Sri Aurobindo’s political writings span two distinct periods: his early revolutionary nationalist phase (1890–1908) captured in the Bande Mataram articles, and his post-imprisonment writings in the Karmayogin (1909–1910). Together they represent one of the most philosophically grounded bodies of nationalist political thought in modern India.

Volumes 6-7: Bande Mataram (1890–1908)

These volumes contain Sri Aurobindo’s surviving political writings and speeches from 1890 to 1908, primarily consisting of articles published in the nationalist newspaper Bande Mataram between August 1906 and May 1908. The 353 articles included have been ascribed to Sri Aurobindo by the editors through documentary evidence, stylistic analysis, and historical research.

Part One: Writings 1890–1906 — Early writings including “New Lamps for Old”, “Bhawani Mandir”, “Ethics East and West”, and writings on the Swadeshi movement and the Partition of Bengal.

Part Two: Bande Mataram under Bipin Chandra Pal (August–October 1906) — Early articles under Pal’s editorship including “Schools for Slaves”, “By the Way” columns, and political commentary.

Part Three: Bande Mataram under Sri Aurobindo’s Editorship — The main body of his political journalism, developing the doctrine of passive resistance, Swaraj, and the spiritual foundations of nationalism.

Speeches — Includes the famous Uttarpara Speech (1909), speeches at Beadon Square, Jhalakati, Bakarganj, and Khulna.

Volume 8: Karmayogin (1909–1910)

Karmayogin: Political Writings and Speeches 1909–1910 covers the period after Sri Aurobindo’s acquittal in the Alipore Bomb Trial. The Karmayogin was a weekly review of national religion, literature, science, and philosophy that Sri Aurobindo launched on 19 June 1909. He wrote most of its contents himself.

Key writings include: “The Ideal of the Karmayogin”, “The Message of India”, “The Awakening Soul of India”, “The Doctrine of Sacrifice”, “The Spirit in Asia”, “The Persian Revolution”, “The Recoil of Karma”, “The Unseen Power”, and numerous speeches including the Uttarpara Speech, Beadon Square Speech, and Kumartuli Speech.

Key Themes

  • Nationalism as Spirituality: The nation as a living spiritual entity, and political freedom as a condition for spiritual self-realisation
  • Passive Resistance: A programme of non-cooperation, boycott, and Swadeshi
  • Swaraj: Complete self-rule as both political and spiritual goal
  • The Critique of Moderatism: Opposition to the constitutionalist, mendicant approach of the Indian National Congress moderates
  • The Spiritual Foundations of Politics: Drawing on the Gita, Vedanta, and Indian spiritual tradition to ground nationalist political action

Source Summary

CWSA Volumes 6-7 collect over 350 articles from Bande Mataram and other writings from 1890–1908. CWSA Volume 8 collects writings from the Karmayogin period (1909–1910) and speeches delivered between May and October 1909. The texts have been checked against printed sources, manuscripts, and police reports of speeches.

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