20th August, The World Union day

[However that may be, history and sociology tell us only - outside the attempts of religious or other idealisms to arrive either at a free solitude or a free association - of man as an individual in the more or less organised group. And in the group there are always two types. One asserts the State idea at the expense of the individual, - ancient Sparta, modern Ger- many; another asserts the supremacy of the State but seeks at the same time to give as much freedom, power and dignity as is consistent with its control to the individuals who constitute it, - ancient Athens, modern France.

But to these two has been added a third type in which the State abdicates as much as possible to the individual, boldly asserts that it exists for his growth and to assure his freedom, dignity, successful manhood, experiments with a courageous faith whether after all it is not the utmost possible liberty, dignity and manhood of the individual which will best assure the well-being, strength and expansion of the State. Of this type England has been until recently the great exemplar, - England rendered free, prosperous, energetic, invincible by nothing else but the strength of this idea within her, blessed by the Gods with unexampled expansion, empire and good fortune because she has not feared at any time to obey this great tendency and take the risks of this great endeavour and even often to employ it beyond the limits of her own insular egoism. Page-274 Document: Home > E-Library > Works Of Sri Aurobindo > Social And Political Thought Volume-15 > The Group And The Individual]

One may safely speculate that USA has replaced England as the symbol of individual freedom for many years now. That the 123 agreement paves the way for a new world order is a hope on the eve of 20th August, The World Union day.

Tusar N. Mohapatra,
President, Savitri Era Party.