Focus: GS I- Modern History
Why in News?
Recently, the Indian Prime Minister has participated in a programme commemorating Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birth anniversary in Puducherry, under the aegis of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
- The PM has released a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honor of Sri Aurobindo.
About Sri Aurobindo
- Born Aurobindo Ghose in Calcutta on 15 August 1872, Sri Aurobindo was drawn to the Indian freedom movement as a revolutionary leader.
- His father Krishna Dhun Ghose was a surgeon in Rangpur, Bengal and had sought to provide his five children English education considering British culture to be superior to Indian culture.
- In 1879, the whole family moved to England as Krishna Dhun Ghose wanted his sons to pursue the Indian Civil Service (ICS). There, Aurobindo was taught History, French, Latin, Arithmetic and Geography.
- He passed the ICS examination securing the 11th rank out of 250 candidates. He joined King’s College for the training but had himself disqualified for an exam by arriving deliberately late as he had no interest in the ICS.
- He returned to India and secured employment in the Baroda State Service with the help of an acquaintance.
- He developed a kind of Yoga called Integral Yoga. He believed that human beings can evolve further into something truly divine.
- He inspired scores of people both from India and abroad.
- Sri Aurobindo passed away on 5 December 1950 in Pondicherry aged 78.
Indian Revolutionary Movement:
- From 1902 to 1910 he partook in the struggle to free India from the British. As a result of his political activities, he was imprisoned in 1908 (Alipore Bomb case).
- Two years later he fled British India and found refuge in the French colony of Pondichéry (Puducherry), where he devoted himself for the rest of his life to the development of his “integral” yoga with an aim of a fulfilled and spiritually transformed life on earth.
Some of Aurobindo’s many literary works:
- An English newspaper called Bande Mataram (in 1905).
- Bases of Yoga
- Bhagavad Gita and Its Message
- The Future Evolution of Man
- Rebirth and Karma
- Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol
- Hour of God
