also consider to be worthwhile.

Sridharan: Then why don’t you discuss it?

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Sricharan Singh’s Rejoinder to Manoj Das (Part 2)

[This is the second and final part of Sricharan Singh’s rejoinder to Manoj Das’s “A Suggestion for Introspection”. Part 1 of the rejoinder was published on 1 July 2013.]

In paragraph 10, Manoj Das says, “By and by it became clear to me that all they wanted was to create an atmosphere of hatred against me. But what for?”

In reply it can be said, “By and by it became clear to us that Manoj Das, his Lord Gupta Manoj (MDG) and his sycophants wanted to create an atmosphere of hatred against the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.”

In paragraph 11, Manoj Das says, “I was convinced that the Revised Edition of the epic is the most authentic one. Once again it is a matter of common sense that the Ashram had no reason to alter a single word of Sri Aurobindo. On the other hand it had a responsibility to see that error-free versions of His works were available before the copyright period expired. That is what Ashram did despite the illogical and superfluous commotion made by some people.”

How is Manoj Das convinced that the revised edition of Savitri is the most authentic one? Was he part of the Editorial Board for the revision of Savitri to make such arrogant and sure statements? R.Y. Deshpande and Nirodbaran, who were in the editorial team, have expressed their unhappiness over some of the corrections. If the Trustees through Peter had not altered a single word of Sri Aurobindo, why the documents are not made public for everybody to see in spite of repeated demands?

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Comment regarding the SAICE forum – by Veerbhadra Singh

Letter to the Editor (refer to Filio’s comments in Scheme Suit Update)

The likes of Filio are best left alone in their world of fantasy and delusion where they are the self-styled, self-proclaimed defendants of the faith and the new gospel of Peter and his protectors. In this new gospel that they have floated, intellectual freedom along with its right to abuse anybody even remotely looking great, is the highest value. They speak of truth and lies, but freely mix both so as to confuse their readers or rather to convert their minds to this new gospel where the Trust is equivalent to the Master, and is the only approach to God. Clearly a religion is in the making right under their noses! And who is their God? A being who enjoys and defends those who deny spiritual things and mocks at them, a God who defends those who denigrates spiritual Masters, defiles Their image in human hearts, throws doubts at Their experiences, trivialises Their achievements. Or a God who rushes to attack and destroy anybody who stands for Idealism and has the courage of conviction to stand upon one's faith as on a solid rock. Do you not see why they attack Sraddhalu? Plain and simple jealousy!

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Sricharan Singh's Rejoinder to Manoj Das (Part 1)

Manoj Das (nicknamed Dr. Faustus / Byakta Manoj) has replied to my article “Professor Manoj Das has Sold his Soul to the Devil” with “A Suggestion for Introspection”. I have read it and have also read Bireshwar Choudhury’s fitting reply to him. I will only deal here with some factual truths in support of my article. But before I start, a story comes to my mind.

Once upon a time there was a plump cat. He did not like to exert himself to catch rats, so he discovered an easy way. At night he sat under a tree in a meditative position with closed eyes, throwing some corn around him. He smeared his forehead with ashes and turned a rosary in his hand. Occasionally, he sang bhajans which he had himself composed. Attracted by the corn and the cat’s apparently innocent devotional posture and practice, the rats slowly came near him. The cat started delivering sermons and told them that he had attained supernatural powers by his sadhana by which he could send rats straight to Heaven, which was the abode of peace and bliss. There was no sorrow there, no illness, and no death. There was also an unheard variety of delicious food for rats. But he could send only one rat every night to Heaven!

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Scheme Suit Update ― Sridharan

There has been a demand from our readers for an update on the Scheme Suit filed against the Trustees of Sri Aurobindo Ashram in August 2010 by five disciples of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. A Scheme Suit is filed against a public charitable Trust (in this case Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust) when there is a sufficient public cause and grievance, so the plaintiffs have to first ask “leave to sue” from the Court and show prima facie evidence of the grievance. This should not be confused with the admission of cases in general where only individual interests are affected. Admission of cases is usually decided by the judge on the basis of prima facie evidence provided by the plaintiffs, but in a scheme suit, this initial exercise is rendered more difficult by the law giving the public Trust (against whom the scheme suit is filed) a chance to defend itself and disprove the plaintiff’s case at the very outset. The reason for this extra procedure for admission is to discourage the filing of frivolous cases filed against a public institution. The plaintiff has to therefore prove, even before the case is admitted, that his cause of action is sufficiently public in nature, and that not only he but a number of individuals have been affected for which the Trustees are liable for prosecution. That is why a scheme suit is difficult to admit and the very admission of the case can be a protracted process. In the history of Puducherry, the present scheme suit is said to be the first one to get admitted and numbered. One more scheme suit, also filed against the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, is pending for admission right now in the Puducherry Court.

