Appropriation of Sri Aurobindo by Hindutva elements hit the national media a few days back. I have been writing against it here since 2005. Sri Aurobindo's writings and conversations are vast. But looking at them through a single, preconceived lens is bound to produce misrepresentations. However, use of him as an independent political icon has great relevance, at the moment.
Protests are hit-and-run afairs. Ultimately, the gains need to be harnessed through a political party. For that, you need a clear-cut ideology. Most are betting on Ambedkar, at present. But its meagre appeal can cause malnutrition. Further, the system of reservations can't be imposed for ever. The future deserves a better vision.
One may or may not like Sri Aurobindo, but his logic that a conscious evolutionary force is propelling the march of history is compelling. In this context, his broadcast over AIR, Tiruchirappalli on August 14, 1947 is quite instructive. The third of this Five Dreams Manifesto relates to a probable World Union. For this to happen, I foresee that the States of India will have to have Sovereignty under a loose Federation, which eventually will spread to the other parts of the world, not necessarily, contiguously.
Thus, I view Sri Aurobindo's assertion in the same speech that the partition must go in a different light. Having seen the fate of USSR unfolding gives me hope. Therefore, I call the unitary ideals of Hindutva as singularly anti-evolutionary. That's the great paradox Sri Aurobindo paints in The Human Cycle. The unifying impulse of nature ultimately gives rise to a federal existence. And, the States of India are already great nations in themselves.
So, recognising this reality is important for the future of the whole world. It's myopic to think that geopolitics is owned by America or China. It is something which needs to be designed and co-created by all the inhabitants of our planet. Sri Aurobindo has left behind an excellent blueprint. Giving the shape to it is incumbent upon all of us. https://x.com/SavitriEra - https://bsky.app/profile/savitriera.bsky.social
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