I am happy that I was given an opportunity to compile these letters of Sri Nirodbaran to B. S. Sreenivasa Rao (a retired senior government official residing in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh) written over a span of almost four decades. These letters were handed over to me by our dear late Banidi (niece of Nirodbaran) with a request to get them published as they would be of great use and interest to all fellow-travellers on the path. I immediately went through the letters and then rang up Sreenivasa, requesting him to send the original letters and a few photos and also an article narrating his reminiscences of Nirodbaran and supplying some background information to the letters. He readily complied with my request. On the basis of all the materials that I received form him, I made a selection of the letters and slightly edited the article that he had written at my request. In fact, I have kept it intact, retaining his language and style as far as possible, making only some minor corrections. I am indeed grateful to him for all the trouble that he had taken for the preparation of this book. His son who had worked hard with him for this purpose also deserves our grateful thanks.
Dollydi, Banidi's sister, always took keen interest in the book and encouraged me in my work in so many ways. And one day she surprised me by giving me an envelope containing some money offered in memory of beloved Banidi, (for any book connected with Nirodda) by the distinguished physicist Professor Satyajit Ghosh teaching and association with Nirodda and is a dear brother to all of us. Biplab Banerjee, another bright young friend of mine and a devoted admirer of Nirodda also helped us generously for the publication.
We hope that this collection of letters will be of great interest to all seriously engaged with their Sadhana on the path shown by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. We begin with this selection and hope to compile many more letters of Nirodbaran written to hundreds of his friends and devotees over the years. Friends may send their collection of letters to the compiler of this volume.
We have also included in this volume an interview with Nirodbaran taken by Sudip Talukdar and published in the Times of India, Mumbai. The interview runs over familiar terrain, but each time Nirodbaran speaks, his words take on a new life and touch a new dimension.
Our only regret is that Banidi who first gave me these letters and a copy of the interview for getting them published and took so much interest in any work connected with her uncle Nirodbaran is no more. Her love for her uncle has been a deep inspiration to me for this work.
Work for this selection has been a labour of love for our dear Nirodda and we place it as an offering at the feet of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.
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