CHICAGO SPEECH Commemoration-2016

September 11, 2016 by Admin

Vivekananda Darsanika Samajam commemorated Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address on September 11, 2016 at Music College, Palakkad at 4:30 PM. The main speakers at the event were Swamini Shivanandapuri (Advaita Ashram, Kolathur) and Smt. Indira Krishnakumar (Board Member, Indian Postal Service). More than 200 guests attended the event. President of Vivekananda Darsanika Samajam, Sri. T. Vishnukumar presided over the event and General Secretary of the Samajam, Sri. M. Kiran spoke at the event. Swamini Shivanandapuri remarked that even after almost 70 years of independence, our fellow countrymen are not really free. She talked about the pressing need to educate and empower women in India which was Swami Vivekananda's ultimate dream. Swami stressed hard on the point of women's education because women are the anchors that hold families and societies together. She reminded the audience that the Swami regarded education as the most effective tool to an individual's complete development. She said it is unfortunate that education is still delivered based on a Western model in the land of Swami Vivekananda. She also spoke eloquently about how the whole world looks to India for spiritual guidance and it is important that we groom a generation of young people who are equipped to take on that mighty task. Smt. India Krishnakumar spoke about how compassion should be our primary motivating force, not corporate values. She said self-interests and selfishness will sow division in our society. The real division is not amongst people, but within oneself because of the lack of spiritual values and growth.