Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Kamakhya Dham, Assam

After his three-day stay at Kamakhya Dham, Swamiji addressed at four meetings and many historians say his first speech was on casteism, followed by transmigration of the soul, Vedanta in Indian life and the deliberation of Upanishad verses.

On January 26, 1901, Swami Vivekananda wrote to his disciple Mrs Sara Chapman Bull from America saying, "I am going to take my mother to a Kamakhya Dham next week. It may take months to make the complete round of pilgrimages. This is the one great wish of a Hindu widow. I have brought only misery to my people all my life. I am trying at least to fulfil this one wish of hers."

Swamiji was already in Dhaka with his disciples, along with Swami Nityananda (Nitai) and Swami Nirbhayananda (Kanai). Swamiji's mother, aunt, sister, a cousin's wife, and Swami Sadananda (Gupta Maharaj, a disciple) left Calcutta and met him in East Bengal to go to Kamakhya Dham. Swamiji met his mother in Narayanganj, and they all bathed in the Brahmaputra River at Langalbandha. They went back to Dacca, left for Chandranath on April 5 (near Chittagong) and finally Kamakhya Dham (in Guwahati). These places are associated with Goddess Sati and are designated as Shakti Peeth. He reached Dhubri by a steamer from Dhaka, accompanied by his mother, disciples, and proceeded to Guwahati's way to Kamakhya. He stayed in Kamakhya for three days. Swamiji wrote himself at the house of the Kamakhya panda (priest) dated April 17, where he was staying, "I have great pleasure in certifying the great amiability and helpfulness of the brothers Shivakanta and Lakshmikanta Pandas (priests) of Sri Maa Kamakhya Temple. They are men who help many and are satisfied with the least. I can unhesitatingly recommend them to the Hindu public visiting this holy shrine."

After his three-day stay at Kamakhya Dham, Swamiji addressed at four meetings, including Sonaram High School and the then newly established Cotton College. Many historians say his first speech was on casteism, followed by transmigration of the soul, Vedanta in Indian life and the deliberation of Upanishad verses. Assam Valley Division Commissioner AP Bahadur was also present in one of these lectures. Despite being a hard critic of Swamiji, Padmanath Bhattacharya, a professor at Cotton College, said in his writings that his speeches were worth listening to. His voice was sweet and had an unmatchable capacity to use correct words in the right places. Many Britishers were also present in these lectures who wholeheartedly acknowledged him by applauding at frequent intervals.

Swami Vivekananda then made an arduous journey over difficult hilly terrain to Shillong, the then capital of Assam. The journey in those days used to take three days by horse-drawn cart. He came from Guwahati to Shillong with his mother, sister, aunt, Gupta and Ramlal Dada's wife. It's also said that British officer Mr Norton accompanied him on the orders of Sir Henry Cotton, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, who had invited Swamiji to be his guest in Shillong to restore his health. Swamiji thanked Sir Henry Cotton for the generosity but chose the hospitality of his countrymen. He stayed at the Laban House of Rai Saheb Kailash Chandra.

Sir Henry Cotton was anxious to meet Swamiji, as he had heard about him for a long time. He was aware of the name given to him by the West, "Cyclonic monk from India". He requested Swamiji to deliver a lecture before resident English officials and a large gathering of Indians. Swamiji was happy to do so. Seeing that the Swamiji was ill, he instructed the Civil Surgeon to render him all possible medical aid. The Chief Commissioner made daily enquiries about his health throughout the Swamiji's stay. Swamiji spoke of him as a man who understood India's needs and aspirations, was working nobly for her cause and deserved the love of the Indian people.

Despite his ill health, Swamiji delivered a speech at the famous Quinton Memorial Hall on April 27, 1901, at the request of Rai Saheb and other prominent citizens. Rai Saheb Kailash Chandra Das, Swamiji's host, was the secretary of the Quinton Memorial Hall Committee. The lecture was delivered to a packed audience. Swami Alokananda analysed the Quinton Memorial speech and came up with some salient points that Swamiji had emphasized: religion is realisation; serving humanity is the highest religion; national progress depends on the expansion of education; self-manifestation is the true indicator of one's humanity; and the importance of linking spiritual lesson with vocational education and training.

Swamiji, with his pilgrimage companions, left Shillong on May 6 and were at Belur Math on May 12. Regarding Assam, Swamiji wrote to Christine Greenstidel, "Its combined mountain and water scenery is unrivalled." Even nearly two months after his return from the distant hills, he was still praising the place and wrote to Mary Hale on July 5, "Assam is another Kashmir and the most beautiful place in India. The huge Brahmaputra is winding in and out of mountains and hills, studded with islands, is, of course, worth seeing."

(The writer is the Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Assam Pradesh)