Swami Vivekananda The Known Philosopher The Unknown Poet

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The present book presents the study and information of Swami Vivekananda which evinces him a better poet than a thinker and a philosopher. It is by the dint of his supersensible order of life, and also the preachings that scholars have missed to explore his poetic excellence as well as its significance.

Amongst the tremendous works available on Swami Vivekananda, this book has a place of special significance as the issues and aspects evinced are those which the critics have never taken into account.

The author has unearthed the hidden aspects of the magnanimous personality of Vivekananda: the orator, the thinker, the conversationalist and the patriot saint through his poetic endeavour which does not over shadow his philosophic Being but paves ways for the balance between the two. The approach of the author in analyzing the poetic traits of Vevekananda is the first ever one in the world.

The most amazing crux reached at by her is the influences of P.B. Shelley on Vivekananda as a poet which he succeeds by transforming the Romantic Reality into a Classical Vision. The uniqueness of the work is that it broadly highlights Vivekananda's pursuit of the supersensible order or element as the theme of his poems other than the natural objects. Where most of the people feel surprise to hear about Vivekananda as a poet, the author has finally explored Vivekananda's efforts of resolving the psychological ills of the world through the philosophical solutions in his poems such that the metaphysical propensities seem to be more vital than the physical ones.

Ms. Radhika Nagrath is the scholar of a high repute. It was the result of the author's long concentrated studies that she could find a theme on poetic endeavours of Swami Vivekananda, whom most of the people take as a philosopher and a thinker. She is a person indebted to the extensive study of Vivekananda and has pioneered interest in the younger generation for spreading and awakening his thoughts.

She is a regular contributor to the esteemed newspapers like the Hindustan Times, the Tribune and the Pioneer. The major articles contributed by her are: Accept happily what comes to you, Learn to channelise your emotions, Oneness on this special day, Light of the Self, Vision not Sight is the key, Keep learning if you want to stay young ("Hindustan Times", dated June 13, 2005, July 13, 2005, Aug 15, 2005, Sept 30, 2005, Oct 21 2005 and Nov 11, 2005 respectively); A Prince among Men (The "Tribune", Sunday Spectrum Jan 8, 2006); Rejoicing in the Oneness, Many a little makes a Mickle, Freedom must be celebrated, Experiencing God, Motherland Beckons, Madness and Its Cure, Worth of a Stay-at home Mom, The Mirror that Teaches Self Control, Every Day is a Good Day (Pioneer" dated Jan 29, 2006, Feb 12, 2006 Mar 5, 2006, Mar 19, 2006, April 2, 2006, May 7, 2006, May 14, 2006, June 5, 2006, June 11, 2006 respectively). Besides these, contribution of essays and poems in National and International Journals establishes her intellectual and academic merits. Her poem, Swan of the East, has recently been published in the "Global Vedanta" from Seattle, USA. She is presently associated with Divya Pharmacy, Hardwar, (U.A).

Foreword

One lifetime is not substantial to study and analyse the multifaceted giant personalities like Swami Vivekananda. That his popularity amongst the masses grew after his glorious success achieved in various addresses at World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, is known to even a child of today. But his Orator Philosopher's image is so captivating that it has shadowed his another brilliant sublime aspect of the poetic regime. It is by the dint of his soul stirring lectures and his ascetic life that writers have missed to dive deep into his poetic outpours, which though being a very few, are of prime excellence and importance.

It is, of course, a general notion in the people's minds that poets are introvert in their natures and they belong to a dream world of their own whims and fantasies. And poetry, if at all has a didactic purpose behind, loses its own charm. A philosopher cannot be a poet and a poet a philosopher. The scholars of literary taste, most of the times do not get urged to approach a philosopher saints like Swami Vivekananda for his subtle aspects.

It is a unique and novel attempt in the field of literature wherein Radhika Nagrath has amalgamated the spiritual as well as poetic personal of this magnanimous personality. Leafing through the pages of the book, one comes in contact with such simple practical truths of life that one wonders how a monk of his caliber could think of the plight of a common man being swayed to and fro in the swing of illusory 'maya'. Not only does the Swami identify our problems but also give us foolproof psychological solutions to them.

It is an enriching and enlightening experience to understand the metaphysical propensities of a unique person in simple digestive words and expressions in one poem if he discusses the life of a "sannyasin", another is replete with our day to day experiences of rising and falling with the tides of our lives in the inner chambers of our hearts. In the next breadth, he gives a pat on our shoulders with morale boosting words of 'Hold On Yet A While Brave Heart' in testing times of our lives. But ultimately as we see in the book he assuages a mortal being to rise above the dualities of life going beyond the extremities of Pessimism and Optimism.

This painstaking research work by the author ascertains the reasons to show the superiority of Vivekananda, the poet, over Vivekananda the thinker and the religionist. The author has opened new vistas and emanates further possibilities of work on his poetic techniques since Vivekananda's poetry is a mystical experience in a broader sense. Ms. Nagrath deserves compliments for the extraordinary search she has made into the works of Swami Vivekananda. I extend my good wishes to her with the hope that the book would attract the conscious beings of the people in whose hands it runs and says.

Back of the Book

Well researched, this book offers an illuminating sight into the deeper recesses of the Philosophical poems of Swami Vivekananda.

Great personalities can be likened to an ocean, it is an insuperable task to comprehend their lives and works. Radhika Nagrath has tried to make some untouched aspects of Swami Vivekananda like his poetic persona accessible to the common reader with such plainness and rectitude, which itself is praiseworthy.

This work essays the difficult task of distinguishing Vivekananda as a poet. The deep textual study and linking of the verses with the Vedic Literature of India makes the book stimulative and instructive.

It is a unique and comprehensive study on Swami Vivekananda's lesser known poetry. The writer has been able to establish Vivekananda as a Poet no less than a Philosopher Thinker.

As Vivekananda continues to be the unceasing inspiration for both the east and the west, the analytical course of his philosophical poems charted by Radhika, will remain an important one to explore.

It is an enriching experience. Unearthing the depths of the poet's ecstasy, the writer takes one bit by bit through the road of self-realisation.