Aurobindo Ghosh as a great poet and nationalist

-


Introduction

Aurobindo Ghosh, also known as Sri Aurobindo, was one of the most remarkable figures of modern India. He was a freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, poet, and spiritual teacher who left a deep mark on politics, literature, and spirituality. Born on 15 August 1872 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), he lived during a time of immense social and political change in India. He began his career as a revolutionary leader in the Indian independence movement, but later turned towards philosophy and spiritual practice. As a writer and thinker, he combined Western education with Indian tradition, creating a unique vision that influenced politics, philosophy, and literature.

Early Life and Education

Aurobindo was born into a prominent Bengali family. His father, Dr. Krishna Dhan Ghosh, was a physician who admired Western education and culture. At the age of seven, Aurobindo was sent to England for schooling, where he studied at St. Paul’s School in London and later at King’s College, Cambridge. He excelled in literature, languages, and classics, mastering Greek and Latin, and also studied French, Italian, and German. His time in Europe exposed him to Western philosophy, politics, and literature, while also deepening his awareness of colonial injustice.

In 1893, Aurobindo returned to India and worked in the princely state of Baroda, first in administrative service and later as a professor. During this time, he immersed himself in Indian culture, philosophy, and literature, while also beginning to participate in the nationalist movement.

Role in the Indian Freedom Movement

Aurobindo Ghosh became one of the leading voices of the early nationalist movement in India. Unlike the moderates who believed in gradual reforms, Aurobindo supported complete independence from British rule. He wrote powerful articles in nationalist newspapers such as Bande Mataram and Karmayogin, inspiring young Indians to resist colonial domination. He advocated for boycott, swadeshi (self-reliance), and national education.

Aurobindo was arrested in 1908 for alleged involvement in the Alipore Bomb Case, which accused revolutionaries of plotting to overthrow the British. He spent a year in jail, where he underwent a deep spiritual transformation. In prison, he experienced visions and mystical experiences that convinced him of his spiritual mission. After his release, he gradually withdrew from active politics and turned toward philosophy and spirituality.

Spiritual Turn and Settlement in Pondicherry

In 1910, Aurobindo moved to Pondicherry, which was then a French colony, to avoid British surveillance. There he devoted himself fully to spiritual practice, writing, and teaching. His philosophy combined elements of Vedanta, yoga, and modern thought. He developed a system known as Integral Yoga, which aimed not at renunciation of the world but at transforming human life through spiritual evolution.

In Pondicherry, he was later joined by Mirra Alfassa, a French spiritual collaborator who became known as The Mother. Together they established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, which became a center of spiritual practice, philosophy, and education.

Literary Works

Aurobindo Ghosh was not only a philosopher but also a poet, essayist, and critic. His literary works covered a wide range of subjects, from political essays to spiritual philosophy and epic poetry.

Savitri

His magnum opus, Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, is an epic poem of nearly 24,000 lines, one of the longest in the English language. It retells a story from the Mahabharata, but expands it into a spiritual allegory of the struggle between life and death, darkness and light, ignorance and knowledge. The poem reflects his vision of human evolution and spiritual transformation.

Political and Philosophical Writings

His works such as Bande Mataram, Karmayogin, and Bhavani Mandir inspired nationalist thought. Later, he wrote philosophical treatises like The Life Divine, which explores his spiritual philosophy, and The Synthesis of Yoga, which outlines his method of Integral Yoga.

Other Works

He also wrote extensively on Indian culture, the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Bhagavad Gita. His essays such as Essays on the Gita and The Ideal of Human Unity remain highly influential. He was also a playwright and poet who experimented with English drama and verse.

Philosophy and Thought

Aurobindo Ghosh’s philosophy was rooted in the belief that human life is not the final stage of evolution. He argued that just as life evolved from matter and mind evolved from life, a higher stage of spiritual consciousness could evolve from the human mind. His concept of the Supermind envisioned a future where humanity would rise above ignorance and division to live in harmony, truth, and spiritual unity.

He did not reject the material world but sought its transformation through spiritual realization. His Integral Yoga aimed to unite the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of human existence. This vision set him apart from traditional ascetics who believed in renouncing worldly life.

