Youth Day: Swami Vivekananda
Jagran correspondent, Bhagalpur. Youth Day: On the occasion of National Youth Day, the historical reference of Bhagalpur related to Swami Vivekananda has once again come to the fore. Swami Vivekananda, who proclaimed India's spiritual consciousness on the world stage, had visited the land of Bhagalpur during his visit to India before the Chicago Religion Conference. This journey not only holds historical importance but is also a source of inspiration for today's youth.
Swami Vivekananda stayed on the land of Bhagalpur
According to historians, Swami Vivekananda came to Bhagalpur with his Guru Bhai Akhandanand in 1890 AD. In the month of August, both the sadhus stayed for about seven days at the residence of educationist Babu Manmath Nath Chaudhary located at Burari Water Works. Initially these sadhus dressed in ordinary clothes were not given much importance, but within a few days the extraordinary knowledge and personality of Swami Vivekananda impressed everyone.
Dr. Ravi Shankar Choudhary, Head of the History Department of TNB College, tells that one day Manmath Nath Choudhary was reading the English book Buddhism. During this time Swami Vivekananda asked questions on the subject of the book. Manmath Nath Choudhary was astonished to see his deep command over the English language, Buddhist philosophy, Upanishads and Vedanta. Then he realized that in front of him was not an ordinary yogi, but a unique spiritual personality.
During the stay of about a week, detailed discussions took place on Yoga, Vedanta philosophy, Sanatan Hindu religion and Buddhist ideologies. Bhajan-kirtan were also organised. Later, when Swami Vivekananda's historic speech was published in the World Religion Conference held in Chicago, America in 1893 and his photographs were published in newspapers in the country and abroad, then Manmath Nath Chaudhary came to know that the monk staying at his place was Swami Vivekananda himself.
Stayed for a week in 1890 before the Chicago Religion Conference
According to Dr. Chaudhary, Swami Vivekananda came to Bhagalpur via Deoghar. From here he established Ramakrishna Mission and later left for Banaras. Even today, the old building of Ramakrishna Mission School located in Budhanath locality, his statue installed in Burari Water Works and the statue installed near Tilkamanjhi Chowk at the eastern end of Sandys Compound keep the memory of his stay in Bhagalpur alive.
The message inspires the youth even today
On the occasion of Youth Day, Dr Ravi Shankar Choudhary said that the immortal message of Swami Vivekananda – “Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is achieved” – still guides the youth. If the youth imbibe his ideas then they can not only make their lives successful but can also give a strong future to the nation. The biggest responsibility of realizing the principles of Swami Vivekananda rests on today's youth.