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<title>Muraripukur - II</title>

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<p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center; line-height:150%;margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0"><b
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font size="4">Muraripukur 
</font> 
<span style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><font size="4">- 
</font> 
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-style:italic">
<font size="4">II</font><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
<div class=Section1>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><b><i><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></i></b></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;tab-stops:225.8pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
class=GramE>Now.</span> I come to the last phase of our life at Manicktolla
Gardens, that is when we turned towards terroristic activities like the
manufacture of bombs, collecting pistols and rifles and making good use of
them. The first chapter had already begun with the Yugantar newspaper.<span
style='mso-tab-count:1'>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>As
we took up these revolutionary activities, we discovered that it was not easy
to carryon this kind of secret work unless there was common in the country as a
whole a keen desire I and hope for freedom. What was needed was a favourable atmosphere
from which the revolutionaries could get the desired sympathy and support. One
could not expect anything but opposition from a people cowed down by fear,
shut up within its narrow selfishnesses and wholly preoccupied with its dull
routine. That is why Sri Aurobindo started his daily newspaper, Bandemataram,
which was the first to declare in clear language that what we wanted was
the freedom of <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
a total freedom, a freedom untrammelled by any kind of domination by the
British. Its aim was to carry into the ears and hearts of our people a message
of hope and faith and enthusiasm, a message that spoke of independence full and
absolute, not the kind of freedom that looked to England for protection and
help, and such independence too not as a distant possibility of the remote
future but an immediate gain of the morrow.<span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

</i></b>

</span>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Even
so, Bandemataram had to keep within the letter of the law; its advocacy
of freedom had to follow as far as possible the lines of peace, its path had to
be that of Passive Resis<span class=GramE>tance</span>.

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 356<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

</div>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>But Yugantar shed off all the masks. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>It </span>was the first to declare openly for an armed revolt and
spoke in terms of regular warfare. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It
</span>wrote out its message in words of fire and spread it to the four
corners of the land. Balthazar, the king of <st1:City><st1:place>Babylon</st1:place></st1:City>;
had once seen similar writings on the wall of his hall of feasting, words that
spoke of the imminent doom of his empire. To the country and its youth the Yugantar
gave its initiation of fire for nearly a couple of years. <span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It </span>was only after the Yugantar
group had decided that the time had now come for action and not propaganda
alone that there came to be established the centre at <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Manicktolla</st1:PlaceName>
 <st1:PlaceType>Gardens</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in Muraripukur. The
section entrusted with real work and the people concerned with propaganda were
to form two distinct groups; one was to work in secret, the other out in the
open. Hence the work of Yugantar was entrusted to the propaganda group.
The gentleman who took charge was named Taranath Roy. <span class=GramE>Those
who had hitherto been on the staff of the paper left it and joined the </span><st1:place><st1:PlaceName><span
  class=GramE>Manicktolla</span></st1:PlaceName><span class=GramE> </span><st1:PlaceType><span
  class=GramE>Gardens</span></st1:PlaceType></st1:place><span class=GramE> for
intensive training and work.</span> <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It
</span>was however agreed that here too there would be two groups, one for
regular work and the other for propaganda. Only, the propaganda here would be
of a different kind, for here it would not be possible to speak openly of armed
revolt as that would be to draw the attention of the authorities to the regular
workers. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It </span>was therefore
decided to have a paper in Bengali with a policy analogous to that of Bandemataram.
A paper named Navashakti was already there, owned and conducted by
Sri Manoranjan Guhathakurta. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It </span>had
a house rented in <st1:Street><st1:address>Grey Street</st1:address></st1:Street>
(<st1:place>North Calcutta</st1:place>). An understanding was reached between
the parties so that the spirit and letter of Yugantar could continue in
and through Navashakti. The house was built more or less on the pattern
of the one we had later at Shyampukur. There were two flats. The one in front
was used as the Navashakti office; Sri Aurobindo occupied the other with
his wife, Mrinalini&quot;.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:9.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>A
word about Manoranjan Guhathakurta will not be out</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 357<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

