Swami Vivekananda’s proficiency in French is a documented fact. In Exposition Universelle held in Paris in 1900, he spoke on “highly technical matters before a gathering of scholars”in French.1 A news item published in the Indian Mirror on 12 December 1900 mentions that he delivered “a very impressive and eloquent speech in French at Paris.”2 During this period, he gave an interview to the French newspaper La Liberte.
La Liberte published this interview titled ‘Eastern Interviews: Swami Vivekananda’ on Mardi,3 11 September 1900. Jacques Bonzon, evidently a reporter affiliated to the paper, interviewed the world renowned sannyasin from India. Swami Vivekananda answered questions on a wide range of subjects— monasticism in India and its hierarchy, finding a guru, monastic vows, monastic community and leaving monastic life; caste system in India; evolution of religion in India; God, Nature, Soul; superstitious cult and miracles; polygamy, the ideal of womanhood; and organisation and education in the West.
The interview:
EASTERN INTERVIEWS
Swami Vivekananda
India is taking revenge. For four centuries, Christian Europe has been sending her missionaries who, by their own admission, have left her quite resistant.
India, today, wants to convert its converters. The other evening I had a conversation with a Hindu missionary, Mr. Vivekananda, who is going to preach sound doctrine throughout the world and who has stopped for a few months in France.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من The Vedanta Kesari.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2022 من The Vedanta Kesari.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
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At the snow-capped Kailas, the Divine Lord Shiva was seated with Mother Parvati.
Gadai and the Monks
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Swami Vivekananda’s French Interview: A New Discovery
We are happy to present what, to the best of our knowledge, is a hitherto unknown interview given by Swami Vivekananda in French language to a newspaper in France. Interestingly the interview was published on 11 September 1900, exactly seven years after Swamiji burst upon the world from the platform of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Swami Surarchitananda discovered this interview during an online archive search and Ms. Irina Croitor has translated it into English.
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In 1933, the Annamalai University of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu was bustling with activity in connection with the imminent visit by the British Governor, George Fredrick Stanley of Madras Presidency. He was to chair the Convocation at the University.
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All the doctors, teachers, engineers you see, are doing social service. Our education system teaches 'service to the society'- this is the objective side of man.
Mon Ekbaar Hori Bolo... Songs dear to Sri Ramakrishna
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Seven Steps on the Path and other Heart to Heart Talks
BOOK REVIEWS
Tale of Two Realities An understanding of life through the Ramayana and Yogasutra
Beginning with this issue we are serialising Tale of Two Realities which we hope will help readers gain a deeper understanding of life. Our readers are familiar with the author through her The Vedas and Poorva: Magic, Miracles & the Mystical Twelve which were serialised earlier. The illustrations for this series is by Smt Uma Krishnaswami, a well-known artist. The author's note below gives a brief introduction to the series.
Sri Ramakrishna and the Freedom Movement - SWAMI VEDANISHTHANANDA
75th Anniversary of India's Independence The year 2022 is significant for India as it celebrates 75 years of attaining independence from the colonial domination. It was after a long struggle that we could free our motherland from foreign rule and make this "tryst with destiny".