Sixty years ago the first disciple of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother from the West breathed her last in the Ashram. Her life has been associated with the Mother’s since the time she was known as, not the Mother of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, but Mirra Richard, wife of Paul Richard. She was the first person to address Sri Aurobindo as ‘Lord’ while the other inmates considered him nothing more than a friend and a guide. Her entire life was consecrated to the Divine only, and despite being one of the early members of the Ashram her life has been an unsung song. We are talking of Dorothy Mary Hodgson who is better known as Datta. …
In 1920 Mirra asked Dorothy whether she would like to accompany her to Pondicherry. Dorothy readily agreed. Paul and Mirra Richard left Japan with Dorothy in March 1920 and arrived in Pondicherry on 24 April. …
On 24 November 1920, there was a heavy storm with rainfall and since the house where Mirra stayed with Dorothy was old and “looked as if it was going to melt away.” Sri Aurobindo said that under such a weather condition Mirra and Dorothy cannot be allowed to stay in that house, so he asked them to move into the house where he was staying with his companions. Thus, Mirra and Dorothy came to live with the other inmates. …
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