Swami Vivekananda (The Master Builder of Our Nation)

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FIRST DAY IN AMERICA

The way to the Parliament of Religion was not so easily opened to Swamiji. He had to overcome many obstacles, each one giving him more faith in the Lord, in himself and in his mission. Swami Vivekananda arrived at Chicago, six weeks before the scheduled opening of the parliament. He was little equipped in cash and kind for this unexpectedly long stay in an alien land. He had been a wandering monk in India, which though very poor, is a charitable land with abundant sunshine and countless dharmasalas. But in America, which was a totally strange land to him, alone and unfriended, he had to move about in an unusual dress, carrying all his belongings with him wherever he went. He had no knowledge or information as to how and where to secure lodging. Finding Chicago too costly a place, Swamiji decided to move to Boston and remain there till the opening of the parliament. On his way to Boston, he met a rich American lady, on whom he made a favorable impression. she invited him to her house and introduced him to Mr. J.H.Wright, Professor of Greek at Harvard University. In the course of his conversation, Swami Vivekananda told Mr.Wright that he possessed no credentials to present to the organisers of the parliament. At that, the professor is reported to have remarked- "To ask you, Swamiji, for credentials, is like asking the sun to state its right to shine!" In a most well-worded introductory letter, Prof. Wright wrote to his friend, Dr. Barrows, the Chairman of the Committee, for the selection of the delegates. He described Swamiji as, "a man who is more learned than all our learned professors put together" The professor also provided Swamiji with a ticket to Chicago and a letter of introduction to the Committee. But as bad luck would have it, on arrival of Chicago, Swamiji found that he had lost the letter and the address of the Committee. He tried to make inquiries but as it was the German quarter of the city nobody could understand his English. Moreover, to them, he was despised oriental and nobody cared to give him any information even about a hotel.

 

IN A WOODEN BOX

Soon it was night and it was extremely chilly. He withdrew to the seclusion of a corner in the railway platform. Finding a big wooden box there he got into it and spent the night there. Inscrutable are the ways of the Almighty! This Swami, unknown and uncared for, who was made to spend the night in a most miserable condition was to shake the very foundation of the mighty United States of America - the very next day with his astounding address in the World parliament of Religions, and was to get transformed overnight into a world celebrity! As the day dawned Swamiji rose from his cramped posture, hungry and tired, and like a true Indian sanyasi, he walked along begging for food from door to door. But this was America and not India. Only insults greeted him and doors were slammed on his face.

 

THE WORLD PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS

The World Parliament of Religions was convened as part of America's nationwide celebrations in connection with the quadri-centenary of the country's discovery by Columbus. The occasion was used to project to the world the tremendous progress America had made in its short existence of about 400 years, covering every aspect of human life and civilization. In addition to the material progress, the organisers wanted to focus attention also on the great advances made in human thought. It was in this connection, that the idea of a World Parliament of Religions was thought of, in which leaders of all the principal religions of the world might be brought together.

 

THE OPENING SESSION

The World Parliament of Religions which opened on Monday, the 11th September 1893, at the great Hall of Columbus at the Art Institute building in Chicago, was a most memorable one. About four thousand men and women had gathered in the hall, galleries and corridors. Hundreds of official delegates occupied the platform, dressed differently, speaking different languages and representing one great religion or other, or a particular school of thought. As the delegates were introduced one by one, they stepped up and made a brief speech to announce themselves. Most of them had ready-made speeches and were duly applauded. Swami Vivekananda had none and he was so nervous that he did not venture to speak in the morning session. But in the afternoon session, when the Chairman insisted on his speaking, he stood up, bowed inwardly to Saraswati, the goddess of learning and opened his address with the memorable words, "Sisters and Brothers of America".

Scarcely had he uttered these words, vibrant with meaning and feeling, a thrill passed through the assembly and the whole audience was caught in a wave of enthusiasm and hundreds rose to their feet with applauses, to the complete bewilderment of Swamiji.

 

After silence was restored he continued with his short but eloquent speech which has now become world famous. "It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world. I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects".

 

THE CHICAGO ADDRESS

It was just a short speech, lasting not more than three minutes. But it struck the keynote of the Parliament of Religions, the note of universal toleration based on Hindu belief that all religions are but pathways to the self-same God. The same spirit pervaded everywhere when Swamiji said, "we believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation, which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth". He concluded his speech saying, "I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honour of this convention may be the death-knell of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to same goal".

 

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