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An Analysis of the Preface of Peter Heehs's "Sri Aurobindo: A Brief Biography", OUP, 1989 (Part 2) ― A Zombified Disciple

MURDERS IN THE LAND OF THE NAÏVE — 2

Peter Heehs wrote two biographies: Sri Aurobindo: A Brief Biography, OUP, 1989 (Bio-1), and The Lives of Sri Aurobindo, CUP, 2008, (Bio-2).[1] He also planted a life-sketch of Sri Aurobindo in an anthology of some Indian saints, maybe to test the tactic used in Bio-1 and imply Sri Aurobindo’s rank among them. This part of my article analyses the rest of Bio-1’s preface. Parts 3 and 4 will take up the preface of Bio-2. Part 5 will compare a few of the facts and interpretations in them with relevant facts from variant accounts.

            Peter’s opinions on specific points are cut up, masked, and implanted in unrelated passages. To unravel these opinions and weave their pieces in an unbroken paragraph, I had to often repeat and remerge the pieces with their soul-mates in other passages. Peter’s text is in Italics and mine in Roman.

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Update On Police Harassment of Abala

This morning once again Nirmal Swain (Ashram Trust lawyer) brought a policewoman, this time to Abala's house. The police insisted that Abala come to the Police Station "just for ten minutes". Abala refused and said she will come later. Finally the policewoman asked her, "Why are you insulting respected persons of the Ashram?" Abala answered, "Who is there in the Ashram worthy of respect other than Sri Aurobindo?"

Having failed to take Abala to the Police Station without a formal summons or due process of law, the policewoman left. But Nirmal seemed more disappointed. The strategy they had planned was to take Abala to the Station and then put her in jail on some false pretext. Being a weekend, there would have been no way to get her out until the Courts reopened on Monday. (The Trustees have used this method on other "inconvenient" Ashramites before, at least one of whom was beaten on their orders while in jail.)

Later when a senior member of the Government phoned the Police to make enquiries, the Police told him, "Why are you so concerned over such a trivial matter?" The senior person said, "Harassment of a helpless old woman is not a trivial matter!"

Since the Police had not produced a summons, and since their attempt to take Abala to the station had no legal sanction, Abala was advised not to go to them.

The deep nexus between the Ashram Trustees and the local Police and their misuse of power lies exposed.

When Ashramites approached the Police or the Government for protection from the Trustees' illegal and threatening actions, the same Trustees quoted the Ashram "Rules and Regulations" (written by them) to say that it was wrong to approach the Police and against the spirit of Ashram life. But when it came to an old woman questioning the misuse of authority by the Trustees, these corrupt Trustees do not think twice of using the Police to harass Ashram Inmates!

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Breaking News -- Trustees send Police to arrest old woman who criticised Manoj Das Gupta

This morning while Abala (aged over 60 years) was peacefully eating her lunch upstairs in the Ashram Dining Room, the Ashram lawyer Nirmal Swain brought a policewoman to her. The policewoman asked, "Are you Abala?" When Abala confirmed her identity, the Policewoman said, "Come at once to the Police Station because Matriprasad has filed a complaint against you from the Trustees' Office!" Nirmal threatened, "Come at once otherwise we will take you by force and drag you out!"

Abala courageously said to them, "I will surely come, but now I am eating food, then I will rest, and then come at 3 pm."

In a threatening tone Nirmal said to her, "Come by 4pm otherwise we will come and arrest you from your house and throw you in jail where you will rot for the rest of your life!"

Abala then informed her friends in the Ashram. Two young men went to the Police Station and asked what kind of complaint has been registered. The policemen there at first evaded clear answers and then fnally said there is no complaint that they know of.

The nature of the complaint, its contents, or its suppression are still unknown. But a few years ago Abala is known to have openly criticized Manoj Das Gupta and blamed him for abusing Sri Aurobindo through Peter Heehs and his book.

Enquiries are on with senior officials. This is a developing story and we will keep you updated. Stay tuned!

The double standards of our corrupt Trustees lie exposed: when Sri Aurobindo is publicly abused, Manoj Das Gupta (Managing Trustee) advises all to do nothing and prefers to keep a "dignified silence"; Manoj Das (former Trustee and scholar) advises all to do nothing and let Mother take care of things while we must blindly obey the "superior wisdom" of the Trustees. But when the Trustees are criticised or feel that their absolute power is questioned by an old helpless woman, then they call the Police inside Ashram premises to arrest her and throw her in jail, and spend lakhs of Rupees to fight her in the Courts!

But why did the Trustees bring the Police into the Ashram Dining Room to arrest an old, helpless, "weak and sickly" woman (as Manoj Das has described Abala earlier) at the exact time when she is having her lunch? It appears that the Trustees wish to "create an example out of her" (words used by Dilip Datta when the Trustees filed cases against other helpless women over ten years ago). And the easiest way is to create an atmosphere of fear in the Ashram Dining Room, where all would see the Police dragging out a hungry old woman from her meal. To have arrested her at her house would not have the same dramatic effect and would not send the message of fear to the entire Ashram community as vividly!

It is also clear that the Police are wilful agents in the hands of these corrupt Trustees and they can be made to do their bidding in violation of all legal norms and due process of law.

