Photographs of Nolini Kanta Gupta and Champaklal Purani by Paulette Hadnagy

Dear Friends,

A set of photographs of the late Nolini Kanta Gupta (1889—1984) and Champaklal Purani (1903—1992) taken by Paulette Hadnagy in 1983 has been published in the online forum of Overman Foundation. These photographs were exhibited in an exhibition organized by her at Auroville Pitanga from 14 February to 3 March 2003 and successively at the Centre for Indian Culture at Auroville from 12 March to 2 April of that same year under the title of “Mother’s Children: Photographs of Sadhaks and Children”. In 2011 the first part of the exhibition was displayed again at Auroville Pitanga.

We are extremely thankful to Paulette Hadnagy for allowing us to publish the photographs of Nolini Kanta Gupta and Champaklal Purani in the online forum of Overman Foundation.

With warm regards,
Anurag Banerjee
Founder,
Overman Foundation.

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Nolini Kanta Gupta and Champaklal Purani:

Photographs taken in 1983

Feeling that I may soon have to leave to settle in Auroville, my place of destiny, the need arose in me to record what was still left of the atmosphere that, ten years earlier, I had recognized at first sight as ‘home’, the abode of my soul: the Samadhi where lay Sri Aurobindo’s and the Mother’s bodies. Through some early inmates, who had surrendered everything to tread the path of Integral Yoga, I had glimpses of what life must have been like during the golden years, under the Masters’ direct guidance, during the time that They charted the journey to the Supermind and a unitary world of free multiplicity. Bathing in the atmosphere of those sadhaks was for me the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which Nolini-da had called “paradise on earth.”

In 1983-1984 I took photographs of the sadhaks and life and work at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. By then many well-known disciples had died, but a few were still alive; like Champaklal Purani, the devoted personal attendant to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother for over fifty years, and Nolini Kanta Gupta, whom Sri Aurobindo considered the first disciple capable of following Their new Path. Even discolored and contaminated by fungi, and further harmed by having been stored in a cupboard, under a keet roof in Auroville’s green belt, for fifteen years, these pictures are my treasure, acting as a talisman that has kept me here all these years, overcoming all obstacles. Whenever I felt like leaving, it was enough for me to look at the pictures of the illumined faces of those sadhaks, many of whom I did not even knew their name, but whose presence I carry forever in my heart.

The negatives, full of scratches, dots and other calamities, were patiently scanned and turned into positives by two seasoned Auroville photographers. Then began the task of picture reconstruction, with the computer program Adobe Photoshop into which I was initiated. Enlarging minute details of the pictures (in the case of Nolini and Champaklal, requiring over two hours each), created a sort of intimate communion with the subjects. I worked an average of twelve hours a day, fully concentrated on photographs of some of the most significant sadhaks of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, most of whom by then no longer existed on the physical plane. In this way I was able to come up with two exhibitions, “Mother’s Children”, Parts One and Two, so as to share the captured reality with other Aurovilians.

The pictures of Nolini and Champaklal were taken in the private spaces where they used to receive people. With Nolini I experienced absolute silence, and I related to him accordingly since the first time I met him, in his room, in 1973. Similarly, when I took an entire film on Champaklal, he was in silent conversation with two of Rishabchand’s granddaughters and their mother; since the Mother’s passing Champaklal took a vow of silence, although he maintained his relational poise.

Two years ago, for the second time, I displayed the first part of this exhibition, which I renamed “Sadhaks of Integral Yoga”, featuring Nolini and Champaklal, as well as several other sadhaks, Parichand, Bula, Kamalakanto, Rajangam, Saket Sen, Aruna, along with so many others of whom I did not even know their name, just content to feel the vibrations of a purely psychic quality, in their gentleness and quiet joy. One thing many of them had in common was, when in the presence of children, their capacity to become like children themselves, entering into a cheerful mood and playing with them. The reaction among Aurovilians and their guests was as moving as when I displayed the exhibition for the first time; the feeling was so intense that sometimes tears were shed.

Sadhaks of Integral Yoga, known and unknown… Flowers blossom through their service at the Gurus’ feet… I remember those faces with great tenderness. Nor will I ever forget the teaching of those years: the Divine is a child. Great are those sadhaks, of whom sometimes nothing is known except their kindness, their joyfulness and playfulness: true children of the Mother.

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NOLINI KANTA GUPTA
1889—1984

The most senior of Sri Aurobindo’s sadhaks, Nolini Kanta Gupta, was a freedom fighter and a philosopher, a scholar and a poet, a linguist and a critic. In 1908, together with Aurobindo and Barin Ghose and many Bengali youth, he was arrested for conspiracy in the Alipore bomb case. He was nineteen year old. Acquitted after one year in jail, at twenty-three Nolini rejoined Sri Aurobindo, six months after his arrival in Pondicherry, in 1910. Sharing the household with him and three other youths, the Master taught him Greek, Latin, French and Italian. But Nolini-da also got quite a reputation as a football player, and engaged in different sports activities up to his eighties.

