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her children single-handedly, put them through college and university, till each of
them settled in their chosen life. She had already met the Mother during one of her
tours in the South East, in the late 50s, and had vowed to herself that, as soon as
she would have fulfilled her parental duties, she would return to the Mother for
good. It was only in 1971 that she could do so. The Mother welcomed her. As
Kusum still wanted to be able to attend to her grown family now and then, she
chose to stay in Auroville rather than in the Ashram, and started living and working
in “Promesse”, as nursing help; soon, she was given by the Mother the additional,
and permanent, charge of looking after the small temple to Sri Ganesh, which the
Mother had accepted to care for when the land on which it had earlier been built
and dedicated was bought for Auroville.
Kusum was a very fine and very generous person; she was a living example of
rectitude, and yet was full of open warmth towards everybody; but she found our
situation very painful and was increasingly distressed by the games that were being
enacted around the Matrimandir and its destiny, and what it portended for the
future of Auroville.
In October, 2002, she decided to publish a first open letter; she first wrote it down
in Hindi, and got help for a proper English translation. This letter was posted, sent
directly and also published in the Auroville News.
*Open letter to the Working Committee and Support Group, on
Matrimandir, by Kusum. 23-10-2002:
“Mà.
Dear Working Committee and Support Group.
Generally I offer any intention to write at the feet of the Mother with a flower-filled
prayer and an entreaty, ‘O Mother, show us the way, as we have strayed!’
I came to know that a few days ago there was a meeting of some residents of
Auroville at SAWCHU, where they ‘passed’ some ‘resolutions’, although these were
changed later to ‘proposals’. What strange games are being played: today it’s this,
tomorrow that, what next we ask?
But now it is absolutely clear to me. It is due to our self-interest alone that we have
allowed ourselves to forget the supremely important things the Mother has said
about the building of Auroville. Today I wish to say something – that which is clear
to my ‘drishti’ (my view of things). This is particularly with reference to the so-
called proposal demanding transfer of Matrimandir money to Auroville Fund:
1-
The money that people donate or offer (‘arpan’) to Matrimandir, all of that
treasure, must go through the Central Fund, it is said! This is to say, that
Matrimandir’s money will now have no connection with Matrimandir any
more; this is to say also that Matrimandir will have no direct relation with the
money that is donated to it, for from now on the entire power should stay
with the Central Fund’s managers.
2-
Do you even know or understand with what and with whom is attempted this
game that is being played? Matrimandir is not only the Soul of Auroville:
‘The
Matrimandir wants to be the symbol of the Divine’s answer to man’s