The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 6/Epistles - Second Series/XCI Sarada
XCI
(Translated from Bengali)
Jan., 1896.
DEAR SARADA,
. . .Your idea of the paper is very good indeed. Apply yourself to it heart
and soul. . . . Never mind the funds. . . . There are many to preach
Christianity and Mohammedanism — you just go through the preaching of your
own country's religion. But then if you can get hold of a Mohammedan who is
versed in Arabic and have old Arabic books translated, it will be a good
plan. There is much of Indian history in the Persian language. If you can
have the books translated bit by bit, it will be a good regular item. We
want quite a number of writers, then there is the difficult task of getting
subscribers. The way out is this: You lead a wandering life; wherever you
find Bengali language spoken, thrust the paper on whomsoever you can lay
your hands on. Enlist them by vehemence! — they would always turn tail the
moment they have to spend something. Never mind anything! Push it on! Begin
to contribute articles, all of you who can. It won't do merely to sit idle.
You have done a heroic deed! Bravo! Those who falter and vacillate will lag
behind, and you will jump straight on top of all! Those that are working for
their own salvation will neither have their own nor that of others. Let the
commotion that you make be such as to resound to the world's end. There are
people who are ready to pick holes in everything, but when it comes to the
question of work, not a scent of them can be had! To work! — as far as in
you lies! Then I shall go to India and move the whole country. What fear!
"Even a snake loses its venom if it is insisted that it has none." These
people will go on the negative track, till they are actually reduced to
nothing! . . .
Gangadhar has done right heroic work! Well done! Kali has joined him in work
— thrice well done!! Let one go to Madras, and another to Bombay, let the
world shake on its hinges! Oh, the grief! If I could get two or three like
me, I could have left the world convulsed. As it is, I have to proceed
gently. Move the world to its foundations! Send one to China, another to
Japan! What will the poor householders do, with their little bits of life?
It is for the Sannyasins, Shiva's demons, to rend the skies with their
shouts of "Hara! Hara! Shambho!"
Yours affectionately
VIVEKANANDA.