Swami Vivekananda had the benefit of not only studying the philosophy and history of India and the West but also observing both societies as an unknown pauper as well as a renowned and revered person. It is this understanding of human history and human destiny that made him say,
“Just as there is individuality in every man, so there is a national individuality. As one man differs from another in certain particulars, in certain characteristics of his own, so one race differs from another in certain peculiar characteristics; and just as it is the mission of bi every man to fulfill a certain purpose in the economy of nature, just as there is a particular line set out for him by his own past Karma, so no it is with nations – each nation has a destiny to fulfil, each nation has a message to deliver, each nation has a mission to accomplish. Therefore, from the very start, we must have to understand the mission of our own race, the destiny it has to fulfill, the place it has to occupy in the march of nations, and note which it has to contribute to the harmony of races.” (CWSV, Vol. 3, p. 369).
Each civilisation has contributed or if it has survived, it is still contributing to the development and evolution of humanity. Indian civilisation, which contributed and is still contributing, is no exception. Sometimes this flow has been vibrant and sometimes Sluggish, especially when India faced savage invasions on her and her people. To face those challenges, she had to adopt many temporary measures in self-defence. Unfortunately, many such measures got interpreted as ‘tradition and somehow the scope of her actions was reduced.
The best example of reduction of scope of actions is: a nation, which proclaimed its national mission as Krinvanto Visham Aaryam – “Let us make the whole world noble” started believing that crossing the sea was a sin! When an individual or a civilisation lives only for itself it either becomes a problem to the world at large or it degenerates. Swami Vivekananda says, “One atom in this universe cannot move without dragging the whole world along with it. There cannot be any progress without the whole world following in the wake, and it is becoming every day clearer that the solution of any problem can never be attained on racial, or national, or narrow grounds. Every idea has to become broad till it or covers the whole of this world, every aspiration must go on increasing ari till it has engulfed the whole of humanity, nay, the whole of life, br within its scope. This will explain why our country for the last few ns centuries has not been what she was in the past. We find that one of the causes which led to this degeneration was the narrowing of our view, narrowing the scope of our actions.” (CWSV, Vol. 3, p. 269).
Starting with Swami Vivekananda, many savants and sages in the context of the freedom movement reminded India of her destined role. But unfortunately, after independence, due to skewed and confused ideas about secularism, political correctness, guilt due to partition and compulsions of electoral politics, the soul of the Indian Civilisation could not express itself vibrantly. Now the situation within the nation and at the global level demands that India has to understand its culture, its destined role and contribute her share for the development of humanity. While doing that, India has to take into account the current scenario and the crisis in human society.
The Crisis in Human Society
The advancement of science and technology has brought the world closer, has equipped man with lethal weapons, and imparted the capacity to exploit and interfere with nature. The concurrent advancement of the human mind has not taken place so as to deal with these powers of science and technology with maturity and restraint. This gap between the availability of power and under-developed maturity and inner strength to handle that power has led human society to a crisis.
If the problems of human life are analysed, it is seen that the problems are due to the contraction of the feeling of ‘oneness’, limiting of consciousness to the material, or to one’s own body-mind complex or to a specific God and rejecting others. When man feels one with the poor and the fallen and the downtrodden and the suffering, then instead of exploiting them, he would help them. When man feels one with nature, instead of exploiting it, he would nurture and enrich it. When man is one with Ishvara, instead of being exclusive about God, he sees that all forms and names of God indicate the same power called variously as Ishvara or Paramaatman or God or Allah, etc. Thus, exclusive claims to truth and rejection of others would be given up. And there would be an innate respect for and even acceptance of those who are different from oneself. It was in this context that Swami Vivekananda said,
“The other great idea that the world wants from us today, the thinking part of Europe, nay, the whole world …is that eternal grand idea of the spiritual oneness of the whole universe… the modern researches of the West have demonstrated through physical means the oneness and the solidarity of the whole universe; how, physically speaking, you and I, the sun, moon, and stars are but little waves or wavelets in the midst of an infinite ocean of matter; how Indian psychology demonstrated ages ago that, similarly, both body and mind are but mere names or little wavelets in the ocean of matter, the Samashti; and how, going one step further, it is also shown in the Vedanta o that behind that idea of the unity of the whole show, the real Soul 1 (Atman) is one. There is but one Soul throughout the universe, all is but One Existence. This great idea of the real and basic solidarity of the whole universe…is the one great life-giving idea which the world wants from us today, and which the mute masses of India want for their uplifting, for none can regenerate this land of ours without the practical application and effective operation of this ideal of the oneness of things.” (CWSV, Vol. 3, pp. 188-189).
