Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, Role, Philosophy, Literary Contributions

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh (1872-1950) was a brilliant scholar, revolutionary, spiritual visionary, and key figure in the Indian independence movement. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh advocated for armed resistance against British rule and promoted the concept of Swaraj. Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s philosophy of Integral Yoga emphasized the evolution of consciousness and the integration of spiritual and worldly life. 

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s literary contributions include The Life Divine and Savitri, which explore profound spiritual themes. He founded an ashram in Pondicherry, fostering a community dedicated to his teachings. His legacy endures as a source of inspiration for both nationalism and modern spirituality in India and beyond.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh About

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, formally known as Aurobindo Ackroyd Ghose, was born on August 15, 1872, in Kolkata, and hailed from an educated family. His father, Dr. Krishna Dhun Ghose, was a civil surgeon, while his mother, Swarnalata Devi, was a women’s rights activist. 

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Education

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh’s father valued Western education. He began his studies at a Christian convent school in Darjeeling and later excelled at St. Paul’s School in England, particularly in classical languages like Latin and Greek. His academic achievements secured him a scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Career

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh passed the open competition for the Indian Civil Service in 1890, but he was already motivated by a desire for India’s independence and did not want to work as a colonial administrator. Thus, he managed to disqualify himself by failing to take the mandatory riding test and instead returned to India in 1893 to serve the Indian princely state of Baroda, where he stayed until 1906.

• Sri Aurobindo Ghosh joined the Baroda State Service under Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, where he spent 13 years in various administrative and academic roles, including Vice-Principal of Baroda College.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Role in Revolutionary Movement

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was a key figure in India’s early independence struggle. He was deeply involved in revolutionary activities in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, advocating for complete independence from British rule.  

• Role in the Swadeshi Movement: Relocating to Calcutta in 1906 after Bengal’s partition, Aurobindo inspired revolutionaries like Bagha Jatin and Jatin Mukherjee alongside his brother Barin. He co-founded youth clubs, including the Anushilan Samiti, promoting physical fitness and martial training.
  • In 1906, he left Baroda to become Principal of the newly founded Bengal National College in Calcutta.
• Journals: Through Bande Mataram, Karmayogin, and Yugantar, Aurobindo inspired young Indians to join the freedom struggle, advocating for nationalism, complete independence, and critiquing British rule while outlining strategies for mass movements.
• Alipore Bomb Case of 1908: As a revolutionary nationalist, Aurobindo was charged in the Alipore Bomb Case and sentenced to a year in solitary confinement at Alipore Central Jail. He was eventually released with the assistance of Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was dubbed “the Prophet of Indian Nationalism” due to his pragmatic strategies for ending British rule.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Philosophy

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh left active politics in 1910 and relocated to the French Colony of Pondicherry (Puducherry) to follow his spiritual pursuits. In Pondicherry, along with his spiritual collaborator Mirra Alfassa, he developed his Integral Yoga philosophy. The developments are discussed in detail below:

• Establishment of Ashram: In 1926, he established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, a community for spiritual seekers, where he entrusted guidance to his collaborator, Mirra Alfassa, known as “the Mother.” 
• Integral Yoga: Integral Yoga, developed by Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, is a transformational practice aiming for a rapid and complete evolution of being, focusing on integrating body, mind, and spirit to achieve a higher consciousness and divine life on Earth.
• The Life Divine Philosophy: Aurobindo’s main prose work, The Life Divine (1939), delves into the philosophy of Integral Yoga. He posited that the traditional pursuit of moksha (liberation) should not be the ultimate goal.
• Vision of Future Consciousness: Aurobindo envisioned a future where the principles of matter, life, and mind are replaced by supermind, bridging the infinite and finite to create a joyful existence of love, harmony, unity, and knowledge; ultimately manifesting the divine on earth.
• Views during World War II: During World War II, Sri Aurobindo and his disciple, the Mother, openly supported the Allies, viewing Hitler as representing “the forces of darkness” and believing in the spiritual need for the Allies’ victory.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Literary Contributions

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh was a philosopher, spiritual leader, and an accomplished writer and poet. His literary contributions are extensive and diverse, ranging from political essays to spiritual treatises and epic poetry. 

• Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol: It is his magnum opus, and is an epic poem of over 24,000 lines, making it one of the longest poems in English. It is a spiritual allegory that delves into themes of love, death, and the triumph of the human spirit.
• Other notable works: Aurobindo’s other notable works include The Life Divine, which presents his vision of human evolution and spiritual progress, and The Synthesis of Yoga, which describes the principles and practices of Integral Yoga.
  • Other works are Essays on the Gita (1922), Collected Poems and Plays (1942), The Human Cycle (1949), The Ideal of Human Unity (1949), and On the Veda (1956).

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Five Dreams

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh, in his message on India’s independence, outlined five dreams for the world and India: a free and united India, the resurgence of Asia, a world union for peace, the spiritual gift of India to the world, and the rise of humans to a higher consciousness. 

• A Free and United India: Aurobindo envisioned a revolutionary movement that would lead to the creation of a free and independent India, united in purpose and spirit.
• Resurgence of Asia: Aurobindo believed in the resurgence and liberation of the peoples of Asia, allowing them to reclaim their rightful place in the progress of human civilization.
• A World Union: Aurobindo advocated for a world union as the foundation for a fairer, brighter, and nobler life for all people, fostering global cooperation and understanding.
• Spiritual Gift of India: Aurobindo recognized the unique spiritual heritage of India and believed it had a vital role to play in sharing its wisdom and practices with the world.
• A Step in Evolution: Aurobindo wished for humanity to achieve a higher and larger consciousness which will enable them to address fundamental problems facing humanity.

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh Death

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh left his body on December 5, 1950.  The Mother continued his work until November 17, 1973.  Their work continues in Auroville a town in Puducherry. His famous quote is: “True knowledge is not attained by thinking. It is what you are; it is what you become.”

Sri Aurobindo Ghosh UPSC PYQs

Q.1 He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was (UPSC Prelims 2018)

(a) Aurobindo Ghosh

(b) Bipin Chandra Pal

(c) Lala Lajpat Rai

(d) Motilal Nehru

Ans. (c)