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128th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s iconic speech at World’s Parliament of Religion in Chicago, a look at the entire speech

Swami Vivekananda is best known in the United States for his iconic speech in the World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893. Through his speech, he introduced Hinduism to America and called for an end to fanaticism.

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128th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's iconic speech at World's Parliament of Religion in Chicago

Swami Vivekananda is best known in the United States for his iconic speech in the World’s Parliament of Religions in 1893. Through his speech, he introduced Hinduism to America and called for an end to fanaticism. September 11, 2021, marks the 128th anniversary of his groundbreaking speech in the US.

PM Modi recalls Swami Vivekanada’s speech:

Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on Saturday recalled the speech and said that its spirit has the potential to create a more just, prosperous, and inclusive planet. “Recalling Swami Vivekananda’s iconic 1893 speech at Chicago, which beautifully demonstrated the salience of Indian culture. The spirit of his speech has the potential to create a more just, prosperous and inclusive planet”, he tweeted.

In his speech at the World Religion Conference, Swami Vivekananda addressed the audience as Sisters and Brothers of America. They had spoken about the basic things to follow in life to make it worth living. He mentioned about country’s pride, love towards all religions, science and religion, roots of Hinduism, and other vital things.

On the anniversary 128th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s speech, let’s have a look at the entire speech:

Sisters and Brothers of America.

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. l thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of the millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration.

I am proud to belong to a religion that has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation that has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth.

I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation.

I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings:

As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to thee.

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world, of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita:

Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.

Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization, and sent whole nations to despair.

Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time comes; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

The World’s Parliament of Religions has become an accomplished fact, and the merciful Father has helped those who labored to bring it into existence and crowned with success their most unselfish labor.

My thanks to those noble souls whose large hearts and love of truth first dreamed this wonderful dream and then realized it. My thanks to the shower of liberal sentiments that has overflowed this platform. My thanks to this enlightened audience for their uniform kindness to me and for their appreciation of every thought that tends to smooth the friction of religions.

A few jarring notes were heard from time to time in this harmony. My special thanks to them, for they have, by their striking contrast, made general harmony the sweeter.

Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just now to venture my own theory. But if anyone here hopes that this unity will come by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the others, to him I say, “Brother, yours is an impossible hope.”

Do I wish that the Christian would become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become Christian? God forbid.

The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air, and water are placed around it. Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the water, converts them into plant substances, and grows into a plant.

Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow according to his own law of growth.

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If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has proved to the world that holiness, purity, and charity are not the exclusive possessions of any church in the world and that every system has produced men and women of the most exalted character.

In the face of this evidence, if anybody dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance- Help and not fight, Assimilation and not Destruction, Harmony and Peace and not Dissension.

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Padma Awards 2025: Full list of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri awardees

The awards recognize outstanding achievements across all fields, with a focus on public service. The recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the Prime Minister.

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January 26, 2025

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The central government announced the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards on Saturday. These awards, conferred annually on the eve of Republic Day, represent India’s highest civilian honours. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (for distinguished service of a higher order), and Padma Shri (for distinguished service).

The awards recognize outstanding achievements across all fields, with a focus on public service. The recipients are selected by a committee appointed by the Prime Minister.

This year, a total of 199 awards were presented: 7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. The President of India bestows these awards at a formal ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhawan, typically held in March or April.

List of Padma Award Winners 2024:

Padma Vibhushan:

  • Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy
  • Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar
  • Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia
  • Lakshminarayana Subramaniam
  • MT Vasudevan Nair (Posthumous)
  • Osamu Suzuki (Posthumous)
  • Sharda Sinha (Posthumous)

Padma Bhushan:

  • A Surya Prakash
  • Anant Nag
  • Bibek Debroy (Posthumous)
  • Jatin Goswami
  • Jose Chacko Periappuram
  • Kailash Nath Dikshit
  • Manohar Joshi (Posthumous)
  • Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti
  • Nandamuri Balakrishna
  • PR Sreejesh
  • Pankaj Patel
  • Pankaj Udhas (Posthumous)
  • Rambahadur Rai
  • Sadhvi Ritambhara
  • S Ajith Kumar
  • Shekhar Kapur
  • Shobana Chandrakumar
  • Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous)
  • Vinod Dham

Padma Shri:

