This monk is inspired. I wish all of India's youth listens to him as often as they can. I, for one, consider it a pilgrimage to wash myself in the holy waters of the message that issues forth from the lips of Swami Nirbhayananda and after each such dip emerge rejuvenated. This is no hyperbolic statement which I am engaging in for I have nothing to gain from such verbal exaggeration but what I say is from experience tangible that all of you may as well verify through hearing him who seems to me to be the echo of the Swami Vivekananda who is Swami Nirbhayananda's guiding force in life.
In these days of pretentious piety where spiritual preaching has become a marketable service, Swami Nirbhayananda remains a wonderful exception to this general rule. He adheres to the best ideas of the Sanatan Dharma in its practical form as were manifest in his Master, the Swami Vivekananda, over a century ago and he seems to be so impregnated with the Swami's spirit that he radiates the same lustrous beams that illumine the hearts of his audience.
After listening to decades of insipid talks on spirituality barring a few exceptional speakers who bore the stamp of authority, I stumbled on to Swami Nirbhayananda one fine evening on YouTube and was captivated by the sheer authority and force of conviction with which he spoke. What was refreshing was that he did not bother about so-called political correctness in what he spoke and it seemed that he had no organisational trappings to curb him in his speech. These were later further confirmed as I delved a little more into his profile and activities which were no less inspiring.
The problem speakers of an established Order often face is that they do not know how to effectively navigate through the strictures of their organisation and the correctness of their affirmations. A bad compromise is often the result which takes away conviction from the words spoken. No wonder Sri Ramakrishna had said that it requires divine commission to preach when, and when alone, the words spelt out make a lasting impression on the minds of the audience and help transform personality for good. Swami Nirbhayanandaevidently bears some such blessing either from God or from Guru or, plain enough, from Truth itself which he so eloquently expresses without fear or favour. It is this courage of conviction that he brings to his talks, his sincerity in articulation of what he is inwardly convinced of and his intrepid spirit in propagating the dharma that cause for his enduring appeal in as critical a mind as mine. I am sure that others who are less critically oriented in appreciation will be impressed even more by this leonine monk's message which is the message of all humanity emanating from the lips of a luminous soul in line with the sages and saints of India.
So, there he is, Swami Nirbhayananda Saraswati, a monk dedicated to Ramakrishna-Vivekananda, one who runs Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Ashrama at Gadag and Bijapur in Karnataka. He has represented India and Hinduism in the 4th World Parliament of Religions held in Barcelona, Spain from 5 July to 13 July, 2004. A university graduate and a Bank employee in his pre-monastic days, he was inspired by the life and message of Swami Vivekananda to found 'Vivekananda Seva Kendra' in 1984 at Mangalore in Bijapur District. The institution grew overtime and was transformed into a free residential school for orphans and underprivileged children. Swami Nirbhayananda has adopted the children of the martyrs o the Kargil War and is providing them with free education till the 10th standard in this school.
His mission to serve brought him into contact with the inspiring monk of the Ramakrishna Order, Swami Purushottamananda, who directed the young man to be ordained into sannyasa in 1993. And so he did to emerge as our fiery monastic leader bearing the name Nirbhayananda which so very typifies him, for intrepid is he in his assertions and forthright in his articulation of convictions deep and divine which he lends admirable outflow to transform personalities that chance to come within its ambit. May Swamiji keep blessing him and keep him in good health and spirits so that he may continue to raise the world with his message of hope and light delivered dauntlessly as has been his characteristic all along! I only add on to such my insignificant but reverential prostration at his blessed feet.
Written by Sugata Bose
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