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1332
Sincerely yours,
Jyoti”
Note: The second reply to Kusum was written by another member of the Governing
Board, Dr Subhash Kashyap, a very eminent jurist, and a constitutional expert
universally respected in the country, whose advice was frequently sought by the
highest office bearers. Dr Subhash Kashyap had a high sense of fairness and justice
and was a very gentle and precise person, with a great capacity for assessing the
crux of any situation. He at one point volunteered to try and obtain an acceptable
and meaningful compromise, or agreement, over the issue of the Park and Lake,
between Roger A and our team. We had much respect for him and were
comfortable with him all through. We wholeheartedly agreed to a solution that, we
felt, would help manifest the truths of both approaches in a harmonious material
creation; the lake would be increased in size to the East of Matrimandir, to reach
almost to the city, while the Park would spread on all three other directions.
Subhash Kashyap got Roger A’s agreement to this solution, and we believed for a
while that the way was opened. However, Roger A soon reneged on this agreement,
saying that it had not been properly explained to him. Later on, Subhash Kashyap
decided to resign from the Governing Board, along with another member, Smt Mirra
Srivastav. Dr Subhash Kashyap had been often associated with Kireet in Delhi and
they were close friends. He was therefore in a difficult position and would not
publicly disagree with Kireet. Yet he would not abide with the lack of ethical
standards that were displayed.
This was his reply:
*To Mrs Kusum Shah, from Dr Subhash Kashyap, New Delhi, November 25,
2002:
“Dear Mrs Shah,
Thank you for your letter of 11 November 2002. Please forgive me the late
response. I have been travelling or neck-deep meeting deadlines in several
commitments foolishly made.
It is due to the sacrifices of freedom fighters like you and your husband that the
country is breathing in freedom for the last half century plus. I am tempted to add
that I also come from a family of freedom fighters and am proud to have been an
humble 12 year old boy fighter in the 1942 Quit India Movement.
I would love to visit the Ganesh Mandir if and when I visit Auroville next. Also it
would be my pleasure to meet you and talk about matters of interest to all of us.
I am deeply distressed at the unnecessary and unbecoming controversies that have
cropped up at Auroville. But I am sure these would pass away and we would see
more sublime dawns. The night is said to be the darkest immediately before the
dawn.
I believe, Aurovilians know only too well the categorical imperatives of working
together, in unity and harmony; they value freedom and can settle their matters
themselves without any outside interference.