Vivekananda wanted to look after Muslim orphans without tampering with Islam

Vivekananda often spoke about Islam’s violent side. I have done so, too. Just like the violence in organised Christianity. I have repeatedly stressed the need for Islam to look within and show the rest of the world the innvate value in Islam. There is much of value that the Islamic approach has to offer, but it has largely been hidden under an orgy of violence.

I want to caution those Hindus, however, who misuse Vivekananda’s name to promote hatred for Islam or Muslims.

Vivekananda spoke the trugh but neve once expressed any hatred for Islam. In face he had many good things to say about Mohammed, even as he questioned his errors.

In relation to conversions, he had a strict aversion to converting anyone into Hinduism. This letter dated 10 October 1897 is a clear indication of the priority he gave to harmony.

He would have THOROUGHLY opposed Hindu Mahasabha, RSS and VHP.

Extracts below from his letter.

MY DEAR AKHANDANANDA,

You need not make a big plan for the present, but do only what is possible under existing circumstances. We must certainly have the orphanage, no hesitating in that.

Yours,
VIVEKANANDA.

PS. You must admit Mohammedan boys, too, but never tamper with their religion. The only thing you will have to do is to make separate arrangements for their food etc., and teach them so that they may be moral, manly, and devoted to doing good to others. This indeed is religion.

Shelve your intricate philosophical speculations for the present. In our country we at present need manhood and kindness. ” — The Lord is the Essence of unutterable love.” But instead of saying ” — He is manifest in special objects”, we should say, ” — He is ever manifest as Love in all beings.” What other God — the creation of your mind — are you then going to worship!

Let the Vedas, the Koran, the Puranas, and all scriptural lumber rest now for some time — let there be worship of the visible God of Love and Compassion in the country. All idea of separation is bondage, that of non-differentiation is Mukti.

Let not the words of people dead-drunk with worldliness terrify you. ” — Be fearless” “Ignore the ordinary critics as worms!”

Admit boys of all religions — Hindu, Mohammedan, Christian, or anything; but begin rather gently — I mean, see that they get their food and drink a little separately, and teach them only the universal side of religion.