</div>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE>of</span>
place here. In that epoch Aswinikumar Dutt and Manoranjan Guhathakurta of
Barisal were two of the mighty pillars of nationalism. But whatever their
achievements as political leaders and selfless patriots, as writers and
orators, it was their greatness of character that mattered more. By a great
character I mean one in whom there has awakened in a certain measure and
manifested to some extent the inner being and the indwelling spirit; this is
what Vivekananda used to call the awakening of the Brahman in the individual. I
had come to know Sri Manoranjan Guhathakurta personally and I had been to his
house in Giridih and stayed with him more than once. Giridih being not very far
from Deoghar, he was aware that we dabbled in the bomb. He was not only aware
of <span class=GramE>it,</span> he also gave us all his help and sympathy. It
had even been suggested that a factory for the making of bombs might be tried
somewhere around the mica pits he owned in that region. His eldest son Satyendra had been a schoolmate and friend of Barin and the two were
practically co-workers. This family had helped Barin a good deal by their
offers of money and advice. But what I had in mind was not these external
things but an inner life. Manoranjan Guhathakurta had an inner life, a life of sadhana.
His wife in particular was known for her sadhana. In his
eyes the service of the country was an occasion and a means for the service of
God. But his saintliness or sadhana did not stand in the way
of his strength of character. In him there was a fine blend of strength and
sweetness.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.75pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Manoranjan's
son Chittaranjan became for a time a centre of great excitement and violent
agitation in those days. There was a session of the Bengal Provincial
Conference at <st1:City><st1:place>Barisal</st1:place></st1:City> which was
attended by all the leaders like Sri Aurobindo and Bepin Pal. But there came a
clash with the Government, the police raided the pavilion and attacked 'the
procession with lathis. The boy Chittaranjan went on shouting &quot;Bande
Mataram&quot; as the police beat him mercilessly. He fell down wounded and
covered with blood but he did not cease his</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 358<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

</div>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;Bande Mataram&quot;.
This raised a furious storm of protest throughout the country, which gave an
opening to the terrorists too.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.25pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>This
shining example of non-violent resistance occurred long before the Gandhian
era. To us who were in favour of armed resistance this kind of forbearance
seemed intolerable. When, after this incident, the journalists and the poets
began to sing in chorus, of &quot;<st1:City><st1:place>Barisal</st1:place></st1:City>
of glorious virtue&quot;, we could not help adding with a little sting,
&quot;thanks to those beatings.&quot;</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.5pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>I
have said that Sri Aurobindo came to occupy with Mrinalini a portion of the
house in <st1:Street><st1:address>Grey Street</st1:address></st1:Street>. <span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>It </span>was here that they arrested
him later. The Navashakti too did not last long. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>In </span>the course of their search, the police discovered in one
of the rooms occupied by Sri Aurobindo a lump of clay, which Mrinalini had
brought from Dakshineswara as a sacred relic. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:
bold'>But </span>the suspicions of the police were not to be allayed so
easily. They thought it might as well be some kind of raw material for the
manufacture of bombs, so they had it sent to their chemical laboratories for a
chemical analysis!<o:p></o:p></p>

</span>

</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.5pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Now
let me come to the story of this final rounding up. For some time past almost
all of us had been noticing one thing. Whenever we went out on whatever
business, for shopping or to visit people, somebody seemed to be following us,
from a little distance no doubt but it was clear enough that we were being
watched. When we stopped, he too would stop; if we tarried a little, he too
kept himself occupied on some pretext or other. We talked about this among
ourselves and made the great discovery that this must be what they called spying,
and that we must henceforth take extra precautions. So far, we had never had
this kind of trouble. Ours had been a secret society only in name, for the
whole thing was out in the open. Anybody could enter the Gardens from anywhere
at any time and move about the place, for it was all open compound without any
fencing or walls. That is why on the morning of our arrest, a couple of boys
from the neighbourhood also found <span class=GramE>themselves</span> under 

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>
<i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 359<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

