POLITICAL THOUGHTS AND IDEOLOGY OF SRI AUROBINDO
POLITICAL THOUGHTS AND IDEOLOGY OF SRI AUROBINDO
INTRODUCTION
The closing decades of the nineteenth and the dawn of the
twentieth centuries are very important in the history of modern India. During
this period, religion, cultural nationalism emerged as a powerful force in
opposition to the western inspired liberalism and the British rule. Ramkrishna
Paramhamsa and Swami Vivekananda in Bengal and Swami Dayanand Saraswati in
Punjab led a revival of interest in lndian tradition. The movement resulted in
a major attempt to reinterpret lndian tradition so as to instill a sense of
pride in the lndian youth. Another aspect of this movement was its radical
political outlook. These two aspects reinforced each other. Sri Aurobindo
represents the best example in this tradition of a leader who provided a
spiritual foundation to lndian nationalism.
SRI
AUROBINDO: HIS LIFE AND WORK
Born in Calcutta on 15th August 1872, Sri Aurobindo lived an
eventful life and contributed immensely to the fields of philosophy and politics.
His life span can be studied by dividing it into four stages.
Early
Life - Formative Stage
Aurobindo's upbringing was completely western. For a period
of fourteen years from 1879 to 1893-he studied in England. During this period,
he showed extraordinary intellectual abilities. He learned various classical
and modern European languages. During his Cambridge University days, he began
to take an interest in Indian politics and came in contact with some young
revolutionaries from India. He was also deeply influenced by lrish
nationalists and their efforts for achieving independence for Ireland. He
returned to India in 1893 at the age of 21 with the fire of nationalism burning
in him and a strong and resolute hill to work for it.
Preparatory
Phase
On arriving in India he joined government service in the
princely state of Baroda. At Baroda, he undertook a serious study of lndian
history, philosophical texts and Bengali literature. He was impressed by the
spiritualism underlying Indian philosophy and literature and this added a new
dimension to his political thinking. During this period, Aurobindo wrote
extensively on the then situation in the country and elaborated his iedas about
nation, nationalism etc. He also remained in touch with the freedom movement
generally and particularly with revolutionary activities in Bengal. His
interest in revolutionary politics, however, did not keep him away from his
spiritual quest.
Phase of
Political Activism
In 1905 Bengal was partitioned. This event evoked strong
resentment throughout the country. Aurobindo resigned from his job in Baroda
(1906) and plunged into active politics which marked the beginning of the third
phase of his life. This phase of political activism was very brief (
1906-1910). During this period, he participated actively in politics and
supported the radical group led by Tilak. He participated in the Surat session
of the Congress. He also wrote extensively on various topics of national
importance in this period. In 1908, he was implicated and arrested in the
Maniktola Bomb Case. He was honourably acquitted in 1909. After his release, he
remained involved in politics for a short while. In 1910, he withdrew from
active politics and went to Chandra Nagar and later on moved to Pondicherry.
His sudden withdrawal was a result .of his desire for spiritual development.
Later
Phase :1910 Onwards
During this period, Aurobindo wrote mainly in the wider
context of humanity and it spiritual future. He elaborated his ideas and ideals
in the context of human development and its ultimate goal of human unity. His
important works like the Life Divine, Essays on Geeta, The Synthesis
of Yoga and the epic poem 'Savitri' were written during this
period.
To sum up, we can say that his political activism and
spiritual devlelopment were not separate but went together, His political
thought was an extension of his yogic and spiritual vision. Therefore, before
we study his views on the key concepts in politics. it is necessary to
understand the philosophical foundations from which his political thought
emerged.
POLITICAL THOUGHTS AND IDEOLOGY OF
SRI AUROBINDO
PHILOSOPHICAL
FOUNDATION OF AUROBINDO'S POLITICAL THOUGHT
Aurobindo's writings reflect diverse influences. Of these,
the lndian tradition of idealism in philosophy seems to have impressed him the
most. 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 Awobindo was "the highest synthesis of the genius of Asia and the
genius of Europe " . He tried to integrate the materialist trend in
western philosophy with the idealist tradition in Indian philosophy. Vedantic
philosophy as propounded by Ramakrishna and Vivekanand also influenced
Aurobindo's thinking.
He was also inspired by the remarkable vitality and
diversity of the lndian intellectual tradition. He believed that the writings
of the Vedantic sages and the Buddha reflect the genius of the lndian mind.
