Maharshi Sri Aurobindo
“Do not belong to the past dawns,but to the noons of future” ― Sri Aurobindo
Aurobindo Ghose was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bengal Presidency, India, on August 15, 1872, into a Bengali Kayastha family with roots in Konnagar in the Hooghly district of present-day West Bengal. His father, Krishna Dhun Ghose, was an assistant surgeon in Rangpur, Bengal, and later a civil surgeon in Khulna. A former member of the Brahmo Samaj religious reform movement, Krishna Dhun Ghose became enamored with the then-new idea of evolution during his medical studies in Edinburgh. Aurobindo’s mother, Swarnalata Devi, was the daughter of Shri Rajnarayan Bose, a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj.
Aurobindo had two elder siblings, Benoybhusan and Manmohan, a younger sister, Sarojini, and a younger brother, Barindra Kumar (also referred to as Barin). Raised speaking English, Aurobindo used Hindustani to communicate with servants. Although his family was Bengali, his father believed in the superiority of British culture. Consequently, Aurobindo and his two elder siblings were sent to the English-speaking Loreto House boarding school in Darjeeling. This decision was partly to enhance their language skills and partly to distance them from their mother, who had developed a mental illness shortly after the birth of her first child.
Early Career and Political Involvement
In 1893, Aurobindo Ghose began his career in Baroda’s state service, working in various departments and eventually becoming a part-time French teacher and vice-principal at Baroda College. During his time there, he self-studied Sanskrit and Bengali and contributed articles to Indu Prakash. Although barred from overt political activity due to his position, Aurobindo engaged with the Indian independence movement behind the scenes, connecting with resistance groups in Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.
Move to Calcutta and Increasing Activism
In 1901, Aurobindo married Mrinalini Bose. After the 1905 Partition of Bengal, he moved to Calcutta, where he became the first principal of the National College, dedicated to providing national education to Indian youth. He resigned in 1907 to focus on his political activities, advocating for non-cooperation and passive resistance, while secretly preparing for open revolt. He helped establish revolutionary groups, including the Anushilan Samiti, and connected with leaders like Lokmanya Tilak and Sister Nivedita.
Imprisonment and Spiritual Shift
Aurobindo was arrested in 1908 for his involvement in the Alipore Bomb Case but was acquitted after a year in solitary confinement. Following his release, he launched the publications Karmayogin and Dharma and delivered the transformative Uttarpara Speech, signaling his shift towards spirituality.
Move to Pondicherry
Facing continued repression, Aurobindo moved to the French colony of Pondicherry in 1910, where he dedicated himself to spiritual and philosophical pursuits, marking a significant transition from his earlier political activism.
Pondicherry (1910–1950)
After moving to Pondicherry in 1910, Sri Aurobindo immersed himself in spiritual and philosophical work. In 1914, he launched the magazine Arya, which featured key works like The Life Divine and The Synthesis of Yoga. The magazine ceased publication in 1921, but many of these works were later published in book form.
In 1926, as his following grew, Sri Aurobindo established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. His extensive correspondence with disciples was compiled into Letters on Yoga, and he continued working on his epic poem Savitri.
Sri Aurobindo opposed the partition of India in 1947 and was nominated twice for the Nobel Prize, though he did not win. He passed away on 5 December 1950, with a large public memorial.
Mirra Alfassa (The Mother)
Mirra Alfassa, known as The Mother, arrived in Pondicherry in 1914 and settled there in 1920. She became Sri Aurobindo’s close spiritual collaborator and managed the ashram after he retired in 1926. She also founded the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education. After Sri Aurobindo’s death, The Mother continued to lead the ashram and guide its spiritual work.