VSK TN
Sri Ramakrishna Prasad, Prantha Boudhik Pramuk addressed a gathering at Prabodhan Varga and spoke on Swami Ji’s views on National Identity at Karyalaya. The paper presentation of Prasad Ji is here.
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S VIEWS ON NATIONAL IDENTITY
A major cross-country race in
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was to cover a seven-mile course. Two hours after the race began, there were no
runners in sight, and the officials became concerned that something had
happened. They set out in their
automobiles to find the runners and discovered that all were six or more miles
away, running in the wrong direction.
Some had actually covered more than ten miles. A.J.Rogers, a race official, said the mix-up
apparently occurred when the runner leading the pack took a wrong turn at the
fifth checkpoint and the rest followed him.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was to cover a seven-mile course. Two hours after the race began, there were no
runners in sight, and the officials became concerned that something had
happened. They set out in their
automobiles to find the runners and discovered that all were six or more miles
away, running in the wrong direction.
Some had actually covered more than ten miles. A.J.Rogers, a race official, said the mix-up
apparently occurred when the runner leading the pack took a wrong turn at the
fifth checkpoint and the rest followed him.
In
a lifetime, the average person directly or indirectly influences ten thousand
other people. Those who are in
leadership positions influence many, many more.
That’s the reason leadership carries such an incredible responsibility –
namely, that of making certain you’re heading in the right direction, that the
decisions you make are character-based and the route you choose is a good
one.
a lifetime, the average person directly or indirectly influences ten thousand
other people. Those who are in
leadership positions influence many, many more.
That’s the reason leadership carries such an incredible responsibility –
namely, that of making certain you’re heading in the right direction, that the
decisions you make are character-based and the route you choose is a good
one.
Swami Vivekananda was one such
leader who profoundly influenced the psyche of our nation thereby changing the
course of our nation. In H.G.Wells’ famous book ‘The Outline of
History’ there is chapter entitled, “The Intellectual Revival of
Europeans”. The chapter describes how
the collective mind of the Europeans underwent an awakening in the twelfth,
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as a result of which love for knowledge
and efforts to acquire knowledge began to spread among the common people.
leader who profoundly influenced the psyche of our nation thereby changing the
course of our nation. In H.G.Wells’ famous book ‘The Outline of
History’ there is chapter entitled, “The Intellectual Revival of
Europeans”. The chapter describes how
the collective mind of the Europeans underwent an awakening in the twelfth,
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as a result of which love for knowledge
and efforts to acquire knowledge began to spread among the common people.
What caused this awakening was the Europeans’
coming into contact, through the Crusades, with the advanced civilization in
the Middle East. Through this contact
the Europeans rediscovered the ancient Greek philosophy and Greek classics,
learned the so-called Arabic numerals, and the method of making paper. It is an
irony of history that, just when the Europeans mind woke up, the Indian mind
went to sleep. This national slumber
lasted nearly seven hundred years. It is
well known that until the twelfth century, India was the wealthiest nation in
the world, producing one third of global GDP.
But after it succumbed to foreign invasions from the 11th
century onwards, its economy began to decline, and in the 16th
century its share in global GDP was only 25 percent. China overtook India, and Western Europe’s
share began to increase. After 1700,
with British occupation, India became one of the poorest nations in the
world. After the tenth century the
Indian mind ceased to have interest in nature and to be open to the natural
world. As the British writer V.S.Naipaul
has stated, a kind of “collective amnesia” seem to have overtaken the Indian
mind. Till the end of the eighteenth
century India appeared to be a sleeping giant.
coming into contact, through the Crusades, with the advanced civilization in
the Middle East. Through this contact
the Europeans rediscovered the ancient Greek philosophy and Greek classics,
learned the so-called Arabic numerals, and the method of making paper. It is an
irony of history that, just when the Europeans mind woke up, the Indian mind
went to sleep. This national slumber
lasted nearly seven hundred years. It is
well known that until the twelfth century, India was the wealthiest nation in
the world, producing one third of global GDP.
But after it succumbed to foreign invasions from the 11th
century onwards, its economy began to decline, and in the 16th
century its share in global GDP was only 25 percent. China overtook India, and Western Europe’s
share began to increase. After 1700,
with British occupation, India became one of the poorest nations in the
world. After the tenth century the
Indian mind ceased to have interest in nature and to be open to the natural
world. As the British writer V.S.Naipaul
has stated, a kind of “collective amnesia” seem to have overtaken the Indian
mind. Till the end of the eighteenth
century India appeared to be a sleeping giant.
In this context several basic questions
arise. What are the forces which govern historical changes? What are the causes
of the decline of civilizations, and what are the means by which some
civilizations renew or rejuvenate themselves? Eminent thinkers and philosophers
of history like Hegel, Arnold Toynbee, Oswald Spengler, Pitirim Sorokin and
others have tried to provide answers to the above questions. From a study of their works we come to some
basic conclusions about historical progression.
arise. What are the forces which govern historical changes? What are the causes
of the decline of civilizations, and what are the means by which some
civilizations renew or rejuvenate themselves? Eminent thinkers and philosophers
of history like Hegel, Arnold Toynbee, Oswald Spengler, Pitirim Sorokin and
others have tried to provide answers to the above questions. From a study of their works we come to some
basic conclusions about historical progression.
Humanity is divided into several
civilizations. Each civilization has a
particular bent, a common interest and characteristic features. The main interest of Greek civilization was enquiry
into the nature of the physical world.
