Sri Aurobindo : The Life and Teachings of a Revolutionary Philosopher

An authoritative biography of Sri Aurobindo Sri Aurobindo (1870–1950) was one of India’s greatest philosophers. Born Aurobindo Ghose in Calcutta, British India, and schooled in England, he became a prominent member of the Indian freedom movement and was incarcerated under charges of treason in the early 1900s. After experiencing a divine vision in prison, upon release, Aurobindo gave up politics and moved to an ashram in Pondicherry, South India, to develop his own philosophy on human evolution and create a blueprint of the whole world and everything within it – its origin, present and future. In this accessible biography, renowned Indian historian Roshen Dalal unravels the life and lessons of Sri Aurobindo, tracing his life in England, his stint as a civil servant for the princely state of Baroda, his relationships with various prominent members of the freedom movement, through the development of his spiritual vision in Pondicherry, his philosophical teachings, to his iconic status as a revolutionary philosopher. Besides exploring Aurobindo’s life, the author explains his various treatises on Hindu epics and scriptures in the course of his journey to spiritual enlightenment. She covers his life in detail and looks at how his legacy was shaped by those closest to him, including his protégé Mirra Alfassa, or the Mother, who founded the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and established the town of Auroville after his death. Through his writings, she examines his vision for the future and for the transformation of the world and individual consciousness. Told with a historian’s passion for detail and a storyteller’s finesse, Sri Aurobindo presents an enthralling portrait of a remarkable man.