However, at a later stage, according to Aurobindo, the Indian philosophical
tradition became narrow in outlook and lost its dynamism and vitality. As
against this, western philosophy managed to retain its dynamism and continued
to grow. Aurobindo wanted to combine the best elements of the lndian and
western philosophical tradition.
He explained the origin, nature and destiny of this world in
his theory of evolution. According to his theory of creation, matter passes
through various stages of development; from the plant and animal stages to that
of the mind and the super mind. In his view, matter is spirit in a hidden form,
growing progressively towards the revelation of the spirit which is the
supreme, unconditioned and absolute reality. In this process of evolution, in
the transformation from the mind to the super mind, the technique of 'yoga'
helps human beings to hasten the process. Sri Aurobindo developed his own
technique called 'Integral Yoga' or 'Purna Yoga' which
incorporates the techniques of four yoga i.e. Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana
yoga and Raja yoga-as well as the Tantrik philosophy. Through this integral
Yoga, a Yogi can rise to the supremental level, which will bring him joy (Ananda). The
attainment of Ananda helps in self-realization and assists in the service of
humanity.
According to him, since 'matter' is not different from
'spirit' 'gradual evolution of matter will convert it into pure spirit. Despite
the obstacles in the way which may slow down the process, the advancement of
humanity in the direction of spiritual perfection will continue. In this
process, a few developed souls will work as pathfinders and will struggle hard
to find the path for others.
Aurobindo believed that India's tradition of spiritual
thought and practice was very advanced and the whole of humanity could benefit
from this in its spiritual journey. He wanted India to take the lead and for
this reason, thought that India ought to be free, to play her true role in the
spiritual regeneration of the world.
POLITICAL
THOUGHT : EARLY PHASE
A close scrutiny of Aurobindo's writings show that he wrote
extensively on problem of current political importance in the early phase of
his political activity. His political thought at that time consisted of :
·
His views on the Indian National Congress and the British rule in India.
His views on the Indian National Congress and the British rule in India.
· The Concept of Nation and the Theory of Spiritual
Nationalism.
· His programme of action - Theory of Passive Resistance etc.,
His writings in this period must be seen against the
political background of our country in the last quarter of the nineteenth
century. His objective was to mobilize the masses for the fight against the
foreign rulers and his ultimate goal was full freedom for the country.
Aurohindo's thoughts in the later phase, i.e. from 1910
onwards reflect clearly the need for humanity to return to the spiritual
motivations of life. In this section, we will concentrate on his political
thought, which he expressed in the earlier phase of his life (1883-1905) and
the first phase of his political activity (1905 to 1910). Later, we will
proceed to study his views on human unity.
His Views
on the Indian National Congress
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. This does not mean that he was basically against the national
Congress. On the contrary, he declared that " The Congress was to us, all
that is to man most dear, most high and most sacred." But at the same
time, he did not hesitate to express his disillusionment and dissatisfaction
about its working.
About the aims and objectives of the organization, he
thought that the Congress did not have a clear cut goal of national freedom.
The leaders of the Congress were wasting time on trifles like certain
administrative reforms, which were totally inadequate to meet the need of the
time. Their demands, he delivered were 'shamefully modest.
About the composition of the Congress, he thought that the
Congress was a middle class organization and therefore, did not represent the
Indian masses. The newly educated middle class leadership was only interested
in gaining power and a place in the Indian polity. He emphasised the need for
converting the national movement into a mass movement by including in it the
vast numbers of the proletariat. He believed that the emergence of the Indian
'proletariat' on the horizon of the national movement would be an important key
to the solution of the problem of transforming the Congress into a truly
national and popular body.
Thirdly, regarding the motives of the Congress leaders, his
observation was that they were not sincere leaders. They were timid and afraid
of displeasing their rulers. He believed that these defects in the organization
had adversely affected the national movement in the country.
He felt that the Congress leadership had not perceived the
British rule correctly and therefore, instead of boldly asserting their goal,
the leaders relied on the sense of justice and benevolence of the British
rulers. They resorted to futile petitions and requests in the annual sessions
of the Congress.
He therefore stressed the need for a broad based
organization that could channelize the entire power of the country to
free it from foreign rule. Thus, his insistence on enthusing the masses with
the spirit of independence was one of the first efforts to give a mass
character to the freedom movement.