Hebraic civilization is centered around monotheism and moral questions;
the Chinese civilization was concerned chiefly with the society and social
relationships; the Indian civilization has spirituality for its main
characteristic.
civilizations. Each civilization has a
particular bent, a common interest and characteristic features. The main interest of Greek civilization was enquiry
into the nature of the physical world.
Hebraic civilization is centered around monotheism and moral questions;
the Chinese civilization was concerned chiefly with the society and social
relationships; the Indian civilization has spirituality for its main
characteristic.
2. Each
civilization has passed through several stages known as epochs or eras. Each epoch or era is dominated by a
particular zeitgeist or “time spirit”. By zeitgeist is meant the general
intellectual, moral and cultural climate of a particular period in history – the
ideas, beliefs, and values which dominate the minds of the people of that
epoch. 3. Every civilization passes through periods of decline caused by moral
degeneration of the people, foreign invasions, civil wars and social conflicts
within the country. According to
Toynbee, those civilizations which have developed adequate reserves of moral,
cultural and spiritual resources are able to overcome such crises and undergo
rejuvenation. 4. Such rejuvenation may be brought about by the following
factors: (a) the declining civilization’s encountering a more vigorous and
advanced civilization. (b) the rise of a great spiritual leader, known as a
Prophet or Avatara, who gives a new message suited to the needs and conditions
of the new age which he inaugurates. He inspires
a group of his followers who spread his message among the common people. They are at first constitute what Toynbee
calls a “creative minority”. But as more and more people come under the
influence of the new message, the rejuvenation of national life or civilization
takes place.
civilization has passed through several stages known as epochs or eras. Each epoch or era is dominated by a
particular zeitgeist or “time spirit”. By zeitgeist is meant the general
intellectual, moral and cultural climate of a particular period in history – the
ideas, beliefs, and values which dominate the minds of the people of that
epoch. 3. Every civilization passes through periods of decline caused by moral
degeneration of the people, foreign invasions, civil wars and social conflicts
within the country. According to
Toynbee, those civilizations which have developed adequate reserves of moral,
cultural and spiritual resources are able to overcome such crises and undergo
rejuvenation. 4. Such rejuvenation may be brought about by the following
factors: (a) the declining civilization’s encountering a more vigorous and
advanced civilization. (b) the rise of a great spiritual leader, known as a
Prophet or Avatara, who gives a new message suited to the needs and conditions
of the new age which he inaugurates. He inspires
a group of his followers who spread his message among the common people. They are at first constitute what Toynbee
calls a “creative minority”. But as more and more people come under the
influence of the new message, the rejuvenation of national life or civilization
takes place.
Swami Vivekananda who had a deep
understanding of history has referred to the above historical processes in
several of his speeches and writings.
Introducing his lecture on the “Great Teachers of the World”, delivered
in California in 1900, Swamiji said: “The universe…is moving in cycles of wave
forms…What is true of the universe is true of every part of it. The march of human affairs is like that. The history of nations is like that: they
rise and fall. …In the religious world the same movement exists. In every nation’s spiritual life, there is a
fall as well as a rise. The nation goes
down, and everything goes to pieces.
Then again it gains strength and rises.
A huge wave comes, sometimes a tidal wave – and always on the topmost
crest of the wave is a shining soul, the Messenger. Creator and created by turns, he is the
impetus that makes the wave rise, the nation rise. AT the same time, he is created by the same
forces which make the wave, acting and interacting by turns. He puts forth his tremendous power upon the
society; and the society makes him what he is.”
understanding of history has referred to the above historical processes in
several of his speeches and writings.
Introducing his lecture on the “Great Teachers of the World”, delivered
in California in 1900, Swamiji said: “The universe…is moving in cycles of wave
forms…What is true of the universe is true of every part of it. The march of human affairs is like that. The history of nations is like that: they
rise and fall. …In the religious world the same movement exists. In every nation’s spiritual life, there is a
fall as well as a rise. The nation goes
down, and everything goes to pieces.
Then again it gains strength and rises.
A huge wave comes, sometimes a tidal wave – and always on the topmost
crest of the wave is a shining soul, the Messenger. Creator and created by turns, he is the
impetus that makes the wave rise, the nation rise. AT the same time, he is created by the same
forces which make the wave, acting and interacting by turns. He puts forth his tremendous power upon the
society; and the society makes him what he is.”
It was Swami Vivekananda who rekindled the
spirit of our nation and thus aroused the sleeping giant. How could he do it? Firstly he identified the
reason for the nation going to sleep.
The chief reason being that our nation forgot its mission. So he time again said that, “Just as there is
an individuality in every man, so there is a national individuality. As one man
differs from another in certain particulars, in certain characteristics of his
own, so one race differs from another in certain peculiar characteristics; and
just as it is the mission of every man to fulfil a certain purpose in the
economy of nature, just as there is a particular line set out for him by his
own past Karma, so it is with nations”.
spirit of our nation and thus aroused the sleeping giant. How could he do it? Firstly he identified the
reason for the nation going to sleep.
The chief reason being that our nation forgot its mission. So he time again said that, “Just as there is
an individuality in every man, so there is a national individuality. As one man
differs from another in certain particulars, in certain characteristics of his
own, so one race differs from another in certain peculiar characteristics; and
just as it is the mission of every man to fulfil a certain purpose in the
economy of nature, just as there is a particular line set out for him by his
own past Karma, so it is with nations”.
Take for example a tiny incident of
an insect falling inside a glass of apple juice. The reactions/responses by varied from
individual to individual.
an insect falling inside a glass of apple juice. The reactions/responses by varied from
individual to individual.
Event: An insect falls into a mug of
apple juice…
apple juice…
Reactions:
Englishman: Throws his mug away and walks
out
out
American: Takes the insect out and drinks
the apple juice
the apple juice
Chinese: Eats the insect and throws the
apple juice away
apple juice away
Japanese: Drinks the apple juice with
insect as it is coming free
insect as it is coming free
Indian: Sells the apple juice to the
American and the insect to the Chinese and gets a new mug of apple juice
American and the insect to the Chinese and gets a new mug of apple juice
Pakistani: Accuses
the Indian for throwing insect into his apple juice Relates the issue to
Kashmir. Takes a loan from the American to buy one more mug of apple juice
the Indian for throwing insect into his apple juice Relates the issue to
Kashmir. Takes a loan from the American to buy one more mug of apple juice
Though the above joke has been said
in a lighter vein, this shows the typical mind of persons belonging to each
nation. Let us now look at a real
incident. Sri Balbir Mathur who belonged
to an orthodox family of Allahabad had his education in English and as a result
of which had high admiration for the Britishers and condemned everything that
was Hindu. He went to America to work
and settled there after marrying an American woman. He came to his native place to cover the Kumbh
Mela in 1976 on behalf of an English magazine.
As usual he covered all the negative aspects of the Kumbh Mela. One day it rained. Realizing that the Sadhus will declare that
God has blessed the occasion he decided to meet the common man and highlight
that the rains had affected them badly.
He first went to a barber and asked how much money he usually get
daily. He replied that he would get
Rs.100/- per day. When questioned how
much he had got that day, he replied that he got only Rs.20/-. Sri Balbir Mathur asked him is it not correct
that the rains had affected his livelihood.
The barber replied that rain is an act of God and who is he to decide
whether it is right or wrong. Sri Balbir
Mathur literally froze on hearing the reply and wondered what made the barber
to reply like that. He met 63 persons on
that day comprising of people belonging to the lower strata of society and was
surprised that everyone of them replied in more or less the same fashion as
that of the barber. He decided on that
day that he had to learn something about the Hindu way of life. He went to America, resigned his job and came
back to his native place and started a moment called ‘Trees for life’ and was instrumental
in planting of thousands of trees in the Northern part of India. This religious mind is present not only
amongst the lower strata of people in India but also in higher strata. That is
why Alan Watts of Harvard University
said, “It is,
indeed, a remarkable circumstance that when Western civilization discovers
Relativity it applies it to the manufacture of atom-bombs, whereas this
Oriental civilization applies it to the development of new states of
consciousness.”
in a lighter vein, this shows the typical mind of persons belonging to each
nation. Let us now look at a real
incident. Sri Balbir Mathur who belonged
to an orthodox family of Allahabad had his education in English and as a result
of which had high admiration for the Britishers and condemned everything that
was Hindu. He went to America to work
and settled there after marrying an American woman. He came to his native place to cover the Kumbh
Mela in 1976 on behalf of an English magazine.
As usual he covered all the negative aspects of the Kumbh Mela. One day it rained. Realizing that the Sadhus will declare that
God has blessed the occasion he decided to meet the common man and highlight
that the rains had affected them badly.
He first went to a barber and asked how much money he usually get
daily. He replied that he would get
Rs.100/- per day. When questioned how
much he had got that day, he replied that he got only Rs.20/-. Sri Balbir Mathur asked him is it not correct
that the rains had affected his livelihood.
The barber replied that rain is an act of God and who is he to decide
whether it is right or wrong. Sri Balbir
Mathur literally froze on hearing the reply and wondered what made the barber
to reply like that. He met 63 persons on
that day comprising of people belonging to the lower strata of society and was
surprised that everyone of them replied in more or less the same fashion as
that of the barber. He decided on that
day that he had to learn something about the Hindu way of life. He went to America, resigned his job and came
back to his native place and started a moment called ‘Trees for life’ and was instrumental
in planting of thousands of trees in the Northern part of India. This religious mind is present not only
amongst the lower strata of people in India but also in higher strata. That is
why Alan Watts of Harvard University
said, “It is,
indeed, a remarkable circumstance that when Western civilization discovers
Relativity it applies it to the manufacture of atom-bombs, whereas this
Oriental civilization applies it to the development of new states of
consciousness.”
The same is the case with
nations. So Swamiji said that, ‘Each
nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each
nation has a mission to accomplish. Therefore, from the very start, we must
have to understand the mission of our own race, the destiny it has to fulfil,
the place it has to occupy in the march of nations, the note which it has to
contribute to the harmony of races.’
nations. So Swamiji said that, ‘Each
nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each
nation has a mission to accomplish. Therefore, from the very start, we must
have to understand the mission of our own race, the destiny it has to fulfil,
the place it has to occupy in the march of nations, the note which it has to
contribute to the harmony of races.’
The strength of the lion lies in its
teeth and claws and once it loses it nobody will fear the lion. The story of lion, farmer and his daughter.
Similarly, every nation has its own inherent strength and the inherent strength
of India is spirituality. This
forgetting of the nation’s inherent strength was the second reason for the
sleep of the great nation. Swami Vivekananda
rightly identified the soul of our nation and where its
strength lied and kindled it. Hence he
declared, ‘Hindu Dharma is the quintessence of our
national life, hold fast to it if you want your country to survive, or else you
would be wiped out in three generations.’
teeth and claws and once it loses it nobody will fear the lion. The story of lion, farmer and his daughter.
