December 26, 1972

(Mother sees some teachers from the school. Towards the end

 of the meeting, Pranab enters Mother's room in his customary

 manner, heads straight for Mother, and launches into a violent

 diatribe against some French television reporters - whom

 Mother had received the day before - because they filmed

 Sri Aurobindo's tomb "in spite of his orders."

Mother tries to calm him down.)

When they [the reporters] cannot get something from one person, they go to somebody else - and it works. In any event, I won't see them anymore.

(Pranab explodes:) If I meet them again, I'll smash their

 cameras.

I don't want any violence or nasty scenes here.

(Pranab retreats to the other end of the room, muttering angrily)

(Mother sits with her head in her hands) I have worked all my life so people would become a little conscious. But this violence....

Page 330

(Mother turns to one of the teachers

 with a kind of distress in her voice)

People say that I am old, that I can't speak, that I am senile, but the consciousness has never been so clear.... One minute of silence and....

(the teachers leave the room silently,

Mother remains alone with

 her bodyguard and the attendant)

Page 331