The first edition of this biography in 1945 contained corrections by Sri Aurobindo himself. The third edition in 1972 was rewritten in the light of new material
Sri Aurobindo : Biography
THEME/S
1872 — August 15 Birth in Calcutta.
1872-1879 At first in Rangpur, East Bengal; later sent to the Loretto Convent School, Darjeeling.
1878 — February 21 Birth of the Mother in Paris.
1879 — Taken to England.
1879-1884 — In Manchester (84, Shakespeare Street) in the charge of the Drewett family. Tutored at home by the Drewetts.
1884 — September Admitted to St. Paul School, London. Takes lodgings at 49, St. Stephen's Avenue, Shepherd's Bush, London.
1886 — August Vacation in Keswick.
1887 — August Vacation in Hastings. After returning from Hastings takes lodgings at 128, Cromwell Road, London.
1889 — December Passes matriculation from St. Paul's.
1890—July Admitted as a probationer to the Indian Civil Service.
October 11 Admitted on a scholarship to King's College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge, joins the Indian Majlis, a student group; makes speeches advocating Indian freedom.
1891—August to April 1892 Works on "The Vigil of Thaliard", a long ballad left unfinished.
1892 — May Passes the first part of the Classical Tripos, in the First Class.
August Passes the Indian Civil Service final examination.
October Leaves Cambridge. Takes lodgings at 6, Burlington Road, London. In London, takes part in the formation of a secret society called the "Lotus and Dagger".
Has first "pre-yogic" experience, the mental experience of the Atman.
November Disqualified for the Indian Civil Service due to his failure to take the riding examination.
1892 — December Obtains employment in the service of the Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda.
1893 — January 12 Leaves England by the S. S. Carthage. Travels via Gibraltar, Port Said and Aden.
February 6 Arrives in India, landing at the Apollo Bunder, Bombay.
A "vast calm" descends upon him as he sets foot on Indian soil and remains for months afterwards.
February 18 Officially joins the Baroda State Service; his pay is retroactive to February 8, probable date of his arrival in Baroda.
His first work is in the Land Settlement Department.
During the first year of his stay in Baroda, has a vision of the godhead surging up from within him when in danger of a carriage accident.
March-April Works at translations from the Mahabharata.
June 26 Contributes an article, "India and the British Parliament", to the Indu Prakash, Bombay.
August 7 — March 5, 1894 Contributes a series of articles. New Lamps/or Old, to the Indu Prakash.
1894 — July 16-August 27 Contributes a series of articles on Bankim Chandra Chatterji
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to the Indu Prakash.
1895 — Publication of Songs to Myrtilla, a collection of Poems.
1896 — Probable year of publication of Urvasie, a narrative poem.
1897 — Begins part-time work in the Baroda College as a lecturer in French.
1898 — Appointed acting professor of English in the College.
1899 — Serves as acting professor of English and lecturer in French.
June-July Writes Love and Death, a narrative poem.
July 22 Lecture at the Baroda College Social Gathering.
1900 — Acting professor of English in the College.
c. 1900 — First political move: sends Jatindranath Banerjee to Bengal as his lieutenant for the work of revolutionary organisation and propaganda.
1901 — Chairman of the College debating society.
April 17 Transferred from the college to the Revenue Department, Baroda State.
April 30 Marriage to Mrinalini Bose, eldest daughter of Bhupal Chandra Bose, in Calcutta. Afterwards goes to Nainital with Mrinalini and his sister Sarojini.
1902 — Works in the office of Huzur Kamdar (aide to the Dewan, the chief administrative
April 28 On privilege leave until May 29.
Sri Aurobindo uses his leaves and vacations, especially from 1902 onwards, for the organisation of revolutionary action in Bengal.
December Meeting with Lokmanya Tilak at the Ahmedabad session of the Indian National Congress.
1902-1903 — Contacts and joins a secret society in western India.
1903—January Recommences regular teaching at the Baroda College.
February 22 On leave for one month.
May-August Accompanies the Gaekwar on his tour of Kashmir as his Private Secretary.
In Kashmir on Takht-e-Suleman has an experience of the vacant infinite.
1904 — Works as Huzur Kamdar, often doing secretarial work for the Gaekwar.
September 28 Directed to leave the Huzur Kamdar's office and join the College full
December At the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress.
