Aurobindo Ghose

(1872–1950) Freedom fighter, philosopher, and ascetic yogi. He is perceived
as a modern example of the concern for
ultimate truth that always runs beneath
the surface of Hindu life.
Until he was twenty, Aurobindo
lived much of his life in England, to
fulfill his father’s desire to see his son
get a “proper” English education.
Upon his return to India, Aurobindo
was more interested in politics than in
working, and after a few years quit his
job to take part in the political struggle
70
Atranji Khera
against the British government. His
political career lasted only four years,
but his intellect and energy soon made
him a leader in the Bengali language
and national politics.
His life was transformed again by a
stay in prison, during which he
remembered the advice of an ascetic
who had told him to focus on his inner
self. Aurobindo later had a vision of
Swami Vivekananda, who guided his
yoga practice, and after he was
released from prison, Aurobindo withdrew from political life. In 1910 he
moved to the French enclave of
Pondicherry in southern India, where
he lived until his death in 1950.
Aurobindo spent these years developing his spiritual life, and in his later
years he was known as Shri Aurobindo.
His teachings focus on the insights
found in the Upanishads, and stress
the development of true knowledge,
which leads to self-realization.