FULFILLING VIVEKANANDA’S DREAM… – Mohan Bhagwat
Swami Vivekananda toured the nation on barefoot and understood the wealth our nation had. He also witnessed the travails of the citizens in person. He toured the world and understood other countries and hence understood as to how India can contribute to bring back the balance that was lost in the world. One of the most important teachings of Swami Vivekananda was never to think of oneself as inferior. It was true that westerners used to look down upon India and Indians. But it was only India which had showed the world the importance of peace and prosperity to all. It is because of this that we should feel proud that we are Bharateeyas and proudly proclaim that we are Hindus. We should act as per his words ‘Utthishta Bharata’ and wake up the entire nation. Swami Vivekananda won the hearts and minds of the people in the west due to his address at Chicago. Indians the world over held their heads high due to this achievement of Swami Vivekananda. Through his travels and speeches, Swami Vivekananda showed that, we Indians too have many things that we can offer to the world. He said, do not fear for the problems and condition we find ourselves in. Solutions to the problems are not found by running away from them. But face the problems and find a solution he had told. I remember an event in Kashi that was narrated by Swami Vivekananda. He was chased by a group of monkeys when he was at Kashi. He ran for a long distance till it got dark. A Sadhu coming in the opposite direction asked Swami Vivekananda to stop and turn around and face the monkeys. He did as told and turned around and faces the monkeys. The monkeys too turned around. He came a few steps forward; they too ran a few steps. He chased the monkeys the monkeys ran away. We Hindus too should face the problems boldly and the problems will similarly run away. First we should remove the fear, differences and selfishness amongst us. To accomplish this we need to offer ourselves completely to unite this vast nation and help it achieve the pinnacle of glory. Swami Vivekananda said that every one of the crores of Bharateeyas, be it a Brahmin, a Dalit or a Chandal, everyone is our brother and sister. We should put all our efforts to unite our nation. We should see Lord Shiva in all our brethren. We should achieve this through Seva and hard work. Through this we can see a developed India and a peaceful world too. We should consider every being, every object in this nation as ours. If only we are powerful we can face the world. No work is possible without power. Even Swami Vivekananda has said this several times. Swami Vivekananda repeatedly said that strong, willing and unselfish youth are required to build this nation. But along with power, there also needs to be value based society. Swami Vivekananda dreamt of starting an organization that will impart selfless and service-oriented education to the youth and thus create youngsters who will serve the society without any differences. Though Swami Ji did not live long to realize this dream of his but it seems that he was talking about the work of RSS. When a Swayamsevak goes to a shakha he goes to serve his motherland. At a shakha we take the vow of collective effort to serve our motherland. Swami Vivekananda had said worship your motherland keeping aside all