Sri Aurobindo and Philosophy is one of the finest tributes to the Saint of Pondicherry. The author, Dr Pariksith Singh, has skillfully talked about Sri Aurobindo, both as a philosopher and, as Sri Aurobindo himself believed, as a non-philosopher. This book is an introspective read that gives the readers a detailed view of the life and teachings of the great philosopher.
The five separate sections that have been explained thoroughly talk about Sri Aurobindo’s contribution to Indian Philosophy; Western Philosophy; Literature and Linguistics; Religion, Culture, and Political Thought; and Psychology. Dr. Singh cleverly states and proves Sri Aurobindo’s exceptional thinking and eternal relevance in each section.
Sri Aurobindo had quite a unique contribution to India’s freedom struggle. Dr. Singh talks about how the philosopher based his teaching on the most integral Vedantic vision. The kind of role he played in India’s independence can only be fully understood after reading this comprehensive book. When one finishes, one will most definitely say that the way Sri Aurobindo looked at India’s struggle for freedom clearly indicates how philosophical yet practical his teachings were.
The author calls Sri Aurobindo a bridge between Western philosophies and Indian darshanas. While transforming Indian philosophies, he also addressed Western ideas in such a way that people started comparing him to numerous great philosophers like Amal Kiran, Sisir Kumar Maitra, Rhoda LeCocq, and more. His ideologies are not just limited to India but cater to all humanity. It is both pragmatic and distinctive. It is modern, yet the spirit and ethos of Vedanta are embedded in it. His convictions can, as the author believes, offer solutions to many modern-day challenges. Hence, learning about his values and tenets becomes all the more important.
With this in mind, Dr. Singh writes this unique book, in simple language, about his lesser-known philosophies. What also makes this book unique is that it is not written in the form of monotonous prose. Rather, the author has used a lucid and relatable language style and will have you in awe several times. Dr. Singh realises that it is not always easy to understand the lofty thoughts and the phenomenal mind of Sri Aurobindo. Thus, his primary aim in writing this book has been to deconstruct the depth of Sri Aurobindo’s writings so as to make them easier to comprehend, thus making this great philosopher.