After partition of Bengal in 1905, there was great political upsurge, Sri Aurobindo took active interest in politics. He published many articles in leading magazines of his time to arise political awakening. At that time the National Congress was the only political forum to ventilate public opinion to the government. The leaders of the National Congress were moderately putting forth their demands for some dominion status. But Sri Aurobindo wanted Congress to be an effective revolutionary organization to make India free of foreign domination. His secret revolutionary activities and public writings created reaction both in congress as well as in the government. Even he established some youth clubs and wanted to impart martial and spiritual training to them. Within the Congress he was a hard-liner and an aggressive nationalist. At Kolkata he served as principal of the Bengal National College for some time.

          In 1908 he was arrested by the government in connection with Alipur bomb case. After one year of confinement in jail finally he was acquitted as charges against him could not be established. But he continued his writings to arouse public awareness. In the meanwhile there was a sea-change in his attitude and conviction. He desired to live a life of spiritual pursuit deciding his retirement from active politics. He came to Pondicherry (April 1910) in disguise as it was a French Colony at that time.  According to Sri Aurobindo’s own admission an inner voice moved him to come to Pondicherry and engaged himself in spiritual sadhana. Some critics hold that Sri Aurobindo got a confidential news of his re-arrest and to avoid that he decided to come to Pondicherry as it was not under the British rule. Whatever the truth may be, it was a turning point in Sri Aurobindo’s life as he remained apolitical for rest of his life.