Shillong, Aug. 31: Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture Mother’s School, Shillong, celebrated the 159th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo, besides holding the annual school function.
The event coincided with the celebration of the 79th Independence Day on August 15.
Meditation and the singing of Vande Mataram marked the occasion.
“August 15th is my own birthday, and it is naturally gratifying to me that it should have assumed this vast significance. I take this coincidence, not as a fortuitous accident, but as the sanction and seal of the Divine Force that guides my steps on the work with which I began life, the beginning of its full fruition. Indeed, on this day I can watch almost all the world movements which I hoped to see fulfilled in my lifetime, though then they looked like impracticable dreams, arriving at fruition or on their way to achievement. In all these movements, free India may well play a large part and take a leading position”, this was what Sri Aurobindo, India’s leading philosopher, guru, poet and nationalist, said when India gained Independence on 15 August 1947. For Sri Aurobindo, it was a gift from the Almighty, since he was born on the same day in 1872.
A disciple says, “The experience of 15 August encourages many to keep coming back to Sri Aurobindo ..It’s not just divine but a lifetime experience that leaves you awe-struck when the Vande Mataram is sung during the programme.
Independence Day was celebrated by colouring the national flag, engaging in crafts, and dressing in tricolor-themed clothes. The students of the school also sang patriotic songs, engaged in storytelling sessions about freedom fighters, and participated in flag-hoisting ceremonies, fostering a sense of patriotism, national pride, and unity.
The event began with the hoisting of the flag of India, the flags of Sri Aurobindo and Mother. “The importance of the Independence Day celebration goes beyond the festive revelry. It’s about remembering our past, understanding the value of our freedom, and instilling a sense of patriotism. It’s also about celebrating the spirit of unity and diversity that defines our country”, said Farida Khan, Principal Mother’s School, Shillong-Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture
