Pradip Chakraborty, Dhaka
DHAKA / AGARTALA, June 6 (TIWN): Sheikh Hasina led Awami League govt. has constructed a public library at Baradai under Sonargaou of Bangladesh. The library was constructed in the memory of West Bengal Chief Minister Late Jyoti Basu at Baradi which is his birthplace. But surprisingly Awami League govt. has not yet constructed any such of Vivekananda memorial,though Vivekananda exercised tremendous influence on all the phases of freedom movement.Vivekananda influenced freedom movement like Rousseau influenced French Revolution. Vivekananda traveled Bangladesh in the year 1901.He reached Dhaka on 19th March of 1901.Swamiji stayed in the residence of landlord Mohini Mohan Das. The residence’s overall condition is completely deplorable. Main gate is broken and that’s why naturally open .The residence has many parts and it has many rooms. Double storied building till bears the memories. And the memories are nothing but memories of patriot Swamiji.
The successful culmination in political liberation of our freedom movement was itself a great revolution. To fight against Britain, a powerful imperialist power which suppressed and exploited Bharat for more than hundred years and make it quit Bharat can be proudly heralded and hailed as a great armed as well as unarmed revolution unprecedented in the annals of world history.
Mangalabas situated adjacent to 2 Mohini Mohan Das Lane near Farasganj of Dhaka Bangladesh. From Sadargh at it takes only 30 minutes by foot. But one has to left turn for the 2 Mohini Mohan Das
lane. After a 5 minute straight walk in the right side of lane you will find MANGALABAS, where Swamiji stayed for 15 days.
It was 19th March of 1901, the great patriot, Monk Swamiji reached Farasganj. Swamiji had started for the erstwhile east Bengal from Kolkata. The day was 18th March 1901. He reached Narayanganj through Faridpur,Goaland,Munsiganj,Vagyakut and then finnaly Narayanganj. In Narayanganj it was Ghosh, Gagen Ghosh and others received Swamiji. On behalf of reception committee, Iswar Ghosh, Gagon Ghosh went Narayanganj to receive Swamiji.
He traveled these routes through Steamer. Along with other devotees Swamiji boarded Dhaka bound train and reached Dhaka within the schedule time. From station he was taken to MANGALABAS of Farasganj. From Mangalabash Swamiji moved different places in and around Dhaka. Notably Swamiji spent 15 days in the historic MANGALABAS.
From here he went to Jagganath College (now university) on 30th March 1901.He delivered lecture in front of thousands devotees and followers. Subject was “what I have learnt?” On the very next day he went to Pogodhja School, where he spoke for a long time .His speech was in English.
On 27th March Swamiji went to langalbandh for holy bath in the mighty Brahmaputra River. The day was Budhastami and he took holy bath in Brahmaputra at Rajghat. From Langalbandh the devotees went to the residence of Durga Charan Nag that is under Deobhog. On 5th April Swamiji left MANGALABAS for Sitakunda under Chittagong.
Hem Chandra Ghosh said that 'Swaniji was within our heart. Swamiji was our ideal pathfinder and guide of freedom fighters.' According to Hem Chandra “Swamfiji advised us, he inspired us.” One day
swamiji has asked us to free country from the imperialism. “Why you are silent!” Those 15 days were very important and Swamiji inspired freedom fighters.
Vivekananda stayed 15 days in the residence of Mohini Mohan Das .He addressed in Jagganath College (now university), Pogodhja School. Though Dhaka Ramkrishna Mission constructed a memorial at Pagodja School, but Mangalabas and Jagganath College were still untouched.
Bangladesh Govt. easily can establish memorial in the name of Vivekananda. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee both are the followers of Vivekananda. West Bengal CM may brought or raise the issue to Bangladesh Prime Minister Seikh Hasina during their meeting. Mamata Banarjee is reaching Dhaka on 5th June and Prime minister is arriving Dhaka on 6th.PM Narendra Modi is also great admire and follower of Vivekananda. They might be aware that Vivekananda was in Bangladesh for 15/16 days and he inspired freedom fighters constantly.
If Bangladesh Govt. can constructed a public Library in the memory of Jotyi Basu then why not Hasina Govt is protecting the residence of Mohini Mohan Das where Vivekananda spent 15 days. It is not a historical place? Bangladesh Govt. easily can construct other memorials of great Freedom Fighter Vivekananda.
Without the background of wide national consciousness no freedom movement is possible. From all contemporary research of those times it becomes abundantly evident that Viviekananda was the most forceful influence to rouse the national spirit in Bharat. Nivedita said: “Vivekananda was a worker at foundation, and a living epitome of national life” After returning to Bharat, Viviekananda called upon the Hindus to believe in their potential strength, reverence for the greatness of Bharat and struggle against foreign oppression. He showed the way for nation building from a sound foundation.
Past history shows that in Bharat religious movement has always preceded national movement. Here in Bharat no national uprising was possible without revitalizing Hinduism. Viviekananda did that. His primary role as a religious leader made him the spiritual leader of freedom movement of Bharat.
Viviekananda’s contributions towards nationalism, militant nationalism in particular were the following:
1. Self esteem and self confidence.
2. Dynamic spirit- Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.
3. Complete dedication – “forget not that thou art born as a sacrifice to the mother’s alter. Give away; never turn to ask in return.”
4. Message of strength, struggle and fearlessness. He said infinite strength is religion and God”. Life is struggle. Struggle, struggle unto death. I believe in struggle. Upanishads only proclaimed, “Abhihi – fearlessness.
5. Passionate love for the country and its people.
6. Integral unity of Bharat.
7. Equal rights and corresponding duties of all men.
8. Awareness of realities and actual problem that face the country.
9. Emphasis on social uplift and mass education.
10. Emphasis on character building. Consolidation of youth energy and application of that for national building.
He said: “Man – making is my religion”. All these ideas spread widely through out Bharat either directly through him of through his books
Radhakrishnan said: “Those writings at times took the shape of secret revolutionary literature copied by hand and circulated amongst students”.
Vivekananda was eminently suitable for the task he took up. He gathered vast intimate experience of the life of people in Bharat in all its facets when he travelled for six years from one corner of Bharat to the other and lived with Rajas and sweepers alike.“With a profound expression of sadness and intense emotion through all his being he pressed a trembling hand upon his heart and said, “My heart has grown much. I have learnt to feel. Believe me, I feel it very sadly!” his voice choked with emotion. He was silent. Tears streamed down his cheeks. Turiyananda narrating this event was himself deeply moved and said: “what went through my spirit when I heard these pathetic words and saw the majestic sadness of the Swamiji.”
“I had gone to see him and I found him pacing the verandah like a caged Lion. He was in deep thought and did not notice my presence. He began to hum under his breath a celebrated song of Meerabai. And the tears welled up in his eyes he stopped and leaned against the balustrade and hid his face in his two palms. His voice became more distinct and he sang repeating several times.
“Oh! Nobody understands my sorrow!”
And again.
“Only who suffers knows the anguish of sorrow”.
It was his rending sympathy which made him often shed tears. “Do you think that these tears of blood were shed in vain? No! Each one of those tears shed for his country, every inflamed whisper of his mighty heart will give birth to troops of heroes, who will shake the world with their thoughts and deeds.”
Viviekananda’s knowledge of world history made him realize the nature of British rule. But Viviekananda considered the British rule as satanic. It was out and out capitalistic with merciless exploitation as its sole objective. In the following words of Viviekananda we find the incisive political insight of swamiji couched in poetic diction: Secret government papers revealed this view. It pushed the congress to open conflict with Government. It created revolutionary element within congress, which resulted in the “moderates” getting separated from congress. The revolutionary activities took a definite shape during this time. It was a historical fact that the partition of Bengal led to the partition of British Empire.
