1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: This Day in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to This Day in History Class, a 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: show that believes there's no time like the present to 4 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,280 Speaker 1: learn about the past. I'm Gabeluesier, and today we're talking 5 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: about a revered spiritual teacher of the Hindu faith and 6 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: one of the most influential social reformers of modern India. 7 00:00:42,680 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: The day was January twelfth, eighteen sixty three. Hindu spiritual 8 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: leader Swami Vivicanada was born in Kolkata, India. He went 9 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: on to play a key role in introducing the Indian 10 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: philosophies of vedanta and yoga to the way Western world, 11 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: and is credited with raising the status of Hinduism to 12 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,960 Speaker 1: that of a major world religion during the late nineteenth century. 13 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: In his teachings, Vivicananda stressed the importance of self confidence, determination, 14 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: and spiritual growth. He was also a leading proponent of 15 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: religious tolerance and inner faith awareness, believing that all living 16 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:28,119 Speaker 1: beings are an embodiment of the same universal divinity. Vivicananda 17 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: was the son of upper middle class parents and members 18 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: of the scribes caste of Bengal. In his youth, he 19 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: attended a Western style University, where he first encountered Western philosophy, science, history, 20 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: and Christianity. As an adult, Vivicananda took an interest in 21 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: social reform and joined the Society of Brahma, a monotheistic 22 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: reformist movement devoted to eliminating the practice of child marriage 23 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: and promoting education among women, children, and the lower caste. 24 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: Some time later, Vivicananda parted ways with the society and 25 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: became a direct disciple of Rama Krishna, one of the 26 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: most respected Yogis of the nineteenth century. Rama Krishna had 27 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: witnessed the bitter resentment between Christians, Muslims, and Hindus in 28 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: North India, but instead of accepting that there could never 29 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,959 Speaker 1: be peace between the groups, he sought to reconcile them 30 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: by asserting that each one was merely a different path 31 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: to the same God. Vivicananda shared that belief in the 32 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: essential unity of the world's religions, and in his own 33 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 1: speeches and writings, he began emphasizing the universal aspects of 34 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: the Vedas, the oldest sacred text of Hinduism. He also 35 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: downplayed the importance of strict adherents to religious dogma, declaring 36 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: instead that the noblest way to render service to God 37 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: was to work for the benefit of humankind. Swami Vivekananda 38 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: spread that message not only in his native India, but 39 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,440 Speaker 1: in the United States and Europe as well. One of 40 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: his most famous international appearances was at the eighteen ninety 41 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: three World's Columbian Exposition or World's Fair in Chicago. Vivicananda 42 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: was thirty years old and had been asked to speak 43 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: as a representative of Hinduism at an event called the 44 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 1: Parliament of Religions. The convention's stated goal was to kindle 45 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: a quote wide reaching interest in the study of religions, 46 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: but the organizer's underlying hope was to lend credence to 47 00:03:29,720 --> 00:03:33,239 Speaker 1: the idea of a universal faith by finding common ground 48 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: between world religious leaders. To that end, the Parliament brought 49 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: together roughly four hundred men and women representing forty one 50 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 1: religious traditions and denominations. On September eleventh, eighteen ninety three, 51 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: Swami Vivicananda rose to speak at the opening session of 52 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: this seventeen day long event. His journey to America had 53 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: not been easy. Both his luggage and his money had 54 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: been lost along the way, and he didn't have time 55 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: to prepare any notes or remarks in advance. Nonetheless, he 56 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: stood before a crowd of seven thousand people and delivered 57 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: a speech that many considered the highlight of the entire parliament. 58 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: Addressing the crowd as sisters and brothers of America, Vivicananda 59 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,800 Speaker 1: outlined the core principles of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. 60 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: He then called for an end to religious and tolerance 61 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: and shared his vision for an inter faith movement, saying, quote, sectarianism, bigotry, 62 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 1: and its horrible descendant, fanaticism have long possessed this beautiful earth. 63 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 1: They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often 64 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole 65 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, 66 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: human society would be far more advanced than it is now. 67 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 1: But their time is come. And I fervently hope that 68 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 1: the bell that told this this morning in honor of 69 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:05,160 Speaker 1: this convention, may be the death knell of all fanaticism, 70 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,479 Speaker 1: of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, 71 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way 72 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: to the same goal. Let us preach the ideal and 73 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:22,640 Speaker 1: let us not quarrel over the non essential. Vivicananda's stirring 74 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: remarks were said to have a profound impact on those 75 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: in attendance, with one newspaper reporter later referring to him 76 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 1: as quote an orator by divine right and undoubtedly the 77 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: greatest figure at the Parliament. The event introduced the Swami 78 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: to a whole new audience, and for the next several 79 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 1: years he would travel throughout the US and Europe, lecturing 80 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 1: at universities and private gatherings and popularizing the practice of yoga. 81 00:05:49,520 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: By the time he returned to India in eighteen ninety seven, 82 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: Vivicananda had cemented his role as a prominent spiritual leader. 83 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: He used this notoriety to found the Rama Krishna Mission 84 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 1: at the monastery of balor Math, not far from his 85 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: birthplace in Kolkata. The religious organization was and still is 86 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: dedicated to various philanthropic projects, both in India and abroad, including 87 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: the establishment and maintenance of educational institutions, hospitals, and relief services. 88 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: The mission's work reflects the ideals of personal growth and 89 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: service that were so important both to its founder and 90 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: to its namesake. Sadly, Vivicananda only got to see the 91 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: fruits of the mission's labour for five short years. He 92 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: passed away on July fourth, nineteen oh two, at the 93 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: age of thirty nine. The cause of his death was 94 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,919 Speaker 1: reported as a ruptured blood vessel in his brain, possibly 95 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: brought on by high blood pressure related to ongoing stress. 96 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 1: Despite his relatively brief life, Swami Vivicananda left a lasting 97 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: impression on both the East and the West. His appearances 98 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: in the US and Europe brought new converts to Hinduism 99 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: and helped launch an inner faith movement that's still ongoing 100 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,920 Speaker 1: today in India. He remains one of the most celebrated 101 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: spiritual leaders in the country's history and is now regarded 102 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: as a patriotic saint, with his birthday celebrated each year 103 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: as National Youth Day. In today's divided times, his message 104 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 1: of unity and tolerance feels bolder and more urgent than ever. 105 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 1: The bigotry and fanaticism he denounced have not been defeated, 106 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: but his teachings and his own life example encourage us 107 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: to keep trying, for, as the Swami once put it, 108 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: the greatest secret of success is to never give up 109 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: on yourself. Or your dreams. I'm gay, Bluesier and hopefully 110 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: you now know a little more about history today than 111 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: you did yesterday. You can learn even more about history 112 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: by following us on Twitter, Facebook, book, and Instagram at 113 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: TDI HC Show, and if you have any feedback you'd 114 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: like to share, feel free to pass it along by 115 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 1: writing to this Day at iHeartMedia dot com. Thanks as 116 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: always to Chandler Maze for producing the show, and thank 117 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: you for listening. I'll see you back here again soon 118 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 1: for another day in history class.