Puran Chand Sharma
It was really a great thinking and commendable action on the part of union dispensation of the times to declare the birth day of Swami Vivekananda (12.1. 1863) as National Youth Day in the year 1984. At the time of his birth, country was passing through an extremely difficult phase of existence. Britain had been ruling the country and was in very powerful position. Most of the Indian kings had surrendered to the alien ruling establishment. First war of Independence 1857 had ended without substantial gains in our favor but it generated intense fear psychosis in the mind of British rulers. In this twilight hour, a child prodigy divinely endowed with phenomenal energy was born on 12.1.1863 in the family of Vishwanath Datta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi in Kolkata. The child was extraordinary in behavior and too intractable to cope up with. Mother persistently experienced tough time to tackle the growing child in early childhood. He was named as Narendranath Dutt and his schooling happened in Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar’s Metropolitan Institution wherein Narendra received Western education. Whilst at school teachers found him to be all together different from all other students. By virtue of his uncanny power of concentration and pin pointed mind he consistently left an indelible impression on his teachers who experienced over the period of time that, “Narendra had prodigious memory and tremendous intellectual capacity.” He further pursued his studies in college, passed fine Arts Examination in 1881 and obtained Degree of Bachelor of Arts in the year 1884 with the subjects such as Western Philosophy, European History, Sanskrit scriptures, Bengali Literature and Indian Classical Music. At this critical juncture powerful feelings and ideas relating to spirituality, existence or presence of GOD were constantly occurring in youthful mind. Where ever and whenever he happened to come across a wandering monk or ascetic, he used to hanker after them to understand whether he has seen God and could enable me to have a glimpse of Almighty but in vain. His curiosity and search for Supreme Being was growing more and more intense and feverish. Ultimately his firm resolve and iron will accomplished his success story of experiencing and realizing God when he somehow happened to arrive in Dakshneshwar Temple to be the disciple of Shri Ram Krishna Paramhans in the year 1881. This proved to be the turning point in his life. Swami Ram Krishna answered all his tormenting queries with perfect ease and utmost confidence. He said, I have seen God and can show you. Ram Krishna had magnetic personality which influenced him deeply and meticulously settled on spiritual path. In due course of time Narendra transformed into a chief disciple of Ram Krishna.
Here onwards commenced the most testing time for undaunted Narendra as his father passed away in 1884 leaving the family bankrupt sans any other source of living. Mother expected Narendra to shoulder the responsibility of beleaguered Datta family but Narendra was too engrossed in his unending spiritual journey. Guru Ram Krishna was not only tutoring him in spiritual education but also sensitizing him in respect of the major challenges and the colossal problems the country was confronted with in those turbulent times. Swami Ram Krishna by dint of his mystic and spiritual powers could have a glimpse of profuse vital energy of Narendra and ably harnessed it fully in the service of the enslaved Nation in those difficult times. He had been fully groomed for the mission ahead. However, things abruptly took a worse turn once again for Narendra now a monk, an ascetic metamorphosed into Swami Vivekananda when his Guru left for his heavenly abode in the year 1886. It was a big jolt and a nasty setback for the young Monk just taking off for the Historic Mission.
National Youth Day: The momentous decision to celebrate January, 12, as National youth Day was taken to apprise the youth of the country about his immense contribution in motivating the eligible youngsters to join the ongoing nationwide movement for holistic freedom from British Rulers. As inspired by his mentor and Guru, he undertook a comprehensive tour of the entire country, interacted with youth in colleges and universities and received tremendous response. Accordingly the youth participation increased manifold which accelerated the crusade for freedom. He also enrolled young people as his workers for various missionary activities. He together with other monastic disciples founded famous Belur Math as well as Ram Krishna Mission for furthering the spiritual and patriotic activities which is still in action. He also worked relentlessly for education of women. The young monk was also dead against the practice of caste based untouchability and discrimination. He did not get bogged down despite severe opposition of his co-monks. Swami considered all these social evils as the greatest sin. In that dark era of slavery when people in the foreign countries held India in low esteem, Vivekananda made up his mind to participate in World parliament of religions to be held in Chicago in September 1893. Despite grave odds he attended the World Parliament with the help of Prof. John Wright of Harvard University and addressed the Parliament of 7000 delegates on 11.9.1893 as a young Indian Monk of 30 years. His opening remarks “Dear sisters and brothers……….”Drew profuse applause and standing ovation from the distinguished crowd. Crux and dominant theme of his short speech was “Universality and Harmony of the world religions”. He also emphasized on religious tolerance, advocated emancipation of women and an end to the worst excess of caste system. American press highlighted him as Star Speaker of the event who captivated the audience with his Personality and powerful speech. He also earned fame as Hindu monk who introduced Indian philosophy, yoga and Vedanta to the western world. He founded Vedanta society of New York in the year 1894. After accomplishment of his mission on foreign land, he returned to India and carried on his noble work with same zeal and enthusiasm for accomplishment of his divine goal till he left this mortal world in 4.7.1902. His message still inspires ‘Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.’ Jai Bharat.
