Glorious India, Arise (A Prophetic Vision for a Future)

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The Vedanta Kesari, p. 301-305, August 2005

The causes for the imbalance between India's glorious past and present under- development have been detected by Swamiji. Swamiji asked Indians not to brood over the past, but to work for a future, taking lesson from the history. Still we know it won't work. We require a fillip for a renaissance. This fillip comes from the inspiring words of Swamiji:

… only the blind cannot see, or the perverted will not see, that she is awakening, this motherland of ours, from her deep long sleep. None can resist her any more; never is she going to sleep any more; no outward powers can hold her back any more; for the infinite giant is rising to her feet. (CW:3.146)

But one vision I see clear as life before me: that the ancient Mother has awakened once more, sitting on Her throne rejuvenated, more glorious than ever. Proclaim Her to all the world with the voice of peace and benediction. (CW: 4.353)

Conclusion
India's development in various branches of science and her achievements since the Vedic period have been spectacular. One thing, however, should be borne in mind. Many Indians are bent upon ascribing all knowledge and technical advancement in the world to the Vedas and thus belittle the latest achievements of the modern world. This is not a right approach.

India's gift to the world has been laconically expressed in these words of Swamiji:

Like the gentle dew that falls unseen and unheard, and yet brings into blossom the fairest of roses, has been the contribution of India to the thought of the world. Silent, unperceived, yet omnipotent in its effect, it has revolutionised the thought of the world, yet nobody knows when it did so.

Albert Einstein once said, 'Religion without Science is lame; Science without religion is blind.' It implies that the two should complement each other. The epochal discoveries and inventions of science should be handled with introspective vision of peace, harmony, and unity, and religion should be based on the firm bedrock of reason. A harmony has yet to be set up between science and religion. This was at least one of the purposes of the advent of Swami Vivekananda as the torchbearer of Sri Ramakrishna's eternal message. He gave a passionate call to the nation: My India, Arise.