𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚'𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
(Let's Check Our Progress)

Swami Vivekananda's message to India and the World at the 1893 Chicago Parliament of Religions is even more relevant in the present context.

#SwamiVivekananda was just not a religious saint, but a Vedantic teacher propounding the concept of a universal religion; 
India’s first Socialist, a Firebrand Nationalist and yet a true Internationalist who was ahead of his time, a social reform activist, an educationist and, above all, a Humanist who believed in the innate greatness of Human Beings.

#SwamiVivekananda would have liked to see both Hindus and Muslims offer prayer to God --called by whatever name -- at the same place and in harmony, without disturbing each other.

"Advaitism is the religion of the future enlightened humanity. Yet practical Advaitism which looks upon all mankind as one’s own soul was never developed among the Hindus universally. If any religion approaches this equality, it is Islam alone." 
It was from the Vedanta again that several other strands of his thought evolved. 

He wanted the caste system to be completely eradicated, the poorer sections of the people to be given a fair deal and religion to be freed from priestly tyranny and vulgar ritualism. Man is an incarnation of God. 

If this is so, if God resides in every soul, there cannot be any High Caste, any Low Caste, any Master or Slave. 

For a true Vedantist, there is no room for difference or special privileges on the basis of the accident of birth, no room for difference between nations. 

Just as a body where blood does not flow through all the limbs equally becomes diseased, the same with the society where large sections of the people are kept backward and deprived of basic facilities and education.

*** In his stirring words again, “Think of the last 600 or 700 years of degradation when grown up men have been discussing for years whether they should drink a glass of water with the right hand or the left, whether they should gargle five or six times. Our religion is in the kitchen.Our God is in the cooking pot and our religion is ‘don’t touch me, I am holy’.”

For him, the problem of the Caste was a part of the Greater National problem. 

To remedy this he suggested free flow of spiritual and secular knowledge among the masses of the people and free flow of opportunities so that all could see the evils of the caste system and resist the humiliation and exploitation. 

“Religion is neither in books, nor in intellectual consent, nor in reason. Reason, theory, dogmas, doctrines, books, ceremonies are all helps to religion. Religion itself consist of realisation.”

*** "For centuries these priests had been doling out ditch water as religion overlooking the eternal fountain of Amrit that lies behind us. I consider the great national sin is the neglect of the masses and that is one of the causes of our downfall. No amount of politics would be of any avail until the masses in India are well-educated, well-fed and well-cared for. If we want to regenerate India, we must work for them. So long as millions live in hunger and ignorance, I hold every man a traitor who having been educated at their expense, pays no heed to them. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, giving me eternal bliss in heaven." #SwamiVivekananda said.

*** Immage: From My Room Early Morning 

#SwamiVivekananda #SwamiVivekanandaJayanti #NationalYouthDay