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.
The Psychology of Indian Nationalism – 6 Read More »
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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Highlights of an interview with Aravindan Neelakandan, where he speaks about the inner unity of India, the meaning of India as a Shakti, and the need to develop a good knowledge of our languages and heritage as the most effective way to counter the ‘Breaking India’ forces.
On Making India: An Interview with Aravindan Neelakandan 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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We feature a review by Rajat Mitra of a new book “Saffron Swords.” The book tells the tales of 52 warriors who fought till their last breath to defend their motherland. Beloo Mehra introduces the book by invoking a few verses from Sri Aurobindo’s Bhavani Bharati.
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This issue reminds of the immense work needed to be done for a true Indian reawakening. We conclude the two series from the previous issue – an essay by Sisirkumar Mitra and a lecture by Kundan Singh, and also feature a recently released book on India along with an author interview.
Indian Renaissance – The Demand from Us Read More »
Sri Aurobindo explains why a full flowering of Indian civilisation was interrupted, why it is important for India to reassert its peculiar individuality, and why the future demands a true understanding of each civilisation’s unique strengths.
Beloo Mehra reviews Maria Wirth’s book — Thank you India: A German Woman’s Journey to the Wisdom of Yoga (2018, Garuda Prakashan).
A Review of Maria Wirth’s “Thank You India” Read More »
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.
Ancient Indian Polity and the Task Ahead (Conclusion) Read More »