Birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda in Sri Lanka :

Swami Vivekananda’s message was universal says Indian HC

Swami Vivekananda was one of the great makers of modern India, a great teacher and spiritual leader who left a deep impact both within India and outside. He was one of India’s earliest cultural ambassadors who was able to propagate Indian philosophy, thought and culture to the outside world, Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha said.

He was speaking at a ceremony organised by the All Ceylon Hindu Congress to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda at Vivekananda Hall, Colombo.

The event began with the garlanding of the statue of Swami Vivekananada at Vivekananda Hill, followed by prayers.

Kantha thanked the All Ceylon Hindu Congress, Vivekananda Society of Colombo and Ramakrishna Mission for taking the lead in celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in Sri Lanka.

He highlighted special links of Swami Vivekananda with Sri Lanka, which he visited thrice.

The High Commissioner underlined that Swami Vivekananda’s message was universal and was based on rationality and righteousness.

He said it was a message based on Vedanta but interpreted with a new, contemporary meaning and struck a chord because it was a message of tolerance and universality of core religious values.

Kantha said Swami Vivekananda drew upon our ancient texts to communicate with brilliance and eloquence, the message of India which lays emphasis on tolerance, plurality and openness. “It was a message of rejection of sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism. It was a message of rejection of hollow rituals.”

Kantha said Swami Vivekananda worked for the emancipation of women and downtrodden through education and though a sanyasi, he was fully involved with the world around him and was committed to change it.

He said the Ramakrishna Mission in Sri Lanka and the Vivekananda Society, Colombo founded on July 13, 1902, nine days after the demise of Swami Vivekananda in his remembrance and in honour of great service to the society, continue to spread the ideals and vision of Swami Vivekananda and especially through focus on youths and service to all humanity.

Kantha said Swami Vivekananda was interpreter of Indian philosophy to the outside world and we remember Swami Vivekananda for his lifelong mission to bring back India’s pride of place in the assembly of nations, as a civilisation.

He said a National Committee, under the chairmanship of the Indian Prime Minister, will guide the conduct of commemorations of 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in a befitting manner.

Kantha urged that the best tribute to Swami Vivekananda would be to recall the basic essence of his message of tolerance and universality of religions, his rejection of dogmas, his readiness to question the orthodoxy, his commitment to emancipation of women and downtrodden, his focus on education and re-dedicate ourselves to the completion of his unfinished agenda.

Swami Sarvarupananda of the Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Lanka was the Guest of Honour.

MP D M Swaminathan, All Ceylon Hindu Congress chairman V Kailasapillai, Vivekananda Society, Colombo chairman Surendaran, PC and All Ceylon Hindu Congress Secretary K Neelakandan were also present.

The year long 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Viveknanda in Sri Lanka began on January 12.