BIBLIOGRAPHY A WORKS BY SRI AUROBINDO GHOSH (Unless otherwise indicated, these works have been published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashrama, Pondicherry.) 1. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1954) 2. Bankim-Tilak-Dayananda (1955) 3. 'Bhawani-Mandir     (published in Sri Aurobindo Mandir Annual Jayanti Number No. 15, August 15, 1956, Sri Aurobindo Pathamandir, Calcutta) 4. The Brain of India (5th Edition 1955) 5. Collected Poems and Plays (2 volumes ) (1942) 6. The Doctrine of Passive Resistance (2nd Ed. 1952 ) 7. Eight Upanishadas (1953) 8. Elements of Yoga (1953) 9. Essays on the Gita (Sri Aurobindo Library, New York) (1950) 10. Evolution (5t

8 HIS CONCEPT OF ‛NATIONALISM’ INDIA was indeed the Mother, but a mother in chains, a mother enslaved and humiliated by alien aggressors, a mother oppressed and starved by her foreign rulers. What is the duty of sons who find their mother, their goddess, reduced to this pitiable plight? If we accept Sri Aurobindo's premise, there is only one answer that he could and did give: they must strive by every possible means to liberate her from her shackles. In this task there can be no compromise, there is no question of bartering or bargaining with the Mother's liberty. Full and complete emancipation can be the only demand. And in the struggle the children must be

Dr. Karan Singh MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (RAJYA SABHA) 3, NYAYA MARG CHANAKYAPURI NEW DELHI-110 021 PREFACE Now that we have entered the long awaited 21st century a.d., we find that our nation is still beset with numerous problems, and the world at large is torn by conflicts and upheavals of various kinds. The period of Sri Aurobindo's thought covered in this book began over a century ago in 1893 when he returned as a young man of 21 after 14 years as a student in England, and goes up to 1910 when he finally withdrew from politics and went on to become a Mahayogi in Pondicherry. These years were full o

-15_Rrevival of India^s National Spirit.htm 11 REVIVAL OF INDIA'S NATIONAL SPIRIT BEFORE Indian Independence could come within the realm of possibility, it was essential that large sections of the population should really come to desire this deeply and be prepared to make great sacrifices for it. It was also essential that they should feel that if a real effort was made there was a good chance of success. Now that it has been free for over a decade and a half we take it for granted that India is eminently fit for freedom, but at the turn of the century widespread apathy and despair pervaded the country and there were many who thought it was foolishly unpractical even to talk of gettin

PART II SRI AUROBINDO THE PREPARATORY PHASE 3 EARLY LIFE AND YOUTH IN ENGLAND SRI AUROBINDO was born in Calcutta on August 15,1872, the third son of Dr. Krishnadhan Ghose and Shrimati Swaranlata Devi.¹ His father was a Civil Surgeon and had received his advanced medical training in England. He was evidently a man of great ability and strong personality, and after his return from England he refused the demand of the orthodox sections of his village—Konnagar in the Hoogly district of West Bengal—that he should perform prayashchitta or purification for having travelled beyond the seas. This absurd custom, so alien to the true spirit of Hindui

10 APRIL 1940 PURANI : It seems that Germany collected all its navy, merchant ships and trawlers to carry its army to Norway. And the British navy is firing on them. SRI AUROBINDO: If the whole German fleet is out and gets attacked and intercepted by England, then it will be Germany that will have to turn back. Hitherto the Germany navy has not proved itself superior to the British navy. But it depends on what proportion of the navy is there. If it is only a part or if they have to collect it from various places, then it will be difficult for them. Of course, if the French fleet is also there, then it will be all right. If they had possessed foresight, they w

1 APRIL 1940 PURANI: A poet friend of mine has written that he met X and was impressed by him. He found X to have illimitable Bhakti for the Mother and you. SRI AUROBINDO: Illimitable? Well, X had a strange way of showing it. PURANI: Then my friend writes that X has gone very deep down in his consciousness. SRI AUROBINDO: It is always possible to go down. (Laughter) PURANI: Here is a letter from Indumati. She asks whether or not her Bhakti for Krishna is genuine and how she can dedicate herself to Krishna and pray to him to free her from all bonds. SRI AUROBINDO: It is a little dangerous to pray for that. PURANI: Then she says that some

1 OCTOBER 1940 PURANI: Hitler hasn't given up the idea of attacking Britain. He is concentrating his forces in Norway. SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. About 200,000 troops are practising jumping into the sea from the rocks! Is it a preparation, in case of reversal, to swim back from England? Any news about Gandhi's second interview with the Viceroy? PURANI: No, there is conjecture that Gandhi may have urged the release of the politicals. SRI AUROBINDO: That means there must have been some settlement. SATYENDRA: The Muslim League has also refused. SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. Jinnah wants to know what the League's status will be in case some other party co

2 SEPTEMBER 1940 PURANI: I read Gandhi's queer argument about non-violence with Kher and others. Kher said that during the Bombay riot even the non-violent leaders refused to risk and sacrifice their lives to stop the riot. Gandhi says, "That supports my argument." (Laughter) I am simply at a loss to understand how it supports his argument. Then he says, "If they had sacrificed themselves, then the riot would have stopped." SRI AUROBINDO: "If" they had! All depends on "ifs" and expectations. Gandhi is not a psychologist. During his Dandi march, though they didn't do any acts of violence, the leaders' minds were full of violence. In fact it was because o

I6 JULY 1940 PURANI: Italy has published a long article, it seems, on the New Order in Europe and if England doesn't recognise it, she will have to pay the price. SRI AUROBINDO: Even if she recognises it, she will have to pay. (Laughter) PURANI : It says war on England is to begin in a week. SRI AUROBINDO: A German paper says England won't enjoy another weekend. Hitler will appear in a triumphal march on 27th July for which windows are being hired. SATYENDRA: That means hardly two weeks. SRI AUROBINDO: Yes. I don't know how he is going to do it. NIRODBARAN: Italy says her navy will involve the British navy in engagements in the meantime.