On 11th September 1893, a young Indian monk—Swami Vivekananda—rose up to make a speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. Beginning with the unforgettable words, “Sisters and brothers of America,” thousands present stood up for him in a warm welcome. The event was not only the introduction of Hinduism to the occident; it was the announcement of India’s spiritual wealth to the world.

More than 130 years later, on the day he delivered his speech, his message is more relevant than ever. Against a backdrop of war, divisions, and a quest for purpose, Vivekananda’s vision charts the direction. His was a message for his time and for all times.

The Spirit of Universal Brotherhood

The core of Vivekananda’s oration was the plea for universal brotherhood. Invoking his audience “sisters and brothers,”he removed racial, religious, and territorial barriers. He was, at that stage, not addressing India alone; he was addressing human beings.

Now, in a polarized world—political, cultural, religious—the voice of Vivekananda sounds a beacon. The modern world confronts ideology and identity conflict. Vivekananda instructs us that if we look beyond the veil of differences, we discover a human bond that unites us. His vision presses us onward from tolerance to acceptance and beyond acceptance to brotherhood.

Respect for Diversity of Faiths

Vivekananda said that the spiritual ground of India cultivated tolerance for generations:

 “We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true.”

It is a revolutionary statement to this day. Our times, in which interfaith hostilities continue to blemish humaneness, his word calls us to a pluralistic vision—one that celebrates each method of approaching the divine. He did not charge us with removing differences, but with valuing them as diverse renderings of the same unchangeable truth.

In a globalized world, where cultures are mixed as they never were before, his teachings are the moral foundation on which we may coexist. Interfaith harmony isn’t an ideal situation; it is a condition for coexistence.

A Voice Against Fanaticism and intolerance

The voice of Vivekananda resonated against sectarianism, fanaticism, and bigotry, which, he stated, “had filled the earth with violence, drenched it oft with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair.”

These are phrases that could just as well be for today’s newspaper headlines. From terrorism to communal violence, intolerance’s venom still plagues human beings. His speech is a reminder that spirituality is never a divider—it is a unifier.

By bringing his vision to life in our day-to-day lives, we are spreading peace in our homes, communities and globally.

Central Asian Studies

Another lasting service of Vivekananda was that he was a connect between East and West. When India was a colonial nation, he brought the traditions of Vedanta and Yoga to the modern West. His speech ended the stereotype that India was a land of superstition and opened up the hidden truth that India was a fountainhead of profound spiritual insight.

Meditation and yoga are practiced around the world today. The concepts of interdependence, holistic living, and mindfulness originated in the philosophies which Vivekananda was happy to introduce. He was a spokesperson for Hinduism, and he was a spokesperson for human spirituality.

Lessons for the Modern Person

Besides society, Vivekananda’s words are important for us at a personal level. His appeal was not just to talk about ideals but live them. He asked people to build internal strength, self-confidence, and a fearless personality.

In an angst-ridden era of anxiety and self-doubt, his exhortation—“Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached”—is a motto for resolve. His prose instructs us that spirituality is empowerment and never escape. It is the assertion of one’s internal power against external expectations.

Contemporary Lessons for Nations

Nations, as well as people, also must heed his call. Vivekananda’s vision was a world where material development and spiritual understanding coexisted. He did not deny modernity and science, but he hoped that they came with values of harmony and compassion.

For the non-Western world, his message is a reassuring one: that cultural history is a strength and a virtue, and not a deficit. For the Western world, his words are a correction that military strength without moral direction produces asymmetry.

Why His Words Still Ring on September 11

The day, September 11, came to take a dark and tragic connotation in 2001 when the world was stunned by attacks. It was on that same day over a hundred years ago that Vivekananda stood up against the elements of violence and hatred.

Thinking about his words today is more than celebration—it is a call to regain the experience of harmony, brotherhood, and peace. Where destruction sought to divide, his words bid us to come together.

Conclusion: The Enduring Flame of Inspiration

The 1893 speech of Swami Vivekananda was not only a historical event—it was the beginning of a movement. A call for unity, respect, and strength that would transcend time barriers.

As we celebrate its anniversary today, we have to praise his oratory, yet we have to endorse his vision. His call for coexistence between faiths, his censure of fanaticism, his celebration of difference, and his belief in human nature are all grievously relevant to our divisive times.

It is in his words and spirit that a simple yet great truth exists: Our progress as a human race hinges on cooperation and not conflict, on love and not hatred, on unity and not on dividing.  Let us recall his enduring greeting – “Sisters and brothers of America”—as a reminder that we are one human family. And let us live his message, not just on September 11, but each day of our lives.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

Leave a reply