Revolutionary Violence and Hinduism: Aurobindo Ghose’s 'Active Resistance'

In the nineteenth century, significant Indian leaders, like Surendranath Banerjea and Swami Vivekananda, emphasized that Indian is essentially a peaceful land. However, influenced by accounts of European history, Aurobindo Ghose was convinced that India needed to gain independence and that violence is the normal route for countries to gain freedom. Thus, in addition to revolutionary involvement in the first decade of the twentieth century, Aurobindo challenged the ideas of men like Banerjea and Vivekananda. He argued that Hinduism endorses violence in certain circumstances. He relied on notions of caste duties, the idea that the atman is beyond good and evil, and the teaching that destruction can open new possibilities. In the freedom struggle, Aurobindo's arguments did not predominate, but he nevertheless made important contributions.