The latest edition of ‘PIC Adda’ was addressed by Mr. Avinash Dharmadhikari, Founder Director, Chanakya Mandal Parivar on 21st November. The session was moderated by Mr. Abhay Vaidya, Associate Director, PIC. Mr. Dharmadhikari spoke of how he was introduced to Swami Vivekananda and his work from his student days at Jnana Prabodhini in Pune.
He spoke of how his learning of Swami Vivekananda’s teaching has continued throughout his career in the civil services, and even now while imparting educational services through the Chanakya Mandal. Mr Dharmadhikari spoke of Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago, 1893.
Mr. Dharmadhikari highlighted that while many aspects of Swamiji’s teachings seemed to encourage rebellion, it was productive, intellectual rebellion and not destructive rebellion. He also emphasised that the Indian concept of ‘unity in diversity’ comes from Swamiji’s teachings which encourage the cultivation of the ability to see ‘ekatvam’ in ‘anekata’. He also noted that despite being a sanyasi, Swami ji encouraged the youth and those that came to him for advice to develop strength – physical, mental, and spiritual – and advocated doing so not merely through the study of scriptures but rather through following of their passions and productively attaining their real-world goals through cooperation and collective endeavour.
