Image of Swami Vivekananda Among Present Generations

 

Sswami Vivekananda will always remain a quintessential figure in the hearts of millions and millions of citizens across the globe. The period in which he was born in the year 1863 on January 12 in Northern part of undivided Kolkata, around that undivided India was under the tyranny of British ruling. My elite readers might generate queries in their mind that why I write this piece. It is in connection with his upcoming 160th birth anniversary. It is for the cognizance of many of my online readers that Swami Vivekananda was two years and little more younger to Poet, thinker and Nobel Laureate in literature Rabindra Nath Tagore. Rabindra Nath Tagore was born in the year 1861 on May 7. Now coming to throw light about this Saint, there are many citizens who might raise vexation about Swamiji. In reality if we probe deeply about his philosophy of life we find that he has not been properly evaluated till. Interesting part to be noted is that in Western nations, Swami Vivekananda’s noble teachings and legacies are also relevant around South Asian Sub-Continent. As South Asian Sub-Continent is a vast one, hence I have decided to focus upon two closer and cordial nations of the Sub-Continent, India and Bangladesh. In both the nation, there is too much relevance on Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy. That is why I have coined the heading as such, Swami Vivekananda-among present generations. As we are aware of that Swami Vivekananda’s life is too short. During his short span of thirty nine years of longevity, the kind of responsibilities he rendered towards the development of societies and culture was unbelievable and remarkable. The basic advice he made to the people was that we should polite and courteous to people around us. According to him there should not be a trace of discriminative mentality among us. Swami Vivekananda having departed for eternal peace way back in the year 1902 on July 4, seems to be still vivid deeply in the threshold of our memories and heart. That is why we always possess a feeling that Swami Vivekananda is still present among generations. In this regard I mean modern generations.

There is a basic logic lying in our mind about Swami Vivekananda. As already narrated the period in which he was born, the era witnessed widespread disruption in social and political aspects. As my piece centres upon social and philosophical aspects, hence it is humble responsibilities to focus upon the logic about the omnipresence of Swami Vivekananda. The mind of present generation is highly deceptive. Whenever the mind of human beings become irate, then we tend to become impulsive. In the midst of this situation human mind becomes as such we tend to ferocious upon fellow human beings. That if we glance over life philosophy and legacy of Swami Vivekananda, then at least we derive a feeling upon us, that we should be calm and suave. This is nothing but our mind should be so well composed that we should be well accustomed to changing scenes. There should not be any rigmaroles in our mind.

Now coming to the ideologies of Swami Vivekananda we feel that we that Swami Vivekananda was a multifarious personality. He was so well versed in multidisciplinary academic disciplines which shaped his mind to new vistas in moral and mental development of life. Swamiji always felt deeply that human beings should have full control of mind, we should always crave in for truthful disposition in life along with purity and cordiality with fellow human beings should be treated as prerogative of humanity in life.

Swami Vivekananda and his life philosophies are not only present in and around the globe, it is equally well reputed in India and Bangladesh. As per Indian scenario is concerned, in West Bengal, leaving aside urban areas, Swami Vivekananda and his legacies are deeply worshipped in suburban areas as well as district level. In this interesting part to be noted, is that in other parts of India, in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, New Delhi, Maharashtra and others, there are good number of devotes always drop in at various Ramakrishna Mission centres. Chunk of devotes of Swamiji are from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. In the Indian state of West Bengal, in Belur and Dakshineswar there are huge number of devotes of Swami Vivekananda throng at Belur Ramakrishna Math and other ashrams of West Bengal. While coming to Dhaka and other cities of Bangladesh, we find that Ramakrishna Mission in that nation is involved in various social works to mitigate the sufferings of innumerable number of poor and downtrodden sections of societies in that nation.

In India, gospel and legacies of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansha Deva are practiced in most of the states and some union territories. Whereas in Bangladesh, apart from capital city Dhaka, gospels and legacies of Swami Vivekananda are practiced in other cities like Narayangunj, Noakhali, Chittagong, Dinajpur, Rangpur etc. In all the Ramakrishna Mission centres there is no religious bigotry practiced. Monks treat people from all walks of life under one banner. Hindus or Muslims are no different, all are under one banner of which we must be deeply proud of.Why Swami Vivekananda is still popular among the masses?

As days are passing off with the advancement of science and technology Swami Vivekananda still remain deeply popular among the masses. My elite online and offline readers of India and Bangladesh might wonder that why did I make this comment. The way modern societies of both nation sometimes become virulent then it is highly relevant to imbibe noble legacies and thoughts of Swami Vivekananda upon modern generations. He always felt for the betterment of societies that we should always be compassionate towards the betterment of societies. It is always advisable to the modern generations of India and Bangladesh, that they should imbibe moral and secular values of his so that one day or rather our societies might turn for betterment. That is why till date Swami Vivekananda is deeply popular among the masses.

Teachings of Swami Vivekananda:

Various teachings of Swami Vivekananda are as such:

We should be courageous in the midst of derisive situations in life.

We should always persistent to achieve coveted goal.

Human beings should develop the art of self-confidence.

We should try our level best to be involved into self-introspection.

We should always be honest as well as decent.

We should think positives about fellow human beings.

Human beings should treat every human being as identical with others.

It would be unethical on our part if we don’t pay equal respect to others.

Last but not the least if we don’t state about the books written by Swami Vivekananda. Some of the most popular books written by Swami Vivekananda are as such,

About Meditation and is methods

Raja Yoga

The powers of the mind

Jnana Yoga

Karma Yoga

Inspired Talks

Lectures from Colombo to Almora

Be one with God

Relationship between Rabindra Nath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda:

It was Rabindra Nath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda were close contemporaries. The difference in age between was that the former being two years older to the latter. But there were many things in common between the two. Both had tremendous humanitarian feelings. Rabindra Nath Tagore had profound reverence. Tagore said, after his untimely demise, that if anybody glances over the thoughts and philosophies of Swami Vivekananda then humanity will get transparent idea about Indian religion and culture. It was in fact both were very much against religious bigotry. That is why in both India and Bangladesh diverse faculties of Rabindra Nath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda are deeply cultivated by respective scholars of both nation. It is all our dear feelings that as days pass off both Saints will remain enshrined in the storehouse of our memories forever.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
 based in Kolkata, India.