Sri Aurobindo founded the Aurobindo Ashram at Pondichery in the southern parts of India. A Civil Servant, belonging to the Indian Civil Service, prior to the Independence, he resigned from the service and moved to Pondichery. Surrounded by a select group of like minded individuals he pursued his own style of philosophical thought and eventually established the Ashram. He has authored a number of Books including such masterpieces like The Life Divine and Savitri, his magnum opus.