Similarly, every nation has its own inherent strength and the inherent strength
of India is spirituality. This
forgetting of the nation’s inherent strength was the second reason for the
sleep of the great nation. Swami Vivekananda
rightly identified the soul of our nation and where its
strength lied and kindled it. Hence he
declared, ‘Hindu Dharma is the quintessence of our
national life, hold fast to it if you want your country to survive, or else you
would be wiped out in three generations.’
It was not only Swami Vivekananda but many others who have spoken
about religion being the soul of our nation in later years. One such person was Dr.Annie Besant who said,
“During the early
life of a Nation, religion is an essential for the binding together of the
individuals who make the nation. India was born, as it were, in the
womb of Hinduism, and her body was for long shaped by that religion. Religion
is a binding force, and India
has had a longer binding together by religion than any other Nation in the
world, as she is the oldest of the living Nations.”
about religion being the soul of our nation in later years. One such person was Dr.Annie Besant who said,
“During the early
life of a Nation, religion is an essential for the binding together of the
individuals who make the nation. India was born, as it were, in the
womb of Hinduism, and her body was for long shaped by that religion. Religion
is a binding force, and India
has had a longer binding together by religion than any other Nation in the
world, as she is the oldest of the living Nations.”
But unfortunately the
ideas/ideals propagated by Swami Vivekananda were not enshrined in our
constitution, educational system etc., after independence which resulted in another
change in the course of our history. The
fault for this is attributable to lack of proper leadership vision. How America as a nation was built though it
was very difficult as there were no native Americans and everyone went there
for business interest and settled there? For e.g., during 1900s they invited
Italians for starting restaurants as Americans were not knowing how to
cook. The Americans insisted that they
should learn English and should converse only in English in public places. They should learn the etiquettes of serving
the Americans. They can cook any dish in
their houses daily but one dish should be American. This they made is compulsory. Within a short period the Italians started
feeling that they are Americans. Such
effort was not made in our country when we gained Independence though it should
have been easy for us as our forefathers have already evolved a system. One primary thing that could have been done
was including a lesson at the primary level on what makes an Indian. No effort was made to bring out the pride in
our country. E.g., No mention about the
Tamil Kings who built the biggest temple in the world viz., Angkor Wat in
Cambodia. The Balbek temple in Lebanon
was built by Indians 4300 years ago. The
Lebanon students knows it where as an Indian student doesn’t know it. Similarly, though the Constitution of India
is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, the
architects of Indian constitution were most heavily influenced by the British
model of parliamentary democracy. In addition, a
number of principles were adopted from the Constitution of the United
States of America, including the separation of powers among the major branches
of government, the establishment of a supreme court, and the system of having a
President as well as a Prime Minister. The principles adopted from Canada were Unitary
government with strong center and also distribution of powers between central
government and provinces along with placing residuary powers with central
government. From Ireland, directive principle of state policy was adopted. From
Germany the principle of suspension of fundamental rights during emergency was
adopted. From Australia the idea of having of Concurrent list of shared powers
was used as well and some of the terminology was utilized for the preamble.
ideas/ideals propagated by Swami Vivekananda were not enshrined in our
constitution, educational system etc., after independence which resulted in another
change in the course of our history. The
fault for this is attributable to lack of proper leadership vision. How America as a nation was built though it
was very difficult as there were no native Americans and everyone went there
for business interest and settled there? For e.g., during 1900s they invited
Italians for starting restaurants as Americans were not knowing how to
cook. The Americans insisted that they
should learn English and should converse only in English in public places. They should learn the etiquettes of serving
the Americans. They can cook any dish in
their houses daily but one dish should be American. This they made is compulsory. Within a short period the Italians started
feeling that they are Americans. Such
effort was not made in our country when we gained Independence though it should
have been easy for us as our forefathers have already evolved a system. One primary thing that could have been done
was including a lesson at the primary level on what makes an Indian. No effort was made to bring out the pride in
our country. E.g., No mention about the
Tamil Kings who built the biggest temple in the world viz., Angkor Wat in
Cambodia. The Balbek temple in Lebanon
was built by Indians 4300 years ago. The
Lebanon students knows it where as an Indian student doesn’t know it. Similarly, though the Constitution of India
is the longest written constitution of any sovereign country in the world, the
architects of Indian constitution were most heavily influenced by the British
model of parliamentary democracy. In addition, a
number of principles were adopted from the Constitution of the United
States of America, including the separation of powers among the major branches
of government, the establishment of a supreme court, and the system of having a
President as well as a Prime Minister. The principles adopted from Canada were Unitary
government with strong center and also distribution of powers between central
government and provinces along with placing residuary powers with central
government. From Ireland, directive principle of state policy was adopted. From
Germany the principle of suspension of fundamental rights during emergency was
adopted. From Australia the idea of having of Concurrent list of shared powers
was used as well and some of the terminology was utilized for the preamble.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who took over the reins
of the country after independence, had diametrically opposite views on the core
ideas of Swami Vivekananda. As a result, he used to say, ‘The ideology of Hindu
Dharma is completely out of tune with the present times and if it took root in
India, it would smash the country to pieces.’ The reason for such utterances
can be gauged from his own observation about himself. He used to say, ‘By education I am an
Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim, and a Hindu only
by accidental birth.’ He didn’t heed to
the warning of Swami Vivekananda who had said: “In everything, religion and
religion alone is the life of India and when that goes India will die, in spite
of politics, in spite of social reforms, in spite of Kubera’s wealth poured
upon the head of every one of her children.”