In order to give a creative response to the existing challenges that face India and the world, we Indians have to work at many levels
The Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of a proper lifestyle. As the man put himself under lockdown for weeks together, he realised that nature’s health outside was getting restored. Rivers became clearer, the air purer, and birds and animals who were deep inside, came out in the open, enjoying the noiseless, pollution-free roads and alleys and water-bodies. Some commented humorously that man realised that it was not the coronavirus but man himself was a big virus for the other living beings on earth.
Man, in his greed and individualistic thinking, has forgotten his duty towards nature. During lockdown, he also realised that what he really needs is food and a place to stay. As socialising, visiting malls, discotheques, clubs, eating in restaurants was not possible during the lockdown, the man realised that he actually needed very less money to live. He could do with very little. If this realisation gets internalised, then man would not be a burden on the earth. But in all probability when things turn to normal, man would forget such valuable lessons that were taught to him in the compulsion of lockdown. Ultimately, the solution is that man has to raise himself with higher consciousness; he has to evolve to feel for others. That is where the importance and relevance of Indian culture comes in.
Indian culture is based on Oneness. The civilisational history of India is the history of its quest for the Infinite, seeking out of that which connects the apparent unconnected parts, pursuit for realisation of oneness, seeing One in many. Swami Vivekananda saw that oneness of existence, as perceived and practised in India for ages should become her gift to humanity in the near future. Indians themselves have to understand and work out this potential of Indian Culture in the interest of humanity. For that they have to understand and face the challenges confronting them, so as to be able to manifest
The World Mission
Each civilisation in this world has contributed or is still contributing to human development. Indian civilisation has contributed immensely and continues to have the potentiality to contribute to the human society, which is beset with many problems like disintegration of families and communities, ecological imbalance, excessive individualism, materialism on one side and religious fanaticism, exclusivism on the other. The advancement of science and technology, while enhancing comfort and communication, has further compounded the challenges. Take for example the use of internet, mobile phones, etc. Many have become addicted to it. Man cannot go back in time to take on the challenges that technology has thrown. We cannot give up internet and mobile phones but we have to learn how not to get possessed by it.
For all such challenges, the only solution is: people with an evolved consciousness. To help people reach a higher state of consciousness, Indian culture has much to offer and not in terms of yoga and Ayurveda alone as some believe- but in several deeply significant ways. In order to give her best, however, India has to successfully face certain challenges and cross over certain obstacles. That is possible only when Indians are clear about what India stands for and how India’s cultural vibrancy is in the interest of humanity and in the interest of the environment itself. And for that, they need to be earnest to practice and protect it.
In order to give a creative response to the existing challenges that face India and the world, we Indians have to work at many levels. First and foremost, we have to develop the Indian method of studying and understanding civilisational issues. We have to work to remove distortions at thought level, to support and serve the vulnerable parts of our society which are targeted by anti-cultural forces, to strengthen our traditional systems of life in the context of given challenges, to further the work of great visionaries like Swami Vivekananda and others to rouse the national consciousness and make the nation aware of its mission, to develop our family and social life with great balance between the spiritual and the mundane, between individual and social freedom. Creative response is required not only for the protection of our culture but also for the evolution of humanity. The creative response that we have to give to go forward and upward is two-fold -at the collective level and at the individual level; or two-fold-as civilisational response and as a personal commitment.
(Edited excerpts from On The Mission Of Human Evolution: Indian Culture – Challenges And Potentialities by Nivedita Bhide)
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