Dyuman
Dyuman "The Luminous"
SABDA Newsletter, June 2003
(Shyam Sunder:) “Dyuman was the name given by Sri Aurobindo to Chunilal Desaibhai Patel. He came to live at the Ashram on 5.5.1927, which happens to be the day I was born. Speaking of it to me, he would joke, “So, I am your age.”
A tireless worker, he had many things to do. He cleaned the carpet of Mother's room every morning when Mother was in the bathroom. Then he cleaned the staircase. He served breakfast, lunch and dinner to Mother. He replied to his large number of correspondents in longhand and promptly, even in the wee hours. He was concerned with the problem of the continuous financial shortage at the Ashram and was also the supplier of food for the Ashramites and in charge of the Dining Room.
Dyuman's aim of self-sufficiency in food goaded him to acquire agricultural lands and grow crops there. At his fixed hours he went to the farms to look after the work there. He was often seen with a straw hat on his head on the way to the farms. “I'm a farmer,” he often said. The straw hat went well with his usual plain dress of white dhoti and white banyan, with a full sleeve bush shirt added in the cool season.
Dyumanbhai regarded Auroville equally as Mother's work along with the Ashram. He dreamed of being the food supplier to Auroville and with the same aim of self-sufficiency in food wanted to organise and run agricultural farms at Auroville. I received a letter from him, written in the early hours of the morning, conveying his idea of serving Mother's Auroville by freeing the Auroville residents from the food problem. The letter breathed the enthusiasm of this great worker of Mother's.
About 135 acres of barren land belonged to Auroville in the village of Puchipalayam near Vanur. Dyuman had the talent of making farms out of barren land and this site he took over for the purpose. It was named ‘Annapurna Farm’ after the Mother Goddess who gives food to the world.
Dyumanbhai selected a man from Andhra for the work at the site and the work started. The work went on with the combined financial resources of Auroville and Dyumanbhai's own friends. He was of the view that the farm work was the Matrimandir in Matter and should be given top priority and his spirit of work was admirable.
... Coming back to Annapurna Farm, a day came when he had to give it up due to the Auroville happenings. He was not spared the rude treatment which had become a usual feature there.”[1]
(Mother when Dyuman suffered a nervous breakdown due to overwork, December 1933:) “My child,
I would like you to go to bed now. I am sending you a hot tisane which is expected to make you perspire.
As I am not sure that you have something sufficiently warm to cover yourself in bed, I am sending you a cover.”[2]
(Mother to Dyuman, March 1934:) “Certainly our relation is bound to become more and more close and strong and intimate.
Only your insistence is on the work – and my insistence is on your health first.
I have just heard somebody coughing. Is it you? It seems to me that, until you are quite free from this cough, it would be better not to rise before the sun rises; because these early morning hours are very cold and that helps in prolonging the illness.”[3]
- (Dyuman, June 1934:) “Mother,
Today I was threatened with clouds, dark clouds; but now all that has passed away quietly. Mother, forgetfulness of Your Loving Presence, even for a few minutes, brought such a deathlike condition – it was quite unbearable. I felt so relieved when it passed away.
(Mother:) I do not understand how clouds can come to you now and am quite sure that they cannot remain at all. You must have caught it from somebody. Be careful to always keep the living Presence and Protection around you when you speak to people.
With all love always.”[4]
- (Dyuman, July 1934:) “Dear Mother,
It has always seemed to me that I do not know the meaning of Bhakti. But like a river, my entire being flows and flows towards You. This is all that I know, Mother, and I wish that it may flow more and more, rise in floods, break all limits and disappear once and for all into Your Love.
(Mother:) This is bhakti and nothing else.”[5]
- (Dyuman, September 1934:) “Beloved Mother,
There is nothing that can stop my union with You. Boils or no boils, nothing can prevent me from merging into Your Love.”[6]
- (Dyuman, December 1934:) “My dear Mother,
S has not taken her evening food, for reasons she knows. I do not, but most probably I am the culprit.
(Mother:) I do not think you are the culprit. I must be the culprit because she wanted to embroider a crown for me in gold and I said that I had no gold thread that I could give, which is the plain truth.
All these moods are absurd, and the best thing is not to mind them at all. A perfect equanimity is the strongest power.”[7]
- (Dyuman, December 1934:) “My dear Mother,
I don't know how far it is true, but I feel that I am a being who has come down upon earth and taken up the human form only to manifest the Divine Will. I am eternal, unborn and immortal.
Let me tell You, after having this consciousness I feel myself untouched by anything and I find the strength of the lower life completely broken.
(Mother:) Your consciousness is quite true and I am happy you have come to realise this. Keep this consciousness in all humility towards the Divine because such is the condition of an integral realisation.
Our blessings are with you.”[8]
- (Dyuman, May 1936:) “My dear Mother,
Bushy the cat has quietly brought her kittens into my room and put them under my table, just near my feet. I wish she would go to her room.
(Mother:) You can try to remove them, but generally cats are very obstinate.”[9]