Hence, without mincing words, he had said, “Every improvement in India
requires first of all an upheaval in religion.
Before flooding India with socialistic or political ideas, first deluge
the land with spiritual ideas.” However,
the development model envisaged by Sri Nehru negated religion completely. One consequence of
this dominance of the Nehruvian approach was that our Independence turned out
to be a mere transfer of power, not freedom from the British; Independence came
to represent merely a change of the rulers with almost no change in the
character of the rule or the attitudes of the rulers to the people of India and
to the ideas and things Indian. The Anglo-Saxon values and norms continued to
be the soul of the Indian state that came into being after Independence. There
was little of indigenous ways in the polity of India following Independence.
Whatever was native was made the subject matter of ridicule. Secular India
virtually targeted the traditional and religious India. The irony is that this negation of religion was officially incorporated
in our constitution by Pandit Nehru’s daughter Smt.Indira Gandhi. To
make matters worse, we took to the socialist form of economy and so whatever
tradition remained, that became a prey to the leftist and socialist onslaught.
of the country after independence, had diametrically opposite views on the core
ideas of Swami Vivekananda. As a result, he used to say, ‘The ideology of Hindu
Dharma is completely out of tune with the present times and if it took root in
India, it would smash the country to pieces.’ The reason for such utterances
can be gauged from his own observation about himself. He used to say, ‘By education I am an
Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim, and a Hindu only
by accidental birth.’ He didn’t heed to
the warning of Swami Vivekananda who had said: “In everything, religion and
religion alone is the life of India and when that goes India will die, in spite
of politics, in spite of social reforms, in spite of Kubera’s wealth poured
upon the head of every one of her children.”
Hence, without mincing words, he had said, “Every improvement in India
requires first of all an upheaval in religion.
Before flooding India with socialistic or political ideas, first deluge
the land with spiritual ideas.” However,
the development model envisaged by Sri Nehru negated religion completely. One consequence of
this dominance of the Nehruvian approach was that our Independence turned out
to be a mere transfer of power, not freedom from the British; Independence came
to represent merely a change of the rulers with almost no change in the
character of the rule or the attitudes of the rulers to the people of India and
to the ideas and things Indian. The Anglo-Saxon values and norms continued to
be the soul of the Indian state that came into being after Independence. There
was little of indigenous ways in the polity of India following Independence.
Whatever was native was made the subject matter of ridicule. Secular India
virtually targeted the traditional and religious India. The irony is that this negation of religion was officially incorporated
in our constitution by Pandit Nehru’s daughter Smt.Indira Gandhi. To
make matters worse, we took to the socialist form of economy and so whatever
tradition remained, that became a prey to the leftist and socialist onslaught.
As a result, though the nation has progressed in various
fields and small section of the people have become prosperous, the values for
which the nation/people stood eroded gradually.
Increase in wealth without increase in wisdom or
spirituality is generally seen to lead a person to immorality and ruin. This is true of nations also. This was pointed out long ago by Swami
Vivekananda. Swamiji said: “The education
which will procure more pleasure, more food, will become glorious at first,
then that will degrade and degenerate.
Along with the prosperity will rise to white heat all the inborn
jealousies and hatreds of the human race.
Competition and merciless cruelty will become the watchword of the
day.” Swamiji says, “Now comes the
question: Can religion really accomplish anything? It can. It brings to man eternal life. It has made man what he is, and will make of
this human animal a God. That is what
religion can do. Take religion from human society and what will remain? Nothing
but a forest of brutes…” Not only the
values were eroded, an identity crisis seeped into the psyche of the
people.
fields and small section of the people have become prosperous, the values for
which the nation/people stood eroded gradually.
Increase in wealth without increase in wisdom or
spirituality is generally seen to lead a person to immorality and ruin. This is true of nations also. This was pointed out long ago by Swami
Vivekananda. Swamiji said: “The education
which will procure more pleasure, more food, will become glorious at first,
then that will degrade and degenerate.
Along with the prosperity will rise to white heat all the inborn
jealousies and hatreds of the human race.
Competition and merciless cruelty will become the watchword of the
day.” Swamiji says, “Now comes the
question: Can religion really accomplish anything? It can. It brings to man eternal life. It has made man what he is, and will make of
this human animal a God. That is what
religion can do. Take religion from human society and what will remain? Nothing
but a forest of brutes…” Not only the
values were eroded, an identity crisis seeped into the psyche of the
people.
But the nation started regaining its national identity after
1990s because of the repeated onslaughts on the soul of our nation. This revival movement pushed ‘Hindutva’ to
the centre stage which opened up a spate of debates for and against it. Many failed to understand the reasons for the
revival. Hindu
Dharma or Hinduism was never organised. But when it was faced with the
onslaught of the Abrahamic faiths which rejected other thoughts, considered
their followers as kafirs and heathens, and denied them even the right to live,
Hinduism slowly assumed a kinetic form. Hinduism had to acquire this form to
secure its defence against the thoughts that used physical might against
Hinduism. In short, Hindu Dharma represents the potential energy of the Indian
people and Hindutva is the kinetic aspect of Hindu Dharma.
