Paper presented at
the 5 th World Atheist Conference organized by Atheist Center Vijawada at
Siddhardtha Stadium
on January 7,8,9 of
2005
THE BUSINESS EMPIRES OF GODMEN:
A STUDY ON AUROBINDO ASHRAM
N.Nandhivarman General
Secretary Dravida Peravai
Every
bearded person with a saffron dress could become a saint in India. These pious
men show the way to God, most theists’ think. But in reality they portray them
as God and in that process fleece money from public and build their business
empire. A freedom fighter Aurobindo Ghosh who fled from Bengal landed in
Pondicherrry as refugee. He came under the influence of Paul Richard, a
philosopher whose works he ventured to translate from French. Mahakavi
Bharathiar introduced to Aurobindo Ghosh the literature of Tamil Siddhars
especially Thirumoolar who wrote Thirumanthiram. As a blend of these influences
with the mastery Aurobindo had over English he could write many books. Because
he had been elevated to God status, no one dares to research the origins of his
philosophy and the sources of his inspiration. But the learned judges of the
Supreme Court had in their verdict admitted him to be only a philosopher and
nothing more. Yet his followers propagate the idea that he is an avatar, which
is an affront on the decision of the Supreme Court bench. In a bench judgment
in the S.P.Mittal versus Union of India (AIR 1983) case Chief Justice
V.Chandrachud, Justices P.N.Bhagawathy, V.Balakrishna Erady and R.B.Mishra with
the exception of dissenting O.Chinnappa Reddy have made it clear that Aurobindo
is only a Poet and Philosopher.
The
Encyclopedia Britannica (1978 edition) describes Aurobindo Ghosh as “ seer,
poet and Indian nationalist who originated the philosophy of cosmic salvation
through spiritual evolution, a divine experience that will appear through the
development of Gnostic mean to usher in a transcendental spiritual age in which
man and the Universe are destined to become divine. Aurobindo’s theory of
cosmic salvation, the paths to Union with Brahman is two way streets or
channels. Enlightenment comes to man from above while the spiritual mind
(super-mind) of man strives through yogic illumination to reach upward from
below. When these two forces blend in an individual a Gnostic man is created.
This yogic illumination transcends both reason and intuition and eventually
leads to freeing of the individual from the bonds of individuality and by
extension all mankind will eventually achieve mukthi (liberation) Thus
Aurobindo created a dialectic mode of salvation not only for the individual but
also for all mankind ”. Says the definition.
Karl Marx and dialectical materialism stands proven in the
test of times whereas those who tried to rope the word dialectical for
salvation stands proven to be false prophets.
Under the head History of Hinduism,
Encyclopedia Britannica says, “Another modern teacher whose doctrines have had
some influence outside India was Aurobindo, who began a career as a
revolutionary. He with drew from politics, however, and settled in Pondicherry,
then a French possession. There he established an ashrama (a retreat) and
achieved high reputation as a sage. His followers looked on him as first
reincarnate manifestation of super beings whose evolution he prophesized and
apparently he did not discourage this belief. After his death, the leadership
of the Ashram was taken over by The Mother Madame Mira Richard, a Frenchwoman
who had been one of his leading disciples” Well it is the Mira Richard’s
husband Paul Richard, whose works Aurobindo translated were one of the reasons
for his philosophy to blossom. Let impartial researchers dig deep into the
writings of both to arrive at a conclusion who influenced whom?
Aurobindo Ghosh, the reincarnation of
Lord Krishna according to his followers could not prove his philosophy while he
lived. He could use the mastery of the language to mesmerize people but he
failed to become a Super human being. He passed away like other mortals. While
he passed away rumours were spread that there will be a resurrection, a feeble
attempt to equalize with Christian beliefs. That too failed, and he is laid to
rest at Ashram. His philosophy also is laid to rest there. Yet even after
God-man fails in his claims the spiritual business empires built by their
followers are keen to keep alive a falsity and a failed promise.
