Collated by Tusar Nath Mohapatra
Nolini Kanta Gupta's status among Sri Aurobindo's followers is widely considered to be fully justified and highly revered, not exaggerated. He was one of Sri Aurobindo's most senior and trusted disciples, with a unique and significant role within the community.
His prominence is based on several key factors:
- Early Association: Nolini Kanta Gupta was one of only four disciples who were with Sri Aurobindo from his early days in Pondicherry in 1910, a time when Sri Aurobindo was not even accepting formal pupils.
- Key Administrative Role: For nearly 60 years, he served as the general secretary of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and later became a founder-trustee when the Ashram Trust was formed in 1955.
- Direct Guidance from Sri Aurobindo and the Mother: He received personal instruction in languages (Greek, Latin, French, Italian) from Sri Aurobindo himself and was regarded by the Mother as a close collaborator. The Mother herself testified to his advanced inner status, referring to him as "en route towards the superman".
- Acknowledged Spiritual Stature: Within the community, he was known as Sri Aurobindo's "manasputra" (mental son). When asked if Nolini was doing sadhana (spiritual practice), Sri Aurobindo reportedly replied, "if Nolini was not doing sadhana, then who here was?"
- Prolific Scholar and Writer: He was an eminent scholar, linguist, and author, with more than 50 books to his credit across English, Bengali, and French. His writings are considered authoritative expositions of the Integral Yoga philosophy and serve as a "side-stream" running along with Sri Aurobindo's own works.
His extensive and foundational contributions to the revolutionary movement, the establishment of the Ashram, and the dissemination of Sri Aurobindo's teachings solidify his central and respected position among followers.
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Other Authors: Nolini Kanta Gupta
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