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Sri Aurobindo: Celebrating The 153rd Birth Anniversary Of Master Geostrategist
The unique aspect of Sri Aurobindo is that, despite having grand and lofty visions, he was extremely practical and prescient There are very few yogis who are also geostrategists. Similarly, there are very few darshaniks who are also great politicians. Sri Aurobindo is one of those rare few who lived many lives in one, as Peter Heehs has pointed out in his book The Lives of Sri Aurobindo. Sri Aurobindo was a Renaissance man. He was a linguist, educationist, poet, essayist, translator, literary critic, futurist, internationalist, and, above all, a lover of India and her spiritual truth. We are not used to thinking of Sri Aurobindo as a geostrategist. But he was a great one, as I intend to show here. It is instructive even now, 75 years after he physically left us, to review his key motifs for India's resurgence as the standard bearer of spiritual light and a force in global affairs. Some of his ideas are striking and perhaps need to be followed more closely. Sri Aurobindo stood for the renaissance of India in all her dimensions of existence. His vision encompassed the physical strength and development of her people while also emphasising the intellectual, cultural, educational, social, and political resurgence of her people in their immensely proliferative and creative genius. Above all, he stood for the spiritual awakening of India, which has been her core strength ever since her birth more than 4-5 millennia ago. For this, spiritual awakening is critical to humanity's own evolution and the next age of mankind's future. The unique aspect of Sri Aurobindo is that, despite these grand and lofty visions, he was extremely practical and prescient. For example, he identified the dark force behind Hitler early on, while he was still being appeased by most British and French leaders except Winston Churchill in the 1930s. He also accorded a welcome to Stafford Cripps when he came to India with an offer of Dominion Status in 1942. Perhaps if the other national leaders had paid attention to him, India's partition, along with the slaughter and displacement of millions of her citizens, could have been averted. He advocated India's physical freedom insistently and gave us the programme for Aatmanirbharta at the beginning of the 20th century, which we are awakening to now. One of the most extreme of India's revolutionaries, he yet supported the British during World War II. How do we explain this? The way I understand this paradox is that his key message was the upward evolutionary direction of humanity, and whatever aided that movement was right, strategically appropriate, and dharmic. This is why he opposed the Chinese Communist aggression during the Korean War. In the same spirit, he gave his blessings to a closer alignment of India and the US early on, after India's independence. His dream of a united Europe and the rise of Asia has come to pass. So has his dream of a politically and physically free India. Yet is there more to be done if we are to adhere to his aspiration for his beloved people and nation? First, education. For without an education that stimulates the young minds and pushes them to question and explore life in an original manner, India would never have the brainpower it sorely needs to recover her ancient greatness. Then, discovering her own genius and national soul. Without realising its own svabhava and svadharma, India would always be weak and inauthentic. And this could happen only with a true independence of spirit and self-confidence. If we are to follow his geostrategic guidance, these are the lines we need to follow. First, be strong. Strong in every aspect of human life: physically, culturally, mentally, economically, and finally, spiritually. Second, stand up for dharma. Stand up for the truth and be firm in your adherence. India may need to be diplomatic about this stance until she is truly strong, but this aspect of her USP (unique selling proposition, as they say in management) must gradually become a part of her national discourse. Third, each Indian must have the opportunity to develop and grow to the fullest, without the limitations of race, religion, language, region, or caste. India needs to be deeply spiritual and yet modern in outlook, and must create new forms to express her ancient genius. This thirst is what can truly transform our nation and create a unity that transcends all limitations and barriers. The next decade will be tricky, turbulent, and even dangerous for the nation in its path towards becoming viksit. It is my belief that adherence to his path will not only help India survive but also let it thrive like no other country. Any leadership needs to be judged by these standards and these standards alone. The rest all is transient and superficial in the national and international life of India. August 15 is Sri Aurobindo's birthday. This is also the 75th year of his physical passing. As we remember and invoke his leadership and remind ourselves of his astute pointers in global positioning, it may be worth realising that our work in bringing India to his vision is not fulfilled yet. When we are able to do so, only then can India be a true Vishwaguru and truly viksit. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 16, 2025, 00:02 IST News opinion Opinion | Sri Aurobindo: Celebrating The 153rd Birth Anniversary Of Master Geostrategist Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. 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30-04-2025
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From the biography: Mirra Alfassa aka The Mother's early days in India as a Frenchwoman
Stories written by Peter Heehs An excerpt from 'The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo's Spiritual Collaborator', by Peter Heehs.