After the original prophet failed, then
French woman Mira Richard became the Mother to lead the Ashram. Did she
succeed? She succeeded Aurobindo as Spiritual Master but did she succeed in
proving the philosophy? Let us think this aspect here. The collected words of
Mira Richard had been published and recorded in audiocassettes. Mother’s Agenda
as the book calls itself claims that “ This tremendous document 6000 pages and
in the 13 volumes is the day to day account over twenty two years of Mothers
exploration into the body consciousness and of her discovery of a cellular mind
capable of restructuring the nature of the body and the laws of the species as
drastically as one day the first stammering of a thinking mind transformed the
nature of the ape. It is a veritable document of experimental evolution. A
revolution in consciousness that alters the laws of the species. And it is the
question of our times, for whatever appearances, we are not at the end of a
civilization but at the end of an evolutionary cycle. Are we going to find the
passage to next species…. or perish? As scrupulously as a scientist in his
laboratory, Mother goes back to the origins of matters formation to the
primordial code, and there by chance stumbles upon the very power that changes
death and upon a new energy which curiously parallels the most recent theories
on the subatomic nature of matter. The key to matter contains the key to death
and the key to next species”
The spiritual lady prophet who found the key to death is
dead. Perhaps she had lost that key. And Aurobindo Ashram all these years had
been searching for that key, and none found. Mira Richard did not succeed in
altering the laws of species. And yet why she should be revered? Why should there
be an ashram to propagate a failed theory? And why Ashram has no Guru after
her? Why her followers failed to identify one successor to her seat? An ashram
or mutt without a Guru in the own definition of Aurobindo had only to down its
shutters. What exists is a mere Trust and subsidiary trusts.
About the Trust and its subsidiaries we
had complained to the Government of India. Dravida
Peravai complained to then UNION FINANCE MINISTER YASWANT SINHA on
10.10.1998.UNION DEFENCE MINISTER GEORGE FERNANDES had forwarded that
complaint on 14 th October, and the Union Finance Minister had replied on 2nd
November 1998. We reproduce that memorandum here.
“Poorest
of the poor too are contributing their mite via indirect taxes. In such a
situation, planned tax evasions and abuse of exemptions amounts to gravest of
the crime. Finance ministry must monitor
the end use of exemptions, at least in cases where its attention is drawn.
Motive: The motive to float a Trust must not be for tax evasion. Let us have a
look at the resolution-dated 19.12.1975 of Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust. The
opening lines are given in quote:
“ It has been decided in the interest
of ashram that in order to be free from Income Tax on its business incomes that
would otherwise be attracted inevitably because of the new Income Tax Amendment
Act 1975 and the recent decisions of Supreme Court on Trusts doing business,
the Ashram shall stop doing business and its existing businesses shall be taken
over by Aurobindo Ashram Harpagan Workshop Trust………………………”
It is becoming crystal clear to one and
all that the very name WORKSHOP in the TRUST sounds odd. It is similar to
accosting a person as Mohammed Ibrahim Iyer. Management: It is to be noted that
Mr.L.M.Pinto, a Goan is the founder of
Aurobindo Ashram Harpagan workshop Trust. When SAAT transferred its business
units to this Trust, as stated above to evade TAX, the names of the new
Trustees of this Aurobindo Ashram Workshop Trust needs to be mentioned. They
are Udar alias L.M.Pinto, Pradyot, Harikant.C.Patel, Dyuman, and Counama. SAME
PERSONS WHO ARE TRUSTEES IN THIRU AUROBINDO ASHRAM TRUST HAVE OVERNIGHT BECOME
TRUSTEES IN AUROBINDO ASHRAM HARPAGAN WORKSHOP TRUST. Old wine bottled in new
bottle is clearly for tax evasion and nothing else, it will become proven
without an iota of doubt…so continues the memorandum. That is tax evasion.
At the time of passing
the Auroville Foundation Act, Mrs.Indira Gandhi sent her Home Minister to
solicit opinion from within and came to the right conclusion .If the Center is
blind to the on goings in ashram let them regret at a later date when things
will go beyond a stage of redemption. Various agencies of the Center are
regularly getting information on the scandals inside the ashram, and yet if
Center pretends that all is well there, they will be blamed by the public for
their inaction and passive submission to the criminalized management at the
helm of affairs. This is with regard to ashram and its subsidiary trusts.
But
there exists a so-called international city, a dream of the Late Mira Richard,
known as Mother of Aurobindo Ashram. That can be said to be the story of
deceit. Right from the beginning their aim is to establish a Vatican type of
autonomous state.
1. Fact: NEW CITY STATE: Dr.Kirit Joshi Chairman of Governing Board
with an Auroville delegation met Dr.Murli Manohar Joshi Minister for Hinduvta
Development and Dr.Jagmohan Minister for Urban Development and presented the
Master Plan ratified by the Governing Board in 18 &19 of December
1999. Earlier Residents Assembly had approved. (Source: Auroville
Land Fund News Letter Number 12 April-May 2000) Question: Assembly
in lexicon may mean different, here it seems Auro-villians consider it a
city-state like Roman city-state.
