Swami Vivekananda A Historical Review

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Back the Book We must have a temple, for with the Hindus religion must come first. We will make it a non-sectarian temple, having on `Om, as the symbol, the greatest symbol, of any sect. Here should be taught the common grounds of our different sects, and at the same time the different sects should have perfect liberty to come and teach their doctrines, with only one restriction, that is, not to quarrel with other sects.

About the Book Among the many biographies of Swami Vivekananda, the present book has a place of special importance, as it is a historical review of the great life and contribution of Swamiji by one whose scrutiny of facts, analysis of events and unbiased search for truth won him a place of honour among the eminent historians of the twentieth century. Dr. R.C. Majumdar writes in his Preface:

I need hardly add that it was not my intention-nor was it possible-to deal in detail with the ideals, teachings, and activities of a great and complex personality like that of Swami Vivekananda. I have only tried to present in broad outline a short authentic account of such aspects of his wonderful life, versatile mind, and manifold activities as would deeply imprint on the minds of the younger generations a vivid image of one of the greatest sons of India, serving as an inspiration to them to lead a higher and nobler life.

I have avoided all references to the spiritual life, mystic experience, and philosophical ideas of Swami Vivekananda. I am not competent to deal with them and also felt that it would be more appealing to laymen to delineate Vivekananda as he appeared before the public, and trace the nature and development of his personality in its proper historical setting. In addition to this which I regarded as my main task, I have only touched; very briefly, upon the great historical role he played in the creation of Modern India....

If this small book awakens in any young heart a spirit of reverence for Vivekananda and a desire to know more about him, I shall consider my labour amply rewarded. I cannot think of any other person who has a greater claim to be regarded as the true friend, philosopher, and guide of the young generations of India in the complexities of life with which they are faced today.'

Preface At the invitation of the University of Patna I delivered a course of three lectures on 10, 11, and 12 February, 1964, on Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his centenary celebrations. These lectures are printed here together with some passages which could not be read out within the limitations of time for a public lecture. I have added footnotes to indicate my source of information, a select bibliography, index and glossary, as well as some extracts from the English and Bengali writings of the great Swami to serve as specimens.

I need hardly add that it was not my intention-nor was it possible-to deal in detail with the ideals, teachings, and activities of a great and complex personality like that of Swami Vivekananda. I have only tried to present in broad outline a short authentic account of such aspects of his wonderful life, versatile mind, and manifold activities as would deeply imprint on the minds of the younger generations a vivid image of one of the greatest sons of India, serving as an inspiration to them to lead a higher and nobler life.

I have avoided all references to the spiritual life, mystic experience, and philosophical ideas of Swami Vivekananda. I am not competent to deal with them and also felt that it would be more appealing to laymen to delineate Vivekananda as he appeared before the public, and trace the nature and development of his personality in its proper historical setting. In addition to this which I regarded as my main task, I have only touched, very briefly, upon the great historical role he played in the creation of Modern India. Even this restricted study has proved to be a stupendous task and I am fully conscious, more than anybody else, that I have not been able to do justice to the subject I had chosen for my discourse. I can only crave the indulgence of my readers for my shortcomings and various errors of omission and commission.

As these lectures were delivered under the auspices of a University I have used diacritical marks (such as are used in official Indian epigraphic publications) to ensure correct pronunciation of personal names, though it involved the use of `Svami' for the more familiar 'Swami' generally used by the devotees and monks of the Ramakrishna Order. I beg of them to excuse this deliberate deviation prompted by a desire to conform to the standard method of transliteration of oriental words adopted by the learned all over the world.

I am grateful to the authorities of the Patna University for having kindly invited me to deliver the lectures on Vivekananda on the solemn occasion of his centenary celebrations. I take this opportunity to thank Professor E. C. Dimmock of the University of Chicago for having supplied the photostat copy of a newspaper extract reporting a speech of Swami Vivekananda in the Parliament of Religions which has not been hitherto published (reproduced at the end of the book). I also convey my thanks to my old pupil, Sri Suresh Chandra Das, M.A., who has personally supervised the printing and get-up of this book and made many valuable suggestions to make it more useful to the readers. If this small book awakens in any young heart a spirit of reverence for Vivekananda and a desire to know more about him, I shall consider my labour amply rewarded. I cannot think of any other person who has a greater claim to be regarded as the true friend, philosopher and guide of the young generations of India in the complexities of life with which they are faced today.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages