The British rule in India brought <br />A change in the curriculum taught, <br />For the education of Indians <br />On aggressive western patterns. <br /> <br />Masses were exploited well <br />In all fields, like social, political <br />Economical, educational, <br />Also in the name of rituals. <br /> <br />Brahmo Samaj fought this, <br />And brought many reforms <br />To stop human rights violation <br />And give women liberation. <br /> <br />It was against mad rituals, <br />Worship of God’s idols, <br />Crude religious dogmas, <br />Low, high Castes and creeds. <br /> <br />It stood for widows’ remarriage, <br />But opposed child marriage, <br />And oppression to women force, <br />Held as secondary citizens. <br /> <br />Narendra, under its influence, <br />Welcomed these changes, <br />Yet he was after the spiritual <br />Purpose behind his Soul. <br /> <br />Incidentally, proposals many, <br />Suggesting him to marry, <br />Were received with offers <br />For his higher foreign studies. <br /> <br />He refused them all <br />As there was a call <br />For his divine services <br />On a full time basis. <br /> <br />The Bramho Samaj leader <br />Couldn’t directly answer <br />To his query, “Did you see <br />God, if so, how is He? <br /> <br />His thirst to see God, <br />Day by day, increased, <br />And the same question, <br />He asked everyone. <br /> <br />No satisfactory answers <br />Came from those sources. <br />The burning fire in him <br />Here and there, drove him. <br /> <br />His Professor gave a hint <br />That there was one saint, <br />Ramakrishna of Dakshineswar <br />Who was in trance there. <br /> <br />By then he was just eighteen. <br />To meet this saint, he was keen. <br />One day, that moment came <br />At an opportune time. <br /> <br />He was asked to sing <br />In a devotee’s dwelling <br />Where the great saint <br />Was unusually present. <br /> <br />His melodious performance <br />And his amiable face <br />Did attract the Saint, <br />At that crucial moment. <br /> <br />The Holy Saint invited him <br />To visit Dakshineswar anytime, <br />Thus, he had the next chance <br />To go to the Saint’s place.<br /><br />Rajaram Ramachandran<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/08-vivekananda-narendra-s-early-life-iv/
