In this several-part series, we relive a few moments from our recent trip to Hampi and surrounding areas. The pictures and the accompanying words weave a story of this magnificent city which continues to hold a prominent place in the Indian collective memory since ancient times. The place associated with Shiva and Parvati, Rama... Continue Reading →
“If We Are to Live at All…”
One of the best things about reading Sri Aurobindo is that every time you re-read a passage you get a clearer understanding, a deeper insight, a brighter view of reality. Yes, a brighter view, because no matter how bad things may seem at the moment, the Force of Sri Aurobindo's words -- the words... Continue Reading →
Wit and Humour in Sri Aurobindo’s Tales of Prison Life (by Kalpana Bidwaikar)- Part 3
CONTINUED FROM PART 2 Sri Aurobindo a great observer as he was, not only of the material arrangements in the prison but also of the people around him, the Britishers and especially the jail authorities could not escape his attention. The prisoners had to go to the court for trials at regular intervals.... Continue Reading →
Wit and Humour in Sri Aurobindo’s Tales of Prison Life (by Kalpana Bidwaikar)- Part 2
CONTINUED FROM PART 1 Sri Aurobindo’s prison life began on May 5, 1908. During the solitary confinement he was uneasy in the beginning, “but after three days of prayer and meditation an unshakable peace and faith again overwhelmed the being” (p. 11). He was confined to a solitary cell which was nine feet... Continue Reading →
Wit and Humour in Sri Aurobindo’s Tales of Prison Life (by Kalpana Bidwaikar)- Part 1
We are pleased to present for our readers a very special essay, which reveals a deeply charming side of Sri Aurobindo's magnificent personality and expression. Written by Dr. Kalpana Bidwaikar, this essay brings to light some of the remarkable wit and humour we come across in Sri Aurobindo's account of his life in the... Continue Reading →
Sri Aurobindo on Gandhian Ahimsa
One big news coming from the Indian sub-continent these days is the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan. India since her independence from the British has faced many decades of aggression and war from neighbouring Pakistan -- a nation-state born as a result of the falsehood of partition in 1947, based on the falsehood that people of... Continue Reading →
Sri Aurobindo, the Revolutionary (by Arup Basu)
August 15 is Sri Aurobindo's birthday. In honour of this special day, we bring for our readers an article written by Mr. Arup Basu, editor of Sraddha, a quarterly journal published by Sri Aurobindo Centre for Research in Social Sciences, Kolkata. This article briefly lists a few key aspects of Sri Aurobindo's momentous contribution to India's freedom movement. It was first... Continue Reading →
India, Indology and Deep Colonialism (by Subhodeep Mukhopadhyay -Conclusion)
READ PARTS 1, 2, 3 CONTINUED FROM PART 4 THE WAY FORWARD... Encourage Sanskrit Learning Sanskrit is the language of Indian culture and ethos. The day Sanskrit dies, Indian culture or Sanskriti will also die and Hindus or Indians as a unique people with unique set of values will cease to exist. Anti-Sanskrit forces... Continue Reading →
India, Indology and Deep Colonialism (by Subhodeep Mukhopadhyay -Part 4)
CONTINUED FROM PART 3 THE WAY FORWARD Now that we understand the landscape and the forces at work, how do we deal with this situation? Below I propose a 7-point agenda based on opinions of experts and scholars like Rajiv Malhotra, Sanjeev Sanyal, Chamu Shastri, Roddam Narasimha and others. Decolonize our National History History curriculum in... Continue Reading →
India, Indology and Deep Colonialism (by Subhodeep Mukhopadhyay -Part 3)
CONTINUED FROM PART 2 “The ideals that governed the spirit and body of Indian society were of the highest kind, its social order secured an inexpugnable basic stability, the strong life force that worked in it was creative of an extraordinary energy, richness and interest, and the life organised remarkable in its opulence, variety... Continue Reading →
