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** নিচে দেওয়া সংকলনে ক্লিক করে গদ্য সংগ্রহ পড়ুন 

1. A COLLECTION of ARTICLES Published in PRATIBHA magazine(VKV Laipuli Tinsukia)

2. বিবেকজাগৃতি (অসমীয়া ত্রৈমাসিক ) বিবেকানন্দ কেন্দ্র, গুয়াহাটি

3. Vivek Jagriti (Assamese Quarterly) English ArticleCollection 

4. অন্যান্য - ১ (বিভিন্ন পত্র পত্রিকার প্রকাশিত সংগ্রহ - 1 খন্ড )

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শিলচর থেকে প্রকাশিত আজকের 'গতি দৈনিক' কাগজে আমার একটি লেখা । পড়ুন এখানে ।

ধ্রুবজ্যোতি তুমি অন্ধকারে..

সন্ধ্যা ঘনিয়ে এসেছে! পশ্চিম আকাশ আবির রাঙা। শেষ বিকেলের রোদের ঘ্রানটুকু নিয়ে পনেরটি গো-বক (গো-বগলি) ত্রিভুজাকৃতীতে ডেরায় ফিরছে। দেবজিত শইকিয়া একমনে সেদিকে তাঁকিয়ে দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেললেন। তিনি সিভিল সারভেন্ট। অবসর নিয়েছেন আজ একবছর। কেরিয়ার-সর্বস্ব মানসিকতা নিয়ে ছোটবেলা থেকেই প্রতিযোগিতার দৌড়ে মেধাবী শইকিয়া কখনো দ্বিতীয় হননি। তারপর ইউপিএসসিতে জাতীয়স্তরে স্থান লাভ করে সরকারী আমলা হিসেবে কাজ করেছেন সুদীর্ঘ 34 বছর। ঠিক সেভাবেই তৈরি করতে চেয়েছেন একমাত্র ছেলেকে। আইআইটিতে এমটেক ইত্যাদি। গ্রামের বাড়ি, শহরে ফ্ল্যাট, দামী গাড়ি সব আছে যথাযথভাবে। আপাতদৃষ্টিতে এক সম্পূর্ণ সফল মানুষ দেখা যাচ্ছে পশ্চিমের ব্যলকনিতে বসে থাকা শইকিয়াকে।

কিন্তু আজ ওর মন সামান্য ভারী হয়ে উঠেছে এই শীতের সন্ধ্যার বাতাসের মতো। জানুয়ারির দু তারিখ আজ। গতকাল স্ত্রীকে নিয়ে একপ্রকার অনিচ্ছা থাকা স্বতেও তাঁকে যেতে হয়েছিল অপরাহ্ন দুটোয় রামকৃষ্ণ মিশনের শাখাকেন্দ্রে। পয়লা জানুয়ারি। কল্পতরু উত্সব। বিশাল আয়োজন। ধর্মে তেমন মতি, বা ঈশ্বর-ভক্তি এসব নিয়ে বিশেষ মাথা ঘামানো নেই দেবজিতবাবুর । বরং সারাজীবন এই বিষয়টিকে বেশ এড়িয়েই গেছেন তিনি। কিন্তু স্ত্রী মিশনের দীক্ষিত হওয়ায় তর্কাতর্কি না করে এসব স্ত্রীলোকসুলভ দুর্বলতা অথবা নির্ভরতা মনে করে তিনি পরিবারকে একপ্রকার সমর্থন দিয়ে গেছেন। যদিও নিজে জড়াননি এতে। পূর্বাপর সময়ে এসব অনুষ্ঠানে গাড়িতে স্ত্রীকে ছেড়ে যেতে বা ফেরত আনতে যেতেন তিনি। মিশনের মহারাজদের সঙ্গে সৌজন্য হাসি অদল-বদল করে থাকলেও কখনো বসে অনুষ্ঠানে যোগদান করেননি দেবজিত।

কিন্তু গতকাল তিনি অবসর জীবন শুরুর প্রথম বছরের প্রথম দিনটিতে স্ত্রীকে নিয়ে গিয়ে নিজেও বসলেন অনুষ্ঠানে। কল্পতরু উত্সব উপলক্ষে বাঁধভাঙ্গা ভিড় মন্দির প্রাঙ্গণে। গান হচ্ছে মাইকে। ঘোষণা হচ্ছে। একজন সন্ন্যাসী বক্তব্য রাখার পরেই আজকের আমন্ত্রিত অতিথি বক্তা বলবেন।

প্রফেসর অম্বিকা সেনগুপ্ত। বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের পন্ডিত। এসেছেন নৃতত্ব বিভাগ থেকে। বেদান্ত সাহিত্য নিয়ে গবেষণা। আজ বলছেন কল্পতরু নিয়ে। এখন এতটা পথ ফিরে গিয়ে আবার আসবেন, সে বিড়ম্বনা থেকে বাঁচতে দেবজিতবাবু বসেছেন বক্তৃতা শুনতে, যা তিনি সচরাচর করেন না। ঠাকুর রামকৃষ্ণের কল্পতরু হবার ঘটনাটা তিনি মোটামুটি জানেন; ইউটিউব, মিডিয়া, তাঁর স্ত্রী এসব সূত্র ধরেই। প্রফেসর কল্পতরু হবার ঘটনার বর্তমান প্রেক্ষিতে বর্ণনা দিচ্ছেন, তুলে ধরছেন এই ঘটনার নেপথ্যে থাকা পরমহংসদেবের উদ্দেশ্যকে। বক্তৃতা শুনতে থাকলেও অনেক কথাই মনে মনে সমর্থন করতে পারছেন না দেবজিতবাবু। বেশ কিছু দ্বন্দ স্বাভাবিকভাবেই ফুটে উঠল ওর মনে।

-‘যার যা ইচ্ছে তা পূরণ করলেন একটা দিনের জন্য। কিন্তু এতে কি সামুহিক জীবনে শান্তি এল? মিটে গেল সব হাহুতাশ, থামল কি অপূর্ণতার স্বাদ?’ হটাৎ কানের সামনে ফিসফিসিয়ে একজনের গলা শোনা গেল। শইকিয়া দৃষ্টি তুলে ধরলেন। না, এ ব্যক্তিকে তিনি আগে দেখেন নি। কাঁচা পাকা দাড়ি, কম উচ্চতা, পোশাক আপাত মলিন। তবে গলার স্বরে যে দৃঢ়তা আছে তাতে এই ব্যক্তি যে সচেতন ও সপ্রতিভ তেমন আন্দাজ পাওয়া যায়। যেহেতু একেবারে পেছনের সারিতে এক একটা লাইন ছেড়ে ওদের বসা, তাই এই কথা বলা অন্যদের বিরক্ত করল না। শইকিয়া কিছু উত্তর খুঁজে না পেয়ে সামান্য হাসলেন। মিনিট পনের পরে প্রভাষকের কথা শেষ হল। সেই ব্যক্তি এবারে শইকিয়ার সঙ্গে আলাপ জুড়ে দিলেন। শইকিয়া ওর ব্যক্তিত্বের সামনে পরে ওকে এড়াতে পারলেন না। তাছাড়া বহুদিন ওর সঙ্গে এতো অন্তরঙ্গ হয়ে কেউ কথা বলেননি।

-‘দেখুন’, শইকিয়া বললেন, ‘কল্পতরু ঘটনটির কোন বিজ্ঞানসম্মত ব্যাখ্যা হয় না। তবে আমার ক্ষুদ্র বুদ্ধি, এমন ঘটনা হওয়া সম্ভব নয়, এমনটাও আমি জোর দিয়ে বলতে পারি না’।

-‘তা একশভাগ ঠিক কথা। আমি কিন্তু রামকৃষ্ণ চরিত্রটি পছন্দ করি ওর অলৌকিকত্বর জন্য নয়, বরং ওর মানবপ্রেম, সহমর্মিতা, সবার ওপর মানুষ সত্য, গুণীজনদের অপার সম্মান দেওয়া এই সব গুণের জন্য’।

- ‘আমি আপনার সাথে একমত। তবে আমি কিছু ঠাকুরের ভক্ত বা অনুগামী দেখেছি, তাঁরা অনেক সময় অতিরঞ্জিত করে রামকৃষ্ণকে ব্যাখ্যা করেন। আমি ভাবি মহান যারা তাঁদের গৌরবগাথা শোনাতে সাধারণ যুক্তির বাইরের ঘটনাকে কি লোকসমক্ষে তুলে ধরা সমীচীন?’ শইকিয়া বললেন।

-‘কিরকম’? সকৌতুকে জানতে চাইলেন ভদ্রলোক।

-‘যেমন সাধনার একটি স্তরে এসে তিনি গলায় খড়্গ তুলে আত্মহনন করতে গেলেন এবং কালী সশরীরে এসে তাঁকে নিরত করলেন। তারপর বিবেকানন্দকে ছুঁয়ে দিয়ে ওর মধ্যে শক্তি সঞ্চার করা, এইসব অনেক সময় যুক্তি গ্রাহ্য মনে হয়নি’।

-‘আলবত, ঠিক বলেছেন তো’ ভদ্রলোক একটু চিন্তিত হলেন। এতে উত্সাহ পেয়ে শইকিয়ার ভেতরের প্রশাসনিক মানুষটি সামান্য জেগে উঠল, তিনি জমিয়ে বসলেন, ‘তাছাড়া একটা ব্যাপার ভেবে দেখুন, শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ এক সময় যা যা অলৌকিক ব্যাপার দেখিয়েছিলেন এখন বিজ্ঞান কিন্তু সেসবের অনেক কিছুকেই সাধারণ লোকের পক্ষে সম্ভব করে তুলেছে’।

-‘সাধারণ লোকের পক্ষে সম্ভব!’ ভদ্রলোক সামান্য আশ্চর্য হলেন। তিনি খুব উত্সুক হয়ে বললেন –‘যেমন?’ প্রসাদ বিতরণ হচ্ছে। শইকিয়ার স্ত্রী সেসব আনবেন। সময় লাগবে।

সামান্য হেসে খুব আত্মবিশ্বাসী উচ্চারণ করলেন শইকিয়া, -‘দেখুন, মথুরবাবুকে ঠাকুর একটি জবাফুল গাছে দুই রঙের ফুল দেখালেন। বর্তমানে গ্রাফটিং, কাটিং, বাড্স প্লান্ট এর মাধ্যমে আমরা এসব করতে পরি। জ্ঞান বিজ্ঞানের নানান দিকে আমরা এতই এগিয়ে গেছি যে যা আগে ছিল আমাদের ধরাছোঁয়ার বাইরে সেসব এখন প্রায় সম্ভব। যেমন, ঠাকুরের কথা, ‘তোমাদের চৈতন্য হোক’। তো এক পন্ডিতকে বলতে শুনেছিলাম, আমরা এখন শুধু মানুষের নয় জড় বস্তুর মধ্যেও চৈতন্য দান করতে পরি। বায়লজীতো এর উদাহরণ আছে’।

-‘সুতরাং, দেখতে হচ্ছে ঠাকুর রামকৃষ্ণের এখন প্রাসঙ্গিকতা কোথায়’! তাই বলতে চাইছেন তো?

-‘অনেকটা তাই। একটা সময় ছিল তিনি সমাজকে এগিয়ে দেবার জন্য কিছু দিশা নির্দেশ রেখেছিলেন, যেমন গিরিশ ঘোষকে বলছেন থিয়েটার চালিয়ে যেতে, ওতে লোক শিক্ষা হয়। কিন্তু এখন আর সে কথার প্রয়োজন নেই, আমরা থিয়েটার নিয়ে অনেক পরীক্ষা নিরীক্ষা করে তাকে স্কুল কলেজ পর্যায়ে এনে ফেলেছি। তাছাড়া’, হাসতে হাসতে বললেন শইকীয়া, ‘যে শুভঙ্করী অংক করতে ঠাকুরের ধাঁধা লাগত, কঠিন মনে হতো, বর্তমান যুগ সেসব অংককে পেছনে ফেলে ফাজি লজিক, জিওজেব্রা, কম্বিনেট্রনিক আরো কত গভীর বিষয়ে চলে গেছে।

-‘হুম, সে একপ্রকার ঠিকই বলেছেন আপনি’।

দেবজিত শইকিয়া বলে চলেন, ‘তাছাড়া বর্তমান সময়ে দ্রুততার সঙ্গে সব পাল্টে যাচ্ছে, এই অবস্থায় এক ব্যক্তি ও তাঁর শেখানো প্রাচীন পদ্ধতি কি কাজ দেবে সর্বক্ষেত্রে!’

মোটামুটি একনাগাড়ে বলে তিনি থামলেন। তাঁর স্বাভাবিক শান্তভাব অবশ্য বজায় রইল। একটুক্ষণ ভিড়ের দিকে তাঁকিয়ে রইলেন ঐ ভদ্রলোক। তাঁকে চিন্তাশীল মনে হল। খুব ধীরে ধীরে তিনি উচ্চারণ করলেন কটি কথা, ‘তবে আর রামকৃষ্ণের প্রাসঙ্গিকতা কি রইল? আচ্ছা ভেবে দেখুন তো,’ এক প্রকার নতুন উদ্যম নিয়ে তিনি বলতে শুরু করলেন, ‘কোন এক ব্যাক্তি, দারুন সফল নিজের জীবনে, কর্মক্ষেত্রে। কিন্তু তাঁর সন্তান ওর মনমত হয়নি। হয় সে তেমন মেধাবী নয়, অথবা অবাধ্য, কিংবা ধরুন নিজেকে দুর্বল ভাবছে, এগিয়ে যেতে নার্ভাস হয়ে পড়ছে। এমন ব্যাপারে আমার কেন যেন মনে হয়েছে ঠাকুরের বলা অসংখ্য সমাধান আছে যা ঐ ব্যক্তিকে বা তাঁর সন্তানকে সঠিক পথ দেখাতে কাজে লাগবে’।

দেবজিত শইকিয়ার দৃষ্টিতে উদাসীন অভাব ফুটে উঠল একমুহূর্তের জন্য। তিনি অনেক চেষ্টা করেছেন ছেলেকে দেশের সর্বোচ্চ কলেজ আইআইটিতে ইঞ্জিনিয়ারিং পড়াতে। কিন্তু হয়নি। একটা অপূর্ণতা এখানে তাঁকে জড়িয়ে ধরার আগেই তিনি নিজেকে সামলে নিলেন। ওদিকে ভদ্রলোক বলে চললেন, ‘ঠাকুরের সেই বাঘের বাচ্চার একটা গল্প আছে না! বাচ্চাটি ভেড়ার দলে মিশে গিয়ে ভেড়া হয়েছিল, ব্যা-ব্যা করতো। পরে এক বাঘ তাকে জোর করে নদীর কাছে নিয়ে যায়। নিজের মুখের প্রতিবিম্ব দেখতে বলে। নিজের প্রকৃত পরিচয় জানতে পেরে বাচ্চাটি বাঘের মতো গর্জন করে উঠল। এই আত্নবিশ্বাসের কথা যদি শোনান যেত ঐ ব্যক্তির সন্তানকে, তার অসীম শক্তি সম্বন্ধে যদি সচেতন করা যেত তাঁকে!

শইকিয়া নতুন আলোর রেখা যেন দেখলেন। ভদ্রলোক বললেন, ‘ঠাকুর রামকৃষ্ণ বলছেন, ‘তুমি বোঝো আর না-বোঝো, তুমিই রাম’। তিনি বুঝিয়ে দেন মানুষ দেবত্বের অধিকারী। নিজের দেবত্ত্ব ও অনন্ত সম্ভাবনার কথা জানে না বলেই ছোট ছোট লক্ষ্যবস্তুতে ব্যস্ত হয়ে পরে মানুষ। কোন তরুণ নিজের দুর্বলতা চিন্তা করে নিজেকে অসহায় ভাবে, পাপী ভাবে যদি, তাকে শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণের কথা শোনান যায়, ‘যে পাপ পাপ সর্বদা করে, সে শালাই পাপী হয়ে যায়। কি! আমি তাঁর নাম করছি, আমার আবার পাপ! আমি তাঁর ছেলে। তাঁর ঐশ্বর্যের অধিকারী’। এই আত্মবিশ্বাস ঠাকুর জাগিয়ে তোলেন মানুষের ভেতর। আর এখানেই তিনি অথবা এজন্যই তিনি কল্পতরু’।

শইকিয়া সদ্য পরিচিত এই ব্যক্তি, যার নামও জানা হয়নি, তাঁর দিকে পূর্ণ দৃষ্টিতে তাঁকালেন। ঐ ভদ্রলোক কথায় মেতে উঠেছেন, ‘ঠাকুর কল্পতরু। কারণ আমার মতে তিনি ব্যবহারিক বিদ্যা শিখতে আমাদের উত্সাহ দিচ্ছেন গল্পের মাধ্যমে। এক ভাগবতের পন্ডিত নৌকায় পার হচ্ছিলেন। মাঝিকে প্রশ্ন করলেন, ‘হ্যারে, তুই ব্যাকরণ পড়েছিস’? মাঝির উত্তর –‘না’। ‘দর্শন পড়েছিস’? ক্ষণিক বাদে, ‘কাব্য পড়েছিস’, এসব প্রশ্ন করে চলেছেন। মাঝি মনমরা হয়ে ‘না’, এই উত্তর দিয়ে যাচ্ছে। পন্ডিত বললেন তোমার তো বারোয়ানা জীবন বৃথা। হঠাৎ ঝড়। মাঝি চেষ্টা করছে সামলাতে। না পেরে সে বলল, ‘পন্ডিতজি ঝাপিয়ে পড়ুন, সাঁতরে পারে যান, নৌকা ডুবল বলে’। পন্ডিত ভয়ার্ত উত্তর দিলেন, সাঁতার জানিনা। ‘তবে আর কি, আপনার দেখছি ষোলআনা জীবনই বৃথা’। সুতরাং ঠাকুর আমাদের বলছেন পুঁথির নয়, জীবনের জ্ঞান লাগবে, কারিগরী জ্ঞান চাই। কর্মকুশলতা চাই। আমরা বিজনেস অ্যাডমিনিষ্ট্রেসন, ইঞ্জিনীয়ারিং এসব পড়েছি, পড়েছি রিকার্ড, সমুয়েলসন, কেইন্স এদের থিওরী। জেনেছি ব্ল্যাক হোল, আর্টিফিসিয়াল ইন্টেলিজেন্স, সলিড ষ্টেইট এসব দুরূহ বিষয়, সেসব নিয়ে জ্ঞানও দি। কিন্তু বাড়িতে নিজের গাড়ি খারাপ হলে ক্লাস 8 পাস মেকানিক ডেকে আনি, এসি বা ফ্যান না চললে ডাকতে হয় ইলেট্রিসিয়ানকে, বাগান করতে গেলে মালি চাই। অফিসে 100 কর্মচারীকে সামলে নিচ্ছি। কিন্তু বাড়িতে মাত্র একটি ছেলে বা মেয়েকে উপযুক্ত শাসন করে, ভালবেসে মানুষ করতে পারিনা। খেদ থেকে যাচ্ছে। এখানেই ‘তোমাদের চৈতন্য হোক’ বাক্যটি সার্থক। সর্বক্ষেত্রেই সাফল্য ও উত্কর্ষময় জীবন চাইলে শুধু পুথিগত শিক্ষা নয়, ‘চেতনা’ প্রয়োজন। ঠাকুর বলছেন ‘খালি পেটে ধর্ম হয় না!’ অর্থাৎ কর্ম-সংস্কৃতি না থাকলে জ্ঞান আহরণ সম্ভব নয়। তিনি আবার বলছেন, ‘জটিলে কুটিলে না থাকলে লীলা পোষ্টাই হয় না’। আমাদের চিন্তাধারায় জটিলতা থাকতে হবে, যেকোনো বিষয়ের গভীরে পৌছুতে হলে ভাবতে হবে গভীর ভাবে। এতে নতুন পথ পাওয়া যাবে, কঠিন সমস্যা সমাধান করে কার্যক্ষেত্রে অগ্রগতি আনা যায়’।

শইকিয়া হঠাৎ অনুভব করলেন, তিনি যখন নিজেকে তৈরি করছিলেন তখন অনেক মোটিভেশনাল স্পিকার পয়সা নিয়ে এধরনের চিন্তা বা কথা উপস্থাপন করতেন। প্রায়ই শোনা যেত কথক বলছেন, ‘বেদান্ত এমন বলেছে’। আজ কেন যেন অনুভব হল স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের ব্যবহারিক বেদান্ত কথাটার সঠিক ব্যবহার শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ সকলকে আলো দেখিয়ে করেছিলেন। তিনি নিরব থেকে ঐ ভদ্রলোকের কথার একপ্রকার সায় দিলেন। ডুবে গেলেন চিন্তায়।

ভদ্রলোক আবার বললেন, ‘আমি ভালোমত ভেবে দেখেছি, বুঝলেন, রামকৃষ্ণ আমাদের ইন্টেলিজেন্ট হতে বলছেন, শুধু ইন্টেলেকচুয়াল হলে চলবে না। স্কুল কলেজে জব-স্কিল শিখলে শুধু হবে না, লাইফ-স্কিল শিখতে হবে। আর পদে পদে বিভিন্ন উপমা, ঘটনা, আচরণ এসব দিয়ে তিনি আমাদের তাই শিখিয়ে গেছেন। এ এক নতুন ধরনের সাধু, যিনি জঙ্গলে বা পাহাড়ে বসে ধ্যান করে আত্ম-চিন্তায় সময় কাটিয়ে দেননি, বরং মানুষের মধ্যে নেমে এসে, তাঁদের সঙ্গে মিশে যার যা সমস্যা সেই হিসেবে তাঁকে নিদান দিয়েছেন।

-‘কিন্তু কল্পতরু হওয়ার ঘটনাটা..’, শইকিয়া বিব্রতভাবে উল্লেখ করলেন!

ভদ্রলোক বললেন, ‘দেখুন, যিনি এতো কঠিন পৃথিবীতে হাসি মুখে অসুখ বিসুখের শরীর নিয়ে আনন্দময় জীবন কাটিয়ে সাধারণ লোকেদের টনক নড়িয়ে দিলেন, যিনি অর্থলোভী এই জগতে টাকা-পয়সা ছুঁতে পারতেন না, তেমন ব্যাক্তি যে ব্যতিক্রম বা অসাধারণ সেটা আপনাকে আমাকে মানতেই হবে। তাঁর অলৌকিক গুণাবলী থাকা অস্বাভাবিক নয়, বলে আমার ধারণা। যদিও আপনি নিশ্চয় জানেন যে রামকৃষ্ণ নিজে কিন্তু অলৌকিক ঘটনা বা সিদ্ধি পছন্দ করতেন না। নিজের তেমন ব্যাপারগুলিকে একেবারেই প্রচারের আলোতে আনতেন না। কারণ পৃথিবীর বহু রহস্যের যুক্তিগ্রাহ্য ব্যাখ্যা এখনও পাওয়া যায় নি’।

কথাটা একেবারে অস্বীকার করতে না পেরে দেবজিত শইকিয়া নিরবে দূরে দৃষ্টি মেলে দিলেন। ভিড় অনেকটা জমেছে প্রসাদের ওখানে। ভদ্রলোক বললেন, ‘যখন যেকোন ব্যাপার আমাদের সাথে ঘটতে পারে, হয়তো তাঁর উপযুক্ত ব্যাখ্যা আপনি খুঁজে পাবেন না। কিন্তু শ্রী রামকৃষ্ণর জীবন আমাদের অলৌকিক নয়, লৌকিকতার মধ্যেই উত্কর্ষ সাধনের পথ দেখায়। ঐ দেখুন, মনে হচ্ছে আপনার স্ত্রীর প্রসাদ পাওয়া হয়ে গেছে। তিনি বোধয় এদিকেই আসছেন। আপনি বরং ওকে অ্যাটেন্ড করুন।

শইকিয়া স্ত্রীকে আসতে দেখে উঠে এগিয়ে গেলেন। হাতে বেশ কিছু সামগ্রী থাকার জন্য তিনি সহায়তার হাত বাড়িয়ে কিছু জিনিস নিজের জিম্মায় টেনে নিলেন। স্ত্রীকে বললেন, ‘চল, তোমায় একজনের সঙ্গে পরিচয় করাব। ইনি তোমাদের ঠাকুরের অন্ধ ভক্ত নন, যুক্তিবাদী মানুষ। আমার চেয়ে তোমার ভাল লাগবে বেশি। কারণ ইনি শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণকে শুধু ভালইবাসেন না, তাঁকে বোঝেনও’।

মনোরমা, শইকিয়ার স্ত্রী বেশ অবাক হয়ে দেখছেন নিজের স্বামীকে। তিনি তো কখনোই ঠাকুরকে নিয়ে কোন মন্তব্য করতেন না। আজ আবার কার সঙ্গে এমন কথা হলো যে ঠাকুরকে নিয়ে কথাবার্তা বলছেন স্ত্রীর সঙ্গে। মনে মনে বেশ সন্তুষ্ট আর খুশি হলেন মনোরমা। যাক, কল্পতরু দিনে ঠাকুরের কৃপায় ওর স্বামীর একটু মতি হয়েছে ঠাকুরের প্রতি। একপ্রকার ব্যস্ত হয়েই শইকিয়া স্ত্রীকে নিয়ে এলেন ওদের বসে থাকা শেষ বেঞ্চটায়। কিন্তু একি! ভদ্রলোক কি এর মধ্যেই বেরিয়ে পড়লেন! কিন্তু কোনদিক দিয়ে বের হলেন তিনি, গেটের দিকে যেতে হলে তো ওদের সামনে দিয়েই যেতে হবে। কাছে, দূরে, এদিক ওদিক যতটা দৃষ্টি যায় শইকিয়া হন্যে হয়ে খুঁজেও পেলেন না তাঁকে! এমন কর্পূরের মতো উবে যাওয়া। আশ্চর্য ! ঠিকানাটা, ফোন নং, কিছুই তো রাখা হল না এই উপকারী, চোখ ফুটিয়ে দেওয়া বন্ধুটির। অবাক হয়ে শইকিয়া ভদ্রলোকের বলা কথাটাই মনে করলেন, ‘যখন যেকোনো ব্যাপার আমাদের সাথে ঘটতে পারে, হয়তো তাঁর উপযুক্ত ব্যাখ্যা আপনি খুঁজে পাবেন না’।

সন্ধ্যা আরো গভীর হল। জানুয়ারির দু তারিখ। শীতের বারান্দায় বসে এই সন্ধ্যেবেলা তিনি গতকালের ঘটনাটা ভাবছেন, বার বার ভাবছেন। তাঁর চোখ নিজেই ভারী হয়ে আসছে। জীবনের দ্বিতীয় ইনিংস শুরুর সময় তাঁর বিশ্বাস ও চিন্তার রাজ্যের এই অসীম পরিবর্তন তাঁকে আনন্দে আপ্লুত করে তুলল। বাড়ির ভেতর তখন মনোরমা সন্ধ্যা আরাত্রিক শুরু করেছেন ঠাকুর ঘরে। পাশে গিয়ে বসার জন্য শইকিয়া পা বাড়ালেন। বাতাসে ভেসে উঠল সঙ্গীত, ‘খন্ডন ভব বন্ধন জগ বন্দন বন্দি তোমায়’।

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ভক্তিযোগের আঙ্গিকে চৈতন্য ও রামকৃষ্ণ দর্শন   

 

দর্শন শাস্ত্র , বেদান্ত , উপনিষদ অথবা ভগবদ্গীতা যাই অধ্যয়ন করা যাক না কেন, এতে দেখা যাচ্ছে মূলত কয়েকটি যোগের ওপর নির্ভর করে শাস্ত্রসমুহ দাঁড়িয়ে আছে। কর্ম, ভক্তি , জ্ঞান এবং যোগ ।  কর্ম ও জ্ঞানযোগ এর সাধনা আপাতদৃষ্টিতে কঠিন এবং এখানেই অন্যান্য ধর্মের সঙ্গে হিন্দুধর্মের একটি মূলগত পার্থক্য খুঁজে পাওয়া যায় । ভক্তিমার্গে সাধনা অপেক্ষাকৃত সরল এবং এই কলিকালে শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ ভক্তিমার্গের সাধনার উৎকৃষ্টতার প্রচার-প্রসার এবং প্রমাণ রেখে গেছেন। ইতিপূর্বে ধর্মসাধনার ইতিহাসে দেখা যায় যে আধ্যাত্মিক সাধনা সমাজের একটি বিশেষ শ্রেণীর অধ্যয়নের এবং ব্যবহারের বিষয় হিসেবে সীমিত হয়ে রয়েছিল। এর কারণ বহুমুখী।  ব্রাহ্মণ্যবাদের প্রসার এবং এর চাপে বেদ পরবর্তী যুগে অবধারিতভাবে ভারতীয় ধর্মজগতে বিপর্যয় নেমে এসেছিল। মহান ঋষি এবং মনীষীদের দেখিয়ে যাওয়া যে পন্থা বা মার্গ ছিল সে সকলকেই দুর্ভাগ্যজনকভাবে বিকৃত উপস্থাপনা করা হয়েছিল সমাজের কাছে ।  সেটি ছিল সম্পূর্ন দেশের জন্য এক সমস্যা স্বরূপ।

"কলম্বো থেকে আলমোড়া" শীর্ষক স্বামীজির কয়েকটি বক্তৃতার সংকলন থাকা বিশেষ গ্রন্থটিতে বিভিন্ন স্থানে এই ধর্মর বিপর্যয়ের কথাটি তিনি উল্লেখ করেছেন।  তিনি জানিয়েছেন যে হিন্দু ধর্মকে বিভিন্ন সমস্যা এবং অপপ্রচারের মধ্য দিয়ে দীর্ঘকাল যেতে হয়েছে। এবং এজন্যেই সামাজিক জীবনে ভারতীয়দের একসময় অনেক অবনতি হয়েছে। 'আমার সমর নীতি'  শীর্ষক বক্তৃতায় তিনি এই সন্দর্ভে সুপরিকল্পিতভাবে কাজ করার জন্য সমাজকে আহ্বান করেছেন। তিনি জানাচ্ছেন, ভারতীয় মনীষীগণ যেভাবে সমাজে শান্তি শৃঙ্খলা এবং ধর্মের প্রকৃত ব্যাখ্যা দিয়েছিলেন সেসব আবার আমাদের অনুধাবন করতে হবে। সেই দিব্য তত্বগুলি নিয়ে আসতে হবে সমাজের সকল স্তরের মানুষের কাছে ।

 

ফিরে আসছি মূল প্রসঙ্গে। ভারতীয় সমাজে উত্কর্ষতা সাধন করতে হলে প্রাচীন মনীষীদের যে বাণীকে স্বামীজি আবার অবলম্বন করতে বললেন সেই বাণী সমূহের সবচেয়ে সরল এবং সর্বজন গ্রাহ্য দর্শনটি হল ভক্তিযোগ । ভক্তিযোগ সহজ ভাবে অন্দরমহল পর্যন্ত যেতে পারে।  কর্মযোগ এবং জ্ঞানযোগের মাধ্যমে ঈশ্বর-দর্শন বা আধ্যাত্মিক উন্নতি সময় এবং সাধনা সাপেক্ষ। বিষয়টি শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণের পূর্বে কেউ যদি প্রকৃতভাবে অনুধাবন করেছিলেন তবে তারা হচ্ছেন শ্রীচৈতন্য মহাপ্রভু এবং অসমের শ্রীমন্ত শংকরদেব। বাংলায় ভক্তি আন্দোলনের জনক হিসেবে শ্রীচৈতন্যের নামটি স্বর্ণাক্ষরে যেমন রয়েছে ঠিক সেভাবেই সমাজের তৃণমূল পর্যায়ে নেমে এসে একটি বিভ্রান্ত সমাজকে পুনরায় সঙ্ঘবদ্ধ করে ভক্তির রসে ডুবিয়েছেন শ্রীমন্ত শংকরদেব।

ভক্তি যোগের মাধ্যমটিই হচ্ছে ঈশ্বর- দর্শন এবং আধ্যাত্মিক উন্নতির সবচাইতে সরল পন্থা। কারণ এতে সুদীর্ঘকাল জ্ঞানযোগীদের কৃচ্ছসাধন এবং কঠোর শ্রম স্বীকার করে কর্মযোগের শক্তি ও ধৈর্য প্রমাণ দিতে হয় না । অবশ্য এ বিষয়ে তর্কের অবকাশ আছে । সেটি ভিন্ন প্রসঙ্গ। কিন্তু আপাত দৃষ্টিতে দেখলে ভারতবর্ষে ভক্তি যোগের সাধনাই সবচেয়ে বলিষ্ঠ হয়ে উঠেছিল। কারণ ভারতবর্ষে শিক্ষার প্রকৃত বিস্তার সে সময় ততটা ছিল না, যা কিনা জ্ঞান যোগের পথে সাধককে টেনে নিতে পারে। অপরদিকে কর্ম করার উদ্যমও ছিল খুব স্তিমিত,  যা কিনা নিষ্কাম কর্ম যোগের পথে মানুষকে টেনে নেয়। অথচ উপনিষদ বলেন, যে মানুষ মাত্রেরই মুক্তির অধিকার রয়েছে। সুতরাং মুক্ত হওয়া বা মুমুক্ষত্ব লাভ করার একটি নির্দিষ্ট পন্থা মানুষকে বেছে নিতে হয়। সে দিক দিয়ে চিন্তা করলে ভক্তিযোগ তেমনই এক পন্থা যা নিরক্ষর বা মূক ও বধিরকেও ঈশ্বরের নিকটবর্তী নিয়ে আসে।

 

শ্রীচৈতন্য মহাপ্রভু যে সময়ে সমাজের জন্য প্রেমের সূত্র গ্রথিত করে যাচ্ছেন সে সময় দেখা যায় যে পুরোহিত কুল নির্মমভাবে,  হৃদয়হীন ভাবে সমাজকে শৃংখলে জড়িয়ে রেখেছিল। চৈতন্যদেবের সমসাময়িক ভারতবর্ষকে অধ্যয়ন করলে দেখা যায়, সেসময় বৌদ্ধ ধর্মের নৈতিক অবনতি ঘটেছে। এসেছে পুরোহিত তন্ত্র। অনাচার এবং বিকৃত ব্যাখ্যা দিয়ে তারা নিজেদের আখের গুছিয়েছেন। অন্যদিকে রাজশাসন ধর্মের ভ্রান্ত ধারণার হাত ধরে এক সময়ে ডুবে যাচ্ছিল গভীর অস্তিত্ব সংশয়ে। তাছাড়া সেই সময় ইসলাম এসে ভারতীয় ধর্মকে প্রভাবিত করেছে এবং সাধারণ জনতাকে নিষ্পেষিত করেছে। সুতরাং ভারতীয় বৈদিক ধর্ম প্রাচীনকালে যেভাবে সমাজে ধর্ম অর্থ কাম মোক্ষ ইত্যাদির সম্যক জ্ঞান দিয়ে সকলের মধ্যে সামঞ্জস্য এনে দিয়েছিল, যা কিনা ঋষিরা প্রচলন করেছিলেন,  সেসকল ক্রমে অবনমিত হয়ে গিয়েছিল।

 

এই সংকটময় পরিস্থিতিতে শ্রী চৈতন্যদেবের আবির্ভাব হয়। তিনি প্রথমে দেখালেন ত্যাগ। সংসার পরিজন ত্যাগ করে মানুষের কল্যাণে সিদ্ধার্থের মতোই সন্যাসী হলেন তিনি। তারপর দেখালেন ভক্তিপথ ও রাধাকৃষ্ণ নাম। বৈষ্ণব মতের প্রচার দিয়ে ভক্তিযোগকে যুগধর্ম হিসেবে স্থাপন করলেন তিনি। এবং এরপর তার জীবন এক মহামন্ত্র বা মহাভাব নিয়ে এলো সমগ্র ভারত ভূমি জুড়ে - ' প্রেম'। ঈশ্বরকে শুধু উপাসনা বা ভক্তি নিবেদন নয় “ঈশ্বর প্রেমে নিজেকে তার সঙ্গে একাত্ম করে নেওয়া যায়” এই কঠিন ভাবটিকে শ্রীচৈতন্য অত্যন্ত সরল ভাবে নিরক্ষর মানুষকে বুঝিয়ে দিলেন। শুরু হলো এক বিপ্লবের। সমাজের তথাকথিত সমস্যাসমূহ ও কুসংস্কারসমূহকে একধার থেকে আঘাত করতে লাগলেন তিনি । এতে স্বাভাবিকভাবেই তার নিন্দা হলো। সমালোচনা হলো। এমন কি হলো আক্রমণও। কিন্তু আপামর জনতায় প্রেম বিলিয়ে শ্রীচৈতন্য এই সমস্যাগুলি দূর করলেন। উল্লেখযোগ্য বিষয়টি হচ্ছে শ্রীচৈতন্য কুসংস্কার, রীতিনীতি, আচার-বিচারকে ধ্বংস করলেন না। উপযুক্ত দর্শন ও যুক্তি দিয়ে এদের মধ্যে আনলেন পরিবর্তন। সুতরাং দেখা গেলো উপবীতধারী,  শিখাধারী, আর্যচিহ্ন বাহক, বিভিন্ন ব্রত পালন ও তন্ত্রধারক এরাও ধীরে ধীরে বৃহত্তর হিন্দু সমাজে নিজেদের একাত্ম করে নেওয়া শুরু করলেন । এবং গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কথাটি হলো এই সকল বিভিন্ন আচার অনুষ্ঠানের মধ্যে মূল সূত্রটি হল চৈতন্য কর্তৃক দেখানো মন্ত্র –“ভক্তি ও প্রেম”। শ্রীচৈতন্যের ভক্তি ও প্রেমকে কেন্দ্র করে দেশের সংস্কৃতিতে এল আমূল পরিবর্তন। সৃষ্টি হল পদাবলী সাহিত্য, ভক্তি শিক্ষার টোল, পদাবলী কীর্তন, স্মৃতি ও শ্রুতির ব্যাখ্যাকর্তার । এল গৌড়ীয় বৈষ্ণবসমাজ, কীর্তনীয়া, বিগ্রহ মৃৎশিল্পী ও মালাকার ইত্যাদি। যেহেতু সকল পথ ও পন্থাই প্রকৃষ্ট সুতরাং পূর্বে যেমন বলা হয়েছিল জ্ঞানযোগ ও কর্মযোগের অভাবেও শুধু ভক্তিযোগ দিয়ে ঈশ্বর দর্শন হয় বা জ্ঞান ও কর্মকে সরিয়ে রেখেও ঈশ্বর দর্শন করা যায় সে বিষয়টি শ্রীচৈতন্য নতুনভাবে উপস্থাপন করলেন । শিক্ষা সংস্কৃতি কর্ম শিল্প ইত্যাদি সকল কিছুতেই ভক্তির প্রভাব এল কিন্তু ফল্গুধারার মতো এসকল বিষয়ের ভূমি ছুঁয়ে জ্ঞান এর প্রকৃত প্রবাহ এবং কর্মের প্রকৃত নিষ্ঠা লুকিয়ে ছিল।

 

ইসলামিক শাসনের অবসান এক প্রকার ঘটিয়ে তখন ব্রিটিশ সাম্রাজ্য নিজেদের থাবা বিস্তার করছে দেশ জুড়ে। ঠিক এই সময়েই আবির্ভাব যুগাবতার শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণের । ভক্তি আন্দোলনের গতি পথটি একটি অভিনব এবং সর্ব গ্রাহ্য ভাবে তিনি গড়ে তুললেন । ব্রাহ্মণ , চণ্ডাল , শূদ্র থেকে শুরু করে সমাজের তথাকথিত উচ্চ বর্গীয়দের এক সুত্রে শুধু আনা নয়, এমনকি দক্ষিণেশ্বরের একটি ছোট্ট ঘরের মেঝেতে এই সকল সম্প্রদায়ের ব্যক্তিদের এনে বসিয়েও দিলেন তিনি! এখানেও কিন্তু সেই ভক্তি এবং প্রেম মূল খেলাটি  খেলেছে। আবার তীক্ষ্ণ পর্যবেক্ষণ করলে দেখা যায় যে জ্ঞান ও কর্মের ধারাটিও সেই সঙ্গে বজায় থেকেছে রামকৃষ্ণ আন্দোলনে। তাঁর শিষ্য ও অনুগামীদের মধ্যে দেখা গেছে জ্ঞানমার্গ ও কর্মমার্গের অনুশীলন কারীদের। যুগ সন্ধিক্ষনে ঠাকুর সমগ্র মহাসাধকদের ধারাকে টেনে এনেছিলেন একটি নতুন ধর্মে । এবং ভক্তি ও প্রেমরস ছিল এই নতুন ধর্মের মূল সুতো । ঠাকুরের ভালোবাসার টানে যেমন ইংরেজি শিক্ষায় শিক্ষিত  নরেন ও কেশব সেন আসেন তাঁর কাছে , তেমনি অক্ষরজ্ঞানহীন লাটু মহারাজকেও দেখি পার্ষদ হিসেবেই । শরৎ ও শশীর মত বিচক্ষণ ও জ্ঞানী দুই ভাই এর পাশাপাশি রসিক মেথরকে দেখা যায় অবতারের খুব কাছে অবস্থান করতে। এটি কি জ্ঞান ও কর্মের দ্বারা হয়েছে ? না , এটি সম্ভব হয়েছে শুধু ভক্তি ও প্রেমের দ্বারা । ঠাকুরের সর্বগ্রাসী আলিঙ্গন বিভিন্ন ভাবের ব্যাক্তিকে এক সুত্রে বেঁধেছে ।

 

চৈতন্য অবতারের কঠোরতাটুকু বর্তমান সময়ে সকলে গ্রহণ করতে পারত না । প্রসঙ্গত কঠোরভাবে চৈতন্য যেমন নিজের পরিজনদের ত্যাগ করেছিলেন সেটি এক প্রকার চূড়ান্ত কঠোরতা হিসেবে সাধারণের মনে গ্রথিত ছিল । সেদিক দিয়ে লক্ষ্য করে দেখা যায় শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ নতুন পরিবর্তন এনে প্রমাণ করেছিলেন যে যুগধর্ম পাল্টে যায়। মানুষের ও সমাজের রুচি , সময় ও প্রকৃতি অনুযায়ী বদলে যায় নতুন ছাঁচে , আদলে । তিনি নিজে যেমন বলতেন, ‘বাদশাহি আমলের টাকা কোম্পানীর আমলে চলে না!’      

 

শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ দর্শন ও লীলা অনুদ্ধান করলে আমরা দেখি ভক্তি সাগরে ডোবার জন্য ঠাকুর প্রতিনিয়ত শিক্ষা দিয়ে যাচ্ছেন তার গৃহী এবং সন্ন্যাসী শিষ্যদের। শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণ কথামৃতর পাতায় প্রায়ই দেখা যাচ্ছে শ্রীশ্রী ঠাকুর বলছেন কলিতে ভক্তিযোগ শ্রেষ্ঠ । ভক্তি থেকে যে জীবন উৎপন্ন হয় সেটি অতি শীঘ্রই ঈশ্বরের নিকটবর্তী হয়। ঠাকুরের জীবনদর্শন তাঁর অনুগামীরা বিভিন্ন সময় প্রচার করেছেন। স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ পাশ্চাত্যে থাকাকালীন সময়ে যদিও মূলত জ্ঞান ও কর্মযোগ এর ওপর বক্তব্য রেখেছেন পাশ্চাত্য ভক্তদের কাছে; কিন্তু তার অত্যন্ত ঘনিষ্ঠ পাশ্চাত্য ভক্তমন্ডলী স্বামীজীর কাছে ঠাকুরের দেওয়া ভক্তিযোগের শিক্ষা এবং দর্শন লাভের সৌভাগ্য অর্জন করেছেন। প্রসঙ্গত উল্লেখ্য ভারতবর্ষে ফিরে তিনি তার পাশ্চাত্য কিছু ভক্ত যেমন নিবেদিতা, মিস ম্যাকলাউড,ওলি বুল এবং আরো কয়েকজনকে নিয়ে হিমালয় ভ্রমণে গেলেন। এটি ওই শিষ্যদের ভক্তি মার্গে বিশেষ শিক্ষা দেবার জন্যই আয়োজিত এক ভ্রমণ। অবশ্য স্বামীজীর নিজস্ব প্রজ্ঞা ভূমি ছিল বেদান্ত চর্চা যার মূল দীক্ষা কিন্তু শ্রীশ্রী ঠাকুরই  স্বামীজিকে দিয়েছিলেন । দেখা যাচ্ছে বেদান্ত চর্চাকে স্বামীজি ‘ভক্তিমার্গ এবং প্রেম’ এই মহাভাব থেকে আলাদা করার জন্য মায়াবতীতে অদ্বৈত আশ্রম স্থাপন করলেন।  যেখানে শংকর, রামানুজ এই সকল মহাপুরুষেরা ধর্মের একটি নিজস্ব ধারার প্রচলন করেছিলেন সেখানে শুধুমাত্র প্রেম ও ভক্তির সহায়তায় শ্রীশ্রী ঠাকুর এই ধারাগুলির মধ্যে এক অপূর্ব সমন্বয় স্থাপন করে দেখিয়েছেন । সেজন্য আমরা ঠাকুরকে আদ্যাশক্তি মা কালীর সম্মুখে পুরোহিতরূপে পাই, ইসলামের সাধক হিসেবে মসজিদেও দেখি, খ্রীষ্ট বন্দণাতেও দেখি । আর স্বামীজি ঠাকুরকে সম্পূর্ণরূপে যেমন মন্দির প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন, যেমন মূর্তি পূজা করেন নিজেই বেলুড় মঠে দুর্গা পূজার আয়োজন করে,  ঠিক সেইভাবে কোন মূর্তি ছবি ইত্যাদি ছাড়াই হিমালয়ের কোলে অদ্বৈত বেদান্তের সাধন করার জন্য অদ্বৈত আশ্রম স্থাপন করেন! এই সমন্বয় সাধন সম্ভব হয় ভক্তি ও প্রেমের সুত্র ধরেই!   

 

ভক্তি পথের প্রাধান্য ঠাকুর এইজন্যই দিচ্ছেন কারণ এতে মানুষ পূজা হয়। ঠাকুর বলেন ‘পাষাণে তার আবির্ভাব হয় , আর মানুষে হয় না’? নররূপী নারায়ণ ! মানুষ অবতার! পাশ্চাত্য ধর্ম ও দর্শন মানুষকে পশুর সঙ্গে তুলনা করে। যেমন ডারউইন মানুষকে বলেন বায়োলজিক্যাল অ্যানিমাল । পাশ্চাত্য পণ্ডিতেরা বলেন "Rational Animal", অ্যারিস্টোটল জানান "Political Animal", বেঞ্জামিন ফ্রাঙ্কলিনের চোখে "Tool Making Animal",  মার্কস মানুষকে দেখেছিলেন "Social Being" হিসেবে ইত্যাদি। একটু এগিয়ে নৃতত্ত্ববিদেরা বলেন 'Homosapiens' - 'চিন্তাশীল'। কিন্তু চিন্তা পশুরাও করে,  টুল মেকিং অনেক প্রাণী আছে। সোশ্যাল আর বায়োলজিক্যাল তো হাঁস, গরু, কুকুর ইত্যাদিও । তবে …… ?

 

পাশ্চাত্য ধারণাকে চ্যালেঞ্জ জানিয়ে বেদ মানুষকে ঘোষণা করেন 'অমৃতস্য পুত্রাঃ' বলে। Son of Bliss ।  কিন্তু আরো ওপরে উঠে শ্রীরামকৃষ্ণের ভাষায় সম্পূর্ন নতুন মত শোনা যায়,-  "মানুষ ঈশ্বর চিন্তা করতে পারে। পারে অসীম আনন্দের কথা ভাবতে ।" এটাই মানুষের বিশেষত্ব যা অন্য পশু-পাখি পারে না। মানুষ জন্মায় অসীম সম্ভাবনা নিয়ে। এবং ভক্তি ও প্রেম মানুষের সেই দিব্য আচরণের বহিঃপ্রকাশ , যা তাঁকে সমগ্র জীব কুল থেকে স্বকীয়তা প্রদান করে। করে তোলে জীব শ্রেষ্ঠ ! 

 

 

A - TETE’ – A – TETE’

The Brahmo Samaj by Raja Ram Mohan Roy was divided into two parts at that time. ‘Adi Brahmo Samaj’ headed by Maharshi Debendra Nath Tagore and ‘Sadharan Brahmo Samaj’ founded by Shri Keshav Chandra Sen. The ‘Adi Brahmo Samaj’ was against idol-worship but the modern were followers of the atheistic policy. One of the eminent leaders of Adi Brahmo Samaj was Raj Narayan Bose. The date of his daughter Lilavati’s marriage was fixed on April 1882.

The young man was looking for a rented fiton car, after getting down from a steamer in ‘Babughat’, Kolkata. Throughout the day, it was raining, so the place became dirty, muddy and splashy. It seemed that the man was not habituated of walking in such a horrible place. The place was crowded with passengers and porters and a careless fellow stamped on his pristine shoes and dirtied them. He did not get any rented cart, and started walking towards Lalbazar area. The boy stood in front of a rickshaw stand and looking for something and all of a sudden a well-decorated cart stooped in front of him, an old man asked from inside – ‘Hey, what a surprise! What are you doing here?’

They knew each other. The young man answered. “I was going to your place. But the steamer was late, I was supposed to reach there by 12 O’clock and now it is one. Everyone is waiting for me.’

-‘That’s true. Come, I’ll give you lift, we thought that you will not come.’

-‘No, I have given them word that before Lilavati’s marriage I’ll teach them the songs so that they could sing on that auspicious day.’

This 21 years old man was famed as a renowned lyricist and poet in Kolkata at that time. It was a tradition of singing spiritual songs, in the marriage parties of ‘Brahmos’, so the young man was requested to prepare a chorus team for the purpose.

There were a total of 10 to 15 men in that hall. The young man entered in and asked for the excuse of his being late. He started with a total of 5 members in the chorus team. All the five singers were on the age of 18 to 21. They were expert singers, so quickly they have learnt the first two songs. But the third one was tuned in classical dhrupad style, and except one, the other four singers were not be able to sing it well.

The young teacher asked that boy to sing the song alone once. Aged about 19 years with fair complexion, without any hesitation the boy started,

তোমারেই করিয়াছি জীবনেরই ধ্রুবতারা

এ সমুদ্রে আর কভু হব নাক পথহারা

[“ You are my guiding star

In this ocean will I never stray afar.”]

The teacher was really satisfied and remarked, “You will sing this song alone in the party.”

The story is going without the introduction of the characters. The names of those five singers were, Nagendra chatterjee, Sunder Mohan Das, Kedar Mitra, Chunilal and Narendra Nath Dutta, who became Swami Vivekananda later. The young teacher was called as ‘Rabibabu’ by the nearer and dearer ones. His good name was Rabindra Nath Tagore.

It was the first meeting and rendezvous between the two great Indian legends. Their second meeting was really peculiar and strange, 17 years after the above-mentioned incident.

1890, The tenant of 16, Bose para Lane, Baghbazar, Kolkata, was Sister Nivedita, an Irish lady. She was so impressed by the lectures of Vivekananda in England, that she left her own country and migrated to India to serve the country. She wanted to open a Girls school to strengthen women’s education in the country. As a foreigner it was really difficult for her. Nivedita was looking for some valuable advice from the intellectuals of then Kolkata. Swamiji asked her to arrange a tea party in a Saturday evening of January and asked her to invite the group of respected citizens of Kolkata.

The invitees started gathering from 5 O’ clock evening. The family members of ‘Thakurbari’ ( Tagore’s house) of ‘Jorasanko’ were there like Sarala Devi, science graduate of Presidency College, Swarnakumari Devi (Rabindra Nath’s elder sister) and Rabindra Nath Tagore himself. Moreover the attending physician of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa, Dr. Mahendra Lal Sarkar was also there in the meeting. Prof. Jagadish Ch. Bose and his wife Lady Abala Bose, who was a good friend of Nivedita, arrived in the meeting a little late. Undoubtedly the main attraction of the meeting was Swami Vivekananda. For the distinguish guests, Nivedita arranged many tasty dishes like cake, pastry, famous ‘rasgulla’, from Baghbazar and Swamiji’s favourite ice cream. Swamiji himself cooked something for the guests. Nivedita introduced each and everyone with Swamiji. Rabindra Nath wished ‘Namaskar’ to Swamiji and in reply Swamiji also did so. But none of them could recognize that 17 years before they met in a musical soiree as teacher-student. Rabindra Nath presented a song on Nivedita’s request. Swamiji said that only after providing food and shelter among the mass, we could spread the lessons of ‘Dharma’ and ‘Education’. Everyone agreed with him and supported Nivedita’s plan to open a Girls school, and finally with their support and help the ‘Nivedita Balika Vidyalaya’ had been established and it is still working with its full pride and excellence.
But there was no more conversation between Swamiji and Rabindra Nath, and that was their last meeting. 

Article ## 2 LAUGHTER with VIVEKANANDA

(published in Pratibha Magazine VKV)

The man of strongly serious character, a philosopher, writer, historian, socialist, educationist and what not adjective we can lay with the Cyclonic Hindu Monk, Swami Vivekananda. Fathoming Swamiji’s mystic personality is difficult, but contemplating is delightful. His razor-sharp intellect was escorted with phenomenal memory. An athletic physique, with lion’s courage in heart, his regal appearance was striking. Such a personality is basically born to inspire the mass. A man who had seen India and the World with his heart, travelled the length and breadth of the country, whose heart bleed for the poor, fallen and downtrodden, can he be HUMOROUS? Who was an authority for the most serious science- Vedanta, can he laugh sometime to make ambiance lighter and blissful?

Yes! Probably Swami Vivekananda’s sense of humour, his amble way of making fun & cutting jokes, were something unique that hardly we find among spiritual leaders. He was never defeated in talk and arguments, in logical fights, in responding to a complex turn of a vocal clash, except with his Guru, the most hilarious and witty, Sri Ramakrishna! The more we read about Vivekananda, we find that he was a man of divine bliss, happiness and whose smiling face with humorous appearance transformed the miserable to happy and blissful. His WIT, SATIRE, IRONY, FUN & HUMOUR is of supreme quality and utmost pleasant. In this micro write-up, we shall try to see some of the humorous incidents  & dialogue from the life of Swami Vivekananda, that will curve out the amusing Vivekananda from a man of totality.

Laughter started at home: In childhood, Naren’s (Vivekananda’s earlier name) restlessness and mischievous behaviour was well-known. With his sisters he had quarrel leaded to a situation where he was chased by his sisters for punishment. But he used to enter in road-side garbage easily and inviting them to catch him, knowing full well that they will not come once they had a bath.

One day a sweet vendor gave Naren and his friends an earthen pot-full of sweets as he was a family friend of Naren’s family. Naren took the pot for distribution, took a sweet out, touched it with tounge for test and intentionally dropped it in to the pot, saying, ‘Alas! What have I done? Now how my friends will have those sweets?

The amazing Child: Naren was 12 then. A British war-ship came to Calcutta for exhibition. People need to had permission from the Officer in-charge to see it. Naren went with an application for him & friends, but gate-keeper, seeing a child, restricted him to enter the premised. Naren went  to the back side and climbed to the chamber of the officer. Seeing his bravery and intelligence, the officer accepted his application. While returning from the main gate, gate-keeper surprising asking him about his entry to the building. Naren replied, ‘Hum jadu janta hain!’ (I know magic.)

Laughter continues in youth: During his college life, one of his poor friend, Haridas Chatterjee, could not manage the exam fees. Naren assured him that he will manage it by requesting the office clerk Raj Kumar babu. But Raj Kumar babu rejected the application of Naren. Defeated, Naren was finding a way-out. He knew that Raj Kumar sometime visits the Ganja (a smoking item for intoxication) bar in a remote area of the city. Naren was seen in the area at evening and he caught RajKumar Babu red handed. The trapped man, in no case, wanted the scandal to spread in college. Subsequently, Haridas was allowed to sit in the exam without paying the fees.

One of his friend was introducing him with someone, saying, ‘Naren is the master of all most all the subjects, there’s hardly any, where he is not an expert!’

Naren quickly replied, ‘Why? Mathematics! I swirl in that!’

Laughter with the Master: Naren was tunning a tanpura for long, before singing a bhajan for Sri Ramakrishna. Thakur was bored. He humored, ‘What a disgusting tong tong sound! Feel like breaking it! It will be tuned today, song will be tomorrow!’ One of the witty disciple remarked, ‘Before great performance, one need to have patience!’ Naren replied murmuring, ‘Why to pay heed to such things!’ Sri Ramakrishna burst with laughter, ‘There he is! Defeated all of us!’

Even when our versatile leader was in distress of tough time, we saw him, making fun of himself. A heart-rendering scene in Baranagore Math! Naren and his friends were not having good and sufficient food, cloth and shelter for some consecutive years. Naren was humorously asking a friend, ‘Give me a soft brick, I shall make a comfortable pillow of it!’

Laughter of the Wandering Monk: During his wandering of the country, he was once staying at the residence of Trailokya Nath Ghoshal in Meerut. Mr. Ghoshal’s two daughters were very fond of Swamiji. For fun Swamiji nick named them as ‘Nikasha Aunty’ and ‘Surpanakha Aunty’. If they became angry, he consoled them by saying, ‘Oh ho! Those two aunties were not ordinary! Sri Rama himself cut the nose of one and Bibhishana was the son of the other’. While serving chutney after food, Swamiji warned them, ‘Look, let not your saliva dropped in to the bowl.’

He was wandering in Bihar. At that time, every unknown monk was suspected by the British police and strong eyes were kept on them. A group of police stopped him at the road, ‘Who are you? From where have you come?’ Swami replied, ‘I’m a wandering monk.’ The constable barked, ‘Every saint or monk is dishonest! I know well. Come with me to the police station, you will be kept behind bar for 2/3 weeks.’

-‘Respected Khan Saheb! Is it possible for you to extend my punishment for at least 6 months?’ Swamiji’s polite enquiry. Khan surprisingly asked the reason. Swamiji replied, ‘See, outside I need to struggle a lot for food and shelter. At least, in your custody the worry will not be there!’

Khan Saheb became extremely annoyed and shouted, ‘Bhago hiyase’! (Get lost from here).

This is Vivekananda! This is his comical way of making a proudly stupid, a fool and vulnerable.

There are 10 sects among the monks, namely, Giri, Puri, Pahad, Parvat, Sagar etc. Sri Ramakrishna order was of Puri sects as Thakur was initiated by Tota Puri. Someone asked Swamiji in Hrishikesh, ‘Swamiji, you are of which sects, Giri or Puri?’ Swamiji’s straight way reply, ‘Kachori!’

The teacher’s satire: As Guru, Swamiji used to ask the new comers, who wanted to join monastic order, ‘My boy, why do you want to be a sanyasi? Is your wife not charming? Or golden chain and watch are not given to you as dowry?’

This is satire! Satire at its top form!

Fun in the West: Swamiji’s most obedient western disciple, Goodwin, once told Swamji about his own moustache, -‘Swamiji, A painter is ready to give me ten pounds to make this a model!’ Swamiji- ‘Yes, it would be the model of a pair of very nice broom.’

Swamiji’s one life-time admirer, Sturdy, was telling Goodwin about a teacher, who used to beat students- ‘I become awfully angry when I see a man beating a boy.’ To respond, unmindfully Goodwin told, ‘I too become awfully angry when I see a man beating a monkey.’

Swamiji intervened immediately, ‘Because, it rouses your fellow feeling!’

Cruel irony in teaching life-skill: At the last year of his life, a day in Belur Math. A group of youth came to him stating that they formed a committee to protest against the killing of cows by the Muslims. They were asking for some recommendation and help from Swamiji as he was an influential personality by then. Swamiji was annoyed as at that time the county was having problems of poverty, unemployment, week education structure etc where they brought an issue, irrelevant.he denied them. One of the boy was saying strongly, ‘We must protect cows as she is our mother (Go-mata)!’ 

Swamiji smiled and replied, ‘Absolutely! Or else who will produce such talented child like you people.’

The Last Laugh: Let us see a set of mystic dialogues with extreme serious humour, that established his oneness with advaita philosophy, that he revealed before living his mortal coil. It goes.

Just two days before the Mahasamadhi, July 2, 1902, Swamiji was describing to Sister Nivedita,

- “Sri Ramakrishna gave me the crusade to carry. Son is crying- ‘Oh father, why have you left me alone?’ Christ saw that Judas is standing near the road-side. ‘Judas, You traitor!’ suddenly He visualizes, ‘Where is the traitor Judas, This is my father itself! I and my father are one!’”

Vivekananda burst into loud laughter, “Ha! Ha! You silly girl, all is good! Nonsense!...I enjoy good and I enjoy evil. I was Jesus and I was Judas Iscariot; both my play, my fun!

Now I am going to be truly Vivekananda!”

Only Vivekananda’s laughter can go to this height!!  

Article ##3

THE MAKING OF A SANYASI

The 16^th of August, 1886. The world lost its great spiritual leader Sri Ramakrishna, who through his life showed that religion is not a theory, but a practical thought and present in every human being irrespective of all caste and creed. The only Man who proved that “All paths lead to the same destination, with different name and form,” ( JotÓ mÓt toto pÓth), who taught the world the universal tolerance, the gospel of social raising-up, the implementation of the scientific spiritualism. He left behind the job of eradicating social inequalities, biased spirituality, superstitions etc. He trained a group of soldiers for this noble venture. This group was headed by a youth having nerves of steel and muscles of iron, Narendra Nath Dutta.

Narendra Nath with 12 of his fellow friends suddenly became helpless and homeless after the demise of the great master. It was he, on whom Sri Ramakrishna handed over the responsibility of all those homeless and penniless but intelligent and brave boys who could sacrifice their lives for the society and at present who had left all worldly pleasures and comfort for a society which was spiritually demoralized and broken. Narendra Nath with his friends, was in search of a shelter where they could stay and carry on their meditation and other spiritual practices as directed by their Master. Sri Ramakrishna was staying at Cossipore Udyan Vati in his last days. That was a rented house. Narendra Nath and his other friends had to leave that house as the agreement period was over by 31^st Aug’1886. But their poverty did not allow them to rent another house. At last with the help of Surendranath Mitra ( a great disciple of Ramakrishna) they managed a barren, dilapidated house of a businessman Sri Bhuban Dutta. And that was the first Ashrama (math) of Sri Ramakrishna order – Baranagar Math.

Narendra Nath with others started staying at Baranagar Math where life was really tough. The period of their staying at Baranagar was 5 years and 3 months (19^th Oct 1886 to Feb,1892). The society was not helping them as some people treated them as escapists from family burden. Some wise and kind hearted persons were fulfilling the needs of the young sanyasis (monks) by providing the rent for the house or some food. Deep bushes and jungles surrounded the Math. The floor was dug up by the rats and there were many holes allowing the snakes to slither through. There were six rooms but all were damaged severely, whereas some walls or pillars were half or broken. In short, the Baranagar Math was an ideal place for many insects, animals and parasitic plants, and not at all fit for human beings. But the poverty of the young sanyasis, forced them to stay there, though they belonged to rich families. After taking sanyas they refused all comforts provided from their families.

These young disciples of Sri Ramakrishna were using the Math for their meditation, reading and other spiritual practices. They put up a photograph of Ramakrishna and arranged a pyol for their Nitya puja (daily prayer). All of them used to chant slokas from the Bhagavad Gita upto 10 O’clock in the morning and then go out to collect “Bhiksha” (food for the day) as the practice of begging is a must for a sanyasi. They were habituated to listening harsh words somewhere and words of praise and sweetness somewhere. But none could influence them. The sanyasis returned to the Math at noon and boil the collected rice in an earthen pot. In another pot chilli and salt was boiled. Boiled rice and the soup of chilli with salt was offered to Bhagaban Sri Ramakrishna and the food was spread over a cloth; which was surrounded by the boys of the Math. Everyone used to have his or her food from that common cloth. Undoubtedly it was not sufficient for them but no one was unhappy or dissatisfied, as with them the divine blessings and joy of Sri Ramakrishna was present. There were days when the residents of the Math were starving, but it did not stop their meditation and spiritual practices or penance. Food was secondary for these divine souls.

Just after the food all assembled for group discussion on a given topic by Narendra Nath. He was the leader for all such discussions. For his intellect, talent and knowledge, soon, all his friends had come to know about the different Vedas, Upanishads, Boddhik spiritualism, Pragya Paromita, Panini’s Vyakaran and the Sanskrit language in details. This continued upto the evening and then to make the atmosphere lighter they used to sing bhajans, songs of Guru-gita, Moh-mudgar, Krishna Kirtan, Shyama sangeet of Ramprasad and compulsorily Nirvan-Satakam.

At night Narendra nath would deliver discourses about World History, Geography, Sociology etc. The Math did not have good rooms to live in, good and sufficient food to have, comfortable environment, dresses for everyone, but, on the other hand, there was a good library with 34 books collected from different sources, and was arranged by Narendra Nath. Some famous books like ‘Kalki Purana’, ‘Bhagavat’ Purana, ‘Yoga Vasistha’, ‘Acharya & Shiva Samhita’, ‘Jabal’, ‘Mahabharata’, ‘Bible’, ‘Religion of social Evolution’, ‘Lawi’s history of philosophy’, ‘India asks who is Christ’ were there in the collection.

For general human beings, the life style of those sanyasis was beyond imagination. They used bricks for the comforting pillow when sleep overpowered them. Humorously Narendra Nath used to say ‘Give me a soft brick for comfortable sleep.’ The sanyasis passed many sleepless nights, as sometime they would be in deep meditation and Japā. One big cloth was torn into pieces for them to use as undergarments. There was only one white set of Dhoti and UttariyÓ in the Math. When any one of them used to go outside that set would be put on. Winter clothes were not there for them. Whenever tremendous cold troubled them, they used to start push-ups and ‘Dan baithak’ for warming up. Later on many disciples of Sri Ramakrishna like Girish Ghosh, Suren Mitra, Hutko Gopal etc. helped Narendra Nath and his other friends for their livelihood.

24^th Dec’1886, the Christmas eve, was the evening when Narendra Nath with his friends performed ‘Birojā Homā’ (sacrificial fire for initiating them to Sanyas) and declared themselves as ‘Sanyasis’ in Aatpur, and started using the ochre cloth regularly.

In Swamiji’s words: “After the passing away of the Master we underwent a lot of spiritual practices at the Baranagar Math. The austerities of that period were enough to dismay supernatural beings, not to speak of Man.” 

So, to conclude, we can say that the Baranagar Math is the birth place of a great spiritual movement with the philosophy and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and his mission, and though it was an ordinary dilapidated house but it was the preparatory ground for The making of a great Sanyasi - Narendra nath, who transformed into The Cyclonic Hindu Monk – Swami Vivekananda.       

 

Article ##4 : “SRI RAMAKRISHNA – THE NEED OF THE HOUR”

Sri Ramakrishna once told his disciples- “In the scriptures, it is written about twenty pots full ofknowledge water, but if we squeeze the scriptures not a single drop will come out of it.”

           

This statement signifies that we talk too much about good and effective theories but ignore the practical aspect of them.     The statement of his also proves that he was very much realistic and practical man having scientific outlook in his thoughts. Spiritualism was not his fashion or infatuation but the backbone for his life and mission.

            If we look at his lifestyle, academic career or his standard of living, we find that none of them are very attractive, modern or materially comfortable. But in fact in today’s world where life is rude, cruel, tough and self-centered in its approach, the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna is very much relevant and ideal to be followed by any individual. Let us look at some very scientific and realistic teachings of this great master that we should follow in our day-to-day life.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CAMEL OR A SWAN? Sri Ramakrishna asked one of his disciples. A camel chews thorny plants of the desert without noticing that it causes bleeding of the mouth. Similarly we human beings are attached and infatuated by all the worldly pleasures and desires knowing that these are not going to return any value to us. Material happiness is nothing but the transformation of material sorrow. On the other hand a swan can separate the mud from the water before drinking. Ramakrishna advises us to be like the swan so that we can accept only the pure and good things from the society that are mixed with all odds and evils.

Early in his childhood, his teacher asked the students of the Pathshala (primary school) to do two sums, one addition (2+3) and the other subtraction (8-3). Gadadhar (Ramakrishna’s childhood name), submitted both the sums quickly and the teacher saw that he had performed only the addition and not the subtraction. On asking the reason, Gadadhar replied –“ I know YOG (addition) and not VIYOG (subtraction).” This particular incident bears a great message of national integrity, unity and brotherhood, where by the word YOG he meant unity among different races and religions by accepting and tolerating their views and ideas. Swami Vivekananda had sacrificed his whole life to preach this message of universal toleration and brotherhood to unite people of various caste, creed and religion.

We must develop the power of logical thinking and decision-making. Sri Ramakrishna cited the example of a disciple whose Guru told him to bow and respect creatures of this world, because Sri Narayana resides in all of them. One day this disciple met an elephant on his way to the jungle. He bowed and offered his Pranam by standing in its way. The Mahout (controller of the elephant) sitting on the back of the elephant shouted to the disciple to stand aside but he ignored him. The elephant on seeing a man standing in its way became angry and wrapping up the disciple in its trunk threw him aside. The injured disciple came back to his Guru and narrated the entire incident. The Guru said, “You were too busy with the elephant Narayana, but the mahout Narayana was also warning you, why didn’t you listen to him?” This story of Sri Ramakrishna teaches us that we should not follow any principle blindly. We must have flexibility, logical thinking and decision-making power so that we can adjust according to the demands of a situation.

The Great Master warned us and said that we must love others because we can conquer everybody with love. Swamiji once introduced Sri Ramakrishna saying that he is ‘LOVE personified’. In this modern age where we can send space shuttles for space explorations, we can destroy a country with nuclear weapons, collect crude oil from the deep sea bed, talk with anybody anywhere in the world through mobiles, but cannot love our fellow human beings, birds or animals. When the animals need food they labour hard in search of food and they don’t think twice before killing others for food. But once their hunger is satisfied they become peaceful and silent. But we human beings are never satisfied and we always yearn for more. This is the most evil nature of our character. Sri Ramakrishna once said- ‘Knowledge goes upto the drawing room but love can reach the bedroom’.

Before conclusion it must be stated that Sri Ramakrishna’s life is itself the practical worked out example of religion. Before him there were many wrong notions about ‘Dharma’ in our country. To implement all his plan and mission he had chosen Vivekananda as the perfect instrument for work. He sacrificed his life to make people understand the message of the Vedas and Upanishads in simplified form.

In the present world of terrorism, political inequalities, faulty educational system, weak economical infrastructure, a loveless society; if we start reading and culturing the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, a light can surely be seen in the darkness.

For the common people he had prescribed eight (8) points to remember in our day-to-day life—

1.            Sadhana (constant endeavour)

2.            Lajja (delicacy or modesty)

3.            Sachhidananda prem (love in the almighty / Great Brahman or atman)

4.            Mrityu swaran (remembering the death)

5.            Biswas (faith in the spirituality and in our ancient scriptures)

6.            Satarkata (awareness and carefulness)

7.            Byakulata (eagerness or perplexity to know the God)

8.            Anudhyana (meditation or continuous thinking)

Let us practise this ‘Astanga marg’ prescribed by Sri Ramakrishna and make our life pure, self conscious, positive and morally and ethically strong to be a perfect man. Surely the Man or God Ramakrishna is indeed, in this present world is the need of the hour.                                                            

Article ##5 :: Rendezvous with Vivekananda …

Slowly and steadily Your 150^th Birth anniversary has come and celebrating its glory! We all become excited and elated. We planned, undertaken, chalked out and formulated many activities and programme. Govt. releases Trains and projects in Your name, the westerners designed postage stamps. Flood relief, medical camps are organized keeping Your NAME in the banners. Children from schools and colleges are preparing cultural shows and events depicting Your life and message. All are for Your homage, tribute!

On the other hand, You are criticized in different level of intellectuals, in different wild & odd manners. Research works, centering You, are carrying out by many! ‘…Such a Godly and regal appearance, that’s why he could shake the world..!’, ‘Oh no, listen, they are incarnation of God, having super-natural power, how to measure them..’, ‘That’s not the matter in-fact, he used to butter up many Kings & landlords so…could, make some money!’ , ‘Oh Brother! Leave aside all Your talk; it was only the rich American women who managed all money for building his gigantic monastery in the name of Sri Ramakrishna!’ Those are some of the comments of some fools and wises about You. On the other hand, some emotionally charged up people say, ‘..Such a personality appears for the Earth once in an era!’, ‘It was never possible for anyone else to establish our religion and culture in the World platform, without him’, ‘Look at his life, how has He destroys himself in the services of mankind!’ In this way, humorously, sadly, in sweet & sour manner You are discussed, researched, criticized, praised, in past and for years to come and pass!!

Swamiji, in Your 150^th Birth anniversary we are not at all showing any sign of less-interest and enthusiasm. In roads, temples, schools, colleges, public places, in public buses, trains and off-course at our home You are photographed, pictured and worshipped. Some where Your close-arm-near-chest photo, somewhere with bald head & a stick You are in the scorching desert, somewhere with Chicago posture, somewhere You are sitting in mediation at the last bit of the Indian rock-Kanyakumari; all those photos, black/white or coloured, are bedecking our walls, notice boards and public places. Surely, it’s an excellent drive to celebrate birth anniversary of a giant like You!

But Swamiji! Some thoughts, in some redundant hour, disturb the mind, disquiet the mental setup. The thoughts, whenever effervesce to gear up, we follow some or the other odd ways to subside it. But all our efforts go in vein! Swamiji, sadly saying, Your talks and inspiration we could not match with our deed. It’s unfortunate, very unfortunate!

Swamiji, You once told, ‘Hypocrisy does not lead to noble achievement’! You wanted that the Youth of the country work with all enthusiasm & zeal, Let there be development everywhere, let the industries come-up, poverty feds away, all sort of religious biasness eradicate, let the universal religion of toleration and acceptance establish and a new India arises. But could we build Your India, in 150^th year of Your birth anniversary? Ethnic violence is claiming innocent lives, the dead bodies of old & children is putting scarlet cover on the highways, the destructive flames are burning the huts of the have-nots, the so called social reformers are sitting in hunger strike and arrested sometime after, corruption is widely discussed and the corrupted are having the dreaded laugh like Ravana & Kangsa! Some of us are talking about idealism and awakening, but not working in real sense. Some are trying to make fool of the population. While we distribute relief materials for the flood or draught effected, we wait for the reporters and photographers to come, the torn and used cloths are distributed just to get rid of them! On the other hand, during DurgaPuja, Bihu & festive times, we purchase the most costly dresses for ourselves, we too see that if there is any production defect on them, we go back to the shop and have a wide quarrel quoting the consumer law. Swamiji, in all such acts the scent of ‘Hypocrisy’ prevails, so the ‘noble achievement’ for us is a far-cry!

You told, ‘Faith in Yourself, faith in God, this is the secret of greatness’. But unfortunately, being the citizen of modern India, many of us could not gain ‘Faith’ in ourselves. We made unwanted pandemonium with Your photos, but not the thoughts. Being superstitious, Our weak mind compelled us to decorate living room with money-plant in a glass jar, to make quick money we keep black wallet & hand-bag with us, to increase our income we hide new note bundle in our almirah, we go for so called Yogic medicines, to be healthy without practicing yoga. So it is observed that, though we are worshipping Your photograph but not trying to be self-confident.

Somewhere You told, ‘Take up one idea. Make that idea Your life.’ Your master Sri Ramakrishna said, ‘Believe that all path leads to thee’. But now we see that to gain worldly profits we tie red ribbon in a tree, visit church on Friday-Sunday to draw cross at chest & to light a candle, then visit a fakir to have some sacred kabach, even try to learn some black magic to defeat relatives involved in land dispute! Some of us learn some Art, to have a purposeful Living. Our believe in own religion is shaken and not strong. This is just like to have an electronic gadget by rejecting the other.

About Indian Youth Your famous quote, ‘My faith is in Younger generation, out of them will come my workers.’ You also told, ‘It is character that cleaves its way through adamantine walls of difficulties.’ But very shamefully to admit, that a great number of Indian Youth have lost their moral character while following the devastating western culture. It is relief to some extent that You are physically not here to see such a day! The obscene SMS & MMS in the mobile phones, throwing slangs in the public places, spreading disturbance by a license-less bike riding, spreading terror among the masses just to earn easy money, road-blockade, picketing, strikes, using religious manifesto to mislead the people, guthkha consuming and making shaky steps of the drunken masters, are all ornaments of many of the modern day Youth. Have You ever thought of Your dream-India of this nature?

Apart from these, in many places You talked about strengthening of Indian women. You uttered that, ‘A country cannot prosper if the women are not worshipped there. Without Shakti (Power) there is no regeneration for the world. Why is it that our country is the weakest and the most backward of all countries? — Because Shakti is held in dishonour there.’ We obviously celebrate the Shakti-Puja in time. We extend our demand list to the Goddess, ‘Oh Mother, let there be a well salaried service for me, let there be healthy increment in my salary, please arrange a beautiful bride/groom for me, let my child pass exam with flying colours, Oh Mother, please see that the bonus that was due last year will be convened this time…and so on! On regular basis we light candle, earthen lamp at the lotus feet of the Mother Durga or Kali on every full moon or dark nights, even we arrange for goat sacrifice for the Mother. On the other hand, just to get rid of family problems we send our own mother to the Briddhashram (old-age home), to save money on mother’s treatment, we take her to an inefficient doctor. We torture the little sick girl of the hostel who had made her bed wet accidentally, we tease the Young girls on the road side. We perform Kumari-Puja at day and on the same evening slap the maid who has just pour inadequate amount of sugar in our evening tea! Lastly, not to make You scared by mentioning the practice, as continuing somewhere, of the killing of foetus after determining it as a girl!! So in this manner, we are undertaking the worship of women as Shakti, as envisioned by You!

But, Swamiji, the India of Your dream, is not dead! There are innumerous worker, following Your path, dedicated themselves silently in the different levels of society. Your clarion call has compelled many to work for the development and salvation of the masses. On the occasion of Your 150^th Birth Anniversary, they are reciting loudly like You,

‘Listen, friend, I will speak my heart to thee;

I have found in my life this truth supreme —

…Formulas of worship, control of breath,

Science, philosophy, systems varied,

Relinquishment, possession, and the like,

All these are but delusions of the mind —

Love, Love — that's the one thing, the sole treasure.

Oh our, National Hero, our beloved Swamiji, may be we don’t have a heart to contemplate on Your thoughts, a brain to conceive Your ideas, a physique to understand You better, but, we just want to say that we love YOU!

Article ##6:: SCULPTING OF AN ICON

‘Bilu..u..u,…. Billey, O Billey.’ An old lady is shouting from the ground floor of one of the building of Belur Math. Hearing that a sanyasi (monk) hurriedly comes down stair and becomes very happy to see the lady. He prostrated at her feet and then soon becomes busy with her in discussing family matters related to land disputes.

Years after this incident, the lady was narrating with pride to some of the young sanyasis, those who visited her to be acquainted with about her well being, that ‘My son became sanyasi on his 24^th year.’ Unfortunately ‘her son’ was not there in this world at that time.

The lady here was Srimati Bhubaneshwari Devi and the Sanyasi son was Swami Vivekananda.

It is known to everyone that initiating to sanyas means sacrificing all comforts as well as all relations and attachments. In the words of Swamiji himself – “Sanyas means in brief, start loving death, not suicide, but sacrificing your own self for the mankind, as death is very certain.”

The sanyasis have to perform their own funeral rites ( Shradha ) while initiating to sanyas called ‘Biroja Homa’. But, after all these when we see that Swamiji was crying at Ghazipur on hearing that one of his relative died in Calcutta , then what conclusion shall we draw?  Someone said him, ‘For Sanyasis it is shame to shed tears for old relatives.’ Swamiji replied immediately- ‘Shall I kill the love and concern from my heart for my fellow men, as I  am a Sanyasi? A sanyasi’s heart should be more softer then others as we are also human being. The sacrifice which directs us to be unkind I do not believe in that sanyas.’

Narendra Nath were ten (10) brothers and sisters. When he was Vivekananda, he was having a deep sense of love and concern for his mother and siblings. In the life of the great spiritual masters and leaders we find that they had deep love and affection towards their mother like Adiguru Sankaracharya, Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa or Swami Vivekananda. While wandering through India and America for the preaching of the gospel of ‘Hindutva’ he was also keeping track of his mother and relatives and their well being. From his letter addressed to Miss Sara Boll in 15^th Feb’1900, we came to know that he filled with grief after knowing that his sister lost her daughter who died of disease in Kolkata somewhere.

Swamiji’s love and dedication for her mother is reflected in his full life till death . It is not known to many of us that Swamiji visited many times to the Calcutta High Court for the settlement of their family’s land dispute, where many of his dishonest kith and kin cheated and exploited Bhubaneshwari Devi after the death of her husband Viswanath Dutta.

As the contribution of Sri Ramakrishna was worthwhile in making Narendra Nath, as Swami Vivekananda, in the same manner the symbol of patience, toleration and boldness , his mother Bhubaneshwari, was also responsible to a great extent.

We will try to through light on this Woman whose sacrifice was in no way lesser than that of a sanyasi though she was an ordinary housewife.

Bhubaneshwari Devi was the only daughter of her parents and was full of many virtues. She was exceptionally intelligent and possessed royal dignity and fire of one born, a versatile singer, was also noted for her unusual memory and knew by heart long passages from Mahabharata and Ramayana, having sound knowledge of English literature, spirituality and Indian philosophy. But Bhubaneshwari’s later life was full of sorrows and sufferings. Many of her children died in tender age, a daughter died of disease, the cyclonic monk Vivekananda’s ( her Naren) sudden death at 39 years, facing dire poverty, the fear of becoming ancestress less, and a long-term case on land dispute with relatives, who threatened to oust the family from home, all those made her life miserable. In spite of these problems she faced everything very boldly with strong determination of mind. Her approach to life was still positive. Perhaps that was the only reason that Swamiji’s nature and teaching was also followed the footsteps of his mother. Only a great mother can conceive a great child!

During that time (1865-70) women’s education in the country was a well-critisied concept and many influential people were its protester. But Bhubaneshwari Devi arranged for the knowledge of English Education for her daughter Jogendra Bala whose private tutor for English was the Principal of Bethun College Ms. Kamini Seal. Bhubaneshwari was married to a great joint family, but after the death of her husband Biswanath Dutta, she became alone as the eldest son Narendra Nath was a sanyasi, the second son (Mahendra Nath) was wandering in different countries, the younger one (Bhupendra Nath) was associated with freedom fighting and escaping the eyes of the British police,

her daughter Jogindra Bala (Swamiji’s sister) committed suicide in her in-laws house in Shimla and not the in-laws but Bhuneshwari under took the care for Jogindra Bala’s two minor daughters. It is to be noted that when Bhubaneshwari’s son-in-law got married for the second time she invited both the bride and groom and extended warm hospitality for many days at her residence. Such a great toleration is possible only in a country like Bharatbarsha and among the Bharatiya mothers.

In the last part of his life Swamiji told his disciples – ‘I will not able to be Vivekananda if my mother’s contribution and dedication would not have been there.’

In another place he said-‘I indebted greatly to my mother for the exploration of different knowledge in me, it is only she who ignited me to learn the life from close quarters.’ . During his wandering in India and tour to America, he arranged for his mother’s livelihood by requesting Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri to send Rs.100/- every month to Bhubaneshwari. So we can easily put forward that Swamiji’s life is constructed with two great masters- Sri Ramakrishna and of course mother Bhubaneshwari Devi. Swamiji’s in 1901 tells his disciples and followers – ‘He who does not worship his mother cannot become great.’

Bhubaneshwari was born in 1841, gave birth to 10 children and was passing a luxurious life. But after the death of her husband at the age 43 she became penniless and bankrupt and with her minor children she lost her original house and land as the relatives cheated her, elder son left home and at her 61 year age she suffered the death of her elder son Narendra Nath. What more miseries can a mother suffer after all these?

A light in darkness is that Swamiji could manage to win over his relatives on the land dispute in the last year of his life (1902) and succeeds to provide his mother a shelter before he left for heavenly abode. Even Swamiji, in 1901, took his mother for pilgrimage to the Chandranath temple of  Dhaka and Kamakhya in Guwahati, Assam.

Some important dates related to Bhubaneswari’s land dispute and releasing of letter of administration from Calcutta High Court: -

1887 – First case file petition with Swamiji’s aunt Jyanada Sundari with English barrister Mr. Pieu against Bhubaneshwari.

8^th May’1887 – Swamiji appeared as witness in court and declared himself as unemployed.

14^th May’1887 – Bhubaneshwari owned only a part of their old house from the court.

10^th Nov’1887 – Swamiji’s aunt again file a case against Bhubaneshwari.

1888 – On the report of Robert Bell Chambers the land was suggested to be partitioned.

23^rd Nov’ 1888 – Only a portion was given to Bhubaneswari.

28^th June’1902 – Swamiji visited court for the last time and on that day itself the final judgment was given in favour of Bhubaneswari Devi and Swami Vivekananda.

4^th July’1902 – Swamiji left his worldly state forever (just after 6 days of the final judgment).    

Such a life full of struggle the mother and son had passed. The great mother Bhubaneswari left her worldly body and merged with the Supreme Lord on 25^th July 1911, nine years after the passing of her son, the cyclonic Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda.

Article ##7

SWAMIJI IN ASSAM

It was 11^th of September 1993, I was standing with my friend in front of the vast campus of Quinton Hall in Shillong. The Hall was decorated so beautifully, that it could draw the attention of the people. The chandeliers were hung from the roof of the Hall. The organizers and the Sanyasis of Ramakrishna Mission were quite busy out there. The Historic Quinton Hall was bedecked with flowers and lights.

Our exams over, and our results awaiting, we decided to visit Shillong. My relative (where we stayed courtesy his warm hospitality) was an active worker of Shillong Ramakrishna Mission. He said that we were lucky to be a part of a great programme to be celebrated in Quinton Hall on 11^th Sept. In the evening we went there with him. We were so excited as the occasion marked the centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda’s sermon at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. And certainly you all are acquainted with that glorious chapter.

But presently where we were standing. “The Quinton Hall” was also graced by the divine footsteps of Swamiji in 1901. Not only that he had also mesmerized the audience by his valuable and heart-rendering address, on the evening of 27^th April; and it was the last public appearance undertaken by Swamiji. Whatever the fact, I came to know about Swamiji’s visit to Assam in my student days and I would like to share the same with you today.

It was his mother’s ( Bhubaneshwari Devi ) wish to visit the holy Chandranath temple of Dacca (presently the capital of Bangladesh), and accordingly the Swami went there with his mother. After that he came to Assam in 1901 to visit the holy shrine- Kamakhya. He performed the ‘Kumari Puja’ in the temple. Lets have a glimpse of the certificate issued by Swamiji on 17^th April 1901, to appreciate the hospitality of the Panda Sri Lakshmikanta and Sivakanta Sharma.

“I have great pleasure in certifying the great amiability and helpfulness of the brothers Sivakanta and Lakshmikanta Panda of Sri Kamakhya Tirtham. They are men who help most and are satisfied with the least. I can unhesitatingly recommend them to the Hindu public visiting the most holy shrine.”

-          Swami Vivekananda, 17^th April, Gauhati.

In the house of Panchanan Sharma (the descendent of Lakshmikanta and Sivakanta), still we find the bed, the table and some other things that were used by Swamiji. Undoubtedly, the certificate is the mark of pride for the people of Assam.

Swamiji inaugurated the Quinton Hall on 27^th April’1901. This hall was named after the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, J.W. Quinton. Sir Henry Cotton (the founder of Cotton College), took Swamiji to Shillong to inaugurate the Hall and to deliver a speech there. The present name of the Quinton Hall is ‘Vivekananda Cultural Center’ .

The Swami came to Assam by a steamer of ‘River Steamer Navigation Co.’ of Dacca, and first stopped in Dhubri. The only way of transportation to Assam at that time was the waterways. To know more about the socio-economic scenario of Assam when Cotton College was established (27^th May’1902), interested readers can go for the book “Cotton gaurav ne Asom shourov” by Sri Anup Hazarika, released on the centenary celebration of Cotton College held in May,2001. However, the Swami went to Shillong from Guwahati, by a cart and the fare was only Rs.6/- per head.

We enjoyed a worthy evenings in the unforgettable Quinton Hall, by attending the valuable and encouraging lectures delivered by the Sanyasis and other delegates of Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda order followed by the devotional songs presented by some talented artists. It was really a memorable evening whose fond remembrance still freshens me up.

Article ##8

SWAMIJI’S   TASTE   BUDS

Sri Ramakrishna, the Guru of Swami Vivekananda, once said very practically, “No, religion is possible without bread.”

It was one of the characteristics of Swamiji that he was very fond of tasty dishes. Since his childhood he had sharp culinary tastes. At Barrister Vishwanath Dutta’s residence jafrani, Nawabi pulao and kalia were served almost regularly. In his sanyas, Swamiji came into contact with different types of dishes in various parts of the country during his travel. He accepted them with pleasure vegetarian and non-vegetarian, both were his favourites.

Once, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna complained to the master about the food habits of Naren. The Master answered – “Naren is a pure and divine soul, inside him the “Brahmagni” (the holy fire) is burning, any food is burnt into ashes as soon as they enter into but others cannot digest them.”

Swamiji was not only fond of tasty dishes, but he was a good cook also. His preparations were praised by others. From the description of Sri Mahendra nath (Swami’s younger brother) we come to know that by learning some French recipes, Swamiji became an expert cook of French and other international dishes. Once while he was in America, he prepared some delicious servings and dished in a waiter’s costume and white napkins in both his hands. But after having the food one Mr. Landsburg shouted –“Oh God save me, save me.” He wrote afterwards – “Swamiji’s preparation was really very tasty but he uses too much of chili powder, which is tough to digest.”

Swamiji enjoyed being in a kitchen preparing different dishes for others. But very few dared to be in a kitchen with him, because he ground the spices by himself and used to fry them in hot butter (ghee) in a pan, soon the smoke came out like an Arabian Genie, caused tremendous cough and started watering from the eyes and nose. Swamiji enjoyed this and used to declare – “Now, the grandfather is arising, so Ladies, and Gentlemen may leave the room, at once!”

Once, one of his disciples asked him about his fondness for chillies. The Great Master, smiled and answered – “A Sanyasi has to drink water of different places, which may be impure, so to purify the pollution, green chillies are effective.”

While Swamiji was in England, he cooked delicious hotch-potch. One night in Ms. Macleod’s (Swamiji’s disciple and admirer from England) residence, he described the same, in his own words: “Last night I cooked hotch-potch for them by adding lavender, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, butter, lemon juice, onion, raisin, nuts, black pepper, saffron and of course rice and dal. I made such that myself could not swallow it. The asafetida was not at home or I would have mixed it.”

On the other hand the Swami had starved for many days during his wanderings in the country. After the death of his father, two square meals were even not possible for his family members. Out of frustration he became an agnostic. After the demise of his Master Sri Ramakrishna, he started staying at ‘Baranagar Math’ with his sanyasi fellow mates. To fetch two square meals a day, turned harder due to poverty. Occasionally they could manage rice but without vegetables, they were bound to have that only with salt and chilli. Once while he was wandering at Ghazipur, he did not find any water to quench his thirst fro 48 hours, as people had to purchase it. While traveling through Bihar, he had to take dried burnt roti, chapatti, litti, tikkar etc. that were very hard to digest.

However Swamiji was very conscious of good food habits. He suggested taking pure, fresh and nutritious food to lead a longer life, disease-free. In his writings, he explained, “The fried items are real poison. Sweetmeat shops are Yama’s residence. It is better to take less oil and butter in a country like ours. There is very lesser calorific value in flour than wheat. We invite death by having more and more spicy and fried food. Too much of sweets are also harmful. Few children cannot digest the concentrated cow’s milk and due to ignorant mothers, they are made to drink that which leads to lever and acid peptic disorder. Take medicines as less as possible. Walk daily in the morning, and try to avoid visit to a physician.”

If we do not talk of Swamiji’s love for ice cream then this writing will remain incomplete. No one ever had seen him, saying ‘NO’ to ice cream. Ms. Macleod once asked him -‘Master, how do you find strawberry?’

-‘Strawberry? I didn’t taste that ever.’     

-‘Strange, but you are taking it daily with ice cream!’

-‘Oh, if you mix even stone chips with ice cream, I’ll swallow it without noticing.’

A heart rendering scene in the last year of the Great Master’s life- Swamiji said to Ms. Macleod, one morning –‘What ever I had to give to the world, have finished. I shall leave now as I have nothing more in my possession.’

Without getting into the inner meaning of the sentence, Ms. Macleod said –‘Master, I shall give you 50 dollars every month for your expenses till the last day.’

-‘Will that be sufficient for my livelihood?’ like a child the Master asked.

-‘It will do, but possibly without ice cream daily.’ She answered in sorry voice.

After that day, Swamiji started accepting 50 dollars from her, and could receive for next two months and then, left his worldly state forever leaving his holy spirit to work with us tirelessly.

OM TAT SAT

Article ##9

THE MAGIC OF INSPIRATION – Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda is one of the most dynamic personalities in the history of the world. Fathoming Swamiji’s mystic and intelligent personality is difficult, but contemplating is delightful. His razor sharp intellect was escorted with phenomenal memory. An athletic physique, with lion’s courage in heart, his regal appearance was striking. Such a personality is basically born to initiate the magic of inspiration among the masses. Innumerable worldly scholars were inspired and motivated by Swami Vivekananda, both in East and West.

Following pieces of write-ups are the snap-shots of those brilliant masterminds in their respective fields, who were directly or indirectly inspired by Swami Vivekananda.

Romain Rolland: Romain Rolland was a French Nobel Laureate, considered as one of the greatest philosopher of the World. A savant and one of the finest examples of Gallic grace and intellectual culture,   says about Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts, “I can’t touch these sayings of his without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports, must have been produced when in burning words they were issued from the lips of the hero!” Vivekananda was a great source of inspiration to him, inspiration that made him create more for the mankind.

J.R.D. Tata:   A great Industrialist of all time J.R.D. Tata is a pioneer in India’s business culture. In 1938, at the age of 34, he became the Chairman of Tata & Sons, the largest industrial group of the country. The founder of this group Jamsetji Tata was a follower and devotee of Swami Vivekananda and it is worth mentioning that Swamiji is the source and inspiration of establishing such a great group in our country. Under his guidance, this trust established Tata memorial Center for Cancer Research & Treatment, Bombay, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and so on. He was awarded with the most prestigious civilian award Bharat Ratna, Padma Bibhushan, Guggesheim Medal etc. to mention a few.

Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata and Swami Vivekananda was travelling from Japan to USA in a ship. On his first meeting with Swamiji he was greatly impressed by this Sanyasi and told him about his intension of bringing steel industry to India. Swamiji blessed him and added that Tata should focus on bringing the manufacturing technology to the country and the material science should be build within the country. With the blessings of Swamiji, he established Tata Steel in Jamsedpur, which is rolling 26 million tons of crude steel every year. J.N Tata also contributed to start a science research wings namly Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore.

He quoted, “I know not who would make a more fitting general of such a campaign than Vivekananda.”

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam : The Ex-President of our country Dr. Kalam was popularly known as Missile Manager for his remarkable contribution in the field of science and technology. A man of wisdom, a visionary for a Samarth Bharat, an intellectual with a noble heart, a patriot in true sense, a motivating figure for many, is steered up greatly with the thoughts and messages of Swami Vivekananda.

Dr. APJ was born to a poor family, but rose to towering heights in life. He was responsible for the development of AGNI and PRITHVI missiles. He is also the scientific advisor to Defense and worked out the POKHRAN – II nuclear test that made the country a nuclear weapon state. His literary pursuits were ‘Wings of Fire’, India 2020-A Vision for the new millennium’, ‘My Journey’, ‘Ignited Minds’ etc. For his Excellence, he was awarded with Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Bibhushan etc.

