SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AND INTERNATIONALISM

SWAMIJI’S CHICAGO ADRESSE: POSTULATES OF INTERNATIONALISM

  “A belief that all countries should work together in a friendly way” claims Oxford as one of the commonly used interpretations for the word Internationalism. Though the thought has stayed utopian, Swamiji has foreseen its fundamentals. In the subsequent paragraph’s, we are establishing the liaison between Internationalism and Swamiji’s vision expressed in the world’s parliament of religions Chicago, 1893.

   If, interdependence and global consciousness are the pedestals of internationalism, Swamiji’s reference of “brothers and sisters of America” made him a “Red Inker” in the match, Hinduism versus rest of the world.

 Presuming that diplomacy and constructive criticisms are the epicentre of the utopian world, Swamiji served as its best diplomat by the way he expressed his objections towards the proselytising nature of Abrahamic religions.

  Granting that introspection and pondering are the footing on which the quixotical internationalism is constructed, Swamiji’s words of commitment and self-appraisal on conflicts between Hinduism and Buddhism stands as a testimony to the notion.

  Swamiji says “If anyone have hopes that religious unity will come by the triumph of anyone of the religions and the destruction of the other, to him I say, Brother, yours is an impossible hope. If, tolerance and universal acceptance initiates the process of being truly international, well Swamiji has already pioneered the way forward.

  Ramsay MacDonald a claimed internationalist has a famous expression to his credit “Our True Nationality Is Mankind”. Internationalism has been chimerical for centuries due to its zealous affection towards political theories.

Internationalism can be pragmatic only if service to humanity and mankind becomes the crux of its existence as envisioned by Swamiji.

    “IF YOU WANT TO FIND GOD, SERVE MAN.”