Letter
to the Trustees from Sri Aurobindo Study Circle, Bangalore From: Sri
Aurobindo Study Circle
We must regretfully admit
that our faith and confidence has been shattered in the incumbent establishment
as the preserver and protector of the living memory of Sri Aurobindo and The
Mother. Although we may not claim to be the anointed custodians of the well
being of the Ashram, it cannot be denied that as devotees we too have a certain
responsibility in respect of preserving and fostering this sacred institution
and protecting its sanctity and dignity. It is in this larger indirect role
that we wish to make the following suggestions for due consideration of the
Trustees in earnest hope that they will not be misunderstood as an encroachment
on their authority but will be welcomed instead in the right spirit as issuing
from fellow Sadhaks on important matters of common concern. Measures
requested:
1.
Not to permit Peter Heehs to stay in the premises of any part of Sri Aurobindo
Ashram or of its connected institutions.
2.
He must be disowned forthwith by the Ashram Authorities and its other
institutions in writing followed by public endorsement through the media.
3.
To get in touch immediately with the foreign Publishers of Peter’s Book and
contain the damage even if it means initiating necessary legal action in this
regard.
4.
To convey effectively to the Publisher the rage and resentment that the book
has evoked among the Devotees and admirers worldwide so that they desist from
5.
reprinting the same or publishing modified or abridged versions of it in any
form in the future.
6.
To take careful stock of pilferage, misuse etc. of documents in any form in the
Archives and elsewhere by Peter Heehs and make efforts at retrieval
7.
The Managing Trustee to issue an unequivocal statement through the media and in
writing that the contents of the book are distorted and are entirely the
personal views of Peter Heehs and certainly do not reflect the views of the
Ashram.
8.
As a matter of official policy from now on, the Trustees may invariably
consider the following people as Invitees to broaden
participation in the collective decision making process:
Representatives
of Sri Aurobindo Society
Heads
of Departments within the Ashram
By
rotation, (once in two/three years), a few senior Sadhaks within the Ashram and
also a few representatives from the various Branches of Sri Aurobindo Society
all over India
cc : For the kind
information of His Excellency The Lt. Governor of Pondicherry
Raj Nivas, Pondicherry Sri Aurobindo Study Circle
Any
ban on the book would not only be against the basic freedom of expression, but
will militate against Aurobindo’s free spirit, many felt.
The Censor Bench -
Indian Express Arun
Jaitley : Mon Apr 23 2012
If
allegations in a publication or proposed publication are true, or the author
believes them to be true, they are entitled to be published. A publication may
be defamatory, but it is entitled to be published as long as it is true or a
defence of truth or of a privilege is made out.
Parameters of privacy - Indian Express Soli J. Sorabjee : Sun Apr 22 2012
Privacy
is distinct from defamation. If the facts stated about a person are false, then
the person responsible may be sued for libel. Privacy is invaded when without
consent there is disclosure of information about a person’s private life, which
is true, but causes the person embarrassment and distress. Truth is no defence
to breach of privacy. Right to privacy is not absolute.
another call for major media not to provide a platform for
trolls from Object-Oriented Philosophy - Apr 21, 2012 by doctorzamalek
(Graham Harman)
Freedom
of speech means that you can’t face judicial punishment for what you say. It
doesn’t mean you won’t become a social outcast for saying certain things.
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