1990s because of the repeated onslaughts on the soul of our nation. This revival movement pushed ‘Hindutva’ to
the centre stage which opened up a spate of debates for and against it. Many failed to understand the reasons for the
revival. Hindu
Dharma or Hinduism was never organised. But when it was faced with the
onslaught of the Abrahamic faiths which rejected other thoughts, considered
their followers as kafirs and heathens, and denied them even the right to live,
Hinduism slowly assumed a kinetic form. Hinduism had to acquire this form to
secure its defence against the thoughts that used physical might against
Hinduism. In short, Hindu Dharma represents the potential energy of the Indian
people and Hindutva is the kinetic aspect of Hindu Dharma.
A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held
in 1977 that Hinduism is a non-conflicting religion. Later, when the political
idiom of India began to be influenced by Hindu Dharma through the kinetics of
Hindutva, the Supreme Court had to consider the meaning of Hindutva. After
considering the meaning and content of Hinduism and Hindutva, the Court held in
1994 that Hindutva, the kinetic effect of Hinduism, too is a non-conflicting
and secular idea. So conceptually and practically, Hindutva, which is the
kinetic effect of Hindu Dharma, is a non-conflicting idea. It is an irony that though Encyclopedia
Britannica, a compilation that perceives the world from a Christian standpoint,
gives the best definition for Hinduism, our so called secularists turn a blind
eye to the richness of Hinduism. On
Hinduism, the Encyclopaedia says: “In principle Hinduism incorporates all forms
of belief and worship without necessitating the selection or elimination of
any. The Hindu is inclined to revere the divine in every manifestation,
whatever it may be, and is doctrinally tolerant, leaving others – including
both Hindus and non-Hindus – to whatever creed and worship practices suit them
the best. A Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a
Hindu, and since the Hindu is disposed to think synthetically and to regard
other forms of worship, strange Gods, and divergent doctrines as inadequate
rather than wrong or objectionable, he tends to believe that the highest divine
powers compliment each other for the well being of the world and the mankind.
Few religious ideas are considered to be finally irreconcilable. The core of
the religion does not even depend on the existence or non-existence of the God
or whether there is one God or many. Since religious truth is said to transcend
all verbal definition, it is not conceived in dogmatic terms. Hinduism is then
both a civilisation and a conglomerate of religions with neither a beginning,
nor a founder, nor a central authority, hierarchy or organisation.”
in 1977 that Hinduism is a non-conflicting religion. Later, when the political
idiom of India began to be influenced by Hindu Dharma through the kinetics of
Hindutva, the Supreme Court had to consider the meaning of Hindutva. After
considering the meaning and content of Hinduism and Hindutva, the Court held in
1994 that Hindutva, the kinetic effect of Hinduism, too is a non-conflicting
and secular idea. So conceptually and practically, Hindutva, which is the
kinetic effect of Hindu Dharma, is a non-conflicting idea. It is an irony that though Encyclopedia
Britannica, a compilation that perceives the world from a Christian standpoint,
gives the best definition for Hinduism, our so called secularists turn a blind
eye to the richness of Hinduism. On
Hinduism, the Encyclopaedia says: “In principle Hinduism incorporates all forms
of belief and worship without necessitating the selection or elimination of
any. The Hindu is inclined to revere the divine in every manifestation,
whatever it may be, and is doctrinally tolerant, leaving others – including
both Hindus and non-Hindus – to whatever creed and worship practices suit them
the best. A Hindu may embrace a non-Hindu religion without ceasing to be a
Hindu, and since the Hindu is disposed to think synthetically and to regard
other forms of worship, strange Gods, and divergent doctrines as inadequate
rather than wrong or objectionable, he tends to believe that the highest divine
powers compliment each other for the well being of the world and the mankind.
Few religious ideas are considered to be finally irreconcilable. The core of
the religion does not even depend on the existence or non-existence of the God
or whether there is one God or many. Since religious truth is said to transcend
all verbal definition, it is not conceived in dogmatic terms. Hinduism is then
both a civilisation and a conglomerate of religions with neither a beginning,
nor a founder, nor a central authority, hierarchy or organisation.”
Swami Vivekananda making a comparative analysis of French,
English and Hindu character said that political independence is the backbone of
the French character and social independence is the
backbone of the English character and religion is the backbone of the Hindu
character. Elaborating this, Swamiji
said that the French, English and Hindu will tolerate anything but if their
essential character is touched they will revolt. This is exactly what happened in the 1990s in
our country and is continuing the happen even now. The hue and cry of the so called secularist
intellectuals and media is because of the revival that is taking place. They are repeatedly saying that this revival
is dangerous to the secular polity of our country. May be Swamiji had foreseen this situation
and hence had declared without mincing words that, “I am not going to discuss
now whether it is right or not, whether it is correct or not, whether it is
beneficial or not in the long run, to have this vitality in religion, but for
good or evil it is there; you cannot get out of it, you have it now and
forever, and you have to stand by it, even if you have not the same faith that
I have in our religion. You are bound by it, and if you give it up, you are
smashed to pieces. That is the life of our race and that must be strengthened.”
Justifying his stand he says, “You have withstood the shocks of centuries
simply because you took great care of it, you sacrificed everything else for
it. Your forefathers underwent everything boldly, even death itself, but
preserved their religion. Temple alter temple was broken down by the foreign
conqueror, but no sooner had the wave passed than the spire of the temple rose
up again. Some of these old temples of Southern India and those like Somnâth of
Gujarat will teach you volumes of wisdom, will give you a keener insight into
the history of the race than any amount of books. Mark how these temples bear
the marks of a hundred attacks and a hundred regenerations, continually
destroyed and continually springing up out of the ruins, rejuvenated and strong
as ever! That is the national mind, that is the national life-current. I do not
mean to say that political or social improvements are not necessary, but what I
mean is this, and I want you to bear it in mind, that they are secondary here
and that religion is primary.”