</div>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE>arrest</span>
along with us. <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>In </span>piteous
tones they implored the policemen, &quot;We are innocent, sirs; we came here
only for a morning stroll.&quot; The poor innocents!<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.5pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>The
evening before our arrest, it was already getting dark and we were thinking of
retiring for the night, when some voices came to our ears in a rather peculiar
way, and lanterns were seen moving about in the dark. &quot;Who are you? What
do you do here?&quot; the voices said. We did our best to give evasive replies.
&quot;Very well, then, we come again tomorrow morning and will know more about
it.&quot; With these words, the strangers seemed to make their exit. Were these
warning voices? <span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>In </span>spite
of our dull wits, we could understand at least this <span class=GramE>much that
things</span> were now getting rather serious and that we must take our
precautions. The first thing we decided upon was that we should leave the place
before daybreak and disperse. Upen told us later that he had wanted us to disperse
immediately and make no further delay. But that was obviously not to be, for it
was destined that we should pass through the experience of jail. Nevertheless,
we did start doing something at once; that was to remove all traces, by burning
or hiding away or whatever other means, of anyhting that might raise a
suspicion against us. The very first thing that came to our heads was this.
There were two or three rifles in the house where Sri Aurobindo lived. They
were in the custody of. Abinash (Abinash Bhattacharya) who lived with him and
looked after Sri Aurobindo's affairs. Those rifles must be removed at <span
class=GramE>once,</span> they could on no account be left there. Had the police
found them on Sri Aurobindo's premises, it might have been more difficult to
secure his release. The rifles were brought back, they were packed in two boxes
bound with iron hoops, together with the few revolvers we had and all the
materials for the making of bombs, and hidden away underground. Next, getting
hold of all our papers that might contain names and addresses and plans, we set
fire to them. This went on far into the night. We could not</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 360<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center>

</div>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:11.0pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>We
went to bed after doing away with all we could, in the hope that we might run
away by daybreak. But the running away did not materialise. In the early hours
of the morning, – it was not yet light, – we were awakened by an eerie sort of
noise. We sat up in bed. But what was all this going on? Shadowy forms were
moving about the place, there <span class=GramE>was</span> a clatter and a
creaking of boots. Suddenly out of the dark silence, a conversation arose:</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;You are under
arrest. <span class=GramE>Your name?&quot;</span><o:p></o:p></p>

</span>

</span><span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal; mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>
<span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;Barindra Kumar
Ghose.&quot;</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;Arabinda
Ghose?&quot;<o:p></o:p></p>

</span>

</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;No, Barindra Kumar
Ghose.&quot;</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>&quot;Well, we'll
see.&quot;<o:p></o:p></p>

</span>

</span></span>
<span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>The next thing I knew was a hand clapping on my
shoulders. &quot;Come,&quot; said a voice.</span><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

<span style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.15in;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Several
people have expressed great surprise at this facile surrender on our part, as
though we were goody-goody boys innocent as lambs. Why, it has been asked, did
we not give them fight and take a few lives before we surrendered? But our aims
were of another kind, our <span class=GramE>path,</span> our very policy was of
another character. Our goal was not to die a martyr's death. We wanted to be
soldiers. The martyr is happy if he can give up his life. But the duty of the
soldier is not to give his life but to take the lives of others. The soldier
seeks the maximum protection for himself, he goes under cover, and he seeks to
kill as many of the enemy as he can. He does not think it enough that he should
only sacrifice himself. No doubt there comes a time when it is no longer
possible</span></span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 361<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
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</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE>to</span>
find a shelter or go under cover, it may not even be desirable. Then one
throws off one's masks, one comes out in the open and acts in the way so
vividly described in these <span class=GramE>lines</span> of Rabindranath:<o:p></o:p></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>There began a scramble<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>As to who should be the
first to give up his life; </p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>That was the only hurry.</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

</span>

<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:
none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Or else, the way the Light
Brigade of England acted at <st1:place>Balaclava</st1:place> in the Crimean
War:<o:p></o:p></p>

<b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Into the
jaws of Death, </p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Into the
mouth of Hell, </p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:150%;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span
class=GramE>Rode the six hundred.</span><o:p></o:p></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>The Japanese soldiers too
in one of their encounters with the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War did not
wait to build a bridge over the ramparts of a ditch; they made a solid bridge
with the pile of their dead as they jumped in one after the other and let the
army march over their bodies. To save oneself does not mean that one should,
like Nandalal of the comic skit, take a vow to &quot;keep oneself alive at any
cost, for the good of the country and all&quot;, or live by the bourgeois
doctrine that one should always save oneself anyhow, even by the sacrifice of
one's wife, a<span style='mso-bidi-font-style:
italic'>tmanam satatam rakset darairapi dhanairapi.</span><o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:10.3pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>That
is why we used to tease Paresh Mallick and called him a descendant of Nandalal.
Have I told you the story? He was once deputed to present Kingsford, the
Presidency Magistrate, with a live bomb packed in the form of a book; the bomb
was to explode as soon as the book was opened. Paresh went in the garb of an
Englishman's bearer. We looked out every day for an account in the papers of
some serious accident to Kingsford. But nothing happened. He seemed to be
attending court regularly and was apparently</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

