A Tribute to Ranju-da

The passing of Ranju-da has left a void in the throb of the life of the Ashram. His regular presence and work at the Ashram Reading Room was both exemplary and inspiring.

For me, personally, the loss is a blow. What comfort and solace he gave me by his continuous friendship extending over five decades is indescribable. Mature nobility, sincere collaboration with all that came from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, as also his readiness to give his best to all impartially and for the total good of all — these were his great qualities for which my admiration for him will always remain undiminished.

Ranju-da’s erudition was great, and yet he was greatly reticent, and even his editorials for the Advent was more eloquent than the words that he wrote. He believed rightly that what we can write has been written more elaborately, effectively and beneficially by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. He was therefore brief both in his writings and even in conversations.

One incident of which he used to remind me and which always gladdened my heart was the conversation that Nolini-da had with Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, the then Minister of External Affairs. During that conversation Nolini-da, while explaining his trust in regard to the work which was assigned to me at that time by the then Prime Minister, told him: “Kireet is like my son.” And soon after saying it, he said: “Yes, Kireet is my son.”

Being the eldest son of Nolini-da, he could have assumed much pride in his behaviour and in holding high positions of responsibility in the Ashram. But he was inwardly very humble, and he respected whatever work was assigned him. For this quality of genuine humility, I hold him in greatest respect.

Truly, Ranju-da was very near and dear to me and he will always remain so for ever.

First published in The Advent, Vol. 70, No. 3, August 2013, p. 4. Page scans: p. 4.