Narendranath Dutta known as Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 in Calcutta.He was incarnation of Lord Shiva,who added glorious feathers in Hinduism.We all remember him for his inspirational thoughts.
************************************************************
Speaking about glory of ‘Inner World’ Vivekananda said :
It is good and very grand to conquer external nature, but grader still to conquer our interrnal nature..This conquering of the inner man ,understanding the secrets of the subtle workings that are within the human mind ,and knowing its wonderful secrets ,belong entirely to religion.
****************
Vivekananda on the power of religion:
Now comes the question :Can religion really accomplish anything ? It can .It brings to man eternal life .It has made man what he is , and will make of this human animal a god .This is what religion can do .Take religion from human society and what will remain ? Nothing but a forest of brutes .
**************
Vivekananda loved India :
Believe me ,there is much talking in other lands ,but the practical man of religion ,who has carried it into his life is here (read India) and here alone .
***************
Subhash Chandra Bose was born in a Hindu Kayasth family on January 23 1897 in Cuttack,Orissa.He made immense contribution in realizing India’s tryst with freedom.He was an “out-caste” in the politics of his times but today we all realize how great he truly was.Let’s remember what he said.
*************************************************************
Bose addressing soldiers of the Indian National Army (INA) on July 1943 in Singapore:
“…Today is the proudest day of my life. For an enslaved people, there can be no greater pride, no higher honor, than to be the first soldier in the army of liberation. But this honor carries with it a corresponding responsibility, and I am deeply conscious of it. I assure you that I shall be with you in darkness and in sunshine, in sorrow and in joy, in suffering and in victory. For the present, I can offer you nothing except hunger, thirst, privation, forced marches and death. But if you follow me in life and in death, as I am confident you will, I shall lead you to victory and freedom. It does not matter who among us will live to see India free. It is enough that India shall be free, and that we shall give our all to make her free.
***************************************************
One individual may die for an idea; but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. That is how the wheel of evolution moves on and the ideas and dreams of one nation are bequeathed to the next’
(Shubash Chandra Bose )
*********************************************************
INDIAN WOMEN ARE MATCHLESS:
Bose told the women’s section of the Independence League in July 1943:
“I do not mean only to cajole you with empty words. I know the capabilities of our womanhood well. I can, therefore, say with certainty that there is no task which our women cannot undertake and no sacrifice and suffering which our women cannot undergo… To those who say that it will not be proper for our women to carry guns, my only request is that they look into the pages of our history. What brave deeds the Rani of Jhansi performed during the First War of Independence in 1857… Indians — both common people and members of the British Indian army — who are on the border areas of India, will, on seeing you march with guns on your shoulders, voluntarily come forward to receive the guns from you and carry on the struggle started by you.”
***************************************************
Bose disliked both communism and fascism yet he came out with unique theory that in my eyes means combination of better values found in both the theories.
“I dislike Fascism intensely and indeed I do not think it is anything more than a crude and brutal effort of the present capitalist order to preserve itself at any cost.”
“Fascism had not started on its imperialistic expedition, and it appeared to me merely an aggressive form of nationalism . . . What I really meant was that we in India wanted our national freedom, and having won it, we wanted to move in the direction of Socialism. This is what I meant when I referred to a “synthesis between Communism and Fascism.” Perhaps the expression I used was not a happy one.”
Source: http://www.ihr.org/jhr/v14/v14_Montgomery.html
********************************************************
Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, one of the most significant poets of modern Hindi, was born on January 22, 1896 in a Brahmin family of Midnapore in Bengal.This born genius who breathed his last in Allahabad was never given appropriate honurs during his lifetime.He was reviled for his unconventional approach.
Major works :
Poetry: Parimal, Anaamika, Geetika, Kukurmutta Anima, Bela, Naye Patte, Archana, Aradhana, Tulsidas.
Novels: Apsara, Alka, Prabhavati, Nirupama, Chameli, Uchchhrankhalta, Kale Karname
Story-collections: Chhaturi Chamar, Sukul ki Biwi, Sakhi, Lily
Essay-collections: Prabandha Padam, Prabandha-Parichaya, Prabandha-Pratibha
Criticism: Ravindra Kavita-Kaanan
Prose: Kullibhat, Billesur Bakriha.
Source: http://www.statemaster.com/encyclopedia/Suryakant-Tripathi-Nirala
Pic Credit:Prabhu Joshi
*******************************
Presenting verses from his one of the great works “Tulsidas”.It’s a long Hindi poem.
******************************************
This verse exposes the superficiality which has creeped into the social relationships,being marred by narrow orientations.
बंध भिन्न -भिन्न भावो के दल
क्षुद्र से क्षुद्रतर ,हुएँ विकल ;
पूजा में भी प्रतिरोध -अनल है जलता ;
हो रहा भस्म अपना जीवन ,
चेतना -हीन फिर भी चेतन ;
अपनें ही मन को यो प्रति मन है क्षलता .
(Verse 25 )
*********************************************************
This particular verse gives insight into man’s ability to overcome all odds to have supreme identification with ” GREAT TRUTH “.
करना होगा तिमिर पार
देखना सत्य का मिहिर -द्वार
बहना जीवन के प्रखर ज्वर में निश्चय
लड़ना विरोध से द्वंध -समर ,
रह सत्य -मार्ग पर स्थिर निर्भर
जाना ,भिन्न भी देह ,निज घर निसंशय
(Verse 35)
****************************************************************
And yes, how can we forget Basant Panchami ?It’s the day associated with Maa Saraswati.
या कुन्देन्दु तुषारहारधवला या शुभ्रवस्त्रावृता ।
या वीणावरदण्डमण्डितकरा या श्वेतपद्मासना ।
या ब्रह्माच्युतशङ्करप्रभृतिभिर्देवैः सदा वन्दिता
सा मां पातु सरस्वती भगवती निःशेषजाड्यापहा ।
English Translation:
“May Goddess Saraswati,
who is fair like the jasmine-colored moon,
and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops;
who is adorned in radiant white attire,
on whose beautiful arm rests the veena,
and whose throne is a white lotus;
who is surrounded and respected by the Gods, protect me.
May you fully remove my lethargy, sluggishness, and ignorance.”
**********************************************************
