Sri Aurobindo, also known as Aurobindo Ghose, was a towering figure whose contributions across various fields are truly unmatched and unparalleled both in the past and for the future. Be it freedom struggle, journalism, or linguistic brilliance, this extraordinary figure has left an unforgettable impact on every field he touched. Once declared the most dangerous man by the British and narrowly escaping for his revolutionary fervour, this individual went on to make a profound and lasting impact in the realm of spirituality.
Birth & Early Life
He was born on 15 August 1872 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. His father was Krishna Dhun Ghose, a surgeon by profession, and his Mother was Swarnalotta Devi. He had three brothers: Manmohan Ghose, a poet; Barindra Kumar Ghose, who later became a renowned freedom fighter; and Benoy Bhushan Ghose. He also had a sister named Sarojini Ghose. His maternal grandfather, Rajnarayan Basu, was a distinguished writer who played a significant role in the Bengal Renaissance.
His father believed British Culture was superior and aspired for Aurobindo to become a true Englishman, so he sent him to London at a very young age. There he acquired the knowledge of Latin, French, Greek, History and Arithmetic. He also knew Italian, Spanish, and German. It was father’s ambition for him to join the Indian Civil Services (ICS). However, his financial situation was challenging at the time. Sri Aurobindo worked diligently and successfully earned a scholarship. He passed the ICS examination and secured 11th rank out of 250 competitors. Nevertheless, he had no interest in the ICS and intentionally arrived late for the horse riding practical exam, resulting in his disqualification.
A Turning Point- The Baroda Connection
At that time, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda was travelling in England. James Cotton, the brother of Henry Cotton, a friend of his father, facilitated a meeting between Sri Aurobindo and the Maharaja. Recognizing his talent, the Maharaja promptly offered him a job at Baroda College.
At Baroda College, he taught himself Sanskrit and Bengali and also acquired knowledge of Marathi, Tamil, and Gujarati while continuing to excel in his role. His progress eventually led to his appointment as the Vice Principal.
The Struggle For Independence
He began to develop an interest in politics related to the Bharatiya Freedom Struggle. Although he was involved behind the scenes, his political engagement was restricted due to his position in the Baroda State.
During his visits to Madhya Pradesh and Bengal, he collaborated closely with key leaders and activists there. He also established important connections with influential figures like Lokmanya Tilak and Sister Nivedita, strengthening the broader network of the independence struggle.
In public, he endorsed non-cooperation and passive resistance. Behind the scenes, however, he conducted covert revolutionary activities, preparing for a potential open rebellion if passive measures failed. He played a major role in founding a network of youth organizations, including the Anushilan Samiti in Calcutta in 1902. From the Anushilan Samiti arose numerous revolutionaries who were martyred for their motherland. Many others suffered brutal torture in the infamous Kalapani jail.
A weekly newspaper named Bande Mataram was founded by Bipin Chandra Pal and Sri Aurobindo was its editor. It aimed to prepare Bharatiyas for the struggle for complete independence. The newspaper rapidly became a major success. Sri Aurobindo was a strong proponent of National Education. Keeping this in mind, Bengal National College was established which later became known as Jadavpur University and he was its first principal.
Imprisonment & Spiritual Awakening
In May 1908, he was arrested and put on trial due to his connection with the Alipore bomb case. However, due to the murder of key witness Naren Goswami, the charges levelled against him could not be proved. Aurobindo was later released after a year in isolated captivity. In jail, he had a vision of Shri Krishna and Swami Vivekananda, which made him realize his true calling was different. After his release, he left politics and dedicated himself to spirituality.
After being released from jail, he also ran a weekly called Karmayogin in English and Dharma in Bengali. In 1910 he went to Pondicherry. Initially, his followers were very few but they increased with time and as a result, Sri Aurobindo Ashram was established in 1926.
Literary Contributions & Legacy
He was also an exceptional poet, renowned for his work “Savitri,” an epic poem spanning approximately 24,000 lines. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize twice. For literature in 1943 and peace in 1950.
Death & Last Darshan
He passed away on 5 December 1950, in Puducherry. His profound impact was evident from the large turnout of around 60,000 people who came for his last darshan and national and international newspapers also mourned his death.