  • Advaita Charan Gadanayak
  • Achyut Ramchandra Palav
  • Ajay V Bhatt
  • Anil Kumar Boro
  • Arijit Singh
  • Arundhati Bhattacharya
  • Arunoday Saha
  • Arvind Sharma
  • Ashok Kumar Mahapatra
  • Ashok Laxman Saraf
  • Ashutosh Sharma
  • Ashwini Bhide Deshpande
  • Baijnath Maharaj
  • Barry Godfray John
  • Begam Batool
  • Bharat Gupt
  • Bheru Singh Chouhan
  • Bhim Singh Bhavesh
  • Bhimawa Doddabalappa Shiilekyathara
  • Budhendra Kumar Jain
  • C S Vaidyanathan
  • Chaitram Deochand Pawar
  • Chandrakant Sheth (Posthumous)
  • Chandrakant Sompura
  • Chetan E Chitnis
  • David R Syiemlieh
  • Durga Charan Ranbir
  • Farooq Ahmad Mir
  • Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid
  • Gita Upadhyay
  • Gokul Chandra Das
  • Guruvayur Dorai
  • Harchandan Singh Bhatty
  • Hariman Sharma
  • Harjinder Singh Srinagar Wale
  • Harvinder Singh
  • Hassan Raghu
  • Hemant Kumar
  • Hriday Narayan Dixit
  • Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Posthumous)
  • Inivalappil Mani Vijayan
  • Jagadish Joshila
  • Jaspinder Narula
  • Jonas Masetti
  • Joynacharan Bathari
  • Jumde Yomgam Gamlin
  • K. Damodaran
  • K L Krishna
  • K Omanakutty Amma
  • Kishore Kunal (Posthumous)
  • L Hangthing
  • Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer
  • Lalit Kumar Mangotra
  • Lama Lobzang (Posthumous)
  • Libia Lobo Sardesai
  • M D Srinivas
  • Madugula Nagaphani Sarma
  • Mahabir Nayak
  • Mamata Shankar
  • Manda Krishna Madiga
  • Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli
  • Miriyala Apparao (Posthumous)
  • Nagendra Nath Roy
  • Narayan (Bhulai Bhai) (Posthumous)
  • Naren Gurung
  • Neerja Bhatla
  • Nirmala Devi
  • Nitin Nohria
  • Onkar Singh Pahwa
  • P Datchanamoorthy
  • Pandi Ram Mandavi
  • Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai
  • Pawan Goenka
  • Prashanth Prakash
  • Pratibha Satpathy
  • Purisai Kannappa Sambandan
  • R Ashwin
  • R G Chandramogan
  • Radha Bahin Bhatt
  • Radhakrishnan Devasenapathy
  • Ramdarash Mishra
  • Ranendra Bhanu Majumdar
  • Ratan Kumar Parimoo
  • Reba Kanta Mahanta
  • Renthlei Lalrawna
  • Ricky Gyan Kej
  • Sajjan Bhajanka
  • Sally Holkar
  • Sant Ram Deswal
  • Satyapal Singh
  • Seeni Viswanathan
  • Sethuraman Panchanathan
  • Sheikha Shaikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
  • Sheen Kaaf Nizam (Shiv Kishan Bissa)
  • Shyam Bihari Agrawal
  • Soniya Nityanand
  • Stephen Knapp
  • Subhash Khetulal Sharma
  • Suresh Harilal Soni
  • Surinder Kumar Vasal
  • Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik Maharaj)
  • Syed Ainu Hasan
  • Tejendra Narayan Majumdar
  • Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi
  • Tushar Durgeshbhai Shukla
  • Vadiraj Raghavendracharya Panchamukhi
  • Vasudeo Kamath
  • Velu Assaan
  • Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar
  • Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
  • Vijayalakshmi Deshamane
  • Vilas Dangre
  • Vinayak Lohani

Note that “(Posthumous)” indicates the award was given posthumously.

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Republic Day 2025: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat says respect differences, live in harmony

Attempting a task without understanding, he warned, is akin to acting like a “lunatic,” leading to wasted effort and potential problems. This concept extended beyond culinary skills to encompass all aspects of life, highlighting the need for informed action and diligent work ethics.

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January 26, 2025

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At the 76th Republic Day celebration in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday asserted the importance of unity and understanding in a diverse society. His speech, delivered after unfurling the national flag at a local college, extended beyond the celebratory aspects of the day, focusing on the responsibilities inherent in Indian citizenship.

