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the documents I had kept for the Archives, they went berserk and accused me
further, through a second police complaint, of having stolen money and valuables.
They wrote terrible harangues to the Secretary, and to Government authorities,
now accusing me of acting like the British rulers did, “bossing the natives”, and of
having even stolen the very gifts they had insisted I must receive from them over
the years (a bath towel, a brass leaf, cigars, lighters and the like).
And it became perfectly clear that in this campaign, like two enraged bulls, they
had been given full support and “understanding” by a number of interested
Aurovilians. They were seen as the perfect, unexpected occasion to run an effective
vendetta and to blacken my name for good.
As of today, September the 23
rd
of 2005, more than a year later, my visa is still
held up on the basis of their inflammatory letters to the Ministry in Delhi, and I
have just received an official letter stating that as a non-Hindu person, I may not
qualify as the caretaker of the Auroville temple to Sri Ganesh.
Here are two of the statements which Kusum had written regarding the temple to
Sri Ganesh and her wish that I should continue after her passing; the first one she
wrote “to Mother” in her personal diary, as she used to write to Mother in this way
regarding any matter of concern to her, any experience of importance in her outer
or inner life, any point that she needed to be sure to offer at the Mother’s feet:
*To Mother, from Kusum, 6-4-98, 5 pm:
“MA – My dear Mother,
Lots of love – Last few days a thought is there about our Sri Ganesh Temple.
You have given me this work 1972 and it is going on. I like to continue this service
at the end of my life with your blessings.
But, my Mà, I am not feeling physically so strong and I am thinking in my absence
somebody will do this service. Only You may know who will be! But which You
provided in advance Divakar to help me, to offer his service to Shri Ganesh Temple;
I have a great hope about him.
His devotion, his dedication, his perfection of the work, his skilfulness, his ability, it
indicates he is the proper person who can take the full charge of the Ganesh
Temple and premises.
It is also a deep feeling in me, Mà, You have provided me Divakar for this service
now and after.
My humble prayer to You, please bless him and grant my prayer.
Love,
Yours,
Kusum”
Note: The second statement is addressed to all. Kusum had left it in a separate
envelope, easy to find, in the special little cupboard I had built for her to keep in
safely all the things connected to Shri Ganesh, as well as to the Mother and Sri
Aurobindo. In this statement I think that she perhaps mixed up some dates, as I
think it is certain that I helped her first with the repair of the bronze bell of the
temple sometime in 1990; but each of us will remember some particular events
more than others.