SOME GREATMEN ON SWAMI VIVEKANANDA.
RAVINDRANATH TAGORE :
" If you want to know India i,e. BHARAT, study Vivekananda. In him every thing is positive and nothing negative.
Sometimes ago Vivekananda said that there was the power of Brahman in every man, that NARAYANA i,e the GOD wanted to have our service through poor. This is what I call real gospel. This gospel showed the path of infinite freedom from man's tiny egocentric self beyond the limits of all selfishness. this naturally contained in it protest against un touchability - not because that would make for political freedom, but because that would do away with the humiliation of man - a curse which in fact puts to shame the self of us all.
VIVEKANANDA'S gospel marked the awakening of man in his fullness and that is why it inspired our youth to the diverse courses of liberation through work and sacrifice.
Addressing one and all in the nation, he said : In every one of you there is the power of Brahman, i,e God, the God in the poor desires you to serve Him. This message has roused the heart of the youths in a most pervasive way. That is why this message has borne fruit in the service of the nation in diverse forms of sacrifice. This message has, at one and the same time, imparted dignity and respect to man along with energy and power. The strength that this message has imparted to man is not confirmed to a particular point; nor is it limited to repetition of same physical movements. It has, indeed, invested his life with a wonderful dynamism in various sphere. There at a source of the adventurous activities of today's youth of the country is the message of VIVEKANANDA__ which calls the Soul of man, not his finger."
--------- KAVIVAR RAVINDRANATH TAGORE.
BAL GANGADHAR TILAK :
" It is doubtful if there is any Hindu who does not know the name of Sri VIVEKANANDA SWAMI. There has been extraordinary advancement of material science in the nineteenth century. Under the circumstances, to present the spiritual science prevailing in India for thousand of years by wonderful exposition and then to kindle admiration and respect among the Western scholars and at the same time, to create a sympathetic attitude for India, the mother of spiritual science, can only be an achievement of superhuman power. The flood of material science, precipitate of English Education spread so fast that it required extraordinary courage and extraordinary genius stand against the phenomenon and change its direction.
It is an undisputed fact that it was SWAMI VIVEKANANDA who first held aloft the banner of Hinduism as a challenge against the material science of the west. It was SWAMI VIVEKANANDA who took on his shoulders this stupendous task of estabilishing the glory of Hinduism in different countries across the borders. And he, with his erudition , oratorical power, enthusiasm and inner force, laid that work upon a solid foundation. SWAMI VIVEKANANDA is a person of that stature _ who appeared towards the last half of the nineteenth century who brought under notice to every mass that Hinduism is our strength and wealth, he also preached this religion in the length and breadth of the World_ but also brought all this into action.
--------- BAL GANGADHAR TILAK.
SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE :
" I can not write about VIVEKANANDA without going into rapture. Two prominent religious personalities appeared before the public who destined to have great influence on the future course of the new awakening. They were Ramkrishna Paramhansa, the saint, and his disciple Swami Vivekananda. Sri Ramkrishna preached the gospel of the unity of all religions and urged the cessation of inter-religious strife. Before the death of Sri Ramkrishna, he charged his disciple with the task of propagating his religious teachings in India and abroad of bringing about an awakening among his countrymen.
Swami Vivekananda therefore founded the Ramkrishna Mission, an order of monk, to live and preach the hindu religion in the present form in India and abroad, especially in America and he took an active part in inspiring every form of healthy national activity. With him religion was the inspiration of Nationalism. He tried to infuse into the new generation a sense of pride in India's past, of faith in India's future and a spirit of self-confidence and self-respect. Though Swami never gave any political message everyone who came into contact with him or his writing developed a spirit of patriotism and a political mentality. Swami Vivekananda may be regarded as the spiritual father of the modern nationalist movement.
His personality was rich, profound and complex and it was his personality- as distinct from his teaching and writings- which accounts for the wonderful influence he has exerted on his countrymen. Reckless in his sacrifice, unceasing in his activity, boundless in his love, profound and versatile in his wisdom , exuberant in his emotions, merciless in his attacks but yet simple as a child - he was a rare personality in this world of ours.....
Swamiji was a full- blooded masculine personality - and a fighter to the core of his being. He was consequently a worshiper of ' SHAKTI - ENERGY, POWER' and gave practical interpretation to the Vedanta for the uplift of his countrymen... I can go for hours and yet fail to do the slightest justice to that great man. He was so great, so profound, so complex. A yogi of the highest spiritual level in direct communication with the truth who had for the time being consecrated his whole life to the moral and spiritual uplift of the Nation and of humanity that is how I would describe him. If he had been alive, I would have been at his feet. Modern Bharat (India) is his creation - if I err not.
How shall I express my words my indebtedness to Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekananda? It is under their sacred influence that my life got first awakened. I also like to regard two aspects of one indivisible personality as Sri Ramkrishna and Swami Vivekanandaji. If Swamiji had been alive today, he would have been my guru, that is to say, I would have accepted him as my master. It is needless to add, however, that as long as i live, I shall be absolutely loyal and devoted to Ramkrishna Vivekanandaji.
It is also very difficult to explain the versatile genius of Swamiji. The impact Swami Vivekananda made on the students of our times by his works and speeches far outweighed that made by any other leader of the country.
The foundation of the freedom movement owes its origin to Swamiji message. If India is to be free, it cannot be a land of specially of Hinduism or of Islam- it must be one united land of different religious communities inspired by the ideal of nationalism. And for that Indians must accept wholeheartedly the gospel of harmony of religions which is the gospel of Sri Ramkrishna- Swami Vivekananda.
Swamiji harmonized east and west, religion and science, past and present. And that is why he is great. Our countrymen have gained unprecedented self respect, self confidence and self assertion from his teachings.
The harmony of all religions which Ramkrishna Paramhans accomplished in his life's endeavours was the keynote of Swamiji's life. And this idea again is the bedrock of the nationalism of future India. Without this concept of harmony of religion and toleration of all creeds, the spirit of national conciousness could not have been built up in this country of ours full of diversity.
The aspiration of freedom manifested itself in various movements since the time of Raja Ram Mohan Roy. This aspiration was witnessed in the realm of thought and in social reforms during the nineteenth century, but it was never expressed in the political sphere. This was because the people of India still remained sunk in the stupor of subjugation and thought that conquest of India by the British was an act of Divine Dispensation.
The idea of complete freedom is manifested only in Ramkrishna- Vivekananda towards the end of nineteenth century.
" FREEDOM, FREEDOM IS THE SONG OF SOUL."
This was the message that burst forth from the inner recesses of Swamiji's heart and captivated and almost maddened the entire nation. This truth was embodied in his works, life, conversations and speeches.
Swami Vivekananda, on the one hand, called man to be real man freed from all faulters and, on the other, laid the foundation of true nationalism in India by preaching the gospel of the harmony of religions."
------- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
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