Shri Navajata's earlier name was Keshav Dev Poddar. He first visited
the Ashram with his father in his childhood. Those were the days when the
Mother used to come on the terrace every morning. One day She noticed a
young boy in a silk kurta, standing on the pavement with a sadhak. The
Mother obviously recognised his soul. Later in the day She enquired who
the boy was. "Keshave Dev, son of Ram Narayan", She was told. And
that was it. Keshav Dev's destiny was made.
His childhood dream was to see the whole world as one happy family.
This aspiration made him leave his vast flourishing business and surrender
himself and his all to Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. The Mother blessed
him with a new name - Navajata, "The New Born."
He was a rare combination of an idealist and realist - a man of vision and a
man of action. So many projects of the Ashram, the Society and Auroville
were launched because the Mother had looked in that direction. What did it
matter if there were no funds, no persons to work, no space nor proper
equipment. The Mother wished and that was enough for Navajata. The
thing had to be done and in a befitting manner. "My faithful" - this is how the
Mother called him.
Sri Aurobindo Society is the Mother's creation. But the person the
Mother chose to execute Her vision, to act as Her instrument, was
Navajata. He was the first General Secretary and Treasurer of the Society
under the Presidentship of the Mother. When the Mother left Her body in
1973, She continued to be the Permanent President and Navajata became the first
Chairman of the Society, carrying often singlehanded the entire burden of
work.
Navajata's mission was to interpret the spiritual vision of Sri Aurobindo and
the Mother and his life was a lover's lalbour for its realisation. His
simple and lucid explanation of Sri Aurobindo's Integral Yoga made spirituality
practical and effective in the various activities of our daily lives.
For us all he was simply 'Bhaiji', a messenger of the the Mother's Love and
Grace. (A homage from those whom he helped to find refuge in Sri Aurobindo
and the Mother).
Auromere Ayurvedic Imports
