CHICAGO, Oct 1 – Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, here to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of World Religions, said the 19th century reformer gave India’s cultural message to the world.
“Some 120 years ago in September 1893, when Swami Vivekananda gave India’s cultural message to the whole world…we remember that great moment and remember him because we had to create an India of his dreams,” Ramdev said.
Ramdev on Sunday morning paid homage to Vivekananda by garlanding his statue at the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago in Lemont, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, the yoga guru lit a lamp amid prayers and chants and remembered Swami Vivekananda, who spoke from the same stage in the Fullerton Hall in the institute in 1893.
“Vivekananda’s speech beginning with ‘Sisters and Brothers of America’ has the whole message of Indian culture — because husband, wife, father come later, but brother, sister come first,” Ramdev (pic) said.
“Although the world is going through political struggles and becoming more free and modern and capitalistic, humanity is suffering. There is so much insecurity, today the whole world is suffering from corruption. IMF, WTO, UNO is being ruled in an undemocratic manner,” he said.
Ramdev told the Parliament of World’s Religions that “conversions need to stop.”
“If we had listened to Swami Vivekananda’s message then the 9/11 terrorist attack would not have happened,” he said.
Ramdev will attend the Yoga & Dharma Fest later in the day and travel to Atlanta before leaving for India.
–BERNAMA
