Awake India!

THE CITY of Chennai became a corner-stone in history, when Swami Vivekananda, on his return from the World's Parliament of Religions, held in Chicago, sojourned at 'Castle Kernan' (previously known as Ice House) from February 6 to 15, 1897, as the guest of Biligiri Iyengar. Here, fresh from his travels and experiences of the Western world, Vivekananda delivered seven electrifying lectures revealing his plan of campaign to restore India to her pristine glory. It was from this landmark building that the Ramakrishna Mutt blossomed into an international spiritual organisation.

Situated on Kamarajar Salai, in Triplicane, a few hundred metres from the Gandhi Statue on the Marina, the mansion has had a chequered history, changing ownership several times, during which it served as a storehouse for imported ice, a place of residence, as the first branch of the Ramakrishna Mutt, as the Government Secondary Training School for Women and a hostel fo widows. In 1963, during the Birth Centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, it came be known as 'Vivekanandar Illam.' Since 1997, its administration rests with the Ramakrishna Mutt, and is designated 'Vivekananda Cultural Heritage of India Exhibition'. Recently renovated at a cost of Rs. 65 lakhs, and designed to be a museum by the swamis of the Mutt, this uniquely structured building houses priceless photographs and excerpts from Swami Vivekananda's teachings and philosophy. Paintings that unfold the history of the Indian culture from Vedic times explaining the Vedanta philosophy, to the essence of Buddhism, Jainism, and South Indian culture and history are on display. The Tamil Nadu State Tourism Department has recently included the historic monument in its itinerary. Except on Wednesdays and on national holidays, the museum is open to visitors from 10-00 a.m. to 12-30 p.m. and 3-00 p.m. to 7-00 p.m. A nominal entrance fee of Rs. two for adults and Re. one for children between three and 12 years of age is charged. Besides the regular tourists, it is the youth from the lower middle-class who seem to be greatly attracted to the treasures housed in the museum. Mallar Mannan of S.S. Puram, Cuddalore, after visiting the museum said, "My life starts from this Illam." To Dr. Sohini Shukla from Gujarat, this is not a museum, but a shrine where the vibrations of Swamiji's presence can be felt. Some visitors have found themselves transformed like L. Ram Kumar of Madipakkam who wrote in the Visitors Book thus, "Here I start to live. Today I came here depressed, and I leave in ecstasy." Others like Guruprasad of Bangalore and Dr. T. Chandrasekhar of Ekkanthuthangal have found infinite peace here.

At the dawn of the third millennium, when mankind is at the threshold of a vast expanse of uncertainty and confusion, it seems to be just the appropriate moment to ruminate on one of India's greatest sons. Never before were the pearls of Swami Vivekananda's teaching more important and pertinent as they are today. In his response to the Welcome at the inaugural session of the World's Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893, Vivekananda declared, "I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal tolerance, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the Earth." Quoting from the Gita, Vivekananda dispelled all irrational doubts about the orthodoxy of Hinduism. "Whosoever comes to me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me." No man can be more staunch a Hindu, nor more passionate an Indian, than Swami Vivekananda, whose beliefs were rooted in rationality. He stirred the soul of India and instilled pride in her people about their cultural heritage, ever reminding them of their global mission.

Born on January 12, 1863, into an aristocratic family of Calcutta, Narendranath Dutta was a student at the General Assembly's Institution. While trying to understand William Wordsworth's poem 'Excursion', he was accidentally introduced to the name of his future guru, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa of Dakshineswar by the Principal Prof. William Hastie. Then began a search for Truth, a philosophy of God, and a passion for a higher life. He sought answers to a multitude of problem-solving questions. Narendranath became Vivekananda- one who finds joy in discriminating Truth from Untruth.

Vivekananda strongly believed that the only path to India's progress lay in the education of the masses, for only through education can an individual awaken to the Brahman within, and gain faith in the Self. But, education must not be the monopoly of a few. It became Vivekananda's mission "to bring to the door of the meanest, and the poorest, the noble ideas that the human race has developed, both in and out of India, and then let them think for themselves."

The ideal form of education would be that through which "character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect expanded, and by which one can stand on one's own feet." It would have to include Western science and technical education as well, that would help develop industries so that our people could stand on their own feet. It was his dream to mobilise an army of sanyasins devoted to the motto of spirituality, sacrifice, self-control and service, who would travel from village to village and instruct common men and women, in simple words in their regional language, about the necessities of life, trade, commerce and agriculture. Oral teaching assisted by the gifts of science - maps, cameras, globes and other such accessories would do the trick and give them back their lost individuality without making them lose their spiritual nature. It was the duty of the educated to help raise the less fortunate. "So long as the millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who, having been educated at their expense, pays not the least heed to them." This was a frequent lament of Swamiji.

In connection with the 138th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, which is being celebrated tomorrow, the R. K. Mutt held competitions in oratory, essay-writing, recitation and story-telling for school children of standard four to 12, on topics concerning the life and teachings of Swamiji. A 10-day Personality Development Camp was also conducted for 70 children between the ages of 10 to 15 years. The R.K. Mutt hopes to intensify its programmes and concentrate on the energy and enthusiasm of the Indian youth in its efforts for National Rejuvenation on the lines set down by Swami Vivekananda. The Vivekanandar Illam can also be visited on its website: www.sriramakrishnamath.org. Another organisation which is involved in dissemination of Vivekananda's teachings and philosophy is the Vivekananda Kendra, which is under the administration of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial-Kanyakumari. This organisation conducts classes to spread spiritually-oriented knowledge, Yoga and Indian medicines. The Kendra is located at No. 5, Singhacharya Street, Triplicane. On January 12, the Kendra will be organising speeches by experts.

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