Page 13 - NAMAH-Jul-2020

Namah The Mother and the importance of physical education...

“But for this Supramental work, the way the Road) with the finish line being the entrance
body is formed has an almost crucial importance, to the Tennis Ground, closest to the tennis
and not only in relation to spiritual elements courts. The other events were held in the
nor even to mental power; these aspects have evening when She was present. I remember
no importance AT ALL. The capacity to endure, watching Gangaram and Suman competing
to last is the important thing (2).” for first prize in high jump.

My earliest recollection of the Mother goes These competitions moved to the Sportsground
back to around the mid 1940s. Our family in 1952. She used to come to the Sportsground
was accepted into the Ashram by the Mother after Her tennis. When She played tennis, I
in1944 when I was two-years-old. used to be Her ball boy, along with Sunil-da
and my brother.
I remember my pre-school classroom which
was located in what is now the gymnasium.
In around 1946, the Playground was acquired.
The first physical activity I did in front of the
Mother was a rabbit race, hopping on all fours
across half the length of the Playground under
her watchful eye. Being short I was pretty
good at it! When the slide was constructed
in the Guest House, Badol and I were the
first ones to come sliding down, with Her
standing at the bottom watching us!

My first memory of the 2nd December
1
programme which was held in the Playground
until 1952, was Dayakar attempting a
somersault over the vaulting box — which
is still there — and hitting his lower back at For all the running races, She held the tape
the far end of the box. He was bedridden, but at one end at the finish-line. For all the other
the Mother visited his home across from the events, She was seated close to the venue
Harpagon every evening on Her way back watching every performance intently, not
2
to the Ashram. as a casual observer. Once I was doing hop
step and jump and jumped from quite far
Soon after, the Tennis Ground was acquired, behind the line. Arun Kumar put the tape
and the athletics competition began to be down at the take off line, as he should have.
held there. The running races were held in After the measurement was completed She
the morning on the ocean boulevard (Beach asked him to place the tape from where I had

1 A sports programme organised by the Department of Physical Education at the Sri Aurobindo
Ashram each year.
2 An Ashram warehouse.

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