INDIA@75 AND SRI AUROBINDO'S "THREE MADNESSES"

Sri Aurobindo had a better understanding of the challenge that modernity posed to India as it was at once an ancient civilisation and a modern nation in the making

- MAKARAND R PARANJAPE

AS we celebrate India@75, 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', we would do well also to remember Sri Aurobindo, whose 150th birth anniversary coincides with this important and auspicious date. In this regard it would be worthwhile to recall his letter from August 30, 1905, originally written in Bangla, to his wife, Mrinalini. Sri Aurobindo tries to prepare her for a difficult life ahead because he, self-confessedly, suffers from "three madnesses". What are these madnesses? The first one is: "The accomplishments, genius, higher education and learning and wealth that God has given me are His." Sri Aurobindo's life will be one of renunciation, not catering to the pleasures and luxuries of himself and his family. He wants to help all of his countrymen and women: "In these dark days the whole country is seeking refuge at my door. I have three hundred million brothers and sisters in this country.

Many of them are dying of starvation and the majority just manage to live, racked by sorrow and suffering. They too must be helped." Sri Aurobindo wants his wife to share his ideal: "We will eat and dress like ordinary men, buying only what is truly needed and offering the rest to God." India is more prosperous than ever in living memory, but so much still needs to be done to alleviate basic poverty, undernourishment, and deprivation.

What can we as ordinary Indians do to alleviate this? If we follow the drift of Sri Aurobindo's "madness", we must-especially those of us who are privileged and better off find ways and means of sharing our wealth and expertise with those who need it the most.