NATIONAL YOUTH DAY - 12th of January

"Our YOUTHS are not hopeless; But they are Hoped Less" "Our YOUTHS are not useless; But they are Used Less";

Hence they are going to Wine Centers instead of Divine Centers...

These were the first lines which came to my mind when I came to know that we are 4 days away from celebrating National YOUTH DAY on 12th of Jan - 2011. I did a curious Google search on National Youth Day and to my astonishment there were about 88,30,000 ( EIGHTY EIGHT LACK AND THIRTY THOUSAND ) results; So let me not give any more information as there is enough means available to educate oneself if little time is spent on knowing the intent and purpose of this day.

However my recent interactions with people of professional diaspora has made me to believe the ardent perspective of E.P. Thompson that " All the convergent influences of the world run through this society: Hindu, Moslem, Christian, Secular; Stalinist, liberal, Maoist, democratic socialist, Gandhian. There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or East that is not active in some Indian Mind”. True that Indian Youth's Mind and its potential is very much alive and active but is not well channelized towards the right cause. And for certain I do not possess the sensory acuity nor acumen to channelize the mind of India Youth. But for sure, I can pave a path for each of you to reflect on the below transcript of Swami Vivekananda which was written on 1st July, 1895 to one of his Indian disciple by name Alasinga.



And how relevent is these words of his to this day for the YOUTH of India and for resurgence of India from the deep slumber which each of us have knowing or unknowing have pulled INDIA to.....!?

- Thanks
Rajhashekher BC - Raj
Sat, 8 January, 2011 11:15:36 PM
Rajhashekher.5@gmail.com

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1st July, 1895.

Dear Alasinga,

I received your missionary book and the Ramnad photos. I have written to the Raja as well as to the Dewan of Mysore. The missionary pamphlet must have reached here long ago, as the Ramabai circle controversy with Dr. Jane savored of it, it seems. Now you need not be afraid of anything. There is one miss-statement in that pamphlet. I never went to a big hotel in this country and very few times to any other. At Baltimore the small hotels, being ignorant, would not take in a black man, thinking he was a Negro. So my host, Dr. Vrooman had to take me to a large one, because they knew the difference between a negro and a foreigner. Let me tell you, Alasinga that you have to defend yourselves. Why do you behave like babies ? If anybody attacks your religion, why cannot you defend it? As for me, you need not be afraid, I have more friends than enemies here, and in this country one-third are Christians, and only a small number of the educated care about the missionaries. Again, the very fact of the missionaries being against anything makes the educated like it. They are less of a power here now, and are becoming less so every day. If their attacks pain you, why do you behave like a petulant child and refer to me?.....COWARDICE is not virtue.

Here I have already got a respectable following. Next year I will organize it on a working basis, and then the work will be carried on. And when I am off to India, I have friends who will back me here and help me in India too; so you need not fear. So long as you shriek at the missionary attempts, and jump without being able to do anything, I laugh at you; you are little dollies, that is what you are ……What can Swami do for old babies!!!!

I know, my son, I shall have to come and manufacture men out of you. I know that India is only inhabited by women and eunuchs. So do not fret. I will have to get means to work there. I do not put myself in the hands of imbeciles. You need not worry, do what little you can. I have to work alone from top to bottom….” This Atman(self) is not be reached by cowards.” You need not be afraid for me. The Lord is with me, you defend yourselves only and show me you can do that: and I will be satisfied. Don’t bother me any more with what anyone says about me. I am not waiting to hear any fool’s judgment of me. You babies, great results are attained only by great patience, great courage, and great attempts….Kid’s mind is taking periodic somersaults, I am afraid…

The brave alone do great things, not the cowards. Know once for all, you faithless one, that I am in the hands of the LORD. So long as I am pure and His servants, not a hair of my head will be touched….Do something for the nation, then they will help you, then the nation will be with you. Be brave, be brave! Man dies but once. My disciples must not be cowards.

Ever yours with love, VIVEKANANDA.