A section of the people is hell bent upon not to see Sri Aurobindo as anything beyond a revolutionary freedom fighter of a brief period. The other extreme is his association with Ashram and meditation. But the main focus should be on the large corpus of his poetry and philosophy.
Some earth-shaking books have been published with much fanfare. It's not known how far they have aggrandised Hindutva or made India to shine. A common feature however is paying lip-service to Sri Aurobindo without any serious engagement with him. Training of the mind is missing.
Savitri Era Party is a constant reminder that opposing BJP doesn't automatically mean supporting Congress. Most people are willing to fall in this trap for different reasons. But Sri Aurobindo and his Secret of the Veda are the only ideological alternative in the present context.
I was in a hostel too and an agitation that brewed in a college hostel in the other side of the country five decades back snowballed into the biggest revolution. Hindutva tasted power at the Centre. The Total or Integral revolution is yet to materialise but no need to lose hope.
The brand of Hindutva that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid three decades ago can never garner legitimacy in a Democracy. Any truck with it is a blot on the path to civil society. Those drunk with hubris see nothing amiss but Sri Aurobindo shows right perception on this.
There were numerous kingdoms and Hindus fought among themselves continuously. Then there were caste wars. Still some people believe in some chimerical Hindu unity and draw some sense of self-esteem from it. Fine but it's hugely delusional and can wreck a person's rational faculty
Big win for Democracy in India but legitimacy for long-drawn protests may not be a good sign. Parliament and not the street should be locus of policy making. Civil Society demands that issues are trashed out across the table so that citizens are not forced to disrupt traffic flow
I haven't forgotten reading scores of newspaper articles against colour TV telecast. So any direct inference that the laws were bad just because they were withdrawn under coercion might be erroneous. However Govt not being allowed to have its way dents Democracy
Ideally, a new political party should take shape from the success of the protests so that it has a holistic approach beyond farmers' issues. Otherwise, the old parties with dubious ideologies and dynastic dynamics continue to be in power and corrode Democracy. #FarmLawsRepealed
1) I didn't say anything that the first sentence contains.
2) The second sentence thus has no foundation.
Taking credit personally for what the Govt does by spending public money is unethical and anti-democratic. Further, the State endorsing persons, events, languages, courses, and cultural specifics and actively promoting them over the claims of similar items must be seen as unjust.
Democracy won another victory with Vinod Rai apologising but it came when driven to the wall. What about the intervening seven years of intellectual dishonesty? He obviously is not alone and a whole lot of influential persons are part of the conspiracy. This is the Indian culture
I write on Democracy from time to time as it's supposed to be the epitome of ethical imperatives for collective living. SC invoking Orwell yesterday in a tug of war with the Govt is certainly a win for the Democracy project. But committees often defer the matter in connivance.
Despite some material prosperity and technological progress, most ideals floating during our schooldays in the 1960s remain unfulfilled. No hope now but the intellectual dishonesty of party supporters is abominating. Sad that these people dominate the discourse and set narrative.
The Marxist ideal was man can alter his situation to perfection whereas Sri Aurobindo insisted on Divine intervention. Both approaches are still hopes; no firm assurances for the foreseeable future. My only satisfaction is modern prophets like Obama and Trump have come and gone.
Most handles don't RT. But there are dedicated handles who RT continuously on ideological lines due to which the tweets of other handles get drowned. There should be a limit of 10-12 RTs within 24 hours so that some democracy takes root and voices from the margin get to be heard.
Despite their professed stand against religion, Marxists never really went ahead to dismantle it. Respect for plurality and people's preferences were held sacrosanct by them. This Democratic stance is in stark contrast to the monolithic worldview of Hindutva which RSS is tweaking
Philosophy needn't be ancient. A new understanding of things can dethrone age old notions. But not everyone is ready for it. So all kinds of knowledge systems flourish. Tradition is venerated out of social habit and security. But alternative worldviews can't be dismissed outright
One can't be at two different places at the same time. One can't perform two different roles at any given moment. One may aspire for too many things but the only things that will materialise is within the ambit of the way one is wired. Serendipity is a myth; "are foreseen above."
Sri Aurobindo was very much present when India got her freedom and the Constitution was finally promulgated. He has several political messages and write-ups to his credit during his last years but I don't think he ever criticised the Constitution the way you are trying to portray
I have no means to evaluate govt performance on various fronts but reading critical tweets by many of its supporters is a fair indicator that the govt is on the right track. The more Modi is criticised, the more it's evident that he is successful in maintaining Constitutionalism.
