Sri Aurobindo's Footprints

Uttarpara Jaykrishna Public Library

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"...I looked at the jail that secluded me from men and it was no longer by its high walls that I was imprisoned; no, it was Vasudeva who surrounded me. I walked under the branches of the tree in front of my cell but it was not the tree, I knew it was Vasudeva, it was Sri Krishna whom I saw standing there and holding over me his shade. I looked at the bars of my cell, the very grating that did duty for a door and again I saw Vasudeva. It was Narayana who was guarding and standing sentry over me. Or I lay on the coarse blankets that were given me for a couch and felt the arms of Sri Krishna around me, the arms of my Friend and Lover. This was the first use of the deeper vision He gave me. I looked at the prisoners in the jail, the thieves, the murderers, the swindlers, and as I looked at them I saw Vasudeva, it was Narayana whom I found in these darkened souls and misused bodies..."

Uttarpara Speech 

It was in his speech at Uttarpara that Sri Aurobindo for the first time spoke publicly of his Yoga and his spiritual experiences.

Uttarpara Jaikrishna Public Library
30.May.1909 - Uttarpara Speech at Jaikrishna Public Library

Jaikrishna Public Library

Amarendra Chatterje, who had gone from Uttarpara to fetch Sri Aurobindo for speaking to the "Santana Dharma Rakshini Sabha", writes, "I went to the 'Sanjibani' Office to fetch Sri Aurobindo. I found him absolutely quiet, as if he was in meditation. So I did not talk for long with him. We went by train to Uttarpara. Many in the audience had also come there in the same train. The train arrived at 3 o'clock. The time for the meeting was 5.30 p.m. The 'jamindar' of Uttarpara, Raja Pyari Mohan, and his son, Michhri Babu had come to the station to receive Sri Aurobindo. After taking a little rest and tea at the house of Surendranath Chattopadhyaya, a regular procession was organized. The meeting was fixed at the open courtyard of the Library on the eastern side, on the west bank of the Ganges. Sri Aurobindo was the only speaker. There were about ten thousand men in the audience. His voice was not voluminous and so the audience kept pin-drop silence in order to be able to hear him"

From: Rishabhchand > 'His Life Unique' > Page 304

"He was heard in pin-drop silence... The reception Sri Aurobindo got at Uttarpara was extraordinary..."

From: A.B. Purani > 'Life of Sri Aurobindo' > Page 123

Commemorative Plaques

Sri Aurobindo - Uttarpara speech - Marble plaque
'Uttarpara Speech' - Commemorative Plaque at Jaikrishna Public Library Grounds

A Commemorative Marble Plaque bearing excerpts of the Uttarpara Speech was installed on Jaikrishna Public Library grounds in 1972.

Sri Aurobindo - Uttarpara speech - Marble plaque
'Uttarpara Speech' - Commemorative Plaque at Jaikrishna Public Library Grounds
Sri Aurobindo - Uttarpara speech - Marble plaque
Sri Aurobindo - Uttarpara speech - Marble plaque

Uttarpara Jaykrishna Public Library

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Address:

Uttarpara Jaykrishna Public Library,
229, Grand Trunk Rd, Kotrung, Uttarpara,
Uttarpara Kotrung, West Bengal - 712258.

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Office of 'Karmayogin' - 4, Shyampukur Lane 

Sri Aurobindo's Footprints in Calcutta

Sri Aurobindo was born on August 15, 1872 at No. 4 Theatre Road. This property is now known as 'Sri Aurobindo Bhavan', which came into being through a Government Act in 1972...

Sri Aurobindo's Birthplace

Sri Aurobindo was born on August 15, 1872 at No. 4 Theatre Road. This property is now known as 'Sri Aurobindo Bhavan', which came into being through a Government Act in 1972...

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Hub of Nationalists

Sri Aurobindo usually resided in this house as a guest of Raja Subodh Chandra Mullick on his visits to Calcutta. 12, Wellington Square thus became a hub of the Nationalist movement and its silent witness...

