Dwarka ji Gupta

Dwarika Prasad was born on 15 May 1935 in a humble family in a remote rural setup of Gaya district, Bihar. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gaya College, where he first heard about The Mother and Sri Aurobindo from his English professor, Prof. Chhote Narayan Sharma, a devoted follower of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo.

On 4 October 1957, during the Durga Puja celebrations, he visited the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, for the first time. During his two-day stay, he had the rare privilege of receiving The Mother’s Darshan three times each day—at the Balcony Darshan early in the morning, at the Playground after the afternoon classes, and in the evening at the Tennis Ground, where he witnessed The Mother playing tennis with Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya (Pranab Da). This profound experience left an indelible impression on his mind and soul, determining the course of his spiritual life.

After completing this project, he left journalism and joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch. There he served as the editor of two publications: Sri Aravind Karmadhara (Hindi) and The Call Beyond (English). Recognizing his sincerity and dedication, The Mother personally appointed him as the Manager of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Delhi Branch, under her own signature. He served in this capacity for twelve years.

Subsequently, he devoted himself to the field of education, serving as a teacher in various schools before becoming the Principal of an English-medium public school in Meerut.

In 1999, he moved to Pondicherry and joined the Sri Aurobindo Society. Since then, he has rendered dedicated service in various departments of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Now in his nineties, he continues to serve as a volunteer in the Ashram Reception Service, exemplifying a life of quiet dedication and selfless work.

During his years in Pondicherry, Dwarika Prasad contributed poems to Mother India and, under the guidance of Shri K. D. Sethna (Amal Kiran)—the distinguished editor of Mother India and a close associate of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo—he authored a book The Avatar: Sri Aurobindo, an English work dedicated to the life and mission of Sri Aurobindo.