Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his respects to Swami Vivekananda on his 122nd death anniversary on Thursday. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Modi reiterated his commitment to achieving a prosperous and progressive society, a dream he attributed to Vivekananda’s teachings. He lauded Vivekananda’s profound wisdom and relentless pursuit of knowledge, stating that his teachings empower millions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also commemorated Vivekananda’s death anniversary, recognizing the great monk-patriot’s contribution to fostering love for religion and country without division. In her post on X, she praised Vivekananda for teaching inclusivity and unity.
Swami Vivekananda, who passed away on July 4, 1902, had a profound impact on the spiritual enlightenment of the masses and the global dissemination of Indian culture. A disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa, he established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 and Belur Math in 1899, where he later died. His work focused on spreading Vedanta philosophy in the West and establishing the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission to serve the underprivileged.
Vivekananda gained international recognition following his influential speech at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. He famously declared, “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. 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.” His message of unity and acceptance continues to resonate across the globe.