POLITICAL THOUGHTS AND IDEOLOGY OF
SRI AUROBINDO
Nature of
the British Rule
Aurobindo's first political writings in 'lndu-Prakash' - an
Anglo-Maratni paper was a direct attack on British rule. Of course, some
leaders participating in the national movement were also criticising British
rule at that time, but their criticism was quite indirect. His writing was a
departure from this style of expression. He created such a sensation in the
country that justice M.G. Ranade had to warn the editor of Indu-Prakash to be
careful, and subsequently the editor had to request Aurobindo to modify his
tone, which he did rather reluctantly.
The purpose of Aurobindo's criticism of the British rule was
two fold. In the first instance, he wanted to strengthen the anti-British
sentiments in the country and secondly, to break the myth of British
superiority.
He expressed the view that the British political system was
in no way the best as was widely believed by Indian intelligentsia. He was also
critical of the absence of social freedom and equality. Hence, he believed that
copying the british model was not in the interest of
our country. Regarding the nature of the British rule in India he expressed the
view that, "It is mercantile in foundation and exploitative in
character". It must be, therefore, weakened from its base itself, in order
to achieve freedom and independence of the country.
Aurobindo described the behaviour of the British officials
as rude and arrogant. He believed that the system of administration set up by
the British in lndia was thoroughly unsuitable to the lndian people, their
socio-economic system, their mind and genius. He was also critical of the
anglicised Indians who regarded the British way of life and culture worth
emulating.
He, however, did not object to learning from the experience
of the British, though he was against the thoughtless aping of European ideas
and ideals. He objected to the growing tendency among Indians t o ignore the
past and of having no clear vision for the future.
Concept of
Nation and Theory of Spiritual Nationalism
Aurobindo's concept of nation was deeply influenced by
Bankimchandra-a great Bengali novelist. He believed that the nation is not just
a piece of land nor a mass of human beings. It is neither a figure of speech
nor the creation of mind. It is something more than a geographical unit or a
figment of peoples imagination. Thus, his concept of nation is profound and
very different from the commonly held patriotic notions about the nation.
To him, India was like hjs mother and hence he was highly
devoted to her. He glorified lndia as a Mother Goddess, and adviced the young
patriots to work for their nation which is their mother. He believed that the
liberation of the motherland is the most urgent duty of her children for which
they must be ready to sacrifice even their lives.
According to Aurobindo's hnderstanding, the 'nation' is a
mighty 'shakti' composed of all the shaktis of all the millions of units that
make up the nation. It is thus a living entity. He expressed his deep feelings
of love and dedication to the motherland in numerous articles and poems. Such
patriotism he believed could work miracles. Thus, Aurobindo's definition-of
nationalism had a spiritual dimension, unlike the ordinary patriotic
understanding of the terms nationalism.
Nationalism in his opinion is not merely a political
movement. It is neither a political programme nor an intellectual past time. In
his opinion, nationalism is akin to religion. It is a faith and a creed which
one has to live. It is a religion which has come from God. Hence, it cannot be
crushed. Even if attempts are made by external forces to suppress it, it
reemerges and survives due to the strength of God in it.
Natilonalism is immortal. It can not die, because it is not
a creation of human beings. but is created by God. If one wants to be a
nationalist, one must work for his nation. Nationalism in his opinion was a
deep and fervent 'religious sadhana'. Here in lies the difference between
Aurobindo's concept of nationalism and nationalism as perceived by other thinkers
and political activists of his time.
Nationalist movement sparked off by the partition of Bengal
was in the opinion of. Aurobindo a divinely inspired and guided movement. In
his opinion, this movement was not guided by any political self interest, but it
was a religious mission which the people were trying to fulfil. Thus for
him, "nationalism is a religion by which people try to realise God in
their nation, and their fellow country men"
Final
Goal - Swaraj
India's liberation from foreign domination was the final
goal for Aurobindo. 'Swaraj', i.e., self rule by Indians was
not merely of economic and political nature. It was necessary for India to
perform its spiritual mission dedicated to the upliftment of humanity. He
advocated independence for lndia for the following reasons:
Liberty being the first indispensable condition of rational development intellectual ,moral, individual and political-is in itself a necessity of national life. Hence it was worth striving for its own sake.
Secondly, in the process of development of human beings,
spiritual and moral advance is more important than material advance. Aurobindo
was of the opinion that lndia with her spiritual development was destined to
take the lead for the progress of the world and for this reason too lndia must
be free.
India must have swaraj to live well and happily. For this
Indians should not live as slaves but as free people to work for the spiritual
and intellectual benefit of the human race.
The concept of nationalism which dominated his thought and
activity in the early phase was just a stepping stone to move in the direction
of the unity of humankind. This unity of humankind was regarded by him as a
part of nature's eventual scheme and as the inevitable goal of human
development. To achieve this goal of national independence, he explained the
methods to be followed. We shall see in detail his plan of political action
which he advocated in his very brief association with political activity.
