Multiple
times Swamiji mentioned about the development of India. Progress of
villages and upliftment of common masses is must towards the success
of this mission.
Swamiji
said that a nation is advanced in proportion as education and
intelligence spread among the masses. For India to raise, the masses
have to be educated. How can education improve their condition?
Swamiji says that through education faith in oneself develops and due
to this self–belief, the inherent Brahman wakes up and when that
happens they can solve all their problems.
The
only service to be done for our masses is to give them education to
develop their lost individuality.
So,
education for the common masses is the first priority. He pleaded for
technical education. That will make people stand on their own feet
and earn their own bread. Secular education with the notion of man
making and character building, which is axis of our Indian
tradition, must be taught.
We
need technical education and all else that may develop industries so
that men, instead of seeking for service may earn enough to provide
for themselves”.
He
wanted special privileges more help and more resources to be deployed
for their betterment Greater help should be provided to him, who has
not been endowed by nature and held down by design, was his argument.
For
the present scenario concord of all religious opinion is inexorable.
Swamiji persisted with intensity that the common mass should be given
ideas; their eyes are to be opened to what is going on in the world
around them; and then they will work out their own salvation. Help
them to help themselves- that should be the motto.
“All
the wealth of the world cannot help one little Indian village if the
people are not taught to help themselves”, Swamiji observed
insightfully.
Ever
practical Swamiji knew that even if a free school is opened in every
village, still it do no good, for the poverty in India would not
allow the children to go to school, they would rather be forced to
help their parents in the fields of earn a living by doing odd jobs.
So He adds, “If a ploughman’s son cannot come to education, why
not meet him at the plough, at the factory, just wherever he is ? Go
along with him, like his shadow.”
Swamiji
wanted to teach everybody and for what He himself explained If you
teach Vedanta to the fisherman he will say, I am as good a man as you
as you I am a fisherman, you are a philosopher, but I have the same
God in me as you have in you. And that is what we want equal chances
for all let everyone be taught that the divine is within and every
one will work out his own salvation.
Finally
Swamiji boldly told: With no strength in the body, no enthusiasm at
heart, and no originality in the brain, what will they do – these
lumps of dead matter | By stimulating them. I want to bring life into
them – to this I have dedicated my life. I will rouse them through
the infallible power of Vedic Mantras. I am born to proclaim to them
that fearless message -- “Arise | Awake |”
Written
by,
Swami
Ishtakamananda
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