Ghose, Aurobindo (ôrōbĭnˈdō gōsh) [key], 1872–1950, Indian
nationalist leader and mystic philosopher. Born in Bengal, he
was sent to England and lived there for 14 years, completing his
education at Cambridge. Returning to India in 1893, he plunged
into the study of Indian languages and culture. The agitation
against the partition (1905) of Bengal drew him into the
nationalist movement, and for several years he acted as leader
of a secret revolutionary organization, becoming well known
through his eloquent patriotic writings. He was eventually
jailed for subverting British rule and while in prison
experienced visions that completely altered his outlook. On
release from prison he announced his withdrawal from active
political life and retired to Pondicherry (now Puducherry) in S
India where he devoted himself to the practice of yoga and to
writing. In his major works, all written in English, he
formulates the metaphysics and system of spiritual discipline
that he called Integral Yoga ( Purna Yoga ). Rejecting