Prime Minister from Rajya Sabha is the greatest fraud perpetrated on our Constitution. Let there be a vigorous campaign for #PMfromLokSabha. The Rajya Sabha is the Achilles' heel of Indian Constitution as the selection of the Prime Minister from it has scuttled Democracy in India
Political Science should have relevance outside universities but current scenario in India doesn't require any academic ratification. This is an absurd situation since no party forum debates policy nor thinks it necessary to inform the public. Theory, thus, is redundant and dead.
Being a voter is contextual but the role as a citizen is far more critical. Democracy hinges upon the idea that the majority of the voters will elect the ruler after which all citizens will accept him. Running perpetual campaigns against him can't be a healthy sign of civic life.
Democracy is not innate to human nature and needs to be inculcated on a continuous basis. Most people haven't studied political theory in the college and so fall easily in the trap of the hatred brigade. All big talk of past glory and hoary traditions are geared towards bigotry.
Human nature continues to be a conundrum despite humongous literature on it spanning from philosophy to fiction. Spirituality claims some insights but overall outlook based on mathematical simulations of behavioral data derived from business, economics and management is nebulous.
Educating the educated is a formidable challenge for Savitri Era Party since most people are innocent of Sri Aurobindo. His liberating ideas are vital for establishing an ideal society anchored in mutuality and harmony. Such an emancipatory global vision needs to be brought home.
I don't have any first hand experience of personally interacting with foreigners. Yet I tweet about Human Unity and #WorldUnion profusely on the basis of #FiveDreams of Sri Aurobindo that was broadcast over AIR Tiruchirapalli on August 14, 1947. Exposition
We inherited Democracy from the British with full colonial paraphernalia. Feudalism and Monarchy has been replaced by celebrity worship and servility. Ordinary life doesn't provide any sense of self-esteem. Integral Yoga of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo helps redeem this situation.
Nothing more idiotic than comparing men with pigeons. told valid things and his opponent was clearly on the backfoot. So why stop debating? That would be Kafkaesque.
I didn't defend anyone but I feel stressing too much on that particular aspect may not be fair. Further, my grasp on history is very poor and therefore I avoid details when it comes to chapter and verse. In fact, I haven't read many books barring those relating to Sri Aurobindo.
Laudable goals but self-interest goads people to subjective territories and irrational beliefs. I haven't found any scientific attitude in exploring the role of Sri Aurobindo in service of the nation or with regard to his philosophical contribution. Hence, I'm sceptical of data.
Each person's reading has to be partial. Most people, for instance, haven't read Sri Aurobindo. I haven't read a word of Rudyard Kipling, George Orwell, or V.S. Naipaul. Further, worldviews are seldom shaped by reading. Political and religious outlook dictate opinion on matters.
No doubt about it but I don't know whether you approve of the history written by Marxist professors as factual.
That's epic; can compete with the "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma," quote.
Whether to tweet in Odia or in English is a dilemma but it depends on one's profile and likely audience. As so called national news affects everyone through TV, people usually don't give much importance to local matters. କିନ୍ତୁ ଏକଥା ସତ ଯେ ଓଡ଼ିଆରେ ଲେଖିଲେ ହିଁ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷା ଵଂଚି ରହିବ।
ଇଂରେଜ ମାନେ ଜମି ଦେଲେ କିନ୍ତୁ ଆଜିଯାଏ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ସବୁ ଜାଗାରେ ଜମେଇକି ବସି ପାରିଲା ନାହିଁ। ବରଂ ଦିନକୁଦିନ ବଂଧନ ହୁଗୁଳା ହବାରେ ଲାଗିଛି। Odisha is perhaps the first linguistic State and it was created before the Democracy arrived. So no Democracy or plurality when it comes to the question of language.
ମଣିଷ ନିଜେ ଯାହା ଭଲ ପାଏ ସେଇଟା ସଂସ୍କୃତି ନା ତା ଉପରେ ଯାହା ଲଦି ଦିଆଯାଏ ସେଇଟା? ପ୍ରମିଦିଆର ପ୍ରଚାରତନ୍ତ୍ର ଯେଉଁ ସବୁ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନଦୀର ଧାରା ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଅଜାଡି ଦେଉଚି ସେ ସବୁକୁ ସାମାଜିକ ଚାପ ଯୋଗୁ ସ୍ୱୀକାର କରନ୍ତୁ ନାହିଁ। ଅନ୍ଧବିଶ୍ୱାସକୁ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟାଖାନ କରନ୍ତୁ। ବଡ ବଡ ହଟଚମଟ ଆଗରେ ସହଜେ ଭଳି ଯାଆନ୍ତୁ ନାହିଁ। ନିଜର କଷଟିବାପଣ ବଢୁ।
For many religious paths Kirtan is common when the cock crows but Silence and Meditation are integral to our path. I have not been in favour of chasing visions and experiences as Siddhis seem to belong to the old systems but Dynamic meditation and Mental gymnastics are challenges
Celebrating the seventy fifth year of Indian Democracy is a signal moment in the history of human civilisation in spite of the prevalence of multiple dynasties preventing its full blossoming. Sri Aurobindo's Five Dreams broadcast on August 14, 1947 has far reaching possibilities.
May be your opinion hasn't fully matured but it's better to form an organization and put up a manifesto. Simply criticising others doesn't paint a good picture. Further, reconciling Hindu and Democratic concerns is a challenge. Those in power navigate these with much difficulty.
Democracy is about civil society where army remains in the background but the RSS emphasis is always on harnessing more visibility of army for arousing patriotic sentiments. This flawed perception falsely gives an impression of a monolithic society instead of respecting plurality
Naming of roads, trains, universities etc and erecting statues of so called great men amounts to burdening the young minds. Such endorsement by the govt should be phased out so that new generation discovers value on its own to set its own priorities in the changed circumstances.
Most appropriate to watch on the #UnitedNationsDay in view of the Third Dream of Sri Aurobindo broadcast on August 14, 1947 which he had theorised three decades earlier. The optimism of the learned speakers is contagious and fiercely evolutionary in spirit
Ram Madhav told to Muslims that we are the elder brother. This us and them mentality and second class citizen's status should be stranger to Democracy. Safeguarding these basic Constitutional tenets is more important than expounding on high sounding ethical principles of Dharma.
Covid forced Webinars and there's a deluge in YouTube now. Reading and writing has taken a back seat and everyone wants to speak because it's easy. Still the creative art of video making and making the visuals attractive is yet to be harnessed. Odisha news
Replying to
I haven't seen anyone to debate with others defending Sri Aurobindo but they will readily fight with me or mock me. Many have either blocked or muted me and treat my handles as tainted. Curiously some RT what I RT but not my own tweets. Such is the standard of purity of followers
Discourse and narrative are bound to be navigated through democratic negotiation and dominant paradigms obscuring authentic voices can't be ruled out. Big players have an upper hand in the game but political mobilisation proves to be a powerful glue than mere technological foray.
My survey of studies relating to Sri Aurobindo during the last thirty years makes it clear how turf war is being fought most diligently. Organisations push their interests continuously and vigorously which is understandable. Followers of Sri Aurobindo unfortunately seem reluctant
Apart from the copy-paste ritual, there's no concern for any ideological issues. As Sri Aurobindo has been deliberately overlooked in the past, what are the present initiatives and who steers them? More importantly, what image or aspect of Sri Aurobindo is sought to be portrayed?
Intelligent discussion on Sri Aurobindo has dried up over Twitter. No section has any commitment to him. Ontological issues don't bother most because mythological narratives fester. Aurocafe posts, in this context, offer intellectual stimulation and fodder for thought.
Ama piladine jeun puja heuthila, sethire Jagannathanka sthana nathila. Sabu jagare tanku jabardasti pureiba ka'na nihati darkar? Anya deba debi mane niswasa nebapain tike jaga rahu.
While Savitri Era Party is open to all admirers of The Mother & Sri Aurobindo, Savitri Era Religion doesn't entertain those worshiping other gods and goddesses or gurus. So, Integral Yoga practitioners of different hues can't automatically be entitled to be known as Savitri Erans
Senior scholars indulging in ideological dilution or adulteration is a matter of deep anguish. I request them to introspect and come out with clarifications. It's better to explain where you stand instead of succumbing to hypocrisy. The Mother & Sri Aurobindo demand transparency.