Birth:
12th January, 1863, Father, Sri Viswanath Dutta, well-to-do attorney. Mother — a pious lady.
Education:
Metropolitan Institution and General Assembly’s (Scottish Church) College. Dr. Hastie as teacher of Philosophy influenced him greatly. Brojendranath Seal was his class friend. Impressed all by brilliant intellect and alertness.
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Spiritual Hunger:
From an agnostic to a Brahma Samaji; contact with Maharshi Debendranath Tagore. Discovered his Guru in Sri Ramakrishna. After Guru’s death he became a sanyasi. Pilgrimage of India, toured extensively and saw the grinding poverty of the people.
A Maharaja (of Khetri) sent him to Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893. Spoke on Hindu religion which said — Man is the son of the Immortal. Made a profound impression on American people in 1893 and became a world figure.
Return to India:
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Founded the Ramakrishna Mission, an all-India organization with a number of centres outside India. Motto is — service to Man who is the representative of God on earth.
Foreign Disciples:
Sister Nivedita—foremost; Mr. and Mrs. Severs and other Americans gave unstinted help. The ideal of Social service in preference to individual salvation had a great appeal.
Died in 1902, Character and Personality:
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Great both morally and intellectually; Dynamic leadership. As an exponent of practical Vedanta re-invigorated Indian youth; an ardent patriot and yet an illustrious humanist.