Principles and Goals of Integral Education

Foreword by Vijay Poddar

It is not often realised how important a place Education, in the true sense of the word, occupies in the life, writings and work of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Sri Aurobindo was a professor and later Vice Principal at the Baroda College from 1897 to 1905. In 1906, he came to Calcutta as the Principal of the newly founded Bengal National College. At Pondicherry, Sri Aurobindo and the Mother laid the foundation of a new centre of education, and some of the last writings of Sri Aurobindo were meant for the Bulletin of Physical Education.

After Sri Aurobindo left his body in December 1950, the Mother announced in the beginning of 1951:

"One of the most recent forms under which Sri Aurobindo conceived of the development of his work was to establish at Pondicherry an International University Centre open to students from all over the world.

It is considered that the most fitting memorial to his name would be to found this University now so as to give concrete expression to the fact that his work continues with unabated vigour."

And at the Sri Aurobindo Memorial Convention held on 24th April 1951, the Mother in her inaugural message declared:

"Sri Aurobindo is present in our midst, and with all the power of his creative genius he presides over the formation of the University Centre which for years he

considered as one of the best means of preparing the future humanity to receive the supramental light that will transform the elite of today into a new race manifesting upon earth the new light and force and life.

In his name I open today this convention meeting here with the purpose of realising one of his most cherished ideals."

What could be more clear and emphatic!

This is how Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education (SAICE) came into existence. Right from its birth, the Mother took a direct and personal interest in every aspect of its growth and development, guiding the teachers and herself taking classes for children. Nothing was too small or insignificant to deserve her care and attention.

SAICE is meant to "open the way of the Future to children who belong to the Future", as education is one of the most powerful means of bringing about the supramental transformation in the world. But then this education is and has to be very different from what is normally understood and practised. Drawn by this ideal, more and more individuals and groups want to understand the principles of Integral Education as enunciated by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother and to create educational institutions founded on these principles. But the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother on education are not found at one place or in one book. There is therefore a need to present these writings in a manner which will be suitable for all types of seekers — Spiritual aspirants who look upon yoga as education and education as yoga, scholars who would like to have an intellectual understanding

of the philosophy underlying Integral Education, and teachers and educationists who aspire to live and practise its truth.

It is this need which is fulfilled by this book of Shri Jugal Kishore Mukherjee or Jugal-da as he is known to all of us who have had the privilege of studying and teaching at the SAICE. Jugal-da is eminently suited for this task. A brilliant student, he joined Sri Aurobindo Ashram as a sadhaka at the young age of 24. He has been associated with SAICE from the beginning for now over 56 years and has been teaching a variety of subjects. He has also been in charge of the higher classes of SAICE, named by the Mother "Knowledge", looking after the growth and programmes of young girls and boys, mostly from the ages 18 to 21.

Jugal-da brings to his writings and presentation the aspiration and luminosity of a spiritual seeker, the heart of a devotee and the clear analytical mind of a scientist. His canvas in this book is very wide. He enunciates in depth the principles and goals of Integral Education, the role and responsibility of the teachers and explains the basis of the "Free Progress" system. He also takes up in detail the aim, the purpose and the courses at SAICE and gives an inside view of its practical working. Jugal-da does not hesitate to bring to light the difficulties and obstacles which have been and are still being faced, and the deficiencies which need to be overcome, and the glorious future which awaits us if we can be true to our ideals and follow the path which has been opened before us by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

I believe this book will be of great value to teachers and educationists everywhere and of a very special value to the

students and teachers of SAICE. Every seeker can feel here the presence of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother through their own words, find the answers to his or her questions, and get the needed guidance, the light and the inspiration for moving individually and collectively towards the supramental future.

VlJAY

Sri Aurobindo Ashram

Pondicherry