Contribution to Indian Literature

As a writer, Aurobindo was one of the first Indians to master English literary expression at the highest level. His poetry combined Indian themes with Western forms, and his prose works displayed clarity, depth, and philosophical richness. His writings helped bridge Eastern and Western thought, making Indian spirituality accessible to the modern world. He also encouraged Indians to take pride in their cultural heritage while embracing universal human values.

Later Life and Death

Aurobindo Ghosh lived quietly in Pondicherry, dedicating his time to writing and guiding his disciples. He rarely appeared in public, but his influence spread through his works and the activities of the Ashram. He passed away on 5 December 1950. His followers continued his work through institutions such as Auroville, an international community dedicated to his vision of human unity and spiritual progress.

Legacy

Aurobindo Ghosh is remembered as one of the greatest intellectual and spiritual figures of modern India. He combined the roles of revolutionary and philosopher, poet and yogi, teacher and visionary. His writings continue to inspire scholars, seekers, and thinkers across the world. His vision of Integral Yoga and human evolution remains a guiding light for those who seek harmony between material progress and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

Aurobindo Ghosh lived a life of extraordinary depth and diversity. From revolutionary politics to spiritual philosophy, from poetry to cultural criticism, he embodied the meeting of East and West, tradition and modernity, action and contemplation. His belief in the divine potential of humanity gave his works a timeless relevance. As both a national leader and a universal thinker, Aurobindo Ghosh stands as one of the greatest figures of India and the modern world.

Popular Posts

"Cry, the Peacock": A Detailed Summary and Analysis

-
Introduction Cry, the Peacock is Anita Desai ’s first novel. It was published in 1963. The novel explores a woman’s emotional struggles and her experience of loneliness and despair. The story focuses on Maya, the main character, and her troubled marriage. She suffers from isolation and mental instability. Anita Desai presents the fragility of the human mind and the difficulties of marriage. Brief Summary The novel takes place in post-independence India. However, the story focuses more on personal struggles than political events. Maya is a young woman who lives with her husband, Gautama. Gautama is a practical and intellectual man. He does not show emotions, and he does not understand Maya’s feelings. Maya is sensitive and emotional. She wants love and affection, but Gautama does not give her the attention she needs. Maya feels lonely and neglected. She spends most of her time thinking about her life. She creates fantasies in her mind to escape her loneliness. One important symbol in t...
Read more

Phonetics and Phonology : Definition and difference

-
Phonetics and phonology are two closely related subfields of linguistics that both deal with the sounds of speech, but they focus on different aspects of these sounds. Phonetics is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds, specifically how they are produced, transmitted, and perceived. It is concerned with the actual sounds themselves—how they are articulated, how they travel through the air as sound waves, and how they are received by the ear and processed by the brain. Phonetics is typically divided into three subfields: 1. Articulatory Phonetics : This branch focuses on the physical production of speech sounds. It looks at the movements of the vocal organs (such as the tongue, lips, and vocal cords) and how these movements create different speech sounds. It studies how different places and manners of articulation (e.g., voicing, nasality, consonant types like stops or fricatives) contribute to the production of speech. 2. Acoustic Phonetics : This branch is concerned w...
Read more

Dhwani Theory by Anandvardhana: an introduction

-
Anandvardhana was a Kashmiri court poet and literary critic, honored with the title of Rajanak during King Avantivarman's reign.  Anandavardhana authored the Dhvanyāloka , or A Light on Suggestion (dhwani), a work articulating the philosophy of "aesthetic suggestion" (dhwani, vyaΓ±janā). Anandavardhana is credited with creating the dhwani theory. He wrote that dhwani (meaning sound, or evocation) is the "soul" or "essence" (ātman) of poetry (kavya).  Anandavardhana said, "When the poet writes, he creates a eloquent field of emotions." To understand the poetry, the reader or hearer must be on the same wavelength. Important points~ •Dhvani theory is a theory of suggestion that is considered to be the soul of poetry.  •The theory of Dhvani is a major contribution to Sanskrit literary theory.  •The theory of Dhvani suggests that the main goal of good poetry is to evoke a mood or "flavor" (rasa).  •The theory of Dhvani suggests that this...
Read more