After his acquittal in the Alipore Bomb Case on 6 May 1909 Sri Aurobindo was given an emotional reception at Uttarpara on 30 May 1909. This historical event should mark an important landmark not only in his life but also of the country for whose freedom and for whose values and ideals he spared no effort and did as an assigned task coming from the divine Instructor whom he obeyed implicitly, obeyed even at his personal risk of serious nature. In his speech at Uttarpara Sri Aurobindo disclosed some of the self-transforming and world-transforming things that had happened during the one-year period of incarceration. The speech was first published in his weekly Karmayogin, June 1909. Sometime during this incarceration he wrote a remarkable poem inviting those who heard the call of the country to join him even if that should entail hardship. Against him were beating the wind and the storm, even as he was sporting with solitude and had made misadventure a friend; it is under these countries that the challenge was thrown to the brave and the upright. He declared himself to be the Spirit of freedom and pride and only they who could be kinsmen to danger could join him and walk by his side. Only those souls who are full of wisdom and strength, the brahmateja and kshātrateja, will be in a position to accept this remarkable invitation, invitation for the righteous conduct of life even in its difficult and trying circumstance.

But why should the great suffer? Or is their suffering only an outward thing, for show to the trusting? Is there any real content in it? In other words, do they really have pain and grief and ache, the agony of harrowing experience? This will be a ridiculous question when one knows in every detail the crucifixion of Christ. Sri Aurobindo himself wrote in a letter to his brother Barin about the severe and painful work he was engaged in. In another context he answered Nirodbaran about these matters in considerable detail. Perhaps suffering on the cross or in a solitary cell in the jail are much smaller aspects than the inner wounds they have to bear. Who has any idea about them? None. But let us first read the speech Sri Aurobindo gave at Uttarpara on 30 May 1909.

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