Social philosophy of Swami Vivekananda

by Baruah Debajit | 2017 | 87,227 words

This study deals with Swami Vivekananda’s social philosophy and his concept of religion. He was the disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna. Important subjects are discussed viz., nature of religion, reason and religion, goal of religion, religious experience, ways to God, etc. All in the context of Vivekananda....

Chapter 6.3a - Women Education (during the time of Vivekananda)

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Women in India during the time of Vivekananda were deprived of their educational rights. At that time women always got a secondary position. If we say about the masses we can not avoid women. Yet Vivekananda gave special importance on educating Indian women. It is because he knew that in the poor families the condition of women was worse in comparison to the male members. This made him think specially about them. He has been very vocal about the uplift of women all through his life. He held Indian women in high esteem and has appreciated their typical Indian features like spirit of service, compassion, affection, contentment and reverence. Vivekananda travelled most part of Europe, where he witnessed women driving cars, going to schools, and involved in professional commitments. But according to him, the chastity and feminine modesty of Indian women soothes the eye. He felt that modernization of women society is possible only by following the footprints of Sita. He considered Sita to be the ultimate sign of perfection, which stood as a testimony to the chastity of Indian Women. He said, "There she will always be, this glorious Sita, purer than purity itself, all patience and all sufferings. She who suffered that life of suffering without a murmur, she the ever chaste and ever pure wife, she the ideal of the people, the ideal of gods, the great Sita, our national God, she must always remain....All our mythology may vanish, even our Vedas may depart, and our Sanskrit language may vanish for ever, but so long as there will be five Hindus living here, even if only seeking the most vulgar patois, there will be the story of Sita present." ^[1]

He felt that the thermometer to progress of a nation is its treatment of its women. It is impossible to get back India‘s lost pride and honor unless Indians try to better the condition of women. He considered men and women as two wings of a bird, and it is not possible for a bird to fly on only one wing. So, according to him, unless the condition of women is improved, there is no chance for welfare of the world. Education of women is essential for both all-round development of the nation and also for the improvement of women‘s condition in India.

During the time of Swami Vivekananda, the condition of women in Mughalruled and British-ruled India was deplorable. Vivekananda said, “It is very difficult to understand why in this country so much difference is made between man and women, whereas the Vedanta declares that one and the same conscious self is present in all beings. You always criticize the women, but what have you done for their uplift?” ^[2] He opined that women should be put in positions of power to solve their problems in their own way. The welfare of the world is dependent on the improvement of the condition of women. He repeatedly viewed that India’s downfall was largely due to her negligence of women. He views woman exactly as he views man, an individual with a destiny. In the sphere of the pursuit of spiritual realization, which is the highest goal of the life, woman as well man, has to walk in a single file. Perfect freedom, independence and responsibility are involved in the individual, be it man or woman who longs for God alone. Vivekananda declared that Western ideal of womanhood is wife, while the eastern ideal of womanhood is mother. In India the mother is the center of the family and our highest ideal. She is to us the representative of the God, as God is the mother of the universe. In his view it was a female sage who first found the unity of God. Vivekananda further declared that the ideal of womanhood in India is motherhood-that marvelous, unselfish, all suffering ever forgiving mother.

He believed that the main reason behind the various problems of the women of our country was due to lack of proper education. So what was the way out to save and elevate Indian women? In his view education can solve every problem that is related to women. He says “They (women) have many grave problems, but none that are not to be solved by that magic word ‘education.” ^[3] Next question is what kind of education? In our previous pages it has been said about the sort of education that was in Vivekananda’s mind. But to get education he laid down a special quality for women. To quote him “To make a beginning in women’s education: our Hindu women easily understand what chastity means, because it is their heritage. Now, first of all, intensify that ideal within them above everything else, so that they may develop a strong character by the force of which, in every stage of their life, whether married, or single if they prefer to remain so, they will not be in the least afraid even to give up their lives rather than flinch an inch from their chastity.” ^[4] So the first quality of women to get education is celibacy. Again Vivekananda ascribed the responsibility of teaching the women of in India on women. He did not like the interference of men in women’s matters. To put him “It is wrong, a thousand times wrong, if any of you dares to say ‘I will out the salvation of this woman or child.’ I am asked again and again, what I think of the widow problem and what I think of the women question. Let me answer for all-am I a widow that you ask me that nonsense? Am I a woman that you ask me that question again and again? Who are you to solve women’s problems? Are you the Lord God that you should rule over every widow and every woman? Hands off! They will solve their own problems.” ^[5] From these lines it can be understood that he resisted men’s involvement in women’s problem. Though the word ‘men’ is not in the lines it can be understood from the question ‘who are you to solve women’s problem?’

The responsibility of teaching the women was ascribed on the self-sacrificed Brahmacharinis. He says, “Brahmacharinis of education and character should take up the task of teaching. In villages and towns they must open centres and strive for the spread for female education. Through such devout preachers of character, there will be the real spread of female education in the country.” ^[6] Thus it has been seen that Brahmacharinis should undertake the responsibility of teaching women.

In matters of education, Swami Vivekananda did not prescribe any typical curriculum to be followed rigidly. He, however, emphasized a curriculum based on the concept of all-round development of the student’s personality. On one side he recommended the study of Vedanta, Religion, Philosophy and Technology. In the other side, he favoured Western Science, engineering and other modern subjects. He wanted to synthesize, these two trends, which was (and is) the burning need of the day. Vivekananda has a comprehensive view of education and its contents. He recommended the study of languages, especially regional language, Sanskrit, link language and English. He also stressed on the importance of subjects like history, geography, economics, and other social sciences. Even home science and psychology were recommended by him. Vivekananda wanted to make education self-supporting in all respects. Economics independence should be an important aspect of education. For this reason, he favoured agriculture, technical education and physical education.

Physical education and health education were very important according to Vivekananda. He was very concerned about the proper care of the body. He advised everyone to be strong. At one point he even says that man will be nearer to heaven through football than through the ‘Gita’. “You will understand the mighty genious and the mighty strength of ‘Krishna’ better with a little of strong blood in you. You will understand the ‘Upanishads’ better and the glory of ‘Atman’ when your body standards firm upon your feet and you feel yourself as man.” ^[7] This shows that Vivekananda not only emphasized on the spiritual strength, he gave emphasis on physical strength also.

While Vivekananda welcomed the impact of Western thought, science and technology, he cautioned his countrymen against being dazzled by its materialist success and going in for a slavish imitation of its customs and way of life. He advocated “What we want are Western sciences coupled with Vedanta, Brahmacharya as the guiding motto and also Shraddha in one’s self.” ^[8] He placed great emphasis on the inclusion of subjects on the cultural heritage of India in the school curriculum, and insisted on the learning of Western technology.

The above mentioned subjects should be learned by all irrespective of the students’ gender. Vivekananda, however, prescribed a special curriculum for the women. It must be mentioned here that he never separated the subjects as men’s and women’s. Yet he emphasized on some subjects which should be taught to women. He says that women should be taught History, Puranas, the duties of home life and the principles that make for the development of character. Other matters such as sewing, upbringing of children should also be taught. Again, ideal characters must also be presented before the view of the girls to imbue them with a devotion to the noble principles of selflessness. The noble examples of Sita, Damayanti, Lilavati etc. should be brought home to their minds. Along with other things they should also acquire the spirit of valour and heroism.