Swamiji and India’s independence movement

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was born on 12 January 1863, 163 years ago.

- BISHWAJIT BHATTACHARYYA

He left at the age of 39, on 4 July 1902. By then he had spread spiritual fire in Chicago, America, at the World’s Parliament of Religions, on 11 September 1893. That fire continues to spread and is unextinguishable.Though Swami Vivekananda (referred tohereinafter as “Swamiji”) has been one of the greatest spiritual leaders of the world, it is not widely known that he had contributed significantly towards India’s independence, possibly because he left 45 years before India achieved her independence.

India’s independence movement received a massive fillip from Swamiji. The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), acknowledged that Swamiji’s teachings intensified his spiritualism, patriotism, self-reliance and the right means to achieve ends.

Even the world poet Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), who was a freedom fighter through his writings, reverentially said: “If you want to know India, study Vivekananda”. Tagore had deep respect for Swamiji. Tagore was also greatly influenced by Swamiji’s philosophy and ideals of life.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose called Swamiji his “guru” and the “maker of modern India”. Netaji felt Swamiji’s teachings shaped his life and India’s freedom movement.