The Bharatiya freedom struggle brought forth several inspirational leaders such as Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and Swami Vivekananda, among others. These were individuals who were not only patriotic but also true followers of Hindu Dharma. These thinkers, understood that without one’s roots, one is like a tree that can be uprooted by the slightest wind. They made a clarion call urging Bharatiyas to return to their roots and to rediscover the greatness of Hindu Dharma.

Reform within Hindu Dharma has always come from within, yet it was during the freedom movement that the call to strengthen our spiritual roots and remain steadfast in our Dharma became especially strong and clear.

There is no denying that Hindu Dharma and Bharatiya Nationalism were deeply interlinked in multiple ways, and Sri Aurobindo’s Uttarpara Speech stands as a powerful testimony to this truth. This historic speech was delivered on 30 May 1909, at Uttarpara in the Hooghly district of present-day West Bengal. It is important to note that this speech was delivered soon after Sri Aurobindo was released from prison, where he had spent a year in confinement. During this period, as he himself stated – God gave me the message.

Sri Aurobindo’s message

While in jail, Sri Aurobindo undertook deep sadhana based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, and through his spiritual practice and realization, he came to express what the Hindu Dharma, truly means and represents. The Uttarpara Speech thus stands as a profound guide for every Hindu, revealing the essence of the timeless religion that has been lived and practiced for millennia.

One of the most moving lines from this speech reads: “Other religions are preponderating religions of faith and profession, but the Sanatana Dharma is life itself; it is a thing that has not so much to be believed as lived.”

Sri Aurobindo’s period of imprisonment and solitary confinement gave him the opportunity to experience the true nature of Hindu Dharma. Born and brought up in England, Aurobindo initially identified as an atheist and agnostic. However, his naturally skeptical and questioning temperament eventually drew him toward the Vedas and the Gita. Through study and experience, he came to realize and live the message of the Gita, both inwardly and outwardly.

When addressing the members of the Society for the Protection of Religion, Sri Aurobindo urged them to understand the true nature of the Hindu Dharma. He explained that a narrow, sectarian, or exclusive religion can only exist for a limited period and purpose. In contrast, Hindu Dharma is the one eternal religion that can triumph over materialism because it is expansive enough to embrace and anticipate the discoveries of science and the speculations of philosophy.

Sri Aurobindo emphasized that Hindu Dharma is nationalism for us, asserting that Bharat was born with Sanatana Hindu Dharma, and that it moves and grows along with it. He profoundly stated:

“When the Sanatana Dharma declines, then the nation declines, and if the Sanatana Dharma were capable of perishing, with it the nation would perish.”

Analyzing Uttarpara Speech

This speech marks a watershed moment for Hindus, as it brings to light not only Sri Aurobindo’s personal spiritual realizations but also the truth that Sanatana Dharma is the heart and soul of Bharat.

In today’s charged environment — where self-proclaimed liberals and pseudo-secularists attempt to portray Hindu Dharma as merely another religion, and where being a proud Hindu often invites labels such as ‘Sanghi’ and ‘Andhbhakts’ among others, Sri Aurobindo’s Uttarpara Speech stands as a living testament to the authentic experience of living Dharma.

The message of the Vedas, Vedanta, and Gita, as lived and realized by Sri Aurobindo, should serve as a guiding light for us to understand the true essence of our Dharma. Hindu Dharma has always encouraged questioning and self-inquiry rather than blind conformity. Here was a realized soul who, after his own transformative journey from atheism to spiritual enlightenment, guided people not through dogma but through personal realization and experience.

Unfortunately, the teachings and thoughts of leaders like Sri Aurobindo have not yet reached as wide an audience as they deserve. The more we study and internalize the vision of such thinkers, the closer we come to understanding why Hindu Dharma and Bharatiya Nationalism are inseparable — bound together by shared spirit, culture, and destiny.