After his famous victory over the world in religious
conference at USA Swami Vivekananda just returned to India. He had attended
many invitation and felicitation ceremony in many places. He was then having a
vision in his mind to start a ‘missionary ‘for rendering social service to the
humanity. One such day he was invited at the residence of Priyanath Mukherjee
at Bag bazar Calcutta. Some other respected citizens of the city came and they
were busy in discussion. At that point of time one came inside and informed
Vivekananda that one stranger came to meet Swamiji. Despite his request being
turned down repeatedly the man rigidly stood outside to meet him. Vivekananda
came out and saw a medium structured man in saffron and clade with saffron
turban waiting for him with a side bag. The man drew a photograph from his bag
and handed over to Swamiji. Swamiji saw the photo. It was photo of a healthy
milch cow. Inquisitively he enquired the man “What is the cause of your
committee and what service do you render?”
The enthusiastic man replied “We want to stop killing of holy
mother cow. We save holy cow from the clutches of butchers.”
Vivekananda asked “But what about those cows that get old and
aged?”
The man was encouraged and replied “We are going to make old
age home for those cows throughout the country, and for that we need huge
fund.”
Vivekananda told “Well, but the country is now under severe
famine. Already nine lakhs people died that also per government report. Did
your organisation taken any vow to help those famine affected people?”
The man replied “That is not our job. But, if we do not save
cows Hinduism will reach to its nadir.”
Vivekananda kept his cool and told” I understand, can you
people not keep abeyance the service to cow for some time and work towards
service to human beings?”
The man got wild and said “What you are telling? Are you
telling to forget holy cow? What we are to do with death of human? They are
sinners and they are dying due to their sin only.”
Then Vivekananda could not control himself. He shouted to the
guy and said “Those organisation do not care for humanity, and do not ready to
render service for people who are dying, I do not have any sympathy for them.”
The man asked again “This means you do not believe on sin?”
Vivekananda replied “If everything is believed happening due
to sins, then you holy cow is of not exemption. They are butchered due to their
sin.”
The man tried one last time and said “But, cow is our
mother.”
Vivekananda replied with a smile “That is understood seeing
the worthy son like you.”
The man could not understand the satire and still begged some
money from him.
Vivekananda could understand that there is no point
discussing with this guy. He smiled and simply replied “I am a saint, a
penniless pauper. Where I can get fund to help your cause? I am trying to get
fund for my own vision and that will not travel in same path of yours. My job
to humanity and first food for needy, then wisdom to them and the religion
comes last.”
[This exerts are translated by me for more readership
from Bengali novel by famous author Sunil Ganguly named ‘Prothom Alo’ that
literarily means first light. This also contained in a book named “Swamiji for
all” page No 20 and 21 published by Ramakrishna Mission Cultural Institute ISBN
No 81-85843-26-0 . This has reference also in first authentic biography on
Vivekananda by Promothnath Bosu named
“Swami Vivekananda” 1st and 2nd volume.]
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