Lover of Light Among Luminaries Dilip Kumar Roy

Author(s): Amruta Paresh Patel
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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FULLER PORTRAITS
In Dilip Roy's sketch of Indira Devi, one can notice that the subject and the author are closely associated with each other apparently as the disciple and the guru. Nani A. Palkhivala, in his Preface' to Fragrant Memories notes:
“Indira Devi was to Dadaji what the Mother was to Sri Aurobindo. There was between them a relationship of ineffable beauty, enriched and ennobled by their deep spiritual impulse. In Indira Devi's own words, it was a relationship not only of a guru and disciple, a father and daughter, a teacher and pupil, but the relationship between two friends, two fellow pilgrims of
eternity. with one goal and one path."131
They began to live together to attain upward spiral'. As the title of their autobiography suggests, they called themselves 'pilgrims of the stars.' Their 'one goal and one path was to realize Krishna 'face to face in this life through their love of Krishna. So both of them possessed certain similarities of character. Both of them belonged to high aristocratic background. They were completely loyal to their gurus. They had great respect for Indian traditions to which they belonged. They tried to establish the greatness of Indian culture and tradition in the world when they went abroad on a cultural tour in 1953 and visited many places like Japan, Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Carmel, Chicago, New York. London Zurich, Rome and Cairo.132
Both of them were artists of the first rank. Indira Devi was a dancer, Dilip Roy, a musician. During their cultural tour, Dilip Roy sang songs with his music and Indira Devi danced to the accompaniment of his songs. In their Hari Krishna Mandir, Dilip Roy used to sing devotional songs with his music and Indira Devi was frequently dancing even during the moments of her trance. Dilip Roy's music. it was. felt, was invoking almost unique spiritual experiences in his disciple and people around them, as it is frequently described in their books The Flute Calls Still and The Rounding Off, participated in the enactment of the Divine bliss.
Yet, they were different from each other in certain respects. Though Dilip Roy remained a spiritual seeker from his very young age, he was almost always sceptical of the authenticity of spiritual truths. He found that there was no remedy for his nature. On the other hand, Indira Devi had great faith in truths taught by spiritual persons. Though Dilip Roy was highly educated and highly knowledgeable, he always needed somebody to depend on. First of all, he depended on his guru. After his guru's physical departure, he leaned on Indira Devi for sustenance. If Indira Devi exhibits perfect saintliness, Dilip Roy reveals authentic yearning for such a life. Indira Devi is more divine than human. Dilip Roy is more human than divine. She commands our reverence. he, our affectionate regard. One is a siddha or an accomplished mystic. The other is a sadhaka or pilgrim on the path of eternity.