Whenever a discussion happens about Swami Vivekananda’s impact on Indian Society a question will get posed invariably about the role os Swamiji in the freedom struggle. While it is settled without any doubt that many of the freedom fighters were actually inspired by the thoughts of Swamiji, and as a result they got themselves involved in the freedom struggle, we will see what his contributions are. During those days our country was impoverished by the frequent artificial famines created by the British authorities, that our people lacked the mental and the physical energy and financial resources to carry the fight straight to the powerful imperial kingdom. Swamiji said that, if India were to get freedom immediately, there were too few proper men to protect it or realize its value. So Swamiji stressed on man-making as the foremost necessity for national rebuilding. Without a properly trained army one cannot wage a war. So Swamiji’s prime focus was on building Men with Character. He wanted Men to be Courageous, Selfless, Honest and Intelligent. As a result of Swamiji’s work and campaign several Leaders endowed with such qualities came on to the Political arena to fight against the British. People like Bala Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji were a few examples. Mahatma Gandhi said that his patriotism increased several times after reading the books of Swami Vivekananda. Bengal was at the forefront of the freedom struggle those days. Lot of youth were inspired by Swamiji’s message and they plunged into the freedom movement. But Swamiji being a Sanyasi didn’t stop at mere political freedom. His message is not just for the Bonded Countrymen, but for the entire Humanity. Swamiji said:
“The idea of freedom is the only true idea of salvation--freedom from everything, the senses, whether of pleasure or pain, from good as well as evil. More than this, we must be free from death; and to be free from death, we must be free from life. Life is but a dream of death. Where there is life, there will be death; so get away from life if you would be get rid of death. “
This which is a part of his lectures, published as ‘Lectures from Colombo to Almora’, demonstrate his nationalistic fervour and spiritual ideology. All freedom fighters in jail had one copy with them to ignite the patriotism in their mind. The situation was so influential that it created terror in the minds of the Britishers and British govt wanted to ban and close Ramakrishna mission. However, it was saved due to the divine intervention of holy mother, Sarada. She clarified to the British authorities that Mission was a spiritual organisation and it has got nothing to do with politics. We now enjoy the political freedom. But culturally and spiritually we are still under slavery. As a never ending fountain of inspiration Swamiji is still the solution for coming out of this mental slavery.
V.V. Balasubramanian
YB-ET
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