Swami Vivekananda - Patriot Prophet

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About the Book The influence of Swami Vivekananda in the mind of nationalist India is well-known. Five decades ago, his Indian lectures collected in book form entitled "From Colombo to Almora" became the source of inspiration to many a youth.

This book is a study of Swami Vivekananda in relation to national problems. This study contains Swami ji’s views regarding national reconstruction of India and the part played by him in its great reawakening. The basis of this study is the dialectical analysis of the Indian society of the nineteenth century. The book presents socialistic view of Swami ji.

About the Author Bhupendranath Datta (4 September 1880- 25 December 1961) was younger brother of Swami Vivekananda and an Indian revolutionary and later a noted sociologist. In his youth, he was closely associated with the jugantar Patrika till his arrest and imprisonment in 1907. In his later revolutionary career, he was privy to the Indo-German Conspiracy. The Asiatic Society today holds the Dr. Bhupendranath Datta memorial lecture in his honor.

PrefaceSwami Vivekananda-Patriot-Prophet-The book is a study of Swami Vivekananda in relation to national problems. This study contains Swamiji's views regarding national reconstruction of India and the part played by him in its great reawakening. The basis of this study is the dialectical analysis of the Indian society of the nineteenth century.

Here, it should be acknowledged that all the family incidents and the incidents of the early life of Swami Vivekananda have been put down in the book after consultation with the writer's elder brother, Sri Mahendranath Datta.

The writer owes his great debt of gratitude to Brahmachari Amar Chaitanya of Ramakrishna Vedanta Math for helping him in every way for the publication of the book. He also owes thanks to the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, Calcutta, for putting at his disposal all the literature dealing with the Ramakrishna movement for perusal. Again, his thanks are due to the Trustees of Prabuddha Bharat, Mayavati, for their kind permission granted previously to the writer to quote the writings of Swamiji. Here, the writer also expresses his thanks to those who in various ways have helped him in bringing out the book.

Foreword The influence of Swami Vivekananda in the mind of nationalist India is well-known. Five decades ago, his Indian lectures collected in book form entitled "From Colombo to Almora" became the source of inspiration to many a youth. His words "Heaven is nearer through football than through Gita. We want men of strong biceps" became the slogan of the ardent youthful nationalists of that time.

Indian Nationalism as understood by Swamiji is not the same as understood today. To him, a nation meant the people. He wanted the upliftment and freedom of the Indian people. He wanted the material and moral advancement of the same. By the word "people" he did not mean a political term, but the masses that constitute the major portion of humanity living in India. In reading the sayings of Swamiji quoted in this volume the reader will find that he has divided the Indians into two classes, the rich-the upper class, and the poor-the lower class. This latter class he has designated as the "masses". They form the toiling classes of India. Swamiji's efforts were directed in drawing the attention of the youth of the country towards the betterment of the condition of the masses. He has not only repeatedly asked them to take up this onerous task but he has laid down the principles of his program also. But how many have realized what he has said and how many have acted up to it? It seems that the youth of the country did not realize the full import of his advice in this matter. To them Swamiji's plea for upliftment of the Indian masses meant only philanthropic and charitable works. Hence the country is dotted with Social Service Societies! But if anyone reads his advice in the light of modern philosophy for the upliftment of the masses, he will find that Swamiji was not content in giving an ameliorative program only; he also wanted a radical cure of the chronic condition. He was not for keeping up the status quo of the Indian Society, but wanted a complete overhaul of the whole tiling!

A Marxist will be amazed in seeing his ideas anticipated in the slayings of Swamiji, and he will be more amazed when he reads that Swamiji has openly called himself a "socialist". Therein lays the key to Swamiji's advice to the youth of his country. One will be surprised in reading that Swamiji has not only used Marx's phrase, that "the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer" but he has also spoken about the "proletarian culture", and has foretold that the "Proletocult" (Proletarian Culture) of the Indian masses will be the future culture of New India! In going through the pages of this book one cannot but admit that Swamiji was saturated with the ideas of the social- revolutionaries of the West. Indeed he gave evidence enough that he was well acquainted with their literature and ideals.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages