Sri Aurobindo Ghose

Context:

Recently, the Prime Minister has set up a 53-member committee to mark the 150^th birth anniversary of spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo on 15^th August 2022.

About Sri Aurobindo Ghose:

• Sri Aurobindo Ghose born 15 August 1872 in calcutta  and died 5 December 1950 in Pondicherry.
• He was an Indian social political and spiritual philosopher, yoga guru, maharishi, poet, revolutionary leader and Indian nationalist ideolouge.
• He was also a journalist, editing newspapers such as Bande Mataram
• He joined the Indian movement for independence from British colonial rule, until 1910 was one of its influential leaders and then became a spiritual reformer, introducing his visions on human progress and spiritual evolution.
• Aurobindo studied for the Indian Civil Service at King’s College, Cambridge, England.
• After returning to India he took up various civil service works under the Maharaja of the Princely state of Baroda and became increasingly involved in nationalist politics in the Indian National Congress and the nascent revolutionary movement in Bengal with the Anushilan Samiti.
• He was arrested in the aftermath of a number of bombings linked to his organization in a public trial where he faced charges of treason for Alipore Conspiracy. However Sri Aurobindo could only be convicted and imprisoned for writing articles against British colonial rule in India. He was released when no evidence could be provided, following the murder of a prosecution witness, Narendranath Goswami, during the trial. During his stay in the jail, he had mystical and spiritual experiences, after which he moved to Pondicherry, leaving politics for spiritual work.
• At Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo developed a spiritual practice he called Integral Yoga.
• The central theme of his vision was the evolution of human life into a divine life in divine body.
• He believed in a spiritual realisation that not only liberated but transformed human nature, enabling a divine life on earth. In 1926, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, Mirra Alfassa (referred to as “The Mother”), Sri Aurobindo Ashram was founded.
• His main literary works are 
• The Life Divine, which deals with the philosophical aspect of Integral Yoga;
• Synthesis of Yoga, which deals with the principles and methods of Integral Yoga; and 
• Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, an epic poem.

Sri Aurobindo had five-part vision namely:

1. He wished to see free and independent India that he witnessed on 15 August, 1947 on his birthday.
2. Resurgence of Asia
3. World Union
4. The spiritual gift to India to the world
5. A step in evolution which would raise man to a higher and larger consciousness.

Sri Aurobindo: Ashram

In 1926, he established ashram that has witnessed tremendous growth over the years. That time, there were 124 disciples and today more than 1200 members are there.

Important Indian Freedom Fighters and their contributions

Source: Indian Express

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