Positive
Programme of Political Action
In 1906, Aurobindo left his job at Baroda and plunged into
active politics. It is at this stage that he thought and wrote about the
political techniques to be adopted against the British. The theoretical base of
the political course of action that he suggested was two fold. Complete freedom
from British domination was his ultimate goal and this he believed, could not
be achieved by appeals to the charity of foreign masters, but by channelising
the unlimited reserved strength of millions of Indians.
According to Aurobindo, this limitless reservoir of inner strength and power of the people could be channelised through different kinds of political actions; viz., I) through secret revolutionary propaganda by setting up revolutionary organization. The object of this action was to prepare for an armed insurrection. 2) Secondly, continuous propaganda against foreign rule through writings, speeches, public contacts etc. This was regarded by many at that time as an impossible scheme because in their opinion the british Empire was too strong to be destabilised through such techniques. 3) Thirdly, mobilising the masses through various organizations to carry an open and total opposition to foreign rule through methods of non cooperation and passive resistance
Aurobindo tried all the three methods. Even when he was at
Baroda, he had contacts with the revolutionary organizations in Bengal as well
as Maharashtra. He tried to establish secret groups through his Bengali
contacts in the Baroda Army. At the same time, he developed contacts with
radical Congress leaders like Tilak and cooperated with him to reduce the
influence of moderates on the organization. In the situation of political
turmoil following the partition of Bengal, he organised and propagated methods
of passive resistance.
His advocacy of the method of passive resistance was the
result of his disillusionment over the constitutional methods of moderate
leaders. He was opposed to methods like passing resolutions, sending petitions,
and entering into negotiations with British rulers. Instead, he advocated
methods like 'boycott' of foreign goods 'non cooperation' with the rulers etc.
These were, according to him, the methods most suitable at the time since
Indians were faced with rulers who were oppressive and insensitive to the
demands of the people.
Thus, the measures he advocated were not moral o r spiritual
but very practical political measures. He did not reject the use of force in
the application of these methods. Violence was not taboo for Aurobindo. The use
of force and violence was justified, if circumstances demanded them. Here in
lies the difference between Gandhiji's method of civil resistance and
Aurobindo's method of passive resistance. Gandhiji regarded violence as
unethical and hence, harmful and undesirable. He also regarded it as tainted by
moral cowardice and as incompatiable with the end for which it could be used.
But for Aurobindo passive resistance was a comprehensive programme of national
regeneration.
Programme
of Action
Boycott was the key word in the programme of action proposed
to resist high handedness and oppressive measures employed by the British
rulers. 'Boycott' in this context means an act of organised refusal to d o
anything which shall help or assist the British officialdom in administration
of it. This non co-operation was to continue as long as the aspirations of the
people remained unfulfilled. The object of putting this method of 'boycott' on
the forefront of the programme was t o make the administration under present
conditions impossible. The main target of the 'boycott' was British goods,
since economic exploitation by the British rulers was to be stopped forthwith.
Aurobindo believed that if this was done, the empire would collapse in
consequence.
Boycott of the British system of education was another part
of the programme. This system was found to be anti-national as well as faulty
in its very foundations. It was completely cantrolled by the government as was
used by foreign rulers to inculcate loyalty to them and discouraged patriotism
and the national spirit. This programme included boycott of government run
schools and colleges and sought to establish national education institutions
and a system directed towards creating awareness about the problems of the
country, love for the nation and mental preparedness among the youth of the
country to fight against the dominance of alien power.
It also advocated boycott of the British judicial system. The system was regarded as partial, costly, frequently subordinated to the political objects of the rulers and ruinous as far as the people of this country were concerned. The administration of justice was criticized '. for being bureaucratic in nature.
Finally, this programme included boycott of administration.
The executive administrative machinery were regarded as ruthless, repressive,
arbitrary, meddling and inquisitorial in character. The objective of boycott
was t o reduce the
administrative machinery to a mere skeleton so that it would be useless for the rulers in their efforts to exploit and harass the helpless masses of this country.
Aurobindo was well aware of the importance of orderliness and discipline for a nation. When he advocated boycott, he also advocated alternative arrangements to replace the existing system. He regarded this programme as a scheme of self development and believed that if the people were firm in enforcing these methods, British rule could be ended within no time.
administrative machinery to a mere skeleton so that it would be useless for the rulers in their efforts to exploit and harass the helpless masses of this country.
