Swaraj as a Virtue and Spirit of Indian Renaissance: A Treatise on the Central Philosophical Ethos of Neo-Vedantists.

Change is an inevitable aspect of human civilization’s progression. Nevertheless, within any society, there are individuals who appear resistant to altering the current organization of society. This resistance can stem from various reasons, such as those who benefit from the existing status quo or those who fear that change may introduce unpredictability. Along with such dilemma and varying motivations, a question of profound interest to balanced and methodical scholars revolve around how society should evolve and the moral considerations that influence its organizational structure. Following these contentious inquiries, the present academic work will investigate into the core philosophy and the lived experiences of Neo-Vedantists, asserting that their beliefs were encapsulated in the ideal of “Swaraj.” To substantiate this thesis, we will undertake a comprehensive investigation into the intellectual discourses and documented actions of eminent figures such as K.C. Bhattacharya, Sri Aurobindo, and Mahatma Gandhi. Furthermore, within the scope of this current discourse, it will be conceived that the question of what constitutes the essence of Indianness in contemporary India may not yield a definitive answer. Though, it is worth noting that a firm assertion can be made that for the greater part of the 20th century, the notion of “Swaraj” served as the archetypal embodiment of the Indian spirit, symbolizing the Indian renaissance, and surmounting external obstacles, which encompassed issues related to caste, creed, religion, and more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]