Who wrote "New Lamps For The Old"?

Question

Who wrote "New Lamps For The Old"?

1. A. Surendranath Banerjee
2. B. Aurobindo Ghosh (Correct answer)
3. C. Motilal Ghosh
4. D. More than one of the above

Correct Answer

Option B — Aurobindo Ghosh

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Aurobindo Ghosh.

Key Points

• 'New Lamps for Old' was a series of articles written by Aurobindo Ghosh in 1893-94, published in the newspaper 'Indu Prakash' of Bombay.
• In these writings he sharply criticised the moderate, petition-based politics of the early Indian National Congress, calling instead for a more radical and self-reliant approach to freedom.
• This was one of the earliest expressions of the extremist (assertive) school of nationalism that would gain strength in the following decades.

Additional Information

• Surendranath Banerjee was himself a leading Moderate, and Motilal Ghosh was associated with the Amrita Bazar Patrika — so the author of 'New Lamps for Old' was Aurobindo Ghosh, option (B).