Aurobindo was well aware of the importance of orderliness and discipline for a nation. When he advocated boycott, he also advocated alternative arrangements to replace the existing system. He regarded this programme as a scheme of self development and believed that if the people were firm in enforcing these methods, British rule could be ended within no time.
THE SECOND
STAGE: FROM 1910 ONWARD
We have already noted that Aurobindo dramatically withdrew
from politics in 1910 and moved to Pondicherry, following the persistent calls
from his inner self through mystic experiences. His writings during this phase
are mainly philosophical in nature, in which we find extension of his earlier
political ideas now expressed in the wider context of humanity and its
spiritual future.
Evolution
of Human Society
Aurobindo argues that, in the course of its development,
human society has to pass through three stages. The first is the
stage of spontaneity. At this stage the forms and activities of community
formation. Its traditions and customs and institutional setup are the result of
natural organic growth. Natural instinct and environmental needs play an
important part in its formation. The people believe in certain symbols which
are imaginative and instinctive in nature. The people belonging to the same
race or kinship follow identical symbols which become a religion for them.
Thus, in this stage of development, natural instincts and religious symbols go
together.
The second stage is the stage of consciousness in which
people become intellectually self conscious and start thinking about this life
and its problems with the help of intelligence and creative power. This stage
is predominantly psychological and ethical in nature. In this stage
intellectuals get importance and come forward as the initiators of the age of
reason and revolt or progress and freedom.
The third stage is the stage that represents both the
triumph and failure of reason. In this stage., human beings
in collectivity begin to live more deeply and purposively. Life of human beings
at this stage will be governed by a sense of unity, sympathy, spontaneous
liberty and the spirit of individual and communal existence. From here
humankind has to advance towards the realization of spiritualised society. This
is the ideal towards which t h i process of evolution of society points
out.
In this spiritual society, 'nation' as a regulating
mechanism will have no place. It will not be worshipped by people as their
God or their larger self. There would be no clashes or conflicts on the basis
of separate identities as nations. There would be unity within the nations as
group but there would also be ultimate unity and oneness of the humankind. The
primary responsibility of achieving this unity was entrusted by Aurobindo to
India.
Nature of
Human Unity
It will not be a mechanical unity established under the iron
law of the state or any organization because such kind of mechanical unity will
negate the diversity of various groups, individuals or rices. There would be no
suppression of individual life or the life of smaller community. All
individuals and cammunities will get the fullest opportunity for the full
development of their potentialities and the full expression of their multifaced
diversity.
The future society will be a society of complex oneness, a world society in which present nations will be intrinsic parts of the whole. The national societies would continue to function as cultural units but their physical boundaries will have no relevance as they would look beyond them to realise the vision of the unity of mankind.
Aurobindo was aware of the problems and hurdles in the way
of the emergence of such spiritual society at that time, but he was optimistic about
its advent in the near future. He was not only hopeful but certain about the
achievement of world unity and peace. Mankind's aspiration for peace and unity
had become a reality to some extent in the form of the establishment of the
League of Nations in 1920 and the United Nations in 1945. He was also aware of
the practical limitations of such organisations in the face of the realities of
international politics, but firmly believed in the emergence of united world.
It was his belief that this was certain because it was essential for the very
continuance of humanity and failure in this respect meant the failure of the
human race itself. This could never be, for humanity would not,
whatever be its occasional lapses, work for its own extinction.
whatever be its occasional lapses, work for its own extinction.
CRITICAL EVALUATION
The study of Aurobindo's political thought raises certain
points of criticism which need to be discussed before we take into
consideration his contribution to modern Indian political thought and the
national movement.
Theory of
Nationalism: Spiritual or Religious?
In the context of his theory of 'spiritual nationalism', it
is argued that though it is called spiritual nationalism, in reality it was
religious as we have known it, and therefore reactionary in character. It
was an attempt to mobilize the masses on an emotional basis and detracting
their attention from real issues like poverty, economic exploitation,
inequality which are inimical to the progress of the individual as well as the
community. It was a n appeal to Hindu religious sentiments in the garb of the
cultural heritage of the land.
Further, it is argued that to regard nationalism as an
instrument of spiritual perfection is too idealistic and visionary for the
common person. To associate religion with politics, though in the name of
spirituality, is a dangerous proposition in a multireligious, multicultural
plural society like India. It is argued that in the ultimate analysis, this
exercise has resulted in increasing the strife between the Hindus and the
Muslims-two major religious communities in India, which finally resulted in the
partition of the country.
