##43 (Vivekananda) Swamiji's Reaction Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

A secluded life, Swamiji wanted,
But it was the will of God,
That he had to go for
A public religious career.

After he earned a name,
Many rich people came
To take care of his needs.
Another act of God, indeed!

But to accept their hospitality,
When his people were in poverty,
He was feeling sick at heart.
And felt sorry for it.

“I don’t care for any name, ”
He cried, “Nor for my fame.
Here they spend millions
For their personal comforts.”

“My people die out of hunger.
Who’ll give them all succor?
How can I help my people”
Like this, for them, he did feel.

In one session, he said,
“What India needs is bread,
And not any religion.”
This was his opinion.

He accepted an offer
For a long lecture tour
From a lecture Bureau
Since he wanted money.

With the funds thus earned
There was no need to depend
Upon his friends or any one,
For financial support then.

He visited many places
And gave his hot lectures,
Provoking some religious fanatics,
Who threw on him accusations.

Once he said, “Better live in rags.
With Christ, than in palaces
Without Christ.” Like this,
He made fiery comments.

Though the truth, he spoke,
Rich Christians didn’t like
To hear such strong words,
Which troubled their minds.

When some orthodox Hindus
Passed derogatory remarks
He was eating forbidden food,
Like this, he retorted:

“If the people of India want
I should take Hindu diet,
Let them send me a cook
And money for his sake.”

When any one confronted
He remained unperturbed,
But he gave bold replies
To all their relevant queries.

However, eminent people
Came to hear him still
As all his fine lectures
Were intensely religious.