SWAMI VIVEKANANDA - Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture

Memorable Events in the Life of Swami Vivekananda33
deep poverty! We Indians are so miserably poor that,
millions of us die for want of a handful of rice, while here
people spend money lavishly only for personal comforts!
Who will raise the Indians and give them food? O
Mother, tell me how I can serve them!' Such was
Swamiji's burning love for India!
A similar incident took place at Belur Math after
Swamiji's return from the West. Swami Vijnanananda, a
brother disciple of Swamiji, was then staying at the
Math. Swamiji loved him and affectionately called him
'Peshan' for his name was Hariprasanna before joining
the Order.
Swami Vijnanananda occupied the ropm next to
Swamiji's. One night his sleep was broken by the sound
of sobbing and he rushed to Swamiji's room. There he
found Swamiji bitterly crying. Swamiji did not notice that
his brother-disciple had come into his room.
'Are you not feeling r well Swamiji?'; asked
Vijnanananda. Swamiji was startled, 'Oh, Peshan,' he
said, 'I presumed you were asleep. No, my dear, I am
not side. But I cannot sleep^ as long as my c mntry
suffers. I was crying and praying to Sri Ramakrishna that
we wou Id soon see better days.'
Swamiji was an embodiment of love for India and
her people. He would inspire everybody who came in
contact with him to love India. Sister-Christine writes :
'Our love for India came to birth, I think, when we first
heard him say the word "India", in that marvellous voice