A LETTER TO AN ARDENT YOUTH, A MERE BOY IN HIS MATURING YEARS AS HE STEPS INTO ADULTHOOD

A LETTER TO AN ARDENT YOUTH, A MERE BOY IN HIS MATURING YEARS AS HE STEPS INTO ADULTHOOD

Dear Shaon Malik,

Read thoroughly 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda" and do so over and over again till Swamiji's words penetrate your being to its very depths, impregnate you with the sublimity of his thoughts and you emerge a mighty lion like Swamiji had envisaged. Upon the youth of India he had laid much hope and you, as representative of the youth of today, must lead the charge even unto forming a mighty current of awakening among kindred souls.

When Swami Ranganathananda had visited Swami Nirmalananada (Tulsi Maharaj), a great brother disciple of Swamiji, to seek his blessings before embarking on his mission of working among the youth and firing them up with Swamiji's message, the great sage asked him about his academic qualifications at first. When told that he (Ranganathananda) was a mere matriculate, Tulsi Maharaj advised him to read 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda' one hundred times. The great one further said that if Ranaganathananada (Shankaran Maharaj, later the 13th President of the Ramakrishna Order) did it, he would be able to hold his own in discussion and disputation with the greatest scholars of the world.

And, indeed, he did hold his own against such in later life as the unfolding saga of his life bears ample testimony to. So also must you from this day, the 8th of August, 2020, step up your efforts and immerse yourself in the study of this great vivifying spiritual literature, 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda' and emerge a man in the mould Swamiji has set for us and expects us to cast ourselves in. May Swamiji bless you ever and ever !

Yours affectionately,
Sugata Bose

P.S. Mere acknowledging my guidance thus will not do, Shaon. You must assiduously avoid politics in the formative years of your life and set yourself to building it with all energy. The works of Swamiji must be read thoroughly and assimilated. Only then will you emerge a man of substance and character whose activity on earth will contribute to the fulfilment of Swamiji's dreams. Mere sloganeering will not do, remember, as is the wont these days. Swamiji had exhorted his disciples to spread his message among 'young, intelligent English-educated men, not fools.' So, you are young, intelligent, well conversant with the English language, and all that you need now is to train yourself to pass Swamiji's test of intelligence and character-formation. May Swamiji guide you, not me !