Visionaries and Idealists: Swami Vivekananda - part 1

Hi there!! Today's story is about Swami Vivekananda, the famous Hindu monk. He was an influential character in the struggle for Independence. Many freedom fighters claimed that they and their works were both inspired by Swami Vivekananda. His speeches about tolerance and inclusion really gave the freedom fighters a good purpose. Let's get on with the story…

12 January. 1863. The British Empire ruled nearly a third of the world. Kolkata, a large and prosperous city in Northwest India. It was the capital of British India. Vishwanath Datta, a lawyer in the High Court, waited anxiously outside of the hospital, concernedly pacing about the street. His wife was inside. He bit his lips and checked his golden pocket watch. Simply, he just kept it back in his shirt pocket and continued pacing around. His head was spinning. He chewed his nails in unease.
A few hours later, a nurse strolled out of the hospital doors and exclaimed, "Mr Vishwanath Datta!! Mr Vishwanath Datta!" Vishwanath ran to the hospital porch, where the nurse was standing. He was sweating buckets when the nurse said, "Congrats, sir. It's a boy. The mother and the baby are doing fine, don't worry," Vishwanath smiled. He laughed in joy. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He jumped in the air, crying tears of joy. Little did he know, but his son would be one of the most sought after men in the world!!
Vishwanath Datta named his son Narendranath Datta. Bhuvaneshwari Devi, his wife, loved the name and said, "He shall be the king of kings, as his name suggests." They cherished their son. Young Narendranath was a modest boy from birth. His personality and thoughts were fueled by his father's rational mind and his mother's religious nature. He never accepted no for an answer.
Narendranath grew to be a very strong boy. I'm not talking about his muscles and stuff, no. I'm saying that his mental strength was so strong, that he would prove elders wrong without any hesitation!! As a child, Narendranath had a very keen sense of reasoning and never accepted anything without evidence.

Once, he and his friends had gone to play near a small apple grove when the landlord came. He warned them, "A demon which swallows children lives in this grove!! Go and play someplace else!!" Frightened out of their skin, all of the children bolted from the grove. All except Narendranath. He asked the old landlord, "Where is this demon? I want to see it," the landlord just widened his eyes and thrust his hand out, pointing to a creepy, withered apple tree, "He rises from that dead tree. If you want to see the demon for yourself, be my guest!!" Narendranath sauntered over to the crippling, black tree. He knocked the trunk of the tree with his knuckles and saw it shake like a bobblehead!! Narendranath quivered at the sight of the tree. He saw a lonely oak tree standing near it and scampered up it. He sat on one of the branches, way up high. There he sat for hours!! Many hours passed. The blazing sun of mid-day had gone down to become an orange flaming semi-circle, flashing beyond the horizon. Narendranath sat idle, whiling away his time on the branch. Ages past, but there was no sign of any demon. The next day, Narendranath concluded to his friends, "It was just a spoof to scare us."

Narendranath grew to be a smart boy. He was educated by his father through homeschooling. When he was 18, Narendranath was admitted into the Metropolitan Institute of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (Now known as Vidyasagar College). He was a bright student who excelled in all subjects. He graduated with flying colours. Even though he understood all of his lessons, he showed great interest in the religious texts and scriptures. He was well-versed in classical music and also excelled in sports.

Vishwanath was often visited by his colleagues and clients at his house. After some refreshments and business-talk, they were offered hookahs to smoke. Many times, Narendranath observed that different people were offered different hookahs. Not based on their status, no. Based on their castes. High standard people would get a shining hookah, whereas not-so-high standard people would get a normal hookah. Many a time Narendranath thought, "What will happen if someone smokes a hookah that is not meant for their caste?" One day, Narendranath smoked all of the hookahs!!!! For a few days, he observed his health. Nothing awkward had happened. Since he was all fine, Narendranath concluded that the difference in caste was meaningless.
As Narendranath became a well-established man, he started to follow the Brahmo Samaj, an Indian movement to retain and revive Hindu culture. Narendranath loved the philosophy that they portrayed. At the mere age of eighteen, Narendranath felt the overwhelming desire to see God.
One day, while Narendranath was attending a lecture, he heard about the great mystic, Shri Ramakrishna. Out of curiosity, some of the students in the lecture, including Narendranath, went to see Ramakrishna. When they got to his small hut, they asked many questions. Narendranath asked one of the most interesting questions, "Have you seen God?" Shri Ramakrishna said, "Why, yes! I see him as I see you!" The meeting left a deep impression in Narendranath's mind.

Within the next five years, Narendranath changed from a simple man, into a devoted disciple of Ramakrishna. He was an outstanding one, too. Under his training, he became very educated in the scriptures. From a restless, impatient youth to a mature man who gave up everything to realise God.
Suddenly, Ramakrishna was diagnosed with throat cancer. He was moved to Kolkata and later to Cossipore. All this time Narendranath and the other disciples took care of him.
During his last days, Ramakrishna donated to his disciples saffron robes. He asked all of them to look up to Narendranath as their leader. Soon, Ramakrishna died of his complications. His disciples mourned him.

Thanks for reading Swami Vivekananda - part 1!! Please type your email in the box above the followers and click the blue button to receive emails about my posts!!!!