A student of Sri Aurobindo’s at Baroda visits

K.M. Munshi, an old student of Sri Aurobindo at Baroda visits Sri Aurobindo and the ashram in July of 1950. He writes:

“Sri Aurobindo was my professor in the Baroda College, and his militant nationalism of 1904 molded my early outlook. Later I casually read some of his works. During the last few years, however, his influence has been coming over me intermittently, but I have felt more and more perceptibly benefited by it. Often in the past I wanted to go to Pondicherry, but I did not wish to offer formal respects to a man whom I revered so deeply. In July 1950, however, I felt an urge to visit the Ashram. Normally, as you know, Sri Aurobindo did not see people, except on four days in the year. But in my case he told the Secretary, he treated me as a disciple and would make an exception.

 ‘When I visited him, after the lapse of more than 40 years, I saw before me a being completely transformed: radiant, blissful, enveloped in an atmosphere of godlike calm. He spoke in a low, clear voice, which stirred the depth of my being. I saw in him, not my old professor, but something different. It was absolute integration of personality; attachment, wrath and fear in him had been transformed into a power which was at the same time beautiful and calm, the Central Idea in Aryan culture materialized in human shape, one of the greatest architects of creative life.”