##05 (Vivekananda) Narendra's Early Years (I) Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

As a young boy, Narendra
Loved more God Siva,
The Lord of renunciation,
While doing meditation.

He had a flash of light
That was seen so bright,
Between his eyebrows,
Before his sleep at nights.

This kind of experience
Became a daily occurrence
Also during his meditation,
As his true nature inborn.

To a primary school, he went.
At six years, there he was sent.
But besides his class studies,
From boys, he learnt vulgar words.

Scared by this unpleasant trend,
His parents did not send
But stopped him from the school
For his home-tuition in their hall.

In the school, he was a leader.
And stood as a commander,
In any game, the boys played,
And his orders, they all obeyed.

As a prior sign, this leadership
Continued to take full shape
In his life mission to guide
The people of this world.

He was averse to divide men,
As superior or inferior men,
Based on religion or caste,
That went against his taste.

In his father’s office,
They kept tobacco pipes,
Separately for their clients,
Of different religions or castes.

Against their opposition,
He took them one by one,
Smoked and found them all,
In taste every pipe was equal.

The discipline of his father,
The caring love of his mother,
Both shaped his fine character,
To make him later a kind leader.

His mother insisted on,
“Follow the truth, my son,
At any cost, never mind,
Finally, success you’ll find.”

Many years later, he told,
“I’m deeply indebted
To my mother for her gift
Of knowledge, whatever I’ve got.”