So long as lies and make-believe truths continue to be stated as the basis of fostering religious harmony, such harmony will remain a distant dream. Truth must be articulated as Swami Vivekananda used to do irrespective of temporary consequences. Unfortunately, even the followers of Vivekananda in their bid to be universally acceptable cover up such harsh truths with roses that rot in due course and their scent turns to a sickening odour and the mission fails on account of its assumptions founded in a decent falsity. This ought not to be the case. Truth must be stated but in a loving way and, if it be too volatile to state it, then it must be not stated at all but deflected narratives need not be delivered to make for a temporary truce with untruth. Eventually the truth will surface and such false glorification of inglorious religious leaders who have done dreadful damage to the cause of civilisation will be exposed. The upshot of it all will be that the very harmonic movement of Vivekananda will be much discredited for pandering to half-truths and plain falsities just to appear good before all and sundry.
It is not everyone's job to be a world teacher and by pleading with and cajoling elderly sages for blessings so that one is able to deliver Vivekananda's message before the world at large does not bear fruition in the final analysis for one must have the sterling strength of character to be able to utter the whole truth and nothing but the whole truth and must in no way water down components to suit situational exigencies. That is a mighty display of cowardice in the name of the Swami who hated cowardice so much.
It is not easy to represent Vivekananda and only he may do so who has the moral fibre to speak the truth without fear or favour, without having to bother about organisational censure or eviction, without the fear of offending any religious group and having to bear its consequences.
Individual truth is difficult to maintain and to speak the truth as is obtained from historical fact and finding is a far bigger challenge. For this a virility of being is necessary, an intrepid spirit that dares to utter the undiluted truth and a loving heart that can maintain compassion for all despite such utterance of terribly disturbing truth, character features that Vivekananda eminently possessed.
Speak of a historical personality adored by millions and lie conveniently to keep all happy --- this is not representative of Vivekananda's cause. Hence, you may spend a lifetime being politically correct while propagating Vivekananda's message but you will have missed the mark by miles to do justice to the volcanic monk who could never compromise with untruth as you are wont to doing. Such human failing must be first overcome through a spiritual career stretching life after life before you may take the stage to represent the Swami in the whole truth and not its frequently watered down version to be amicable to all.
Vivekananda is no organisational entity that may be represented by spiritual weaklings daring not the whole truth, the essential elements and the core contentious issues that confront humanity in terms of its archaic inheritances. Vivekananda is the lion of the Vedanta that dares even God to disappear and cowers not before political forces that frown or frighten one into abject submission to stating what they would wish to hear and not what truth dictates one to speak.
Vivekananda was a unique phenomenon, a magnificent being among minuscule men, and remains so till date, a loner whom none followed, or shall I say, none dared to follow, for they simply could not manifest manhood enough to dare the heavens and speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Those who have vowed by his name have all failed in lesser or greater degree to adhere to the truth corrosive that was so dear to him.
Dare you now to follow Vivekananda whole and represent him whole as well in the name of fearless articulation of truth undiluted? I await to see who the first follower of Vivekananda shall be. I know the answer to it. It shall be Vivekananda reborn in the fullness of time who shall do so, for none else has had character enough till date to claim that honour in truth.
Jai Swamiji!
Written by Sugata Bose
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