The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 5/Epistles - First Series/XVII Alasinga
XVII
U. S. A.
27th September, 1894.
Dear Alasinga,
. . . One thing I find in the books of my speeches and sayings published in
Calcutta. Some of them are printed in such a way as to savour of political
views; whereas I am no politician or political agitator. I care only for the
Spirit — when that is right everything will be righted by itself.... So you
must warn the Calcutta people that no political significance be ever
attached falsely to any of my writings or sayings. What nonsense I . . . I
heard that Rev. Kali Charan Banerji in a lecture to Christian missionaries
said that I was a political delegate. If it was said publicly, then publicly
ask the Babu for me to write to any of the Calcutta papers and prove it, or
else take back his foolish assertion. This is their trick! I have said a few
harsh words in honest criticism of Christian governments in general, but
that does not mean that I care for, or have any connection with politics or
that sort of thing. Those who think it very grand to print extracts from
those lectures and want to prove that I am a political preacher, to them I
say, "Save me from my friends." . . .
. . . Tell my friends that a uniform silence is all my answer to my
detractors. If I give them tit for tat, it would bring us down to a level
with them. Tell them that truth will take care of itself, and that they are
not to fight anybody for me. They have much to learn yet, and they are only
children. They are still full of foolish golden dreams — mere boys!
. . .This nonsense of public life and newspaper blazoning has disgusted me
thoroughly. I long to go back to the Himalayan quiet.
Ever yours affectionately,
Vivekananda.