Politicizzazione del sacro e identità in Aurobindo Ghose (1872-1950)

Abstract

The present contribution analyzes the political thought of philosopher and revolutionary Aurobindo Ghose in the wider scenario of Indian nationalism, highlighting the peculiar hermeneutics of hindū philosophical and religious tradition that he expressed through many articles on the main nationalist magazines. Furthermore, Aurobindo’s thought analogies and differences with the main exponents of anti-British interventionism will be contextualized. Some peculiar interpretations of the broad philosophical and religious tradition of India as theorized by Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar are particularly relevant, ideas through which an attempt was made to create a form of religiously legitimated ethno-nationalism stressing on the cultural, ethnic and spiritual primacy of hindū population. Finally, the paper will briefly discuss the influence of Aurobindo Ghose’s legacy on Rāṣṭrīya Svayaṃsēvaka Saṅgha’s political perspectives and on current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi’s agenda.