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2/1, Creek Row served as the permanent office and press of 'Bande Mataram' - the English newspaper edited by Sri Aurobindo, which prepared the mind of the people for the Nationalist revolution...

Office of 'Bande Mataram'

2/1, Creek Row served as the permanent office and press of 'Bande Mataram' - the English newspaper edited by Sri Aurobindo, which prepared the mind of the people for the Nationalist revolution...

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Bengal National College, with Sri Aurobindo as its first Principal, operated from 191/1 Bowbazar Street and was later shifted to 164 & 166 Bowbazar street in 1907...

Bengal National College

Bengal National College, with Sri Aurobindo as its first Principal, operated from 191/1 Bowbazar Street and was later shifted to 164 & 166 Bowbazar street in 1907...

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19/3, Chhaku Khansama Lane served as residence of Sri Aurobindo for a brief period. He shifted here to become more accessible to the common man...

Residence

19/3, Chhaku Khansama Lane served as residence of Sri Aurobindo for a brief period. He shifted here to become more accessible to the common man...

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23, Scott Lane served as residence of Sri Aurobindo for a brief period in 1908. Bal Gangadhar Tilak had visited him at least once during his stay here...

Residence

23, Scott Lane served as residence of Sri Aurobindo for a brief period in 1908. Bal Gangadhar Tilak had visited him at least once during his stay here...

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The house at 32, Muraripukur Road served as headquarters for the Revolutionary group led by Barindra Ghose...

Revolutionary 'Ashram'

The house at 32, Muraripukur Road served as headquarters for the Revolutionary group led by Barindra Ghose...

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Sri Aurobindo was arrested from 48, Grey Street on 2nd May, 1908, to stand for trial in the Alipore Bomb Case...

Place of Arrest

Sri Aurobindo was arrested from 48, Grey Street on 2nd May, 1908, to stand for trial in the Alipore Bomb Case...

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Sri Aurobindo was imprisoned in a solitary-confinement cell as an undertrial prisoner in the Alipore Bomb case...

Prison Cell

Sri Aurobindo was imprisoned in a solitary-confinement cell as an undertrial prisoner in the Alipore Bomb case...

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The historic 'Alipore Bomb Trial', in which Sri Aurobindo was the main accused, took place at Alipore Sessions court in 1908-09.

Alipore Bomb Case

The historic 'Alipore Bomb Trial', in which Sri Aurobindo was the main accused, took place at Alipore Sessions court in 1908-09.

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6, College Square served as residence of Sri Aurobindo from 6th May, 1909 until February, 1910, when he left Calcutta...

Residence

6, College Square served as residence of Sri Aurobindo from 6th May, 1909 until February, 1910, when he left Calcutta...

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'Uttarpara Speech', in which Sri Aurobindo for the first time spoke publicly of his Yoga and his spiritual experiences, was made here on 30.May.1909...

Uttarpara Speech

'Uttarpara Speech', in which Sri Aurobindo for the first time spoke publicly of his Yoga and his spiritual experiences, was made here on 30.May.1909...

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4, Shyampukur Lane served as the office of 'Karmayogin' and 'Dharma' newspaper. It was here that Sri Aurobindo received a sudden 'command from above' to go to Chandernagore (in Feb 1910)...

Office of 'Karmayogin'

4, Shyampukur Lane served as the office of 'Karmayogin' and 'Dharma' newspaper. It was here that Sri Aurobindo received a sudden 'command from above' to go to Chandernagore (in Feb 1910)...

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Sri Aurobindo remained in secret residence at Chandernagore, entirely engaged in Sadhana, from mid-February to end-March in 1910 before proceeding to Pondicherry...

Secret Residence

Sri Aurobindo remained in secret residence at Chandernagore, entirely engaged in Sadhana, from mid-February to end-March in 1910 before proceeding to Pondicherry...

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