Vivekananda’s India and We, the Indians
It is said that when Swami Vivekananda was returning to India after his
triumphal tour of Europe and America, somebody asked him, “Well, Swami, you
have been so long in the midst of the pomp and glory of the Western civilisation
and have come in close contact with the progressive thoughts and energetic life of
the scientific age. But how do you feel now when you are going back to your land
of chronic poverty and squalor, of illiteracy and ignorance, famine and
pestilence ?” Swamiji replied at once, his words burning with the fire of his soul :
“India has always been my darling ; my adored mother. But now that I return to
her after a pretty long sojourn in foreign countries, I feel that her very dust is
sacred to me.” His words elucidated his fervent love for India—his motherland,
his own India.
Swami Vivekananda had vividly brought ancient India before his eyes,
eternal India—India of the Vedas, with its race of heroes and gods, clothed in the
glory of legends and history—Aryans, Dravidians, Moghuls—all one. He was the
Parivrajaka. The Mogul grandeur at Agra brought tears to his eyes. At Ayodha, he
relived the story of the Ramayana and at Vrindaban, the childhood of Krishna. In
the retreats of the Himalayas, he meditated on the Vedas. At Ahmedabad, he
completed his knowledge of Jain and Mohameddan culture.
From north to south, the ancient land of India was full of gods ; yet the
unbroken chain of their countless arms formed only one god. Vivekananda
realised the unity of their flesh and spirit. He also realised it in communion with
the living of all castes and all outside caste. And he made them realise it. He
taught them all a religious love for mother India and a passion to dedicate
themselves to her redemption. He assimilated all the rivers of thought scattered
and buried in the soil of India. As far removed from the blind devotion of the
orthodox, who were engulfed in the muddy stench of stagnant waters and as from
the misguided rationalism of the reformers of the Brahmo Samaj, who with the
best intentions busied themselves in drying up the mystic fountain of hidden
energy, Swamiji wished to preserve and harmonise them all by draining the
entangled reservoir of all the waters of the subcontinent possessed by a deeply
religious soul.
Everywhere Swami Vivekananda shared the insults and privations of the
oppressed classes. Amid such lowly people who cower at the feet of the society,
Swamiji found spiritual treasures, while their misery choked him. He sobbed, “O
my country ! O my country ! …….” It was the misery under his eyes, the misery
of India that filled his mind to the exclusion of every other thought. It chased him
like a tiger following his prey. It consumed him during sleepless nights. He
recalled Ramakrishna’s words, “Religion is not for empty bellies.’’ Swamiji
dedicated his life to the masses. But how could he help them ? He had no money
and the princely gifts of one or two Maharajas and the offerings of several groups
of well-wishers could only nourish a thousandth part of the most urgent needs.
Before India woke up from her ataraxy, her ruin would be consummated.
Vivekananda lifted his eyes to the ocean, the lands beyond the seas. The whole
world had the need of India’s immense spiritual reserves. Her death would be its
concern as well.
Swami Vivekananda was like a general, calling everyone to the
resurrection of the land of Shiva, Krishna, Rama. He wanted his countrymen to
rise en masse. He said, “My India, arise ! Where is your vital force ?…….” He
said, “Worship Shiva in the poor, the diseased and the weak.” Imagine the
thunderous reverberations of his words !
Did the dead rise ? Did India, having got thrilled by the sound of his
words, reply to the hope of her herald ? It is not possible to change in a few days
the habits of people, enslaved by prejudices. But Swamiji’s words made India turn
for the first time in her slumber. She never forgot it. The following generations
saw the Revolt of Bengal, the great movements of nationalist leaders like Tilak
and Gandhi and most importantly, India’s Independence. I believe that everyone
has his words hidden somewhere in his heart that helps him to protest against the
injustices of today.
We are the Indians of today. Do we really think for our country ? Do we
feel that still today, in this democratic country of ours, people starve ? Do we
know that ignorance still looms over our country like a dark cloud ? All of us
don’t. The storm of misery has passed. But it has scattered its cataracts over our
country. Had Swamiji been alive today, he would surely have urged us to rise up
and help our fellow countrymen. We should rekindle the eternal messages of this
great son of India.
Swamiji is not alive today. But the flame of his pyre is alight still today.
From his ashes, just like the legendary Phoenix bird, will spring anew the
conscience of India. We are his voice today and we shall speak for our
countrymen.
I often ponder, “What is the reason behind the debacles of today ? Who’s
responsible ?” It’s the corrupt bureaucracy. A corrupt bureaucracy can lead India
to perpetual distress, despite the wealth we may possess. What we need now is
proper administration. We need administrators who are the true lovers of India.
Once Swamiji asked a certain General Strong as to why India was
defeated during the Sepoy Mutiny. General Strong replied that its leaders, instead
of advancing forward, kept on shouting from a distance. “Fight on brave lads” and
so forth. They never fought in the forefront. Swamiji added, “It is the same in
every branch. If you can lay down your life for a cause, then only you can be a
true leader.” What we need of our leaders today are dedication and self-sacrifice.
If Indian authorities develop some of these qualities and try to rise above
personal and political ambitions, then India can surely be transformed and she can
rule the world with the power of her spirit.
Finally, what is Vivekananda’s India ? Vivekananda’s India is one—
eternal India—a land of renunciations and self-sacrifices. If one gives up one’s
self-centredness and becomes compassionate to others, it will lead to the good of
the nation only. In trains, buses, roads and classrooms, everyday we get ample
opportunities to give up our little selves and serve others. Let’s do it for the good
of our motherland, who shall get illuminated by our noble deeds, and we
ourselves shall get illuminated too due to the spiritual ecstasy in our little hearts.
Sayani Porel