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mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 362<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

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mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

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</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE>quite</span>
safe and sound. So we had to ask Paresh at last if he had in fact reached the
bomb to its destination or whether he had thrown it away somewhere to save his
own skin. However, the bomb was found later among a pile of books belonging
to the Magistrate. It had been lying there safely and caused no harm. The
people were demanding vengeance upon Kingsford because he had sentenced a young
student, Sushil, to flogging, simply because the boy was involved in a tussle
with the police. That was an occasion for us terrorists. Sushil later on joined
the revolutionary group at Manicktolla.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:10.55pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>The
police had on more than one occasion suggested to Sri Aurobindo, in order that
he might feel flattered or perhaps even get excited and be moved to act
according to their wishes, that a strong and truthful and straightforward man
like him could certainly not adopt a false pose or act in secret; that he had
the courage to do openly whatever he considered to be his duty or the right
thing to do; that he would never care to run away and hide himself; and that
whatever he did he would frankly acknowledge and say without hesitation, &quot;Yes,
it is I who have done it.&quot; But Sri Aurobindo was not to be trapped like
that: He held that far more important than any question of personal honour or
indignities, or a parading of one's capacity or virtue, was the work to be done
and its success. He would cite the example of Sri Krishna in the Mahabharata
story; Sri Krishna had no intention of being caught by Jarasandha and he fled
to Dwarka in order to make ready for the adversary. That is why Sri Aurobindo
did not consider a retreat to be a bad thing always. &quot;We live to fight
another day&quot;: this should be the motto of the soldier. That is why he left
standing instructions with Barin and his group that they were not to admit
anything immediately they were caught by the police. They should keep their
mouths shut and make whatever statements were necessary only when the time came
at a later stage. It is however true that Barin and some of the senior members
of the group did</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

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mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>
<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 363<o:p></o:p></span></p>

</span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'>

<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.95pt;
mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none'>

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</i></b><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;line-height:150%;mso-pagination:
none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'><span class=GramE>make</span>
a full confession soon after their arrest. But they did that purposely, with a
view to save the party by the sacrifice of some of its members. They had hoped
that by taking on themselves all the responsibility, the others might be proved
to have been innocent, so that instead of all of us dying together, some might
still live on to carry the work forward.<o:p></o:p></p>

<p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify;text-indent:12.45pt;line-height:
150%;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0'>Nevertheless,
we were all arrested in a body. The police made us stand in a line under the
strict watch of an armed guard. They kept us standing the whole day with hardly
anything to eat. Only towards the evening, some of them were kind enough to get
us some fried stuff from the market. Our throats were so dry by the time that
we would have gladly taken a sip out of that famous pond of ours. <span
style='mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'>In </span>the evening, the order came,
&quot;Follow us.&quot; But follow where? I somehow had the feeling that here
was the end - &quot;Remember, 0 <span class=GramE>soul</span>, the day of the
Great Departure.&quot; I could not conceive at the moment that a case would
have to be framed against us, that there must take place a trial and there
might be a counsel to defend us. I thought on the contrary that they would take
us straight to <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName>William</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
and finish us off with a firing squad! I was in fact getting myself ready for
that. But things turned out rather differently. The British Government could
not be so heartless after all. We were taken to the lock-up at the Lal Bazar
police station. There they kept us for nearly two days and nights. This was
perhaps the most trying time of all. We had no bath, no food, not even a wink
of sleep. The whole lot of us were herded together like beasts and shut up in a
cell. The police showed by their manner how rude and bitter they could be.
Then, after having been through all this, we were taken to Alipore Jail one
evening. There we were received with great kindness and courtesy by the
gentleman in charge. He said, &quot;Now there will be no more of that
harassment by the police. You will find it quite comfortable here.&quot; And he
had us served immediately with hot cooked rice. This was our first meal in
three days, and it tasted so nice and sweet that we felt as if we were in
heaven.<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

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<span
style='font-size:10.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;'>Page – 364</span></span><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><i
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><span
style='mso-bidi-font-style:normal'><o:p></o:p></p>

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