During Amrit Kaal, let’s make the most of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda to make an Atmanirbhar Bharat

Swami Vivekananda was an incredibly versatile personality with a vast knowledge of different subjects, including Western philosophy. He was the first Hindu monk of India, who spread the message of Hinduism and ‘Sanatan Dharma’. He established the supremacy of ‘Sanatan’

values, culture and Hinduism in a decisive manner.

It was a great achievement as this was done by Swami Vivekananda, born on January 12, 1863 in Kolkata, at a time when the whole world used to look down upon us.

Blessed with a yogic temperament, he used to practice meditation even from his boyhood. Inquisitive to the core, his life underwent a sea change ever since he came into contact with Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans, which later on developed into a unique guru-disciple relationship with fewer parallels in the history of spiritual masters. He once asked Shri Ramakrishna Paramhans one day in November 1881: “Sir, have you seen God?”  He replied: “Yes, I have. I see Him as clearly as I see you, only in a much intenser sense.”

Under divine guidance of Shri Ramakrishna Paramhans, Swami Vivekananda made strides on the spiritual path. His speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago, on September 11, 1893 left an indelible mark on the gathering comprising religious and spiritual personalities of

different faiths from across the world. He started his speech by addressing the gathering from the core of his heart as ‘sisters and brothers of America’ which was followed by thunderous applause from the audience.

He said: “It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions; and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.”

Swami ji went on to add: “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true ... I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations on earth.” Swami ji was of the firm opinion that all paths lead to the one true God, as is also mentioned in Rig Veda that ‘Ekam Sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti’ (Truth is one; the wise call it by various names.)

His views of modern Indian secularism were based on equal respect for all faiths. He supported religious tolerance as a part of public culture, as he wanted harmony and peace. It was not a mere hollow proposition but a strong intent to serve the people with compassion and without any discrimination either on the basis of caste or religion. There was no place for appeasement in his views on secularism. It was all inclusive, which he preached in the US and the UK, the two countries he visited extensively after delivering the historic lecture at Parliament of the World Religions in 1893.

Swami Vivekananda’s concept of potential divinity of the soul, principle of morality and ethics, and being a bridge between the East and the West, and sense of unity, pride in the past, and the sense of mission are real assets for us. He defined and strengthened the sense of unity for us as a nation, giving a proper understanding of our country’s great spiritual heritage. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose wrote: “Swamiji harmonized the East and the West, religion and science, past and present. And that is why he is great. Our countrymen have gained unprecedented self-respect, self-reliance and self-assertion from his teachings.”

In the words of eminent British historian A L Basham, in centuries to come, he will be remembered as one of the main moulders of the modern world…!”

Swami Vivekananda was an inspirational personality. For him, youth was the harbinger of hope and the fulcrum of change. His clarion call - Arise awake and stop not until the goal is reached – still reverberates in our hearts and minds. He said that he wanted youths with muscles of iron, nerves of steel and gigantic hearts. He wanted the youth of the country to have strong will power to serve the motherland and masses. He once said: “Go, all of you, wherever there is an outbreak of plague or famine, or wherever the people are in distress, and mitigate their sufferings” by serving the country.

During his travels all over India, Swami Vivekananda was deeply moved to see the appalling poverty and backwardness of the masses, in particular the downtrodden. He was the first religious leader in India to understand and openly declare that the real cause of India’s downfall was the neglect of the masses. They had lost their faith in their capacity to improve their lot due to centuries of oppression. He realized that despite poverty, ‘the masses clung to religion, but they had never been taught the life-giving, ennobling principles of Vedanta and how to apply them in practical life.’

He saw education as the only means to improve their economic condition, and spiritual knowledge to infuse in them faith in themselves and strengthen their moral sense. What was education for him? In his own words: “The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion — is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.” That is self-confidence!

As a divine soul, Swami Vivekananda visualized the role of science and technology in improving the life of human beings. So when he met Jamshedji Tata on a ship, he asked his help in creating human capital dedicated to sciences. Jamshedji Tata, inspired by the words of Swami Vivekananda, established the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru! Swami ji wanted to “bring the best aspects of both the traditional Hindu and Western systems of education”.

During Amrit Kaal, let’s make the most of the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, a great philosopher, thinker, orator, poet, and the greatest patron of the youth, to make an Atmanirbhar Bharat!  We celebrate January 12, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, as the National Youth Day, to draw inspiration from the “philosophy of Swami ji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.” The dream of Ek Bharat, Sarvshrestha Bharat and making India Vishwa Guru can be realized by following the path shown by Swami Vivekananda, which is at the centre of the governance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. Let us resolve today to assimilate the essence of teachings of Swami Vivekanand—national spirit, patriotism, unity in diversity, inclusivity and purity! This will be the real tribute to Swami Vivekanand.

(The author is Governor, Haryana)