Swami Vivekananda, originally named Narendranath Datta (also spelled Dutt), was born on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and passed away on 4 July 1902 near the same city. A prominent Hindu spiritual leader and reformer, he sought to bridge Indian spiritual traditions with Western progress and materialism, believing that both could enhance each other. For him, the highest reality was the divine self within, and serving humanity was the noblest goal.
Coming from an upper-middle-class Kayastha family, he was educated in a Western-style university where he studied philosophy, Christianity, and science. These influences shaped his worldview, prompting him to engage in social reform, including women’s education, and fight against child marriage and illiteracy through his association with the Brahmo Samaj. He later became the most renowned disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who emphasized the unity of all religions.
Vivekananda focused on the universal and humanistic messages of the Vedas, placing service to others above ritualistic practices. He revitalized Hinduism by promoting its practical and spiritual aspects rather than its passive elements. His efforts took him to the West, where he introduced Vedanta philosophy to audiences in the United States and Britain. His speech at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago earned him global recognition as a powerful orator and representative of Hindu thought.
In 1897, he returned to India with a few Western followers and established the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math near Kolkata. His vision centered on perfection through service, and he reshaped the ideals of Vedanta for the modern era. Despite living only two years into the 20th century, Vivekananda left a lasting impact on both Eastern and Western thought.
