SWEETY BHATNAGAR
Swami Vivekananda; the Indian Hindu monk, was a chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India, and contributed to the concept of Indian nationalism as a tool to fight against the British empire in colonial India. Vivekananda espoused the idea that all sects within Hinduism (and all religions) are different paths to the same goal. However, this view has been criticised as an oversimplification of Hinduism. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint. Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, i.e. 12 January, is celebrated as the National Youth Day in India. On 17 October 1984, the Indian Government officially declared the birth date of Vivekananda as the National Youth Day, which was to be celebrated 1985 onwards. The circular stated: “it was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.
Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru India’s first Prime Minister was very much inspired by Vivekananda. He was impressed by Vivekananda’s socialist thinking and quotes him, “I am a socialist not because I think it is a perfect system, but half a loaf is better than no bread. The other systems have been tried and found wanting and let this one be tried if for nothing else, for the novelty of thing”. Nehru also liked the secular outlook of Vivekananda who believed in the unity of all religions and had said many times that they are just different paths leading to the same universal truth. I think he was really taken aback by the audacious approach of Vivekananda when he wrote to his Muslim friend, “For our own motherland a junction of the two great systems, Hinduism and Islam- Vedanta brain and Islam body – is the only hope!” I wonder what the present Hindutva supporters would think of this!
In his classic book “The Discovery of India” Jawaharlal Nehru has devoted six pages describing the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, the philosopher-saint. He did not devote that many pages in it to anyone among the modern leaders except Mahatma Gandhi.
Nehru was very much influenced by the modern outlook of Vivekananda’s teachings since they blended science and spirituality. Also the practical ideas of Vivekananda who said that spirituality cannot be taught on an empty stomach and the rejuvenation of India can only take place when poverty is reduced appealed to Nehru. This was probably the first example of practical Vedanta!
The abject poverty and degradation of thought that Vivekananda saw during his travels in India touched him deeply, just like they had touched Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru later on, and Nehru was simply echoing those ideas in The Discovery of India.
Barack Obama, the President of the United States, quoted Vivekananda’s words in his speech delivered in India in November 2010. He said:
Instead of succumbing to division, you have shown that the strength of India—the very idea of India—is its embrace of all colors, castes and creeds. It’s the diversity represented in this chamber today. It’s the richness of faiths celebrated by a visitor to my hometown of Chicago more than a century ago—the renowned Swami Vivekananda. He said that, “holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character.”
India is one of the youngest nations in the world, with about 65 percent population under 35 years of age. It is expected that by this year, the population of India would have a median age of 28 years only as against 38 years for US, 42 years for China and 48 years for Japan. The youth are indeed the most dynamic and vibrant segment of the population in any country.
Swami Vivekananda once said, “Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be.”
His message was simple yet powerful. Vivekananda conveyed his ideas directly to the people, especially to the youth. His message broke through the shackles of caste and creed and spoke of a language of universal brotherhood. What he said captures the great importance of his ideas and ideals among the youth in our country today. He personified the eternal energy of the youth and their restless quest for truth. It is entirely fitting that the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, is observed as National Youth Day to rekindle the eternal message of this great patriot and son of India.
Vivekananda had once remarked, “Give me only a hundred men who are hard, honest and sincere to the bottom, and I will shake India from its very foundations”. The hunt is still going on.
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