The Mother established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926. Nolini Kanta Gupta served as secretary for over fifty years and, when in 1955 the Mother constituted the Ashram Trust, he became a trustee too. His collected works comprise eight volumes in English; he also published about 50 Bengali works, as well as articles and poems in English, Bengali and French. Besides luminous observations and enlightened commentaries on Integral Yoga, Nolini wrote with deep insights on a large variety of subjects—from political theory and international relations, to ancient and modern Western and Eastern literature and poetry, to music theory and esoteric yogic knowledge and many other topics. He was also the editor, or editorial adviser, of several English and Bengali journals.

Sri Aurobindo stated, “If Nolini does not know my Yoga, who does?”, “His is the pure mind”, and he told Nirodbaran, “I always see the Light descending into Nolini.” When he turned seventy-eighth the Mother wrote, “Happy Birthday Nolini en route towards the Superman” and, four years later, “Happy Birthday Nolini with my love and affection for a life of collaboration and my blessings for the prolonged continuation of this happy collaboration in peace and love.”

OF Nolini

OF Nolini 1

OF Nolini 2

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CHAMPAKLAL PURANI
1903-1992

Champaklal Purani, for over fifty years at the personal service to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, was a radiant example of abnegation and selflessness. The Mother’s “lion” first came to Pondicherry in 1921; two years later, at the age of twenty, he settled there. “I came here with the object of God-realisation. Here I found the stress on Transformation. Very soon, however, both receded and service took hold of my being entirely” was his comment.

Two excerpts from a posting in the Overman Foundation’s blog highlight the love by which Sri Aurobindo, shortly before leaving the body, rewarded his devoted attendant:

“[Sri Aurobindo] went to his bed and plunged deep within himself. It was during this period that he often came out of the trance, and each time leaned forward, hugged and kissed Champaklal who was sitting by the side of his bed. Champaklal also hugged him in return…We knew that Champaklal particularly longed for some tender outward expression. But Sri Aurobindo’s impersonal nature kept at bay all personal touches except during our birthday or Darshan pranams when he would pat and caress our heads. Now Champaklal had his heart’s yearning gratified to the full extent.”

“Though He [Sri Aurobindo] seemed to be unconscious He was not, which was evident by the fact that He drew Champaklal several times to His breast and kissed him lovingly and this Divine compassionate embrace was extended to Nirod and myself. [Dr. Prabhat Sanyal]”

10 CH faint smile palette

10 CH leaning

10 CH smiling

CH almost laughing copy

CH close up smiling eyes tu

CH new 34 right smiling eyes

CH profile

CH right down M

CHAMPAKL

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Nolini left his body a few months after I took these photographs. I was so intimidated by his towering presence that after taking four pictures I felt unable to continue. I don’t even know how I managed to click the button at all. During all the years I “knew” him, the relationship I had with Nolini was in silence. At five in the afternoon he used to do pradakshina around the Samadhi, where I waited with a flower for him. Without ever exchanging a word, he always looked into my eyes and I looked into his. I saw the Infinite, and still I see it…

In 1973 I was introduced to Champaklal by my friends, the two young granddaughters of Rishabchand, brought up at the Ashram by their aunt. From day one I was struck by the friendliness and overwhelming gracefulness of this unique personality.

Somebody told me that Champaklal had entered into silence to tame his outspokenness; but all I met was love, and joy, in a most contagious form.

In some of these photographs Champaklal reminds me of Michelangelo’s God in the Sistine Chapel. Yet the most beautiful picture I have ever seen of him is… one I never took…

The day my daughter Blanchefleur turned three we visited Champaklal-ji in his room. She offered him a rose, and, laughingly, he gave it back to her; and the two of them went on and on, mischievously playing with that rose…

Paulette Hadnagy

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About the Author: A senior member of Auroville, Paulette Hadnagy is an author and compiler whose published works include titles like At the Crossroads: the Evolution of the Spiritual Being, Immortal India—Towards the Ideal Society, The Gnostic Cycle—Towards the Supermind, Avatarhood—Human and Divine, Sri Aurobindo—Compassionate Grace and Laughter, Being of Gold—Our Goal of Self-Perfection, Becoming One—The Psychology of Integral Yoga, The Auroville Foundation Act and the Mother’s Guidelines: a Comparative Study and The New Being and the New Society: A Compilation of the Mother’s Words and Archival Material During the Formative Years of Auroville.

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10 Replies to “Photographs of Nolini Kanta Gupta and Champaklal Purani by Paulette Hadnagy

  1. These are true photos of the soul of these two noble subjects : their humour and benevolent temperament are present in these glimpses. Thanks, Paulette.
    Prithwindra

  2. Thanks for valuable gift. I was not awre of this collection otherwise I would have included few in my recent Book on Shri Champaklal,

    KIRITT THAKKAR

  3. Wonderful phtographs – very live indeed ! Thanks , Paulette and the seasoned Auroville photographers who revived the pictures.
    Nilkanth Desai

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