The other 9/11

The terror strikes of September 11, 2001, so transformed the world it even invaded our lexicon: 8220;9/118221; became a metaphor for catac...

The terror strikes of September 11, 2001, so transformed the world it even invaded our lexicon: 8220;9/118221; became a metaphor for cataclysmic destruction. But let us pause and see if these dates can be turned around. For instance, September 11, 1893, was the first day of the World8217;s Parliament of Religions in Chicago where representatives of all organised religions participated with the declared objective of presenting the important truths held in common by the different religions of the world and to bring the nations of the earth into a more harmonious relationship. Let us have another such World8217;s Parliament of Religions, with the greatest scholars/sages of all faiths along with all the world8217;s leaders, in India, the land of Swami Vivekananda8217;s birth. In other words, let us have another 8220;9/118221;, the real 8220;9/118221;.

Swami Vivekananda was the unmatched hero of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago. The unknown, monk became known throughout America and the world. In his speeches, Swamiji stressed the idea of the validity of all religions and their harmony. Every religion, he pointed out, had produced people of the most exalted character endowed with holiness, purity and charity. He appealed to every person to preserve his/her individuality and at the same time assimilate the spirit of other religions.

To make the 21st century World8217;s Parliament of Religions a resounding success, the world needs a new Vivekananda. But before we find a new Vivekananda, the world needs to find a new-age Narada. In Hindu mythology, Sage Narada had transformed the murderer, Valmiki, and inspired him to write the Ramayana. Our new-age Narada will also have such an unenviable role: to transform the new-age Valmiki in its three-headed avatar, read Bush, Blair and bin Laden, to give up their thirst for blood. This three-headed Valmiki can then go on to script as beautiful a Ramayana as world peace. We can then have them attend the new World8217;s Parliament of Religions. King Ashoka was a mass killer as well before he was inspired by Buddhism to spread world peace. There is hope. Like in Chicago 1893, apart from the exhortation to eradicate religious intolerance and accord every religion its rightful potential of realising the Absolute, the new Vivekananda will have to say that religion was not the crying need of the hour; instead it is the wiping out of poverty, disease, illiteracy and all kinds of material suffering that plagues the world today. The original Vivekananda said, 8220;8230;the crying evil in the East is not religion8212;they have religion enough8212;but it is bread that the suffering millions of burning India cry out for with parched throats. They ask us for bread, but we give them stones. It is an insult to a starving people to offer them religion; it is an insult to a starving man to teach him metaphysics.8221;

In order to make this new World8217;s Parliament of Religions an epoch-making one, the earth needs Sage Narada and Swami Vivekananda Version II. This, undoubtedly, will be a Herculean task. Let money and resources, wise men and women, the gods in heaven, all be invoked in this planet wide search. If all this seems just a wildly utopian fantasy, therein lies the danger. We must be bold enough to dream this dream and then see it through. The process must start now. Let8217;s have this 8216;9/118217; in India. And yes, when it happens, we must not forget to invite our dear Narendra Modi. Perhaps, the soul-stirring words of the new Vivekananda will cause him to repent and go back to running a canteen. After all, running a canteen well is of infinitely greater service to God and humanity than running a state with mala fide intentions.