The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 7/Epistles - Third Series/XV Brother
XV
DETROIT,
29th March, 1894.
DEAR BROTHER,[6]*
Your letter just reached me here. I am in a hurry, so excuse a few points
which I would take the liberty of correcting you in.
In the first place, I have not one word to say against any religion or
founder of religion in the world — whatever you may think of our religion.
All religions are sacred to me. Secondly, it is a misstatement that I said
that missionaries do not learn our vernaculars. I still stick to my
statement that few, if any, of them pay any attention to Sanskrit; nor is it
true that I said anything against any religious body — except that I do
insist on my statement that India can never be converted to Christianity,
and further I deny that the conditions of the lower classes are made any
better by Christianity, and add that the majority of southern Indian
Christians are not only Catholics, but what they call themselves, caste
Christians, that is, they stick close to their castes, and I am thoroughly
persuaded that if the Hindu society gives up its exclusive policy, ninety
per cent of them would rush back to Hinduism with all its defects.
Lastly, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for calling me your fellow-countryman. This is the first time any European foreigner, born in India though he be, has dared to call a detested native by that name — missionary or no missionary. Would you dare call me the same in India? Ask your missionaries, born in India, to do the same — and those not born, to treat them as fellow human beings. As to the rest, you yourself would call me a fool if I admit that my religion or society submits to be judged by strolling globe-trotters or story-writers' narratives.
My brother — excuse me — what do you know of my society or religion, though
born in India? It is absolutely impossible — the society is so closed; and
over and above, everyone judges from his preconceived standard of race and
religion, does he not? Lord bless you for calling me a fellow-countryman.
There may still come a brotherly love and fellowship between the East and
West.
Yours fraternally,
VIVEKANANDA.