Dortoir

Introduction

The house number 3, on Law de Lauriston Street, was also known as “Maison Dubreuil”. It was a double-storeyed house with a hanging balcony over the street. Its ground floor had a few rooms on the eastern side. On the western side there was quite a big open area with arches which looked like a stable for keeping horses or cattle. Its floor was made of compressed clay. Perhaps this area was meant to house cattle, which was a common practice in those days. A staircase could be seen behind the building on its southern side. This building was in a rather dilapidated condition. There were some outlying structures where a door, number 19, opened to St. Louis Street which was to the east of the building complex. The area consisted also of a small garden, a shed, a godown and some vacant place.

This house was sometimes taken on rent by the Mother, for housing visitors. On the 1st of April 1944, this property was purchased in the name of Sri Aurobindo by Surendra Nath Jauhar and offered to the Mother. The building was then thoroughly repaired and modified. The stable-like area was altered and a big kitchen with a washing and dining area were constructed here. This was the Dortoir.

We present here a few articles by people who were associated with it. The first portion is from the book 'My Mother' by Surendra Nath Jauhar on whose request the Mother consented to start a hostel.