Privation and Hardships of Modern Monk -Swami Vivekananda

Indian spirituality with Western ideas: The life of a traditional monk is full of privation and Swamiji suffered these to the utmost. Worse than his physical suffering, his heart had become so soft and tender that it bled for the physical privation of the masses as he wandered the length and breadth of India. He began to feel like a shameless crow begging of such impoverished people. He experienced disappointment. When he did arrive in Chicago he was at the edge of starvation and was hooted at in the streets because of his unusual dress. He was disrespectfully when he begged for food. After his success, there was ceaseless labor. He endured many hardships during the period when he went around America giving lectures. He had to endure the malice of the missionaries who told lies about him and once even tried to poison him. Swami suffered the defection and betrayal of four close devotees but maintained a charitable attitude towards them. And he faced intense opposition when he returned to India despite his great fame. Despite all this he carried his message with great boldness. “Sectarianism, bigotry, and it’s horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful Earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now.” These were the words of Swami Vivekananda at The Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, which stand relevant even now. Without doubt, the more we learn about Swami Vivekananda, the more reasons we discover to love him.

Author Biography

About Vijayapadma.G Being very passionate about journalism, she quit her highly paid: executive level job in Tamilnadu hospital and started her career in journalism as a freelance journalist in all the leading magazines such as Ananda Vikatan, Kumudham, Kumkumam. Her growth in the media is drastic. She became the editor of ‘Penmani’, a monthly magazine after ace and well-known writer Anuradha Ramanan. She turned out to be a publisher alongside of being the editor of her own magazine ‘Manushi’. She is the author of books: Katrin Mozhi, Kavithai Pengal, Agathanimai, and novels such as Manarkundru Penn, A Ezhuthukkal, Megadevathai, Seena Pengal – Sollappadatha kadhai. She is the author of famous ‘Inside India’ book, Mullai Periyar Dam a brief history which is written in English. Her contribution in the television industry is copious. She produced lot of popular TV shows as well as TV series. She also contributed as Special Reporter for Election for the BBC. She directed a documentary called Broken Blossoms, which clears depicts the sexual violence against children and also a documentary called ‘Kuraiyondrum Illai’, which portrays special talent children, and “Mother’s touch” awareness documentary for Down Syndrome Association of India All of these documentaries won various prestigious awards. She directed a movie called ‘Narthagi’, which describes the difficulties and issues in the life of transgender. The movie is directed with pioneering and groundbreaking thought by casting 70% real life transgender. This movie was screened in 7 countries where it was much admired and greatly applauded. She also won 7 awards, Writers guild of Tamilnadu’s award for the ‘Best Director’, Best Social Awareness Film from Norway Film Festival and Tamil State Exnora are few of them to be mentioned.