Initially an advocate for non-cooperation and a promoter of revolutionary activities, he played a significant role in inspiring fellow revolutionaries such as Bagha Jatin (Jatin Mukherjee) and Surendranath Tagore. Ghosh founded numerous youth clubs, including the Anushilan Samiti, and championed acts of rebellion in secret.
New Delhi: Aurobindo Ghosh’s life and contributions as a prominent freedom fighter during India’s struggle for Independence offer captivating insights. Once an ardent nationalist who supported violence as a means to overthrow British rule, he experienced a profound change of heart and embarked on a path of peace and philosophy.
Born on August 15, 1872, in Kolkata, Aurobindo Ghosh was the son of Krishnadhan Ghosh and Swarnalata. His father was a surgeon and an active member of the Brahmo Samaj movement, which aimed to bring about social reform. Krishnadhan regarded British culture as superior to Indian culture and sought to ensure his children learned and spoke English.
Krishnadhan first sent his children to Loreto House, an English-speaking boarding school in Darjeeling, and then relocated the family to England in 1879, aspiring for his children to join the prestigious Indian Civil Service (ICS). Ghosh initially attended a public school, where he gained a reputation as an exceptionally intelligent student.
Subsequently, Ghosh enrolled at King’s College in Cambridge, where he excelled in European classics. Although he passed the ICS exam in 1890, he failed to meet the horsemanship requirement and was consequently denied the opportunity to join the conventional service of the British Indian government.
While returning to India, Aurobindo’s father, eagerly awaiting his arrival, was misled by agents from Mumbai, who claimed that Ghosh had been gravely ill. Concerned for his son’s well-being, his father contacted the authorities in Mumbai and requested medical assistance. As a result, upon reaching Mumbai, Ghosh was met with the unexpected news of his supposed severe illness.