NET - Aurobindo Ghosh
1. He "based his claim for freedom for India on the inherent right to freedom, not on any charge
of misgovernment or oppression". He wrote that "Political freedom is the life-breath of a nation.
To attempt social reform, educational reform, industrial expansion, the moral improvement of
the race without aiming first and foremost at political freedom, is the very height of ignorance
and futility. The primary requisite for national progress, national reform, is the habit of free and
healthy national thought and action which is impossible in a state of servitude."
2. His important works like include 'Life Divine', 'Essays on Geeta', 'The Synthesis of Yoga' and
the epic poem 'Savitri'.
3. The great European philosophers from Homer to Goethe influenced him the maximum during
his formative period and the study of Geeta, Upanishads and Vedanta had a deep impact on his
political thinking. As Romain Rolland said, Sri Aurobindo was "the highest synthesis of the
genius of Asia and the genius of Europe. tried to integrate the materialist trend in western
philosophy with the idealist tradition in Indian philosophy.
4. When Aurobindo returned from England, he observed the political scene and expressed his
views through his writings in journals like 'Bande Mataram'. He was critical of the Congress
organization and its leadership at that time. He criticised the Congress on four counts-viz. i) its
aims and objectives, ii) its composition, iii) the motives of the leaders and iv)'the methods
adopted by them for the realisation of their aims and objectives.
5. Congress did not have a clear cut goal of national freedom. Their demands were shamefully
modest. The congress was a middle class organisation. The leaders were interested only in
gaining power in Indian polity. Emergence of Indian proletariat was key to the solution of the
problem of transforming the congress into a national and popular body. The congress leaders
were timid and afraid of displeasing the rulers.
6. His first writing in 'Indu-Prakash' was a direct attack on British Rule. He wanted to strengthen
thr anti British sentiment and to break the myth of British supremacy.
7. Aurobindo's concept of nation was influenced by Bankimchandra. A nation is something more
than a geographical unit or a figment of people's imagination. India was like his mother and he
was highly devoted to her. He believed in the liberation of the motherland to be the most urgent
duty of her children for which they must be ready to even sacrifice their lives.
8. Nationalism is neither a political programme nor an intellectual past time. It is akin to religion.
It is a faith and creed one has to live. It is immortal as it is a creation of God and not of man.
Nationalism was a deep and fervent 'religious sadhana'.
9. Liberty being the first indispensable condition of rational development - intellectual, moral,
individual and political- is in itself a necessity of national life, hence worth striving for.
10. In the process of development of human beings, spiritual and moral advance is more
important than material advance. India with her spiritual development was destined to take the
lead for the progress of the world and for this India must be free.
11. Different kinds of political actions - secret revolutionary propaganda or armed insurrection,
propaganda through writings and contacts, mobilising masses.
12. Violence was not taboo to Aurobindo. Use of force is justified if situations call for it.
13. Human society evolved through three stages - spontaneity,consciousness and
triumph/failure of reason.
