As Bharat completed 75 years of independence in August 2022, it now aims to become developed till 2047 through ‘Viksit Bharat’ initiative. The nation of 140 crore people, who call themselves a ‘developing country’ for the last several years, now strive to become a developed country. But it is also worth emphasising on the key parameters of ‘development’, for it is the very basis of any society’s mutual consciousness and way of life. Swami Vivekananda, a great Yogi of the 19th century, had a vision of Viksit Bharat well before the 50 years of Independence. Swami Vivekananda, in a lecture ‘The Future of India’ delivered in 1897 at Madras, urged his fellow countrymen to wake up and live for the nation for the next 50 years. Bharat became free exactly after 50 years in 1947, which was not a coincidence but the fulfilment of the vision of Swami Vivekananda.
Delving deep into the essence of development will give us an idea of what to develop. An overview of the vision of development, Viksit, in the present time is found to be quite influenced by the Western thought of development which conveys an idea that sky-top buildings, ocean crossing bridges and mountain crushing roads are the epitome of development. But this Western idea of development does not suit Bharatiya culture, which from ages did not limit itself only to material prosperity, rather it is beyond that.
From the very start of civilisations, the Bharatiya mind, the great Rishis and Yogis, delved deep inside and found great spiritual insights. But at the same time, this spiritual heritage of Bharat was not cultivated and preserved by compromising material prosperity. The Indus Valley Civilisation is renowned for its sophisticated urban planning, advanced home structures and gigantic temples without metal-steel.
Thus, Bharat was already developed a thousand years ago, both materially and spiritually, which was the treasure of its development. Swami Vivekananda, found that the very reason behind the downfall and degradation of this nation was loss of self-confidence, self-respect and self-reliance among the common masses of India. Nation is the very extension of ‘men’, thus it is the men which should become ‘Viksit’. As the individual falls, the society falls and as the individual grows, the society grows. Thus, it is truly the individual, the ‘men’, the very essence of society, which is to be developed, then the nation becomes ‘Viksit’. So, Swami Vivekananda’s vision on nation-rebuilding was through man-making and character building. Like every individual has a character, in the same way, every nation also has its own character. The national character of Bharat is its ‘spirituality.’
In a lecture, ‘The Future of India’, delivered in 1897, Swami Vivekananda said, ‘For the next 50 years this alone shall be our keynote—this, our great Mother India. Let all other vain gods disappear for the time being from our minds. This is the only god that is awake, our own race—“everywhere his hands, everywhere his feet, everywhere his ears, he covers everything.” All other Gods are sleeping. What vain gods shall we go after and yet cannot worship the god that we see all round us, the Virāt?’ And exactly 50 years later, Bharat attained independence. The vision of Swami Vivekananda on a Viksit Bharat was re-building, development and preservation of a society based on spiritual foundation, which shall live the idea of universal brotherhood and universal tolerance.
Youth and women are the pillars upon which the foundation stone of Viksit Bharat is to be formed and Swami Vivekananda had a message for both. Swamiji had immense faith and belief in youth, whom he entrusted as his workers in the regeneration of this country. And Swamiji also greatly regarded the importance of women in society whom he considered once as ‘lion’. He once said that ‘the best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women.’ In future, youth and women are entrusted with a great responsibility to act and work as pillars for Viksit Bharat.
Swami Vivekananda said that, “Each nation has a destiny to fulfill, each nation has a message to deliver, each nation has a mission to accomplish”. The vision that Swamiji had for Bharat was not materialistic but purely spiritual. The very blood of the national life of Bharat is spirituality, which will be the life blood of Viksit Bharat also. The development of Bharat, will not be compromising the interest of other countries, for the development shall be all inclusive and comprehensive. As Rishi Aurobindo said beautifully, “India does not rise as other countries do, for self or when she is strong, to trample on the weak. She is rising to shed the eternal light entrusted to her over the world. India has always existed for humanity and not for herself and it is for humanity and not for herself that she must be great”. Bharat shall become ‘Viksit’ again not for its own interest but for the whole world and humanity, following the principles of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. On this National Youth Day, let us be more aware about our society and consciousness all around us. n
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