English and Hindu character said that political independence is the backbone of
the French character and social independence is the
backbone of the English character and religion is the backbone of the Hindu
character. Elaborating this, Swamiji
said that the French, English and Hindu will tolerate anything but if their
essential character is touched they will revolt. This is exactly what happened in the 1990s in
our country and is continuing the happen even now. The hue and cry of the so called secularist
intellectuals and media is because of the revival that is taking place. They are repeatedly saying that this revival
is dangerous to the secular polity of our country. May be Swamiji had foreseen this situation
and hence had declared without mincing words that, “I am not going to discuss
now whether it is right or not, whether it is correct or not, whether it is
beneficial or not in the long run, to have this vitality in religion, but for
good or evil it is there; you cannot get out of it, you have it now and
forever, and you have to stand by it, even if you have not the same faith that
I have in our religion. You are bound by it, and if you give it up, you are
smashed to pieces. That is the life of our race and that must be strengthened.”
Justifying his stand he says, “You have withstood the shocks of centuries
simply because you took great care of it, you sacrificed everything else for
it. Your forefathers underwent everything boldly, even death itself, but
preserved their religion. Temple alter temple was broken down by the foreign
conqueror, but no sooner had the wave passed than the spire of the temple rose
up again. Some of these old temples of Southern India and those like Somnâth of
Gujarat will teach you volumes of wisdom, will give you a keener insight into
the history of the race than any amount of books. Mark how these temples bear
the marks of a hundred attacks and a hundred regenerations, continually
destroyed and continually springing up out of the ruins, rejuvenated and strong
as ever! That is the national mind, that is the national life-current. I do not
mean to say that political or social improvements are not necessary, but what I
mean is this, and I want you to bear it in mind, that they are secondary here
and that religion is primary.”
During
Swami Vivekananda’s time the people were ashamed to call themselves ‘Hindu’ as
if the word was dirty due to onslaught of Western civilization. However, as a result of the efforts of
Swamiji the people started feeling proud in calling themselves ‘Hindu’. The same situation continues even now. The word ‘Hindu’ became dirty in the hands of
the so called secular intellectuals and secular media. What Swami Vivekananda told about the word
‘Hindu’ at that time was relevant not only then but also more relevant
now. He had said, “We are Hindus. I do not use the word Hindu in any
bad sense at all, nor do I agree with those that think there is any bad meaning
in it. In old times, it simply meant people who lived on the other side of the
Indus; today a good many among those who hate us may have put a bad
interpretation upon it, but names are nothing. Upon us depends whether the name
Hindu will stand for everything that is glorious, everything that is spiritual,
or whether it will remain a name of opprobrium, one designating the
downtrodden, the worthless, the heathen. If at present the word Hindu means
anything bad, never mind; by our action let us be ready to show that this is
the highest word that any language can invent.”
Let us fulfill what Swamiji wished.
Swami Vivekananda’s time the people were ashamed to call themselves ‘Hindu’ as
if the word was dirty due to onslaught of Western civilization. However, as a result of the efforts of
Swamiji the people started feeling proud in calling themselves ‘Hindu’. The same situation continues even now. The word ‘Hindu’ became dirty in the hands of
the so called secular intellectuals and secular media. What Swami Vivekananda told about the word
‘Hindu’ at that time was relevant not only then but also more relevant
now. He had said, “We are Hindus. I do not use the word Hindu in any
bad sense at all, nor do I agree with those that think there is any bad meaning
in it. In old times, it simply meant people who lived on the other side of the
Indus; today a good many among those who hate us may have put a bad
interpretation upon it, but names are nothing. Upon us depends whether the name
Hindu will stand for everything that is glorious, everything that is spiritual,
or whether it will remain a name of opprobrium, one designating the
downtrodden, the worthless, the heathen. If at present the word Hindu means
anything bad, never mind; by our action let us be ready to show that this is
the highest word that any language can invent.”
Let us fulfill what Swamiji wished.
Conclusion:
At a time
when Western thought was influencing our nation, Swami Vivekananda influenced
the Western mind through his Chicago address and also thereafter. The same situation prevails even now. Unless India
influences the world, the world is bound to influence India. The only way India
can neutralise global influence on India is to influence the world and bend it
towards its way. This is a huge challenge. While the world, which means the
West, ceaselessly and comprehensively influences Hindu India, there is hardly a
matching Indian influence on the world or the West. This is because the main
vehicle of Western influences on India in the last century was not the West
outside India, but the English-educated elite and the leftists within India.