2.Fact: RE-COLONIZATION A global campaign to
raise $ 1 million or 5 crores by Mother’s birthday on 21 st Febraury 2004.
(From 1 st January to November 2003 $ 550.000 has been donated) This is
twice the amount Land Fund usually receives in a year. An excellent boost for
Land Fund, and the equivalent of about 65 acres of precious land for
Auroville. (Source: Land Fund News Letter number 31 November- December
2003) . Question: If $ 550,000 dollars can buy 65 acres what price
is for 1 acre, and whether that price goes to the actual owner?
3.Fact: POLITICS OF ANARCHY: What political organization
do you want for Auroville? To this question Mirra Alfasa replies: An amusing
definition occurs to me: A divine anarchy. But the world will not
understand. Men must be conscious of their psychic being and organize
themselves spontaneously, without fixed rules and laws- that is the ideal. (Source:
Draft II of a working paper on an international organization for Auroville
September 2001)
Question: Mirra Alfasa, as you said world in
your time may not understand the DIVINE ANARCHY let loose by you, but in
present day even a LKG child will understand that you are against the laws of
the land and want to create a lawless society.
4.Fact: A SEPARATE CURRENCY for a community
within India is the first step to establish a city-state like Vatican here. Out
of 191 member states of the world in United Nations, Vatican has opted out to
remain outside the purview of UN, in spite of enjoying a status of a separate
country. Similarly Aurovillians want to keep Auroville outside India and its
constitution. THE FIRST STEP TO INTRODUCE AUROSE, a legal tender for Auroville
is in place. (Source: Auroville News April 7 th 2001) Question: Who is the Finance Minister
of this new state, not born out of Tamil extremism but a product of Auro
extremism?
5. Fact: EMBASSY IN DELHI: The newly yet to be
independent country or a princely state or a colony of Kashmir Maharaja Hari
Singh’s son Karan Singh intends to open an embassy in the National capital of
Delhi. “ There is a possible opening for an Auroville “embassy” in Delhi through
the possible help from Indian Habitat Centre.” (Source: Auroville News Feb
19 th 2000) Question: Before attaining freedom from India Auro
extremists want an embassy. Will government of India allow Nagaland and other
claimants of separate nations to open an embassy in Delhi?
Well
all that is said are with regard to one Godman, the so-called reincarnation of
Lord Krishna namely Aurobindo Ghosh. There are many Godmen in India like the
Jayendra Saraswathi swamigal of Kanchi kamakodi peeth. The very foundation of
this mutt is shaky, not because of tsunami but because of the castles of lies
over which it rests. A 1933 Bombay High Court judgment said “ It is not
disputed that the religious reformer Shankara, about the 8 th century A.D
established four mutts or monasteries for sanyasis and ascetics in the North
South, East and West of India.” Patna High Court in 1936 also had only
recognized 4 mutts. During 1972 the Supreme Court of India stated that Sankara
established four mutts as seats of religion at four ends on India, The Sringeri
mutt on the sringeri hills in the south, the Sharada mutt on the Dwaraka in the
west, the Badrinath mutt at Badrinath in the north and the Goverdana mutt at
Puri in the East. Each of the mutts has a sanyasi as its head who bears the
title of Shankaracharya in general. Sankara is said to have had 4 principle
disciples who were all Brahmins. The orthodox Hindu recognizes no other
sanyasis”
In
a land governed by a constitution and rule of law, even after High courts and
Supreme Court had said that only 4 mutts were created by Sankara, how come
Kanchi mutt be a Shankara mutt and the daytime sanyasi and night time samsaris
can hold the tag of Shankaracharya? Is it not a fraud committed on the people
of India? To claim a status of Shankaracharya to a mutt head, which has no true
inheritance of that mantle, is a daylight fraud over which till now no
punishment is meted out. Quack Shankaracharyas too can roam as Godman and build
business empires, all ends well for the spiritual capitalists. Let us expose
all Indian Godman living or dead!
N.Nandhivarman
General Secretary Dravida Peravai
39
Montorsier Street Pondicherry 605001
Tel:
0413-2221025 Email : annaist@sify.com /