Bhagwat’s central theme revolved around the need for societal cohesion, a concept he presented as crucial for harmonious coexistence. He acknowledged the presence of diversity within India, contrasting the nation’s approach with global conflicts often fueled by similar differences.

He argued that while individual distinctions and specializations should be respected, they should not overshadow the paramount importance of mutual respect and collaborative living. His analogy extended to the familial and community levels; just as a family requires harmony for its well-being, so too does a town and, ultimately, the nation. Internal conflicts, he implied, undermine the collective good.

He further emphasised the critical role of knowledge and dedication in achieving individual and societal success. Bhagwat used the simple act of cooking rice as a powerful metaphor. He explained that simply possessing the ingredients – rice, water, and heat – is insufficient; the knowledge of how to combine them properly is essential for a successful outcome.

Attempting a task without understanding, he warned, is akin to acting like a “lunatic,” leading to wasted effort and potential problems. This concept extended beyond culinary skills to encompass all aspects of life, highlighting the need for informed action and diligent work ethics.

His message extended into the realm of interpersonal relationships, highlighting the importance of faith and dedication. He contrasted the impersonal service received at a hotel with the welcoming hospitality often found in a home.

At a hotel, a simple request for water might be met with indifference or even hostility. However, at home, a similar request is usually met with generosity and warmth. This difference, he explained, lies in the presence of faith and dedication; actions rooted in trust and commitment invariably yield more positive results. Bhagwat concluded by emphasising that such faith and dedication are vital not only for personal fulfilment but also for building strong, harmonious communities and a thriving nation.

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Congress chief Kharge extends Republic Day greetings, slams Modi govt, says secularism being targeted by Goebbelsian propaganda

He claimed that minorities are being systematically targeted, and those advocating for secularism are subjected to what he termed “Goebbelsian propaganda,” a reference to Nazi Germany’s manipulative propaganda techniques. He further asserted that weaker sections of society – Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, the poor, and minorities – are treated as second-class citizens.

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46 mins ago

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January 26, 2025

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On India’s 76th Republic Day, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge delivered a message that was as much a celebration of the Constitution’s 75th anniversary as it was a scathing critique of the current political climate.

He began by honouring the architects of the Constitution, mentioning Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, B.R. Ambedkar, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, and Sarojini Naidu, acknowledging their monumental contribution to shaping India’s republic.

He extended his appreciation to the nation’s armed forces, paramilitary personnel, security forces, scientists, teachers, farmers, and the diverse workforce – including daily wage earners, gig workers, artists, writers, and sportspersons – for their indispensable roles in nation-building and preserving India’s rich cultural tapestry.

However, the celebratory tone was quickly overshadowed by a stark assessment of the nation’s democratic health. Kharge expressed deep concern over what he characterized as a decade-long erosion of democratic principles and institutions. He alleged a deliberate and malicious campaign fueled by religious fundamentalism, designed to fracture Indian society along religious lines.

He claimed that minorities are being systematically targeted, and those advocating for secularism are subjected to what he termed “Goebbelsian propaganda,” a reference to Nazi Germany’s manipulative propaganda techniques. He further asserted that weaker sections of society – Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, the poor, and minorities – are treated as second-class citizens.

The Congress president directly accused the ruling government of political interference in autonomous institutions, asserting that the control over independent bodies is perceived as a mark of power. He claimed that federalism is being systematically undermined, with the rights of opposition-governed states being curtailed.

The functioning of Parliament, he stated, has significantly deteriorated due to what he described as the tyrannical tendencies of the ruling government. Universities and self-governing institutions, he continued, face constant intrusion, and a large segment of the media has been co-opted as a propaganda tool. The suppression of dissent through the targeting of opposition leaders, he argued, has become the government’s primary policy.

The ongoing crisis in Manipur served as a stark illustration of his concerns, with Kharge highlighting the state’s prolonged turmoil and the lack of accountability at the highest levels of power.

He concluded his message with a fervent call to protect the Constitution’s fundamental values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity, emphasizing that these tenets are being systematically undermined by what he called an authoritarian regime.

He urged citizens to be prepared to make sacrifices to defend the Constitution, viewing this as a fitting tribute to their ancestors. His statement ended with the powerful slogan: “Jai Bapu, Jai Bheem, Jai Samvidhaan. Jai Hind.”

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