The influence of Viviekananda prevailed on all the trends of the national movement like the Moderate, the Extremist and the Revolutionary.Surendranath Banerji said that Viviekananda was a patriot in the truest sense of the term and remembered Carlyle’s words: “History of a nation is the history of its great men”. Gokhale’s
social ideas, particularly his insistence on the uplift of the masses were inspired by Vivekananda.
The Extremist block formed in the swadeshi movement has as its leader Bal Gangadhar Tilak who had direct acquaintance with Vivekananda. Viviekananda influenced Tilak’s social and religious ideas. Tilak said: “Viviekananda roused the much-needed national consciousness of Bharat”. He compared Viviekananda’s role with that of Adi Sankaracharya. When they had met at Belur, Viviekananda had urged Tilak to resort to even “destructive methods” when confronted with enemies. Tilak’s journal ‘Maharatta’wrote on January,1912,
“Viviekananda is the real father of the Indian Nationalism…every Indian is proud of this father of Modern India”.
Bipin Chandra Pal wrote in Annie Besant’s paper ‘commonweal, on 18th August 1916: Viviekananda is the greatest preacher and prophet of our modern nationalism. He was the first to strike the note of that burning passion for our country and culture-that keenly sensitive patriotism which found prominent expression in the nationalist propaganda of the last decade.
Annie Besant in her well known book “India” (1915) openly acknowledged that “Viviekananda roused the strongest feeling of nationality”.
C.R.Dass came in direct contact with Viviekananda. He confided to Macleod (Viviekananda’s American disciple) that Viviekananda is my teacher. His main contribution to Indian national movement was his utmost effort to combine forces of peasants and workers with the main stream of struggle. This had its route in the inspiration derived from Viviekananda.
SubhashChandrabose said: “Swamiji was a full-blooded masculine personality – and a fighter to the core of his being. Strength was a frequent call of his. If he had been alive, I would have been at his feet. Modern India is his dream.
Relevant historical accounts, secret government papers and published reports and memoirs of Revolutionary leaders reveal the tremendous influence exerted by Viviekananda on the revolutionary movement.
Viviekananda’s writings were widely read by the militant revolutionaries; those were practically their text books; Recruitments to revolutionary parties were made from the members of the Ramakrishna mission and the magic name of Viviekananda was used for this purpose.
The British Government realized that many portions of Viviekananda’s lectures could be used for radical politics. He thought prohibiting the publication of Viviekananda’s letters and banned the Ramakrishna Mission. He was regarded as a suspicious character and was closely watched and harassed. “The teachings of Viviekananda tend towards Nationalism in politics. He is regarded by many Hindu nationalists as the Guru of Freedom Movement.
This teaching of Viviekananda was a powerful weapon in the hands of an idealist revolutionary like Aurobindo Ghosh .
Nivedita was deeply involved in Revolutionary movement. Publicist Nevinson described her as a soldier with a flaming sword in the war liberation, in the face of the enemy her eyes turned to glowing steel, and under anger they deepened in colour like Garibaldi’s’. HemchandraKanungo – The Bomb- maker revolutionary – described her rousing speeches as “dynamite”. Nivedita was the standard bearer of Swami Vivekananda in the political field.
In his BhavaniMandir pamphlet Aurobindo depicted Viviekananda as his prophet. He proclaimed that the one main reason behind the success of Swadeshi movement was the spirit of Vivekananda which stood behind it.
- Illegally stored Woods worth over Rs. 10 Lakhs seized by Forest Department in Kadamtala
- Shocking Video Shows Rowdy Group of Youth Threatening Traffic Police in Public in Agartala
- Public demands Overbridge in KN Road Railway area in Kumarghat
- Congress State President could not enter Border village in Sonamura
- Anganwadi center is in deplorable condition in Sonamura