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Showing posts from May 10, 2008

#161, HALF OF THE UNITED STATES CAN BE CONQUERED IN TEN YEARS

Swami Vivekananda wrote to Mr. Alasinga Mudaliar, from London, in 1896: "...Half the United States can be conquered in ten years, given a number of strong and genuine men. Where are they? We are all boobies over there!..." BLOGGER'S VIEW : *Did he conquer? By 1899, he started begging dollars from American friends, for personal maintenance. *See Post No. #045. NOTE In this context, 'booby means a stupid person. Not female breast. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/booby

#160, YOU MUST PERSUADE HARRIET TO GIVE ME A FEW DOLLARS EVERY MONTH

Swami Vivekananda wrote to Ms. Mary Hale, from Los Angeles, on June 17, 1900. "...Well, now about me. You must persuade Harriet to give me a few dollars every month, and I will have some other friends do the same. If I succeed, I fly off to India. I am dead tired of the platform work for a living. It does not please me any more. ..." BLOGGER'S VIEWs In one letter his demand for money appears jocular, but it is real. His earlier letter to Ms. Mary Hale Sept. 1899 from Ridgely Manor has one such appeal: "... Harriet Woolley has been uniformly silent. Never mind, I will bide my time, and as soon as Mr. Woolley becomes a millionaire, demand my money ..." Here Harriet is Harriet Hale. She married Mr. Woolley. It appears that Vivekananda facilitated the marriage of Harriet to Mr. Woolley. One gets an impression that he wants a donation, as a token of happiness. This can be seen from his letter dated 16th March 1899 from Belur Math to Ms. Mary Hale. But "Wi...

#159, CAN YOU LEND ME ONE LION CUB FOR MY RAJA?

Swami Vivekananda wrote to Shri Haridas Viharidas Desai (Divanji of Junagadh) from Bombay on April 28, 1893: "...One thing more. Have you got lion's cubs now in Junagad? Can you lend me one for my Raja? He can give you some Rajputana animals in exchange, if you like. ..." BLOGGER'S VIEWs *Monistic philosopher playing wild life trader's role? * Click to see post #098: Swamiji asking for tiger skins to gratify Europeans friends .

#158, I HAVE MADE ACQUAINTANCES OF NEARLY ALL THE DAKSHINI RAJAs

"...By and by, I have made the acquaintances of nearly all the Dakshini Rajas and have seen most queer sights in many places of which I would tell you in extenso when we meet next. I know your love for me and am sure that you would excuse my not going down to your place. However, I am coming to you in a few days. BLOGGER'S VIEWs Here Dakshini Rajas mean = South Indian rulers. *Why Dakshini Rajas were queer and why North Indian Rajas were not? *Ramnad Raja sent his servant to Bazar, along with Vivekananda, to buy cigars for the Swamiji. *Travancore Raja hosted him nine days in Tiruvanantapuram. We have to search answers for these.