Aurobindo Ghosh
Philosopher, poet, and spiritual leader who developed Integral Yoga and founded the international community of Auroville. He was also a freedom fighter in his early years before dedicating his life to spiritual evolution and human consciousness.
Biography
Aurobindo Ghosh was born on August 15, 1872, in Calcutta, and became one of India's most influential philosophers and spiritual leaders. He started his education at St Paul's School and Loreto Convent and later studied at King's College, Cambridge, from 1890 to 1892, preparing for the Indian Civil Service. When he returned to India in 1893, he worked in various administrative roles under the Maharaja of Baroda, which allowed him to dive into Indian culture and philosophy after his Western education.
In the early 1900s, Aurobindo got deeply involved in the fight for India's independence, joining the Indian National Congress and working with revolutionary groups like the Anushilan Samiti in Bengal. His political actions led to his arrest and trial in the Alipore Conspiracy case, where he faced charges of sedition and terrorism. Although acquitted in 1909, this experience significantly changed his life. He stepped back from politics and moved to the French territory of Pondicherry in 1910, dedicating himself fully to spiritual practice and philosophical inquiry.
In Pondicherry, Aurobindo developed his unique spiritual philosophy called Integral Yoga, which aimed to transform human consciousness and bring about what he called the 'supramental' evolution of humanity. He married Mrinalini Devi, but their life together was short due to her early death in 1918. Working with French spiritual collaborator Mirra Alfassa, known as 'The Mother,' he set up the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926, which became an international hub for his teachings.
Aurobindo was a prolific writer, covering subjects like philosophy, poetry, political theory, and spiritual guidance. His major philosophical works include 'The Life Divine,' which outlines his metaphysical views, and 'The Synthesis of Yoga,' describing the methods of his spiritual discipline. His epic poem 'Savitri,' almost 24,000 lines long, is seen as his poetic masterpiece and spiritual vision. Other important works include 'The Secret of the Veda,' his commentary on ancient Indian scriptures, and 'The Mother With Letters on the Mother,' exploring the feminine role in spiritual evolution. Aurobindo passed away on December 5, 1950, in Pondicherry, leaving behind extensive writings and a thriving spiritual community that continues to follow his teachings worldwide.
Before Fame
Aurobindo's early years were influenced by his father's decision to provide him with a thoroughly Western education. At age seven, he was sent to England, where he spent fourteen years studying European languages, literature, and classics. This broad exposure to Western thought, combined with his later rediscovery of Indian philosophy upon returning to Baroda, laid the groundwork for his unique blend of Eastern and Western wisdom. His initial career in civil service under the progressive Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III allowed him to study Sanskrit, Bengali literature, and Indian history while working as a teacher and administrator.
The political climate of early 20th-century Bengal, marked by growing nationalist sentiment after the partition of Bengal in 1905, got Aurobindo involved in revolutionary activities. His background in Western political thought, along with his deep study of Indian culture, made him both an effective political organizer and a visionary thinker who advocated for complete independence rather than just constitutional reform. This set him apart from the more moderate Congress leaders of his time.
Key Achievements
- Developed the philosophical system of Integral Yoga, synthesizing spiritual practice with evolutionary theory
- Founded Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926, which became an internationally recognized spiritual community
- Authored over 35 volumes of philosophical, spiritual, and literary works including The Life Divine and Savitri
- Played a significant role in India's independence movement as a revolutionary leader and political theorist
- Established the theoretical foundation for Auroville, the international township dedicated to human unity and conscious evolution
Did You Know?
- 01.Aurobindo qualified for the Indian Civil Service but deliberately missed the mandatory horse-riding examination to avoid serving the British government
- 02.He spent a year in solitary confinement in Alipore Jail, where he reported having profound spiritual experiences and visions that shaped his later philosophy
- 03.His epic poem Savitri took him over 30 years to complete and went through multiple revisions, with the final version published posthumously
- 04.He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature multiple times and for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950, the year of his death
- 05.Despite living in French territory, he refused French citizenship and remained a British Indian subject throughout his life in Pondicherry