Lal Bahadur Shastri on Swami Vivekananda

(Lal Bahadur Shastri was the Prime Minister of India from 1964-66. ) I remember that in my student days I have read the speeches of the Swami and was deeply attracted to it. Its impact on me was so great that my perceptions were all changed, and I started to have a different idea about life…

When the nation was in deep slumber, he created the stir. He talked on the Vedanta, this age-philosopher aroused the people. India was alike an open picture before him. He wanted that the people of our country should embark on work and be active. His Advaitism was not a passivity, and he never directed to await luck or fate. He knew that if the people of the country were not ready for toil and sacrifice, India would hardly achieve wealth and prosperity. Subjugation of the country deeply troubled him…Aspirants of wealth and power were deeply despised by him. In a country where millions were living in deprivation, individual enjoyments were considered unjust by him…His message was to awake, arise and stop not till the goal is reached. He was a seer and a God-commanded entity.