Shatabarse Vivekananda Birodhita (Bengali Version)

Book Details

• Author: Aniruddha Sarkar

• Illustrator: Sontu Karmakar

• Publisher: Shabdo Prokashon

• Binding: Hard Cover

• No of Pages: 152

• Year of Publication: 2023

About the Book

Shatabarse Vivekananda Birodhita takes a deep dive into the complex and often controversial legacy of Swami Vivekananda in Bengali society. The book explores the ongoing discourse surrounding his life and ideas, focusing on the opposition he faced from certain segments of Bengali society, both in his time and in the years that followed.

The author Aniruddha Sarkar examines the multifaceted resistance to Vivekananda’s philosophy, showing how he was not always celebrated as he is today. At one point, Swamiji was ridiculed and humiliated by a section of Bengali society, with some even disparaging him for being a "Kayet's son" who had taken up the life of a sanyasi. This antagonism towards him was not limited to ordinary folk but extended to intellectuals and prominent figures as well.

Despite his opposition, Vivekananda also had his ardent supporters, and later, as his teachings gained widespread influence, many of those who once criticized him began to admire his profound insights. The book traces the journey of Vivekananda's detractors, from those who publicly criticized him, like Preetap Chandra Majumdar and Sir Gurudas Bandyopadhyay, to those who went so far as to publish books in opposition to his ideas.

Through a rich historical account, Shatabarse Vivekananda Birodhita offers a perspective on the impact of Vivekananda’s teachings, the conflict between traditionalism and modernism, and the ways in which intellectual and social debates shaped his place in history. The book captures both the admiration and the opposition that Vivekananda faced, providing a balanced and insightful view into his enduring legacy.