Chapter 10Letters Written While Employed in the Princely State of Baroda, 1895–1906 · Draft of a Reply to the Resident on the Curzon Circular

It was owing to want of money that I was unable always to report cases in London at the times required by the Commission-ers, and to supply myself with sufficiently constant practice in Riding. At the last I was thrown wholly on borrowed resources and even these were exhausted.

It was owing to difficulty in procuring the necessary money, that I was late at my appointment on Tuesday Nov 15. I admit that I did not observe the exact terms of the appointment; however I went on to Woolwich by the next train, but found that the Examiner had gone back to London.

If your Lordship should grant me another chance, an English gentleman, Mr..Cotton, (editor of the Academy) of 107 Abingdon Road, Kensington. W. has undertaken that want of money shall not prevent me from fulfilling the exact instructions of the Commissioners.

If your Lordship should obtain this for me, it will be the object of my life to remember it in the faithful performance of my duties in the Civil Service of India.

I am

Your Lordship’s obedient

servant

Aravinda. Acroyd. Ghose

[2]

6 Burlington Rd

Bayswater W

Monday Dec 12 1892 May it please your Lordship

As the Civil Service Commissioners have decided that they cannot give me a Certificate of qualification for an appointment to the Civil Service of India, I beg to apply to your Lordship for the remainder of the allowance that would have been due to me as a Probationer.

I am fully aware that I have really forfeited this sum by my failure in the Final Examination but in consideration of my bad pecuniary circumstances, I hope your Lordship will kindly listen to my petition.

I enclose the required Certificate as to residence and character at the University.

I am

Your Lordship’s obedient

servant

A. A. Ghose

Letters Written While Employed

in the Princely State of Baroda

1895–1906

Ootacamund. June 1. 1895 Sir

I have the honour to report that I arrived at Ootacamund on Thursday the 30t.h. instant & that I saw H.H. the Maharaja Saheb yesterday (Friday). It appears that His Highness wishes to keep me with him for some time farther, I have also the honour to state that as I desired a peon rather at Ootie than on the journey & even so it was not absolutely necessary, I did not think myself justified in taking advantage of your kind permission to engage one at Bombay as far as Ootie.

I beg to remain,

Sir,

Your most obedient servant,

Aravind. A. Ghose.

To Rao Bahadur the Sar Suba Saheb Baroda State.

[June 1901] Dear Bhuban Babu,

I have been here at Nainital with my wife & sister since the 28t.h. of May. The place is a beautiful one, but not half so cold as I expected. In fact, in the daytime it is only a shade less hot than Baroda, except when it has been raining. The Maharaja will probably be leaving here on the 24t.h., — if there has been rain at Baroda, — but as he will stop at Agra, Mathura & Mhow, he will not reach Baroda till the beginning of July. I shall probably be going separately & may also reach on the 1s.t. of July. If you like, you might go there a little before & put up with Deshpande. I have asked Madhavrao to get my new house furnished, but I don’t know what he is doing in that direction.

Banerji is, I believe, in Calcutta. He came up to see me at Deoghur for a day.

Yours sincerely

Aurobind Ghose

Baroda.

14t.h. Feb 1903.

My dear Sir,

I shall be very much obliged if you can kindly arrange for the letter to the Residency1 to be seen by His Highness and approved tomorrow, Sunday, so that I may be able to leave Baroda tomorrow night. I am sending the draft to the Naib Dewan Saheb for his perusal and approval. I am obliged to make this request because it will put me in serious difficulties if the arrangements I have made are upset.

Yours sincerely Aravind. A. Ghose 1 See “Draft of a Reply to the Resident on the Curzon Circular” on the next page. — Ed.