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.
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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.
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In this part, A V Sastri briefly outlines how the unique Indian spirit of nationalist struggle for independence led by Sri Aurobindo, Lokmanya Tilak and others was gradually replaced by the moral-ethical nature of Gandhian call for political freedom. He also writes of the limits of such moralistic attempts.
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In this part, the author argues that the time of moral phase of nationalism is over. The need of the hour is a spiritual nationalism, but before we get there we must recognise the ethical-moral development as a necessary stage in human evolution.
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In this part, A. V. Sastri speaks of the imitative nature of the early nationalist movement in 19th century India. Indian leaders at that time were so mesmerised by the British versions of Indian political history that they never explored India’s unique line of political development in the past.
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With a religious reawakening in Bengal, the early imitative nationalism became more aligned with the Indian historical and temperamental truth. The religious consciousness extended to the political field and the movement in Bengal prefigured the coming struggle on the wider stage of India.
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Sri Aurobindo envisages a future for the Indian nation for which there is no example or exact parallel in history, a new type of people lifting nationalism to a new pinnacle justifying the separate existence, separate effort of a whole people in fundamental unity with entire humanity.
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In the matter of yoga a little experience is worth much more than long dissertations. But it is also good to have a clear understanding of what has to be done and realised, of what is required and of the main lines of the process.
To a Seeker in the West – More Advice from Sri Aurobindo Read More »
It is true that Yoga demands an equipoise and that every weak point, physical or mental, is a source of much trouble and much difficulty. But what is, should always be taken as it is; it is inevitably the point from which one has to start. And the start must be made forthwith.
To a Beginner in Yoga: Some Advice from Sri Aurobindo Read More »
According to A V Sastri, the triple realisation of the Divine helped the Rishis to conceive a social order reconciling all conflict between the individual and society or nation by submitting both to a higher, the highest Truth. Essential ideals of the polity shaped by the Rishis are also mentioned.
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In this part, A V Sastri briefly outlines the historical evolution of the Indian polity from a simple organic community to its era of decline which was also marked by imposition of news systems and cultures from Western Asia and Europe.
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In this opening part, author A V Sastri suggests that to comprehend the idea of nationalism as interpreted by Sri Aurobindo requires one to enter the whole region of his thought as it shapes and expresses itself in his major works.
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Exploring India’s mission for the humanity, A V Sastri in this part explains that Indian nationalism at its core must be as inclusive, as many-sided, as much rooted in Divine and Humanity, at once as disciplined and liberal, as much one in spirit but myriad in expression as Sanatana Dharma.
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In this part, A V Sastri briefly explores the nation-making in the West, which has been primarily an external evolution. But a subjective approach to forming a national identity can also bring great danger, as shown by the example of Germany. A spiritual view of individual and society is necessary.
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In this part of the essay, the author Sisirkumar Mitra describes the ideal role of the king in ancient India as the upholder of Dharma, and the ways in which this ideal worked in harmony with democratic freedom at the communal level of organisation.
Ancient Indian Polity and the Task Ahead (Part 3) Read More »
Sisirkumar Mitra describes the attempts made in ancient India to unify India politically, key reasons which led to political disunity of India and the impact of invasions. He concludes with highlighting the task ahead – to achieve a deeper unity from within.
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The author conveys how most of the history textbooks in India don’t capture the ‘whole’ picture of history by completely ignoring the inward orientation of Indian cultural evolution.
Ancient Indian Polity and the Task Ahead (Part 1) Read More »
The author Sisirkumar Mitra describes the ideal of communal freedom and self-determination, and beginnings of the idea of State in ancient India.
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