An article on Swami Vivekananda²⁹

Many, many years ago my boss, Nolini, wrote excellent articles about Sri Ramakrishna. I also got the inspiration to write quite a few articles about Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. For one occasion Nolini wrote only one article in Bengali, and I translated it into English. At that time I got the inspiration to write a book on Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. I wanted to have it published.

Nolini said, “No.”

I could not ask him why, but he said, “The reason is that I am well established in the Ashram. I am the General Secretary. Everybody has tremendous love and respect for me.”

Nolini’s connection with Sri Aurobindo was closer than the closest. He told me, “In your case, people will be upset. If you publish a book on Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, the ashramites will misunderstand you. They will scold you and they may insult you, so it is not advisable.”

Then I said, “Poor me, I have done something!”

“What have you done?” he asked.

I said, “I sent an article to the newspaper Amrita Bazar Patrika ³⁰ in Calcutta.”

Nolini exclaimed, “What!”

With utmost respect and devotion I said, “What can I do?”

Nolini said, “All right. What can you do?”

I prayed to God, “O God, let the newspaper not use it, so that Nolini will not be upset!”

God did not listen to my prayers. In a few days’ time, when I was typing Nolini’s article, he came to me with such happiness, holding the newspaper. At first, when I saw that he was bringing the newspaper, I became frightened to death. Then, how could he be so nice to me? He started highly appreciating my article! Everything changed.

Nolini was a very, very, very high soul. Many times I can say it: a very high soul, a very high soul, a very high soul, a very high soul.