KS

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Apropos of Savitri and Prof. Manoj Das – by R.Y. Deshpande

Private dispute should always be avoided; but shrink not from public battle; yet even there appreciate the strength of thy adversary. ~ Sri Aurobindo

Prof Manoj Das writes: “I was for a while representing the Ashram in the courts where several cases were filed against the Trust because it brought out a revised version of the Master’s epic, Savitri. It was ‘revised’ in the sense that errors (typographical, punctuation, omission, words not properly deciphered in corrected proofs, etc) were removed through years of study and scrutiny.I was convinced that the Revised Edition of the epic is the most authentic one.” [Refer to Bireshwar Choudhury's reply to Manoj Das.]

In response to this we have the following on the website: “The Savitri revision controversy has rocked the Ashram for a decade or two. RY Deshpande was part of the team that finalised the Savitri revisions and he says that even Nirodbaran expressed his unhappiness over some of the revisions. The late Jugal Kishore Mukherjiwrote a fifty page letter to Amal on these revisions. … I will throw a challenge which Deshpande has long been insisting upon: Make all the Savitri manuscripts public. Put them up on the Net for all to see and judge for themselves the legitimacy of the revisions of the Archives editors.”

Prof Manoj Das says, “I was convinced that the Revised Edition of the epic is the most authentic one.” He also writes to the same effect to Dr Karan Singh.

Here my concern is to ask one or two immediate questions to Prof Manoj Das. If I get direct and non-evasive answers I would like to continue the dialogue further. The technical dialogue will be on this website. It is up to him to say yes or no.

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Reply to Manoj Das – by Bireshwar Choudhury (2)

[This is the second and final part of Bireshwar Choudhury’s reply to Prof. Manoj Das’s response to Sricharan Singh’s “Manoj Das has Sold his Soul to the Devil”. See the previous posting to read the first part of Bireshwar Choudhury’s reply. The text of Manoj Das's response is indented and in italics while Bireshwar's reply is without indentation and in Roman.]

“Sricharan Singh” has repeated that old old lie about the Ashram lawyer saying at the Krishnanagore court that the Mother did not understand Savitri! The lawyer said nothing of that kind. He has also given a statement challenging this allegation against him. Still the drum-beaters of that lie do not stop. Years ago when two small groups of people distributed leaflets against me on this issue, I was surprised that while these people believed somebody from far who transmitted that blatant lie as a gift for them, they did not have the patience or a bit of respect for truth to ask me about it though I was amidst them, an inmate of the Ashram like them. They even sent a lawyer’s notice to the Trust to expel me from the Ashram on this account. 

By and by it became clear to me that all they wanted was to create an atmosphere of hatred against me. But what for? It remains inexplicable to him. I was for a while representing the Ashram in the courts where several cases were filed against the Trust because it brought out a revised version of the Master’s epic, Savitri. It was ‘revised’ in the sense that errors (typographical, punctuation, omission, words not properly deciphered in corrected proofs, etc) were removed through years of study and scrutiny. When, as a purely academic exercise a booklet was published by the Ashram Archives listing the changes, it suddenly struck a gentleman to drag the Trust to the court alleging that it had tampered with Sri Aurobindo’s writing. (What may sound incredible to many, he even discovered an unknown nephew of Sri Aurobindo and made him go to court and suggest by insinuation that he was the copyright-owner of all the works of Sri Aurobindo, not the Ashram. By implication, all the earnings from the works of the Master over the past years were his!) 

 I was convinced that the Revised Edition of the epic is the most authentic one. Once again it is a matter of common sense that the Ashram had no reason to alter a single word of Sri Aurobindo. On the other hand it had a responsibility to see that error-free versions of His works were available before the copyright period expired. That is what Ashram did despite the illogical and superfluous commotion made by some people. (Manoj Das)

Things always seem inexplicable to Manoj Das whenever he courts a controversy, as if the people who are against him are inexplicably bad and he himself is inexplicably good! The Savitri revision controversy has rocked the Ashram for a decade or two, and even now there are senior scholars of the Ashram who are not satisfied at all with the way it has been handled by the Trustees. R.Y. Deshpande was part of the team that finalised the Savitri revisions and he says that even Nirodbaran (on whom the final decisions depended) expressed his unhappiness over some of the revisions. Deshpande himself was extremely unhappy over some of the revisions suggested by the Archives editors. The late Jugal Kishore Mukherji, former head of the Higher Course of the Ashram School, wrote a fifty page letter to Amal Kiran on these revisions and some of his suggestions were accepted by Amal Kiran! Why was Jugal Kishore Mukherji disgusted with the whole affair? If after all this discontentment, Manoj Das still finds things inexplicable, then I will simply call him a hypocrite! Even here, I will throw him a challenge which R.Y. Deshpande has long been insisting upon: Make all the Savitri manuscripts public. Put them up on the Net for all to see and judge for themselves the legitimacy of the revisions of the Archives editors. Moreover, after the Peter Heehs controversy, who is going to trust the Archives editors?

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