Aurobindo Ghosh

(1872 –1950)

In his India on the March Romain Rolland described Aurobindo as “the completest synthesis that has been realized to this day of the genius of Asia and the genius of Europe… the last of the great Rishis holds in his hand, in firm unrelaxed grip, the bow of creative energy”.  Frederic Spielberg said of Aurobindo: “I have never known a philosopher so all-embracing in his metaphysical structure as Sri Aurobindo, none before him had the same vision.” He was a revolutionary, a yogin and a philosopher.

A poet and an essayist A leader of India’s national movement for freedom. Born in 1972 as the third son of Dr. Krishnadhana Ghosh and Swarnalathadevi, in Calcutta, Aurobindo Acroid Ghosh had his early education from Loreto School in Darjeeling and St Paul’s in London and finally at the King’s College, Cambridge. A brilliant student, Aurobindo stood first not only in studies, but in discussions, debates, and literary efforts also.  The father wanted him to join the Indian Civil Service and at its examination Sri Aurobindo scored the highest marks in all the subjects, but he could not complete it as he would not go for the equestrian test. Instead he joined the ‘majlis’, an organization of the Indian students there and worked its secretary. He also worked with an underground outfit in London, called ‘the lotus and dagger’, operating for the freedom of India.