In the last two centuries, no other individual has
captured the hearts of the youth of Bharat, the way Swami Vivekananda
did. He blew energy into Bharat which was indulging in self-loathe. He
exhorted people of Bharat with his words “This is the ancient land,
where wisdom made its home before it went into any other country… Here
is the same India whose soil has been trodden by the feet of the
greatest sages that ever lived… Look back, therefore, as far as you can,
drink deep of the eternal fountains that are behind, and after that
look forward, march forward, and make India brighter, greater, much
higher, than she ever was.”
He inspired people across the world for working
towards the good of humanity. He inspired freedom fighters like Mahatma
Gandhi, Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, Tilak, Bagha Jatin &
C.Rajagopalachary, scientists like Jagadish Chandra Bose & Nikola
Tesla, Poets & writers like Rabindranath Tagore, Subramanya Bharati,
Leo Tolstoy & Romain Rolland, Rishis like Rishi Aurobindo,
industrialists like Jamshedji Tata, Rockfeller and many many more.
Rabindranath Tagore while speaking to Noble
laureate Romain Rolland, summed it up beautifully in one line " If you
want to know India, study Vivekananda". Such was the impact of this one
man.
After Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa left his body,
Swamiji toured the entire country for 5 years as a parivrajaka . He got
to see first hand the problems facing the nation and also got to
understand the intrinsic strength of our nation. He was constantly
trying to understand as to how a nation so glorious in the past had
fallen so deep. In the course of his travel he reached Kanyakumari on
Dec 25th 1892. He saw the Sripaada shila . He jumped into the sea and
swam to rock. For 3 days and 3 nights, Swamiji meditated on the past,
present and future of Bharat.
On the 3rd day, Swamiji had the vision of One India. He says "We as a
nation have lost our individuality and that is the cause of all mischief
in India. We have to raise the masses."
He says" One vision I can see clear as life before me that the ancient
Mother has awakened once more, sitting on her throne- rejuvenated, more
glorious than ever. Proclaim her to the entire world with the voice of
peace and benediction”
This was his plan of action for the future. The
rest is history. He went to the World Parliament of Religions, spoke
about the greatness of our nation and our Dharma. He was proclaimed as
the "Hindoo monk of India." The Western media extolled him as a person
who was more learned than all the learned men of America put together.
After returning back to Bharat, he toured tirelessly to inspire the
youth to work towards the uplift of the masses and at the same time
exhorted the down-trodden sections to educate themselves and to live a
life of honour and dignity.
At a time when the nation is groping around in the
dark trying to find its way, what better way but to turn to Swami
Vivekananda's life and message. We are indeed fortunate to be living in
these times to be able to celebrate the 150 Jayanti of Swamiji.
During
the centenary celebrations of Swamiji in 1963, the nation stood as one
force to raise a grand memorial for Swamiji at Kanyakumari at the very
place that he meditated in 1892 before leaving for the World Parliament
of Religions. To construct the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at the "Sripada
Shila", contributions were raised from across the country cutting
across caste, creed, religion and politics. Not limiting the memorial
for Swami Vivekananda only to the grand granite memorial at the mid-sea
Rock, Vivekananda Kendra a spiritually oriented service mission was
started as a second phase.
This year, on the occasion of Swamiji's 150 Jayanti, Vivekananda
Kendra Kanyakumari, Ramakrishna Math and many other like minded
organisations have taken up the cause of spreading Swamiji's message to
every nook and corner of the country. This is the year in which all of
us need to spread out wide to spread the message of Swami Vivekananda –
The message of Shakti, Seva and Samskar.
In the year 2013, many activities would be
organised under the aegis of "Swami Vivekananda 150 Jayanti Celebrations
Committee" and "Swami Vivekananda Sardha Shati Samaroh Samiti".
Dec 25th, Sankalp Divas : Commemorating the day
when Swami Vivekananda made his plan of action, " Sankalp Divas"
programs are being organised across the country. On this day, men and
women across the country would meditate on their mission of life and
make a resolve to work for the development of the nation. These programs
would be organised in thousands of places across the country.
Moving forward, In order to contact and address
the entire cross section of Bharat, these programmes are segmented into -
Yuva ( Youth), Samvardhini ( Women), Gramaayan ( Villages), Asmita (
Tribals), Prabudha Bharat ( intellectuals) and High school students.
Many programs are being organised to spread the
message of Swamiji.
Below are few of the nationwide programs :
Vivekananda Jayanti : -On Jan 12th, Swami Vivekananda
Jayanti, there would be rallies and shobha yatras in the entire country
where all cross sections would participate.
Samuhik Suryanamaskar : On Feb 18th, 2013 - Collective Suryanamaskar
would be offered by students between the age-groups of 13 to 18 years.
This program would also include various cultural activities.
One Week For the Nation : During
the vacation period in April-May, Under-graduate and Post graduate
students would be urged to give one week of their vacation time and go
and live in villages. While the program is for all youth, it is
specifically targetted towards urban youth, who would benefit a great
deal by experiencing village life.
Message of Swamiji to every door :
The life & message of Swamiji would be taken to every home in the
country. A picture of Swamiji would be given to all households.
Bharat Jago Daud ( Run ) : On
Sept 11th, the day when Swamiji spoke for the 1st time at Chicago World
Parliament of religions would be celebrated as "Universal Brotherhood
Day". On this day, runs would be organised in which all sections would
participate.
Between the period Sept 2013 to Dec 2013 ,
International and National level seminars would be held for
intellectuals, Yuva Sammelans in all Tehsils ( Development block) of the
country, thousands of medical camps, plantation of trees, Vivekananda
melas in janajati ( tribal ) areas and special programs for women.
Human Chain - On Jan 12th ,2014 human chains would
be organised across the country to show the resolve that we are one
nation. This would be the concluding event of the celebrations and at
the same time the entire country would resolve to take his work forward.
Swamiji says, “My faith is in the younger
generation, the modern generation out of them will come my workers. They
will work out the whole problem, like lions. I have formulated the idea
and have given my life to it.
The Swami Vivekananda 150 Jayanti Celebrations
committee appeals to the countrymen to participate in large numbers in
this noble cause. Let us make our lives more meaningful.
of us
aware 2013 is Swami Vivekananda's 150 Birth Anniversary Celebrations.
Several organisations and institutions the world over will organise
programmes as a befitting tribute to this great Patriot Saint of India
who was intensely nationalistic and deeply universal. In a special
effort initiated by Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari several individuals,
organisations and institutions working at local, state, regional,
national, international levels will come together to celebrate this
historic event. The uniqueness of this effort by the Vivekananda Kendra
is that it will be celebrated without any organisational banner. It has
at core Swami Vivekananda's thought, National Union in India must be a
gathering up of its scattered, spiritual forces. Titled Swami
Vivekananda Saardh Shati Samaaroh [Swami Vivekananda 150 Birth
Anniversary Celebrations], the programmes will be organised through five
segments - Youth, women, policy makers, villagers and the hill-forest
people. For convenience of coordination celebrations in 42 Praants will
touch 4 lakh families and an estimated 20 crore people of the country.
The motto is Bharat Jaago! Vishwa Jagao!!! Wake Up India! Enlighten the
World!!
