Vivekananda’s Hyd speech completes 125 yrs tomorrow

On February 10, 1893, a young man with a magnetic personality and unusual calm alighted at the Hyderabad Railway station. It was his first and last visit to twin cities. The fragrance of his scholarship had reached the Pearl City could be known from the fact that 500 prominent citizens were present at the station to receive him.

According to an eyewitness, “Such a welcome was not seen earlier for any Swami in Hyderabad. It was a welcome befitting a reigning prince”. That was Swami Vivekananda! Swami Vivekananda is first remembered as the vibrant Hindu monk who shook the world with his powerful speech on September 11, 1893 at Chicago’s World Parliament of Religions. The speech was the second public speech of his life. The first ever public speech was delivered at Mahboob College in Hyderabad on February 13, 1893.

There was an audience of 1000 people, including Europeans. Pandit Rattan Lal was in the Chair. The topic was ‘My Mission to the West’. In his speech, Swamiji gave an exposition of the tenets of not only the Hinduism, but also that of the Christianity and the Islam. He spoke on the merits of the Hinduism, the greatness of Hindu Culture and society in olden days and gave an outline of Vedic and post-Vedic thought.

He described the Rishis as great law givers and authors and compilers of the Shastras. He showed how the Puranas incorporated great ethical ideals. Finally, he spoke of his mission--which is nothing less than the regeneration of the motherland. - The author is Jeevanvrati of Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Hyderabad branch.