The path of Aurobindo Ghosh is to me more noble, more inspiring, more lofty, more unselfish, though more thorny

ENLIGHTENED HINDUISM The Little-Known Phase Of Netaji's Life By JAGMOHAN The Statesman

Regarding his decision to resign from the ICS, Subhas Bose wrote to his brother on 6 February 1921: “A life of sacrifice to start with, plain living and high thinking, whole-hearted devotion to the country’s cause ~ all these are highly enchanting to my imagination and inclination. Further, the very principle of serving under an alien bureaucracy is intensely repugnant to me. The path of Aurobindo Ghosh is to me more noble, more inspiring, more lofty, more unselfish, though more thorny...” Is not the Hindu value of “realisation through renunciation” writ large on these words? [...]

As regards Vivekananda, while Subhas remained a steadfast follower of Swami’s ideals, he found that he did not integrate spirituality and politics as well as Sri Aurobindo’s did by synthesising different yogas ~ Gnana Yoga, understanding of truth through knowledge; Bhakti Yoga, experiencing truth through devotion; and Karma Yoga, realising truth through selfless action; Hatha Yoga, securing control over body; and Raja Yoga attaining purity of mind.

But Subhas did not approve of Sri Aurobindo becoming a dhyani. He saw the danger of remaining inactive by way of prolonged seclusion. He believed: “What we badly need today is a double dose of activist serum, rajas.” Subhas Bose’s life and work were, indeed, a practical manifestation of the aforesaid synthesis. He lived and died for Mother India because he had learnt and absorbed in his early years, the inner meaning and message of her philosophical and religious heritage. The writer is a former Governor of J & K and a former Union minister