User:Varungarde/Uttarpara Speech

Uttarapara Speech is a famous speech on the subject of the Hindu religion delivered by Sri Aurobindo at the Uttarpara town in Bengal on 30th May 1909. The speech came at a time when Sri Aurobindo had just been released after an year's isolated incarceration following the Alipore bomb case. The political landscape of the country had completely transformed in the preceding year, following a massive crackdown by the Raj on aggressive political activity. The steam of the nationalist movement had been lost with all the previous leaders being either deported or jailed. Sri Aurobindo had been invited to speak at the Uttarpara town by the Dharma Rakshini Sabha (Lit: Society for protection of Dharma). Sri Aurobindo, speaking for the first time since his acquittal, addressed the entire nation in his speech. The speech dealt at length with the essence of Hindu thought and aims of the Hindu religion. It was also the only time, Aurobindo spoke about his mystic experiences in Jail in public. It is considered valuable for understanding Hinduism and Sanatana Dharma as envisaged by Sri Aurobindo.

He retired from active politics a few months after this event.