1904 — Begins the practice of Yoga.
1905 — January Assumes the post of Vice-principal of the College.
March 3 Becomes acting Principal of the College.
October 16 The partition of Bengal becomes an "accomplished fact".
Sri Aurobindo writes the pamphlets "No Compromise" and "Bhawani Mandir" during the agitation that precedes the Partition.
December At the Benaras session of the Indian National Congress.
1906 — February 19 Takes privilege leave; goes to Bengal.
March 11 Present at the formation of the National Council of Education in Calcutta.
March 12 Declaration of the Yugantar, a Bengali weekly. Sri Aurobindo writes some
April 14 At the Barisal Conference. Afterwards, makes a political tour of East Bengal
June Returns to Baroda.
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June 19 Takes one year's leave without pay from Baroda College, returns to Bengal.
August 6 Declaration of the Bande Mataram.
Sri Aurobindo joins the Bande Mataram as an assistant editor.
August 14 Opening of the Bengal National College, Calcutta, with Sri Aurobindo as its principal.
October 13 The Bande Mataram becomes a joint stock company at Sri Aurobindo's suggestion.
October-December 111 in Calcutta.
Around this time Sri Aurobindo assumes control of the policy of the Bande Mataram as well as of the Nationalist Party in Bengal.
December 11-14 In Deoghar for recuperation.
December At the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.
1907 — January-April In Deoghar.
January 28-February 12 Works on Prince of Edur, a dramatic romance.
April 12-23 The Doctrine of Passive Resistance serialised in the Bande Mataram.
June 1 First issue of the weekly edition of the Bande Mataram.
June 8 A warning is issued to the editor of the Bande Mataram by the British Government.
June 14 Leaves Calcutta for Khulna to found a national school.
June 30-October 13 Publication of Perseus the Deliverer, a drama, in the weekly Bande
July 30 Search of the Bande Mataram office. Complaint lodged against Sri Aurobindo.
August 2 Resigns the Principalship of the Bengal National College. ;
August 16 Arrested on the charge of sedition for writings which had appeared in the
August 23 Speech to the students of the Bengal National College.
After his acquittal in September, he rejoins the College as a professor.
September 23 Acquitted.
After the Bande Mataram sedition case, Sri Aurobindo comes forward as the leader of the National Party in Bengal.
October Takes a house in Chukoo Khansama's Lane, Calcutta.
October 24 Goes to Deoghar.
December 7-9 At the Bengal Provincial Conference at Midnapore as the leader of the Nationalists.
December 8 Presides over a separate meeting of the Nationalists at Midnapore.
December 14 Meeting in College Square, Calcutta, delivers his first public speech.
December 15 Speech at a public meeting in Beadon Square, Calcutta.
December 21 Leaves Calcutta for Surat, the venue of the 1907 session of the Indian
December 22 Addresses a meeting at Nagpur.
December 24-25 At Surat, presides over the conferences of Nationalist delegates.
December 26 First day of the Congress session at Surat.
December 27 Second day of the session: Sri Aurobindo gives the order that leads to
December 28 Presides over a meeting of the Nationalists.
December 31 Leaves Surat for Baroda.
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1908 — January In Baroda.
Meets Vishnu Bhaskar Lele, a Maharashtrian yogi. Following Lele's instructions, establishes complete silence of the mind, attaining to the experience of the Silent Brahman.
Gives three public speeches.
January 12,13 Speeches at Poona.
January 15 "National Education" speech at Girgaum, Bombay.
January 19 "The Present Situation" speech before the Bombay National Union.
January 24 Speech at Nasik.
January 26 Speech at Dhulia.
January 28, 29 Speeches at Amravati.
January 30,31 Speeches at Nagpur.
February 1 Speech at Nagpur.
March 10 In Howrah at a public reception of Bepin Chandra Pal upon his release
April 8 Speaks at a meeting at Chetla.
April 10 "United Congress" speech at Panthi's Math, Calcutta.
April 12 Speech at Baruipur.
April 18 "Palli Samiti" speech at Kishoregung.
April 28 Changes his Calcutta lodging from 23 Scotts lane to 48 Grey Street (Navashakti
May 2 Arrested as implicated in the terrorist activities of a group led by his brother
Proceedings are instituted by the British Government to deport Sri Aurobindo, but are later abandoned.
May 5 Taken to Alipore Jail.
May 5, 1908-May 6,1909 Under trial prisoner at Alipore. Spends his time reading the
May 19 Preliminary hearing in the Magistrate's Court begins.
August 19 Committed to the Court of Sessions.
October 19 Trial in the Session Court begins.
1909 — March 4 Evidence concluded.
April 13 Arguments concluded.
April 14 Opinion of the Assessors.
May 6 Acquitted and released.
After his release and until February 1910, Sri Aurobindo stays at 6 College Square, Calcutta.
May 14 Letter to the Bengalee, Calcutta.
May 30 Speech at Uttarpara.
June 13 Speech at Beadon Square, Calcutta.
June 19 First issue of the Karmayogin, a weekly review directed and mostly written by Sri Aurobindo.
Speech at Jhalakati, Barisal District.
June 23 Speech at Bakerjung, Barisal District.
June 26 Speech at Khulna.
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June 27 "The Right of Association" speech at Howrah.
July 11 Speech at Kumartuli.
July 18 Speech at College Square, Calcutta.
July 31 "An Open Letter to My Countrymen" published in the Karmayogin following
August 23 First issue of the Dharma, a Bengal weekly directed and mostly written by
September Leader of the Nationalists at the Bengal Provincial Conference at Hoogly.
Attends a political conference at Sylhet. .
October 9-November 13 The Brain of India in the Karmayogin.
October 10 Speech at College Square, Calcutta.
October 13 "Swadeshi in Calcutta" speech.
October 18 Durga Stotra published in the Dharma.
November 20-December 25 The National Value of Art in the Karmayogin.
December 25 "To My Countrymen" in the Karmayogin.
1910 — February Leaves Calcutta for Chandernagore in French India.
February 12-April 2 A System of National Education in the Karmayogin.
February 19-March 5 Baji Prabhu in the Karmayogin.
March 26-April 2 "Chitrangada" in the Karmayogin.
March 31 Leaves Chandernagore for Calcutta.
April 1 Embarks for Pondicherry in French India by the S.S. Dupleix.
April 4 Arrival in Pondicherry; stays in the house of Shanker Chetty in Comty Chetty
Although Sri Aurobindo changes his residence several times he does not leave Pondicherry.
A warrant issued charging Sri Aurobindo with sedition for the article "To My Countrymen" published in the Karmayogin on December 25, 1909.
October Moves to the house of Sunder Chetty on Rue du Pavilion (Rue Suffren).
November 7 "To My Countrymen" found not seditious by the Calcutta High Court;
November 7 Writes a letter to The Hindu, Madras (published in the November 13
1911 —April New lodgings taken on Rue St. Louis ("Raghavan House").
July 20 A letter to The Hindu.
August 15 First celebration of Sri Aurobindo's birthday in Pondicherry.
1912—July 3 Letter to Motilal Roy.
Through his correspondence with Motilal and others Sri Aurobindo keeps in contact with the revolutionary movement in Bengal.
1913 — April Change of residence to Rue des Missions Etrangères (Mission Street).
October Change of residence to Rue François Martin 9 (the "Guest House"). '
1914 — March 29 First meeting of the Mother and Sri Aurobindo.
June 1 Decision to publish the Arya.
August 15 First issue of the Arya. First instalments of The Life Divine, The Synthesis of Yoga, The Secret of the Veda, The Isha Upanishad.
1915 — Ahana and Other Poems published.
February 21 First celebration of the Mother's birthday at Pondicherry.
February 22 The Mother departs for France.
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September 15 First instalment of The Ideal of Human Unity in the Arya.
October Vasavadutta, a dramatic romance, written.
1916 — The Mother leaves France for Japan.
August 15 First instalments of Essays on the Gita and The Psychology of Social Development (later called The Human Cycle) in the Arya.
1917 — December 15 First instalment of The Future Poetry in the Arya.
1918 — January 15 Works at translations from Kalidasa's Kumarasambhavam (The Birth of the War God).
August 10 Letter on the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms published in the New India.
December First instalment of "Is India Civilised?" (first of the series of essays that make up The Foundations of Indian Culture) published in the Arya.
December 17 Death of Mrinalini Ghose in Calcutta.
1920 — January 20 Letter to Joseph Baptista.
April 7 Letter to Barindra Kumar Ghose.