They do the work of the West in India. They influence India towards the Western
views and ways. They make India believe that it has nothing worthwhile with
which to influence the world and it has every reason to be influenced by the
world. They continue to dominate the Indian debate even now. This great
challenge too needs to be met. The response to this challenge lies in
establishing an acceptable language and style of communication to get across to
the important, vulnerable and critical segment of Hindu society comprising of
the English-educated elite. We must understand that the English-educated
population in Bharat is more than the total population of England. It is this
segment which controls and handles the levers of power and influence in the
society. Their influence over the Indian establishment, including the
government, business, finance, media, politics, academics and public discourse
in general, is totally disproportionate to their numbers. Their understanding
of the real Bharat, its history and traditions, its values and culture, is
minimal, and often wrong. Some among them even detest all ideas and things
Indian. Following the Western view of gender relationships and under the
influence of feminism – which has nearly destroyed the institution of the
family in the West – some of them are even apologetic about being women in the
normal sense of the term. To meet this
challenge, it is high time that we flood our nation with Swami Vivekananda’s
ideas thereby rouse the national consciousness.
when Western thought was influencing our nation, Swami Vivekananda influenced
the Western mind through his Chicago address and also thereafter. The same situation prevails even now. Unless India
influences the world, the world is bound to influence India. The only way India
can neutralise global influence on India is to influence the world and bend it
towards its way. This is a huge challenge. While the world, which means the
West, ceaselessly and comprehensively influences Hindu India, there is hardly a
matching Indian influence on the world or the West. This is because the main
vehicle of Western influences on India in the last century was not the West
outside India, but the English-educated elite and the leftists within India.
They do the work of the West in India. They influence India towards the Western
views and ways. They make India believe that it has nothing worthwhile with
which to influence the world and it has every reason to be influenced by the
world. They continue to dominate the Indian debate even now. This great
challenge too needs to be met. The response to this challenge lies in
establishing an acceptable language and style of communication to get across to
the important, vulnerable and critical segment of Hindu society comprising of
the English-educated elite. We must understand that the English-educated
population in Bharat is more than the total population of England. It is this
segment which controls and handles the levers of power and influence in the
society. Their influence over the Indian establishment, including the
government, business, finance, media, politics, academics and public discourse
in general, is totally disproportionate to their numbers. Their understanding
of the real Bharat, its history and traditions, its values and culture, is
minimal, and often wrong. Some among them even detest all ideas and things
Indian. Following the Western view of gender relationships and under the
influence of feminism – which has nearly destroyed the institution of the
family in the West – some of them are even apologetic about being women in the
normal sense of the term. To meet this
challenge, it is high time that we flood our nation with Swami Vivekananda’s
ideas thereby rouse the national consciousness.
Swami
Vivekananda aroused the sleeping nation through touching the soul of our nation
viz., religion and Sri Jawaharlal Nehru changed the course of our nation by
negating religion resulting in identity crisis in India. Sri M.A.Jinnah paved the way for identity
crisis in Pakistan. Jinnah
exploded India by expounding his two-nation theory at the All India Muslim
League meet at Lahore on March 22, 1940, claiming that Hindus and Muslims look
to ‘different sources of history for inspiration’, to ‘different epics’, and to
‘different heroes’. His theory is now found to be bogus by his very creation,
the Pakistan establishment. Its official version of history affirms that Muslims
too trace their cultural ‘inspiration’ to Gandhara and Takshasila, their
‘epics’ and literature to Mahabharata and Arthasastra, and their ‘heroes’ to
Panini, Chanakya, Chandragupta and Kushana. Islamic Pakistan’s official history
claims no other cultural antiquity, no other epic, no other heroes! When even the
Government of Pakistan has started tracing their country’s root to India, is it
not high time that our Government also trace the nation’s root to its soul
which is Hindu Dharma at least at the juncture of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th
Jayanthi celebrations, thus paying a rich tribute to one of the greatest souls
of our nation?
Vivekananda aroused the sleeping nation through touching the soul of our nation
viz., religion and Sri Jawaharlal Nehru changed the course of our nation by
negating religion resulting in identity crisis in India. Sri M.A.Jinnah paved the way for identity
crisis in Pakistan. Jinnah
exploded India by expounding his two-nation theory at the All India Muslim
League meet at Lahore on March 22, 1940, claiming that Hindus and Muslims look
to ‘different sources of history for inspiration’, to ‘different epics’, and to
‘different heroes’. His theory is now found to be bogus by his very creation,
the Pakistan establishment. Its official version of history affirms that Muslims
too trace their cultural ‘inspiration’ to Gandhara and Takshasila, their
‘epics’ and literature to Mahabharata and Arthasastra, and their ‘heroes’ to
Panini, Chanakya, Chandragupta and Kushana. Islamic Pakistan’s official history
claims no other cultural antiquity, no other epic, no other heroes! When even the
Government of Pakistan has started tracing their country’s root to India, is it
not high time that our Government also trace the nation’s root to its soul
which is Hindu Dharma at least at the juncture of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th
Jayanthi celebrations, thus paying a rich tribute to one of the greatest souls
of our nation?
Let
Swami Vivekananda’s following words go deep into each one’s veins and always
reverberate in the national consciousness.
“Each
nation has its own peculiar method of work. Some work through politics, some
through social reforms, and some through other lines. With us, religion is the
only ground along which we can move. The Englishman can understand even
religion through politics. Perhaps the American can understand even religion
through social reforms. But the Hindu can understand even politics when it is
given through religion; sociology must come through religion, everything must
come through religion.”
Swami Vivekananda’s following words go deep into each one’s veins and always
reverberate in the national consciousness.
“Each
nation has its own peculiar method of work. Some work through politics, some
through social reforms, and some through other lines. With us, religion is the
only ground along which we can move. The Englishman can understand even
religion through politics. Perhaps the American can understand even religion
through social reforms. But the Hindu can understand even politics when it is
given through religion; sociology must come through religion, everything must
come through religion.”
Video Link on paper presentation at seminar on 31.3.13