Aurobindo's defenders would, however, claim that his concept
of nationalism and humanunity were based on his understanding of the Hindu
Sanatana Dharma, which to him meant a n open and universal philosophy of life.
His concept of nationalism clearly indicates his spiritual
approach to politics. Not merely his theory of nationalism, but his political
philosophy in its totality has spiritual overtones. Politics for him was an aspect
of the broader process of personal, national and international spiritual
development. He looked upon Indian independence as a n essential turn in the
life of this ancient land for playing the role of a spiritual guide of humanity
at Large. He believed this was India's predetermined role and that she could
rise to that level only through the teachings of the Hindu religion.
Nationalism cannot afford to neglect any one. It is therefore imperative for
one to bring all the sections of the society into the mainstream of political
life. In the Indian context, he believed that all the sections including
tribal’s and communities outside of Hindu civilization must form part of the
process of national independence as nationalism excludes none. It is in this sense;
Aurobindo's followers say that, his concept of spiritual nationalism should be
understood.
Emphasis on
Political Issues
Critics point out that Aurobindo paid less attention to the
issues of social reform, which were perhaps more important and urgent. The
defence of the radicals in this regard was that it was a matter of giving
preference in the light of circumstances existing at that time. To them the
problem of social reform was not in any way unimportant in comparison with the
issue of national independence, but the latter was considered as a matter of
primary importance. In this context, Aurobindo had a very clear approach. He
stated that, "political freedom is the life breath of a nation, to attempt
social reforms, educational reforms, industrial expansion, the moral
improvement of race, without aiming first and foremost at political freedom is
the very height of ignorance and futility."
Sri
Aurobindo :An AnarchistITerrorist
Because of his advocacy of force or violent means in the
fight against foreign rule, Aurobindo is criticised as an anarchist as
well as a terrorist in his approach and action. He was certainly not a n
anarchist. Neither was he a terrorist though he did not disapprove of the use
of violence on moral and spiritual grounds. But he did not approve of blind
terrorism against individuals in the manner of a violent anarchist. In his
vision of a future society, he accepted existence of nations as cultural units
in the broader scheme of human unity at the spiritual level. Hence, the charge
of being 'anarchist' in case of Aurobindo is without a basis. –
As far as his advocacy of violent means and association with
the revolutionary groups is concerned, it can be said that it was a reaction
against the increasingly intolerant and uncivilised way of the British rulers.
It was a reaction to British policy and to the partition of Bengal. It was the
reaction of an emotional patriot to brutal exploitation of his motherland and
tyrannical government at the hands of the alien rulers. To him, ends were
important, by whatever means they were achieved. However, within a short period
the limitations of this strategy became very clear. Aurobindo himself has
pointed out these.
Aurobindo also pointed out that moral standards are only
relative and cannot be held to be universal. According to Aurobindo, violence
was best avoided but could not be totally avoided or prohibited.
LET US SUM
UP
We have taken into account some major points of criticism
regarding Aurobindo's thought. We shall now proceed to estimate his
contribution to modern Indian political thought and the national movement.
His theory of spiritual nationalism is a unique contribution to modern thought. His writings inspired the educated youth of his time to take up the cause of national freedom. By interpreting the concept of nationalism in spiritual terms he gave a new dimension to the national movement and lifted it above the economic and political context and a new kind of spiritual idealism was set before the nationalists in the country.
Secondly, by advocating complete freedom from the foreign
domination as the final goal of the freedom struggle he brought a change in the
texture of our national movement. It was quite a bold stand taken by him when
the moderates were spearheading the national movement.
Thirdly, It may be pointed out that Aurobindo was the first political thinker who recognised the need of giving a broad base to the national movement. He emphasised the need of mass mobilization and participation of all sections of society in the national movement way back in 1893. In this sense, he was a true democrat relying on the joint action by the many rather than the intellectual initiative of a few. His advocacy of passive resistance created a sense of renewed confidence among the masses and exposed the contradiction between the myth and reality of British raj.
With his advocacy of radical methods to attain the goal of
full freedom for Indian nation, he created a favourable atmosphere for
revolutionary spirit among the political activists and by participating in it
as their leader he set an example of being both, a theoretician as well as
practitioner and a good organizer which is a rare combination of the qualities
of the prophet and the leader.
POLITICAL THOUGHTS AND IDEOLOGY OF SRI AUROBINDO
Reviewed by Knowledge-Source
on
January 10, 2020
Rating:
No comments: