Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on the anniversary of his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, highlighting its message of unity and well-being through ancient Indian spirituality.
The Union Minister urged the youth to revisit the iconic speech and draw inspiration from it “to build a New India and a better world.”
In a post on X, Shah said, “On this historic day, Swami Vivekananda Ji’s words at the World’s Parliament of Religions moved humankind, lighting a new path of unity and well-being for humanity through the principles of our ancient spirituality.”
“As we mark the anniversary of Swami Ji’s Chicago address, I call upon the youth to draw from this fountain of inspiration and revisit his enlightening speech to build a New India and a better world,” he added.
Swami Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta in Calcutta on January 12, 1863, was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He strongly advocated the doctrine of service, education, and spiritual upliftment.
In his Chicago speech, Vivekananda underscored that religious pluralism is intrinsic to Hinduism. He spoke against sectarianism, bigotry, and fanaticism, saying:
“I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.”
ANI