He quoted once, “Swami Vivekanada's message is unique and the world needs it. He says "My name should not be made prominent. It is my ideas that I want to be realized".

Netaji Subhash Ch. Bose: The work of Subhash Bose for the country was unparallel because of his courage, bravery, sharp intellect and immense love for his motherland. He moved alone to Japan and later on to German and formed Indian National Army. He believed that only by shedding blood it is possible to make the country free, so he resigned from Indian National Congress and chalked out his plan of action. Netaji is a man who motivated many freedom fighters to sacrifice their lives for libaration.

He used to stare continuously at the photograph of Swami Vivekananda for inspiration. Netaji himself quoted: ‘If Swami Vivekananda had been alive today, he would have become my Guru, that is to say, I would have accepted him as my master. It is needless to add, however, that as long as I live, I shall be absolutely loyal and devoted to him.”

Barack Obama, President of USA: The US President also read Swami Vivekananda extensively. On his visit to India he quoted, “Instead of succumbing to division, you have shown that the strength of India - the very idea of India - is its embrace of all colors, all castes, all creeds. It's the diversity represented in this chamber today. It's the richness of faiths celebrated by a visitor to my hometown of Chicago more than a century ago - the renowned Swami Vivekananda.”
Azim H. Premji, Wipro: Azim Premji is one of the successful businessman and visionary of our country. His thoughts and actions were also inspired by Swamiji. In of his speech he quoted,
‘I would like to end with words of Swami Vivekananda: "Our duty is to encourage every one in his struggle to live up to his own highest idea, and strive at the same time to make the ideal as near as possible to the Truth. Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs rot there, undigested all your life. We must have life-building, man-making, character-making, assimilation of ideas. If you have  assimilated five ideas and made them your  life and  character, you have more education than any man who has got byheart a whole library." ..’ Anna Hazare: This famous social activist and a reformer of modern day is greatly inspired by Swamiji’s quotation. He came across a book of Swami Vivekananda and immediately bought it. He was inspired by Vivekananda's photograph on the cover. As he started reading the book, he found answers to all his questions, he says. The book revealed to him that the ultimate motive of human life should be service to humanity. Striving for the betterment of common people is equivalent to offering a prayer to the God, he realized. Not this is the list of the people who were directly or indirectly got inspiration from this cyclonic Hindu Monk, but there were many who silently sacrificed their lives for the service of mankind. And such souls are yet to come as Swamiji’s magic of inspiration is a never-ending divine process, it will motivate people for ages. Article ##10 THE SAVIOUR OF MANKIND-‘GURU’ Perhaps the Sanskrit word ‘Guru’ is not having any synonyms in English. ‘Master’ or ‘Teacher’ is a near but narrow match. In Sanskrit the word ‘Guru’ is explained as such ‘Gu’ means Darkness and ‘Ru’ is the light or remover of the Darkness. In some other explanation ‘Gu’ stands for ‘Maya’ or illusion and ‘Ru’ is the supreme power Brahma that tears the curtain of ‘Maya’. In a Pranam Mantra for Guru it is said : -             Guru Brahmā Guru Vishnu Guru Devo Maheswara             Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Tasmai Shree Guruve Namah. In the above verse ‘Guru’ is considered as ‘Brahma’, ‘Vishnu’ and ‘Maheswara’- the Trio-God having highest respect according to the Hindu believe. ‘Guru’ or Mater generally speaking comes in the form of a human body. Then why does He considered as Trio-God? Is it exaggeration? On the other hand Vedanta says “Ekmebedwitiyam!”- i,e ‘there is no dual existence except one’! The God is one and almighty. It is a power that generates life in the flora and fauna   and other objects of this Universe. So is calling ‘Guru’ as God (Brahma, Vishnu, Maheswara) is only colourful talk? Or description of ‘Guru Mahima’ in the ‘Guru Geeta’ is only ornamental literary works? No, not at all! Sri Ramakrishna explains, ‘From distance the sea water appears blue in colour, but if you go near we can experience its colourlessness. In the same way ‘Kali’(the Mother) looks black complexion, but if we go near Her i.e, if we start studying and meditating on Her then She will appear as formless and shapeless (Anadi, Ananta) almighty God.’ Through this small example he supported and proved the believes of the both idol-worshippers and the worshippers of the infinite formless supreme power. When a human body takes birth, the life of the body is initiated there by ‘Brahma’, the God of life. In later stage, the body grows young and middle-aged with physical and intellectual development. Here it needs the spiritual development to sustain. This stage is taken care by the ‘Palan-Karta Vishnu’, the God of creativity. After that the mortal coil turns into ashes and the ‘Prana’ inside the body merged with the ‘Paramatma’ i,e supreme power. This destruction of the human mortal body is done by Lord Shiva. In the same way when a Man goes under the able guidance of a Master (Guru), then Guru initiates Him with a new life, where he will start learning the reality and truth about life. Thus Guru is considered as ‘Brahma’ in this case as He is initiating a Life. The same person (Student) is taken care after initiation. He is trained to follow the path of spirituality and intellectuality to explore the life completely. Here ‘Guru’, the Mater himself is the trainer thus called ‘Vishnu’. A Sadh-Guru also describe us the life beyond death. He shows that after death everything is not finished, on the contrary, there will be a new World of peace and tranquility. Here ‘Guru’ acts like ‘Maheswara’. So we can see the sloka has rightly explains Guru as Trio-God. According to the Indian Mythology, the AdiGuru Chiranjibi Krishna Dwaipayan Badarayan Vyasa appeared on this Earth in the Indian month of Ashada’s poornima tithi (full moon day of July). So the day is called as ‘Vyasa Poornima’ also. And as Vyasa was AdiGuru so this day is ‘Guru Poornima’ also. On this auspicious day, in ancient India student used to leave there first home for ‘Gurukul’ in search of knowledge. In the same day Sanyasis (monks) also stop wandering and started ‘Chatur-masya’ (fast of four months) by staying in any of the holy places in the country. Especially on this day, the Sun casts its light completely on Moon, so the Moon become brightest and removes the Darkness of the Earth completely. So this Asada poornima is Guru Poornima. A life without a preceptor (Guru) is a ship without a radar. ‘Sadh-Guru’ or good teacher can bring wonders to the life of a taught. Our life gets motivation and positive strokes in proper direction with the teachings and blessings of a Guru. But we should also remember that only an efficient an able Guru will not do. The student and the taught must also be genuine. His/Her urge for knowledge should be strong. Swami Vivekananda says – ‘ Purity, patience, perseverance and urge for knowledge should the qualities of a student. They should exercise truth, forgiveness, peace, non-violence etc., while aspiring knowledge from a Guru.’ The student must appear before the Master (Guru) with politeness, gentleness and humbleness. The same attitude must be there while asking a question to the Guru. The ‘Yog-Vasistha’ says ‘Guru’ must not be taken as a mere Human being. He should be considered God. When we see Him ‘Royal’ in appearance, He should be considered as ‘Brahma’, if He becomes angry He must be taken as ‘Rudra’, when He turns calm and peaceful we should considered Him as ‘Ganga’ , if He is engaged in discourse on Vedas, He should be considered as ‘Ganapati’, when He will be answering doubts of  students, He must be taken as ‘Dibakar’. In the life of Great Man also we see that the role of a Guru is eminent. Our God like Lord Krishna also undergone training from his Guru Rishi Sandipan, Sri Rama to Maharshi Vaishistha, Arjuna to Dronacharya, Sri Ramkrishna to Totapuri and Vairabi, Madhavdev to Srimanta Sankardev and many more examples can be cited. Thus before conclude, a story, which will install the quality that a Master and student must possess, can be told here. Once there was a king who felt family and kingdom tasteless and started thinking of getting spiritual knowledge or the ultimate knowledge i .e, ‘Brahma-gyan’. He heard that King Parikshit attained ultimate knowledge by hearing ‘Bhagavad’ for seven days. So the King also hired a scholar Brahmin by paying attractive amount, who will read Bhagavad for the King. But after two months of continuous reading and hearing to the Brahmin, the King did not experience any change in himself. He was very disappointed and said the Brahmin that Parikshit heard Bhagavad for seven days and attained the ‘Brahma-gyan’, but in his case no such thing is happening, so it is fruitless to continue. He also said that if the Brahmin could not answer the reason, he will not be paid anything. Brahmin was returned sad and he was extremely unhappy. His daughter was very pious and intellectual and on seeing her father morose she asked the reason. The Brahmin did not reply anything at first but on her continuous pressure he narrated the whole thing. She smiled and next day assured him justice and took father to the King. She told the King that she is going to answer the question of the King of not attaining ‘Brahma-gyan’, only if he promises to pay her father as contacted before. The King agreed. She then asked the King to order his guards to tie the King with one pillar and the girl with the other. Accordingly both the King and the girl was tied to the pillars. Now the girl asked the King – ‘O King, please make me free by opening the knot of the rope.’ The King was surprised and said – ‘What are you telling? How on earth is that possible, I myself is tied with rope, how can I set someone free?’ the girl smiled and answered – ‘O King, there lies your answer. King Parikshit was having tremendous urge for the knowledge, and he was listening Bhagavad from Brahmarshi Sukhdev, the son of MahaGuru Vyasa, who was a ‘Sarva Tyagi’ Brahmagyani. So the King attained Brahma-gyan within seven days. But my father is a reader of Bhagavad who reads for money, and you are also not having the burning urge for knowledge like King Parikshit. So it was not happening with both of you. My father himself is tied with worldly bonds, how he will set you free?’ Article ##11 VIVEKANANDA, SARDHA-SHATI and PRESENT DAY YOUTH… Young Friends! It is an opportunity to talk to you when the nation is celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of the saint patriot Swami Vivekananda. The simple boy of Kolkata, Naren, how turned to a cyclonic Hindu monk, that history is no more unknown to any one now, as, while celebrating the birth anniversary of Vivekananda many programmes like Shovayatra, Quiz, Seminar, public meeting, cultural  harmony etc. are being organized focusing this noble life. People are well acquainted with His thought, philosophy & vision after witnessing all such programmes. But friends, Swamiji said, “My faith is in younger generation, out of them will come my workers! They will work out the whole problem.” Undoubtedly it is a great responsibility shouldered to the youth by Swamiji. So when the nation is celebrating the Sardha-Shati Samaroh, on our part we should retrospect whether we are on his path or not. This ‘Man of 40’, gave His all to this country as well as to the World. Being the present day youth of the same nation where He belonged, are we having attitude to serve this land or we are just enjoying the comforts & facilities provided to us by this land! But, if you we keep aside only a few in numbers, many youngsters are seen to have a tendency to enjoy the luxuries & electronic amenities of the modern day just for fun! In roads, buses, trains everywhere we see the thumb generation (Well! Those who learnt that ‘SMS’ing as the only way to communicate), is busy in their cells, tablets, i-phones, j-phones(!) etc. A microphone or headphone is inserted in the ear, ignoring the outer world & it’s real cry, youngsters like to be in their utopia. SMS, MMS, Bluetooth, facebook, HD those become the only mantras for many youth of today. How the country will expect something productive from them! According to the recent day surveys, every minute Indian youth are joining facebook and other social networking sites where the purpose is just to have communication with their friends, whom they see the whole day studying with them in the same class! Unfortunately, while scrolling the crime journals of police, we see that in cyber crime facebook plays the most vital role and our youngsters are knowingly or unknowingly becoming the victim of such lucrative traps. Living aside the electronic kingdom, let us see the fascination of youngsters about another dreadful (helpful?) item, -Bike, the motor cycle. The most confusing thing about the bike riders who are below 18 years of age, are having driving licenses in this country! Highest number of accidents in the Indian road-side is of the bike riders, claiming thousands of lives every day. Easy financing for the purchase of a bike by the modern day banks, are simply creating the death traps! Shall we see our food habits now! Swami Vivekananda wrote in his ‘Prachya & Paschatya’ (The East & the West), write-up that ‘If you feel hungry, go for a one penny’s puffed rice, hunger can be met health hazards will be away..’. Many of our youngsters are fond of the fast foods like burger, pizza, noodles and so on. Knowing well that those are not at all contributing anything for our health, we are consuming them. How can we expect a healthy body and healthy mind that will fight for the causes of the nation! Unfortunately, many of our friends have lost faith in our culture, tradition and legacy. The age old treasure of this great land-Bharat is just under a dark cover for many, nowadays! We are denying our traditional outfit, rituals, celebrations and those are replaced with disturbing inputs from the west! On the other hand, Swami Vivekananda, like a one man army, went alone to the West to teach them the gospel of Indian Vedic heritage and philosophy, the best knowledge of the world! Our blind imitation of western practices is not a sign of civilization; this will never lead us to the stature of growth. Surprisingly, all those matters are well acquainted to us. We read in newspapers, magazines and in other journals about those moral values of life, but least we pay heed to it. But everything is not idle. There are ventures, efforts to materialize the dream of Swamiji, undertook by many individuals, organization & other concern. Vivekananda Kendra’s five fold (Panch-Ayam) programme i.e. Asmita, Samvardhini, Gramayan, Yuva Shakti and Prabudha-Bharat is surely making differences in all stratum of society. Those programmes are designed keeping all possible developmental aspects of the society and the country at large. Under those projects already many events took place and ‘Swamiji’s youth’ are working whole-heartedly in most of these. Swami Vivekananda’s 150th Birth Anniversary celebration will take its own way, question is about our becoming a part of it with spirit and virtue. Are we really His ‘Hundred thousand’, Will the young generation of the country fully carry the responsibilities shouldered to us, by Him? Keeping the clarion call of Vivekananda in mind , “Let us all work hard, my breathen, this is no time to sleep!”, we must proceed and take the charge of the country. We should remember that our ancestors, great sages and other nobles maintained the land for our survival, in return we should carry their legacy and keep this land fit for the survival of our successors!