April 24 The Mother returns to Pondicherry from Japan.
August 15 First issue of the Standard Bearer, a monthly published from Chandernagore under the inspiration of Sri Aurobindo; his article "Ourselves" appears in this issue.
August 30 Letter to B. S. Munje declining the presidentship of the Nagpur Congress.
November 24 The Mother moves to the house on Rue François Martin where Sri Aurobindo is living.
1921 — Publication in book form of Isha Upanishad and Kalidasa's "Seasons".
January Love and Death published.
January 15 Last issue of the Arya.
1922 — January The Mother takes charge of the management of Sri Aurobindo's household. Regular evening talks and group meditations held from this year.
September-October Sri Aurobindo and the Mother move to 9, Rue de la Marine (southwest section of the present Ashram block).
1923 — June 5 Meeting with C. R. Das.
1924 — January The Century of Life published. Group meditation discontinued.
1925 — Meeting with Lala Lajpat Rai and Purushottam Das Tandon.
1926 — November 24 The Day of Siddhi (Victory Day): the descent of Krishna, the Overmind Godhead, into the physical.
The evening talks and all other direct contacts with Sri Aurobindo are discontinued.He retires completely into concentrated sadhana, but gives "Darshan" three times a year.
1927 — February 8 Sri Aurobindo and the Mother move to the house on Rue François Martin (north-east section of the present Ashram block) where they remain for the rest of their lives.
1928 — Publication of The Mother.
February 16 Meeting with Rabindranath Tagore.
1929 — April Publication of Kalidasa.
1930-1938 — The limited correspondence with disciples begun after Sri Aurobindo's retirement in 1926 assumes very large proportions during this period. Much of it has been collected and published as Letters on Yoga; Letters on the Mother; Letters on Poetry, Literature and Art; etc.
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Throughout these years Sri Aurobindo works on his poetry, especially the epic Savitri.
1933 — Publication of The Riddle of this World (extracts from letters).
1934 — Publication of Six Poems of Sri Aurobindo.
1935 — February Publication of Lights on Yoga (extracts from letters).
1936 — April Publication of Bases of Yoga (extracts from letters).
1938 — November 24 Accident to Sri Aurobindo's right leg.
Regular correspondence with the sadhaks stopped. Personal contact with a few sadhaks, his attendants, begins.
1939 — April 24 Gives Darshan for the first time on this day; later it becomes a regular Darshan Day.
1939-1940 — Revision and publication in book form of The Life Divine. More writing of poetry.
1940 — September 19 Joint declaration by Sri Aurobindo and the Mother in support of the Allies in World War II. Prom the time of the evacuation of Dunkirk Sri Aurobindo puts his spiritual force behind the Allied war effort.
1942 — Publication of Collected Poems and Plays.
March 31 Sri Aurobindo's support of the Proposals of Sir Stafford Cripps, emissary of the British government, which offered to India self-government after the war and invited her assistance in the war effort.
1943 — December 2 The Ashram school started.
1944 — February 21 First issue of the Advent, "A Quarterly dedicated to the Exposition of Sri Aurobindo's Vision of the Future".
1946 — Hymns to the Mystic Fire published.
1947 — August 15 Liberation of India on Sri Aurobindo's 75th birthday. A message from Sri Aurobindo is broadcast by the All India Radio.
1948 — Publication of The Synthesis of Yoga, Part 1.
1949 — The Human Cycle published.
February 21 First issue of the Bulletin of Physical Education (now called the Bulletin of the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education) with Sri Aurobindo's "Message". Seven more articles written by Sri Aurobindo appear in subsequent issues. First issue of the cultural review Mother India.
1950 — Publication in book form of Part One of Savitri.
December 5 Mahasamadhi: Sri Aurobindo withdraws from his body.
December 9 Sri Aurobindo's body is placed in a vault in the courtyard of the Ashram.
1951 — Publication of Parts Two and Three of Savitri.
April 24 A convention, presided over by the Mother for the inauguration of the Sri
1968 — February 28 Foundation of Auroville.
1972 — August 15 Worldwide celebration of the birth centenary of Sri Aurobindo. Publication of his complete works in thirty volumes.
1973 — November 17 The Mother's Mahasamadhi.
November 20 The Mother's body is placed in a separate chamber immediately above that of Sri Aurobindo.
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