Inspiration
Remembering The Great Teacher & Nationalist Sri Aurobindo on His Birth Anniversary & India’s Independence Day
73 years past the rebirth of new India, Sri Aurobindo’s teachings still remains much treasured
15th August 2020, seventy-three years later, independent India is still indebted to all the freedom fighters, nationalists and revolutionaries who fought and martyred for the nation and its people. The most astonishing of the facts about these nationalists who had such a strong notion of the independent nation ‘Swatantra Bharat’ is that they came from absolute common backgrounds. None of these individuals was trained in combat or had an extensive fighting skill nor were they bipolar seeking unnecessary thrills; they were commoners just like all of us, teachers, students, doctors, lawyers, farmers and more. What separated them was their will to see a free unrepressed country, to have their coming generations live on the land they were proud to call home.
Sri Aurobindo (Aurobindo Ghose) was one such nationalist, philosopher, scholar, yogi and guru. He shares his birth date, 15 August 1872, with the independence day of his beloved country (though a different year). Sri Aurobindo knew over 11 languages, had knowledge of several religions and was brought up most of his life in London. Coming from a very elite family, he was expected to become an Indian Civil Servant. He worked in Baroda State Service for several years but his love for his country could never subdue in his heart. Hence, he soon was drawn towards the nationalist and freedom movement and became an integral part of the revolution apparatus.
Being a learned scholar and a spokesperson/educator of the college board, he was published many times. His literary works and revolution related steps were like a bee sting to the British rule and he was arrested and imprisoned regularly. None of these could dismay his motivation for the country’s love though.
Several international education centres were built by people who were motivated and guided by Sri Aurobindo.
Let us remember this scholar on this blessed day of India’s rebirth through some of his motivational quotes.
“True knowledge is not attained by thinking. It is what you are; it is what you become.”
“By your stumbling, the world is perfected.”
“The first principle of true teaching is that nothing can be taught. The second principle is that the mind has to be consulted in its own growth. The third principle of education is to work from the near to the far, from that which is to that which shall be.”
“A teacher should be like torch-light.”
“What men call knowledge, is the reasoned acceptance of false appearances. Wisdom looks behind the veil and sees.”
“Late, I learned that when reason died, then Wisdom was born; before that liberation, I had only knowledge.”
