Drawing examples from world history and placing them in the light of the truth of the spirit, this essay explores what makes a nation persevere and become immortal.
What Makes a Nation Immortal? – Part 1 Read More »
After outlining what is meant by the nation-soul, the author in this second part of the essay explains the meaning of a nation’s rebirth.
What Makes a Nation Immortal? – Part 2 Read More »
In this India’s 75th year of political independence, it is timely to present an assessment of Gandhi’s role in India’s freedom movement. Given that our national mind now seems ready to evaluate and understand the role played by some of the leading personalities in shaping the post-Independence India, revisiting this article written by Amal Kiran in 1949, which has the approval of Sri Aurobindo, is highly necessary and relevant today.
The Real Gandhi: An Impartial Estimate of his Greatness – Part 1 Read More »
In this second part, Amal Kiran asks two key questions – Did Gandhi embody the soul of India? Was it appropriate to give Gandhi the mysticism-charged Upanishadic title of “Mahatma”? His answer to both, we find, is in negative.
The Real Gandhi: An Impartial Estimate of his Greatness – Part 2 Read More »
Selected excerpts from Maithilisharan Gupt’s most famous work, Bharat Bharati, which stirred deep nationalist emotions among Indians when it was first published in 1912.
Bhārat-Bhārati – Excerpts from Rashtrakavi’s Famous Kāvya Read More »
This special issue opens a year-long celebration of Sri Aurobindo’s 150th birthday and 75th anniversary of India’s political independence. Starting with this issue, the next 12 issues will explore the 12 attributes that the Mother has identified as soul-powers necessary for full manifestation of Her Work. The present issue explores Sincerity in a multi-dimensional approach. Special features on Sri Aurobindo’s work as a revolutionary nationalist are also included.
“All That is True and Sincere Will Always be Kept” Read More »
We feature a special essay by Sri Aurobindo from Bande Mataram in which he writes about the birth and growth of Indian nationalism invoking the advent and avatāric work of Sri Krishna. The selection of this piece is most appropriate since this month we also celebrate Krishna Janmashtami.
The Life of Nationalism: When Sri Aurobindo Invoked Sri Krishna Read More »
This three-part essay was first published on August 15, 1950 in Mother India. It presents a remarkable overview of various world-forces that were at play around the time of India’s independence, and highlights the significance of the date August 15, heralding a new direction for the world and humanity.
August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 1) Read More »
In this part, we learn the inner meaning of why August 15, a date of momentous implications for the values of civilisation has been chosen by India to celebrate her independence. Amal Kiran reminds us that behind the conscious thought of individuals there is the working of that invisible yet potent being which is the national soul or genius.
August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 2) Read More »
Amal Kiran helps us contemplate on how befitting it is that the Independence Day of a country whose chief glory has been God-realisation should coincide with the occasion of Sri Aurobindo’s birth. It would be purblind on our part to miss a signal so pregnant with meaning and fail to see our future bound up with Sri Aurobindo’s presence—our future of true self-growth political as well as cultural and of leadership among the nations on the path of human evolution towards Godhead.
August 15: Its World-Significance (Part 3) Read More »
Exploring the theme of sincerity in history, we feature excerpts from a couple of introductory chapters from a book authored by Prof. Kittu Reddy, a long-time resident of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and teacher of Indian History and Culture at Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education. The author suggests that when examining Indian history from a subjective point of view, external events gain greater importance in the light of the inner psychological vision and deeper forces behind them.
Book Excerpts – ‘History and Culture of India: A New Approach’ Read More »
India needs Shakti alone, said Sri Aurobindo once. What can help Indians, and especially the youth of India grow in Shakti? What factors hold us back? What is necessary to infuse our knowledge with courage? What needs to be done to strengthen our society from within? These and other related questions were explored in this conversation with Sandeep Balakrishna, presented here in three parts.
“Solid Grounding in Fundamentals” – A Conversation with Sandeep Balakrishna (Part 1) Read More »
In this second part, Sandeep Balakrishna speaks of the devastating impact of bad educational policy especially concerning Indian languages, and the role of ideologically-biased textbooks and cinema in progressive indoctrination of the students’ minds.
“A Cohesive National Education” – A Conversation with Sandeep Balakrishna (Part 2) Read More »
In this part, the author emphasises that only a decisive turn to spiritualise all life can be the true basis of a spiritual nationalism. He reminds that this decisive and all-encompassing turn of spiritual evolution is India’s true mission and role for the future of humanity.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism -13 Read More »
The author highlights the triple basis of a spiritual turn of the society if that is the future destiny of humanity and nations. This is – Divine, Freedom and Unity. The significance of individual freedom is brought to light because individual indeed is the basis of evolution of consciousness.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism -14 Read More »
In this concluding part of the 15-part series, the author summarises the inner evolution of Indian national consciousness of which the political idea of nationalism is only a small part. He reminds us that the future course of Indian nationhood lies in spiritualising all the outer aims and activities including science, art, literature, politics and socio-economic organisation.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism – 15 Read More »
Continuing with the analysis presented earlier, in this part the author argues that Indian national consciousness must arrive at a deeper subjectivity and make spirituality the sole principle of its new effort if India is to be true to her age-long endeavour and render to the world the gift of her spiritual knowledge and her means for the spiritualisation of life to the whole race.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism – 11 Read More »
In this part, the author brings the readers’ attention to the deeper reason why the Western idea of secularism, which is a natural outcome of the Western emphasis on outer life and mind is not in harmony with the true spirit of Indian view of life and its purpose.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism – 12 Read More »