Sri Aurobindo Was Requested by the All India Radio

7/31/2019 Sri Aurobindo Was Requested by the All India Radio

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Sri Aurobindo was requested by the

All India

Radio,Thiruchirapalli (former

Trichinopoly ), to give a message for India's

independence. This is the message which

was broadcast from the All India Radio on

the 14th of August 1947. It is of special

relevance and importance even now.August 15th, 1947 is the birthday of freeIndia. It marks for her the end of an old

era, the beginning of a new age. But wecan also make it by our life and acts as afree nation an important date in a newage opening for the whole world, for thepolitical, social, cultural and spiritualfuture of humanity.

August 15th is my own birthday and it isnaturally gratifying to me that it shouldhave assumed this vast significance. Itake this coincidence, not as a fortuitous


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accident, but as the sanction and seal ofthe Divine Force that guides my steps onthe work with which I began life, thebeginning of its full fruition. Indeed, onthis day I can watch almost all the world-movements which I hoped to see fulfilledin my lifetime, though then they lookedlike impracticable dreams, arriving atfruition or on their way to achievement. Inall these movements free India may wellplay a large part and take a leadingposition.The first of these dreams was arevolutionary movement which would

create a free and united India. Indiatoday is free but she has not achievedunity. At one moment it almost seemedas if in the very act of liberation shewould fall back into the chaos of separateStates which preceded the British

conquest. But fortunately it now seemsprobable that this danger will be avertedand a large and powerful, though not yeta complete union will be established.


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Also, the wisely drastic policy of theConstituent Assembly has made itprobable that the problem of thedepressed classes will be solved withoutschism or fissure. But the old communaldivision into Hindus and Muslims seemsnow to have hardened into a permanentpolitical division of the country. It is to behoped that this settled fact will not beaccepted as settled for ever or asanything more than a temporaryexpedient. For if it lasts, India may beseriously weakened, even crippled: civilstrife may remain always possible,possible even a new invasion and foreignconquest, her position among the nationsweakened, her destiny impaired or evenfrustrated.This must not be; the partition must go.Let us hope that that may come about

naturally, by an increasing recognition ofthe necessity not only of peace andconcord but of common action, by thepractice of common action and the


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creation of means for that purpose. Inthis way unity may finally come aboutunder whatever form - the exact formmay have a pragmatic but not afundamental importance. But bywhatever means, in whatever way, thedivision must go; unity must and will beachieved, for it is necessary for thegreatness of India's future.

Another dream was forthe resurgenceand liberation of the peoples of Asiaand her return to her great role in theprogress of human civilisation. Asiahas arisen; large parts are now quite free

or are at this moment being liberated: itsother still subject or partly subject partsare moving through whatever struggledtowards freedom. Only a little has to bedone and that will be done today ortomorrow. There India has her part to

play and has begun to play it with anenergy and ability which already indicatethe measure of her possibilities and theplace she can take in the council of the


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nations.The third dream was a world-union

forming the outer basis of a fairer,brighter and nobler life for allmankind. That unification of the humanworld is under way; there is an imperfectinitiation organised by struggling againsttremendous difficulties. But the

momentum is there and it must inevitablyincrease and conquer. Here too India hasbegun to play a prominent part and, ifshe can develop that largerstatesmanship which is not limited by thepresent facts and immediate possibilities

but looks into the future and brings itnearer, her presence may make all thedifference between a slow and timid anda bold and swift development. Acatastrophe may intervene and interruptor destroy what is being done, but even

then the final result is sure. Forunification is a necessity of Nature, aninevitable movement. Its necessity for thenations is also clear, for without it the


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freedom of the small nations may be atany moment in peril and the life even ofthe large and powerful nations insecure.The unification is therefore to theinterests of all, and only human imbecilityand stupid selfishness can prevent it; butthese cannot stand for ever against thenecessity of Nature and the Divine Will.But an outward basis is not enough;there must grow up an international spiritand outlook, international forms andinstitutions must appear, perhaps suchdevelopments, as dual or multilateralcitizenship, willed interchange orvoluntary fusion of cultures. Nationalismwill have fulfilled itself and lost it militancyand would no longer find these thingsincompatible with self-preservation andthe integrality of its outlook. A new spiritof oneness will take hold of the humanrace.

Another dream, the spiritualgift of India to the worldhasalready begun. India's spirituality


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is entering Europe and America in anever increasing measure. Thatmovement will grow; amid the disastersof the time more and more eyes areturning towards her with hope and thereis even an increasing resort not only toher teachings, but to her psychic andspiritual practice.The final dream was a step in evolutionwhich would raise man to a higher andlarger consciousness and begin thesolution of the problems which haveperplexed and vexed him since he firstbegan to think and to dream of individual

perfection and a perfect society. This isstill a personal hope and an idea, anideal which has begun to take hold bothin India and in the West on forward-looking minds, The difficulties in the wayare more formidable than in any other

field of endeavour, but difficulties weremade to be overcome and if the SupremeWill is there, they will be overcome. Heretoo, if this evolution is to take place, since


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it must proceed through a growth of thespirit and the inner consciousness, theinitiative can come from India and,although the scope must be universal,the central movement may be hers.Such is the content which I put into thisdate of India's liberation; whether or howfar this hope will be justified depends

upon the new and free India.

Nothing is Dearer than Her ServiceThere are times in a nation's history

when Providence places before it onework, one aim, to which everything else,however high and noble in itself, has tobe sacrificed. Such a time has nowarrived for our Motherland when nothingis dearer than her service, when

everything else is to be directed to thatend. If you will study, study for her sake;train yourselves body and mind and soulfor her sake. You will go abroad to


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foreign lands that you may bring backknowledge with which you may do

service to her. Work that she mayprosper. Suffer that she may rejoice. Allis contained in that one single advice.

SRI AUROBINDO

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Sri Aurobindo Was Requested by the All India Radio