But again, there are some who are not at all good singers, but they think they are super-excellent singers. They are like my Brother Mantu. He always thinks he has a good singing voice. In those days at the Ashram, there was an excellent singer from whom I learned a few songs. He had a group of singers, and he was so kind-hearted – he used to take anybody with no discrimination. My brother Mantu wanted to join that group, but alas, when they used to perform, Mantu used to ruin everything. My sister Lily used to run away from there, saying that Mantu was ruining the whole thing. But he never recognised, he never realised that he was such a poor singer.
For a few years Mantu used to sing for me Tagore’s songs in his own way. He did not learn even one song of Tagore correctly. But out of my compassion, my affection, I used to listen to his singing. I used to appreciate his singing most sincerely, and he used to get tremendous joy from my appreciation.
When my eldest brother Hriday joined the Ashram, a brilliant idea flashed across his forehead. He wanted to become a great singer, so he wrote to Sri Aurobindo for permission, saying that he would like to learn songs from a good singer who happened to be his very close friend. His name was Sanjivan. Again, the teacher also wrote to Sri Aurobindo to get permission for my brother Hriday. Sri Aurobindo wrote very nicely to my brother, “Singing, music? It is all vital, vital, vital. You do not need it.” Then to the teacher Sri Aurobindo wrote, “He is useless. He will not be able to carry a single note.”
My brother was so proud. He went to his friend, his would-be music teacher, to show him, “Look, singing is vital.” Then Sanjivan showed him what Sri Aurobindo had written about my brother’s capacity. This is how Sri Aurobindo used to play the role of a grandfather.
When Hriday joined the Ashram, my brother Chitta also had the strong desire to come and join. Hriday had already broken the hearts of our family, specially my father. He wanted Chitta to take care of the family. But then Chitta wrote a letter to Hriday, “I also would like to join the Ashram.”
Hriday forwarded Chitta’s letter to Sri Aurobindo, with Hriday’s opinion. He said, “I would like to tell you that Chitta is useless, useless. Do not allow him to come.” Then my brother was absolutely sure that Sri Aurobindo would not allow Chitta to come to the Ashram. Alas, Sri Aurobindo said, “No, I have so many useful disciples. Let me have a few useless disciples. Since I have so many useful disciples, now I would like to have a few useless disciples.” So my brother Chitta spent some time at the Ashram, long before we all went to live there.From:Sri Chinmoy,Only One Reality Sri Chinmoy, Agni Press, 2025
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