Editing Sri Aurobindo (section)

=== Revolutionary Activities and the Alipore Bomb Case ===
[[File:Aurobindo jail picture.JPG|thumb|237x237px|left| Photographs of Aurobindo
as a prisoner in [[Alipore Jail]], 1908.]]
In July 1905, then [[Viceroy of India]], [[Lord Curzon]], [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|partitioned Bengal]]. This sparked an outburst of public anger against the British, leading to civil unrest and a nationalist campaign by groups of revolutionaries that included Aurobindo. In 1908, [[Khudiram Bose]] and [[Prafulla Chaki]] attempted to kill Magistrate Kingsford, a judge known for handing down particularly severe sentences against nationalists. However, the bomb thrown at his horse carriage missed its target and instead landed in another carriage and killed two British women, the wife and daughter of barrister [[Pringle Kennedy]]. Aurobindo was also arrested on charges of planning and overseeing the attack and imprisoned in solitary confinement in [[Alipore Jail]]. The trial of the Alipore Bomb Case lasted for a year, but eventually, he was acquitted on 6 May 1909. His defense counsel was [[Chittaranjan Das]].{{sfnp|Aurobindo|2006|p=86|ps=}}

During this period in the Jail, his view of life was radically changed due to spiritual experiences and realisations. Consequently, his aim went far beyond the service and liberation of the country.{{Sfnp|Aurobindo|2006|p=61|ps=}}

Aurobindo said he was visited by [[Vivekananda]] in the Alipore Jail: "It is a fact that I was hearing constantly the voice of Vivekananda speaking to me for a fortnight in the jail in my solitary meditation and felt his presence."{{sfnp|Aurobindo|2006|p=98|ps=}}

In his autobiographical notes, Aurobindo said he felt a vast calm when returning to India. He could not explain this and continued to have various such experiences occasionally. He knew nothing of yoga at that time and started his practice of it without a teacher, except for some rules that he learned from Mr. Devadhar, a friend who was a disciple of Swami Brahmananda of Ganga Math, Chandod.<ref>K.R.S. Iyengar, ''Sri Aurobindo – a biography and a history'', Pondicherry, 1972, p. 62.</ref>{{Sfnp|Aurobindo|2006|p=110|ps=}} <!--When Sri Aurobindo became involved with Congress and ''Vande Mataram'', Barin had continued to meet patriotic youngsters for recruitment for such a plan.{{clarify|reason=what plan?}}--> In 1907, Barin introduced Aurobindo to Vishnu Bhaskar Lele,<ref>{{cite web |title=Vishnu Bhaskar Lele |url=https://wiki.auroville.org.in/wiki/Vishnu_Bhaskar_Lele |website=wiki.auroville.org.in |publisher=Auroville Wiki |access-date=23 September 2025}}</ref> a Maharashtrian yogi. Aurobindo was influenced by guidance from the yogi, who instructed Aurobindo to depend on an inner guide, and any external guru or guidance would not be required.{{sfnp|Heehs|2008|pp=142–143|ps=}}

In 1910, Aurobindo withdrew himself from all political activities and went into hiding at [[Chandannagar]] in the house of [[Motilal Roy]] while the British colonial government was attempting to prosecute him for sedition based on a signed article titled "To My Countrymen", published in ''Karmayogin''. As Aurobindo disappeared from view, the warrant was held back, and the prosecution postponed. Aurobindo maneuvered the police into open action, and a warrant was issued on 4 April 1910, but the warrant could not be executed because, on that date, he had reached Pondicherry, then a [[French colony]].{{sfnp|Aurobindo|2006|p=101|ps=}} The warrant against Aurobindo was withdrawn.