When Narendra completed his primary education at home he was enrolled in Calcutta Metropolitan Institute for normal education and higher studies. The school and the company of other students greatly agreed with Narendra. He made a lot of friends who used to go to his house.
Narendra became a very active youngman. He studied, played, learnt music, rode horses and took great interest in physical exercises. Very soon he had a muscular body which surged with energy. His physical power found release in wrestling, friendly fights, jostling and pushing around. His mind also kept pace with physical growth. He lapped up the knowledge of the books which showed in the debates he took part in.
Narendra was a conscientious boy. One day, a teacher was teaching in the class. Narendra was whispering something to his mates. Suddenly, the teacher put a question to the class. Narendra gave the right reply but his mates gave wrong answers. The teacher asked others to stand up on their benches and hold their ears. Narendra also stood up with the others.
The teachers said, “Narendra! You can keep sitting. I didn’t ask you to stand up.”
“Sir, I am punishing myself as my moral duty.”
“Why, so?” the teacher asked in surprise.
“Sir, I am sorry that I was saying something to my mates when you were teaching. Thus, to some extent I am responsible for their wrong answers.”
The teacher was very moved. He asked all the students to sit down and praised Narendra’s moral character.
Setback
At the age of 14, Narendra suffered a health setback, a stomach ailment. No medication worked. It worried Bhuwaneshwari Devi. At that time, her husband was living at a far off place Raipur situated in the central India on a professional demand. His early return to Calcutta was not possible. Barrister, Mr. Vishwanath was very worried at hearing the news of his son’s illness. He called his wife and the son to leave Calcutta to live with him at Raipur.
There was no school at Raipur. Bhuwaneshwari Devi was worried about her son’s education. But her husband reasoned, “Dear, our son’s health should get priority over his education. The education can wait. First we must have him in health again.”
Raipur was situated in central India set in scenic beauty with salubrious climate. All around were lush green forests, velvety pastures, enchanting hills, rivers cascading waterfalls and bridal paths that led to the picturesque spot and into the depths of the nature’s beauty serenaded by bird songs and animal calls. The new scene brought dramatic change in the health of Narendra of the batter. The break in attending the classes proved a real learning period for him.
Narendra felt his soul at peace in the company of the nature. He would go into the forests for long walks and sit at some scenic point to gaze at the beauty of the wild. Fluttering leaves and branches of the trees, undulating plants swaying bushes, sweet calls of birds, rippling waters, flushing streams, whispering winds, sweet smell of the soil and the birds flying in harmony passed on spiritual lessons to the heart of Narendra. He would sit under trees for hours under the spell of the nature imbibing its spiritual message. For the teenager Narendra walking through the winding hill paths that tunnelled into the thick forests felt like pilgrimages.
As health surged through the youngman’s body, he started going akhara, the traditional wrestler’s gym. The push ups and other exercises resulted in growth of his body in wide chest, broad shoulders and muscular arms and legs. He looked like a wrestler far more mature than his years. His face glowed.
Narendra spent two years in the company of his father. During this period the father and son came closer. The son saw other facets of his father. He was no more merely a Barrister. The human and the father side of his character showed itself. Mr. Vishwanath was a good cook. He could prepare several delicacies and enjoyed being in kitchen. He taught Narendra cooking. They spent quite a time in the kitchen which made them frank to each other. Narendra didn’t feel shy of asking uncomfortable questions to his father.
One day, Narendra asked him, “Father! What have you saved for our future? There is mother and the sisters to be married off.”
Narendra had put that question after a lot of thinking. The Barrister, Vishwanath was spending all the money he was earning. He was making no conscious effort to financially safeguard the future his family. No saving was being made and no investments. The Barrister’s financial carelessness was a known fact to all. The son was pointing out to his father’s shortsightedness.
The Barrister used sentimental argument to evade the real issue. He said, “Narendra! I have made investment in future. Go to the mirror and look at yourself. That is my investment.”
What could Narendra say?
He was not worried about himself. He was worried for his mother and the sisters who were solely dependent on the Barrister’s income. Narendra knew in his heart that becoming a family man and carrying on the burden of the family traditions was not his aim of life. He had become a very contemplative youngman.
That was the time when the western influence was increasing in India. Social evils and castism had ruined the native society and religion had got a bad name. Reformist movements were petering out after eighty years of struggle. In this regard Raja Ram Mohan Ray, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar and others had done pioneering reform works to stem the rot. But the Indian thought and philosophy were yet to be redeemed and redefined. It was essential to regain the self respect and self belief.
Some reformist movements had been overtly self critical. As a result western culture and education had already made deep inroads in Indian society. Young and educated Indians were drifting towards alien culture and thoughts its liberal outlook and rational attitudes were proving the great attractions. Christianity was spreading fast taking advantage of ideological confusion of Indians.
When Narendra returned to Calcutta he had entered 17th year of his age. He had lost two years of school education which he had to catch up with. He put double time in studies to do two year course in a single year. It was a daunting task. The institution gave him special permission for it. Narendra took it as a challenge. He surprised everyone by securing top position in the entrance examination for the next stage of courses.
Narendra joined Calcutta Presidency College for further education at the age of 18. The college was based on western styles, education system and the medium was of course, English. There was nothing Indian about it except dark complexioned pupil. Everything Indian was scoffed at as barbaric practice. The main aim of the education was to produce people servile to the British who would man the desks and the posts of the British Raj.
The scenario pained and hurt young Narendra. He was no more adolescent but was away from the adulthood. Agewise he was in no-man’s zone. But he was a thinking youngman. His mind automatically analysed the social and cultural goings on around him.
Then, he fell ill again. It was as if whenever his mind felt sick it passed on sickness to his body. So, Narendra again had to disrupt his education to regain his health. He stopped going to the college.
Gradually he again became healthy and his spirits bubbled. The following year he joined General Assembly College. Here he developed serious interest in music, cricket and wrestling. And he was a brilliant student. Inspite of sick periods he had an enviable physique and beauty. Whatever he did, he did it passionately and with single minded devotion.
The subject he took to heart was philosophy because it was the most likely platform where the answers to all the questions that had troubled his mind since his early childhood could appear. The questions about the mysteries of life, Creator and the spiritual aspects of physical existence. He studied all the books of leading western thinkers like Hurbert Spencer, Hume, Mill and many others.
All those books of western greats stirred Narendra’s thinking but failed to provide convincing answers to the questions his mind sought. And in their thoughts spiritual dimension was missing. Narendra was seeking answers at the lofty spiritual level for the satisfaction of his soul. He wanted to know God, the mysterious force that ran the universe, energized it and gave life to the living beings. What was the real purpose of His running the mind boggling show? He wanted straight forward answers, and not a plethora of ambiguous theories and heaps of high sounding words. The principal of the college, Mr. William Hastie was very impressed with the intellectual brilliance of his pupil, Narendra. All the questions asked by Narendra were very serious and deep. His student genuinely wished the education process to help him find answers to the questions that troubled his inquisitive mind.
It was not only the principal but other teachers too who admired Narendra’s quest of inner knowledge. His classmates and other students too who came in contact with him got immensely impressed by his knowledge. Narendra led others on the road to the learning.
His venture to seek the ultimate knowledge was not confined to the college only. He used to go to every congregation or meeting to meet sages, holymen, gurus, scholars or philosophers. He would listen to their sermons or speeches. His point blank question to each one of them was, “Sir, have you really seen God or felt his presence or sensed his existence?”
The answers he got were not clear cut. Mostly they were long winding explanations without focussing on the specific issue which revealed their own confusions and lack of clear vision. It disappointed Narendra.
One day, his friend named Surendranath Mishra hosted a great saint of Dakshineshwara named Ramakrishnadev. Narendra was also invited. A singer was also supposed to come to sing devotional songs on the occasion. Due to some reason the singer failed to turn up. Suredranath knew that Narendra could sing devotional songs and that he had a melodious voice. So, he asked Narendra to sing something who readily agreed.
Narendra sang a special song that was infact the prayer of his heart. The song was to the following effects.”
“Where’s the sun that will drive away the gloom of my heart.
Where’s the holy light to brighten up my mind dull and inert.
It is somewhere at the feet of an exalted spiritual guru.
To whom I should surrender and forget myself and confusions too.
O Saint Exalted! Come to show me the way,
Lead me to God, whose power holds everything in sway,
the universe, times, dimensions, speeds and all forces at play.”
Narendra had sung the song with such emotion and so melodiously that the entire gathering was spell bound. The words had come straight from his heart. Infact, Saint Ramakrishnadev himself was seen swaying to the song with his eyes closed.
For quite some time there was stunned silence as everyone tried to extricate oneself from the state of trance created by Narendra’s song.
At last, Saint Ramakrishanadev asked Narendra by hand signal to approach him.
Narendra respectfully touched the feet of the saint who put his hand on Narendra’s head to bless him. A current of ecstasy ran through the body of Narendra. He looked at the saint greatly surprised. Ramakrishnadev’s face was aglow.
Narendra stood stupefied. He could not even force a single word out of his mouth.
Ramakrishnadev said, “Youngman! Why don’t you say something? I want to hear you speak. I have this feeling that the one I was looking for all my life is, at last, here before me in you. But you don’t even speak to me.”
Narendra heard him speechlessly. He felt his wind pipe too choked to allow out any words. He just stared a Ramakrishnadev.
The saint said, “I see, you don’t feel normal. Never mind. You can go now. You must come to me at Dakshineshwara. We shall talk then.”
Narendra again touched the feet of the saint and departed. He had gone through a strange experience. It was like a spiritual union between two persons.
No one else could realise the importance and the depth of the feelings of the two for each other created by this meeting.
