Swami Vivekananda was an embodiment of Hindu Culture: Venkaiah Naidu

He was addressing the valedictory session of the 2nd World Hindu Conference 2018, in Chicago, USA on Monday, in commemoration of 125th year of Swami Vivekananda’s address at Parliament of the World's Religions in 1893 held in Chicago.

The Vice President said that preserving the invaluable heritage of India is true nationalism and said that with its knowledge and wisdom India could provide honey of wisdom in the bitter world.

He said that the extraordinary vision of ancient India encapsulates a message that is timeless and eternally relevant because it is holistic, integrated and universal.

"Whenever the world is faced with the threats of fragmentation, conflict, hatred and irrational prejudices, the Indian voice brings to the world the soothing, inclusive perspectives that have pervaded its cultural world for more than two millennia, Naidu noted.

The Vice President said that the Parliament of the World's Religions emerged as a celebration of the rich diversity in religious and cultural beliefs around the world and brought the world together to understand different world views.

He further said that it deepened our appreciation of the common quest for peace and harmony that human beings have been engaged in from time immemorial.

"Swami Vivekananda’s addresses at this Parliament have had an incredibly influential, said he.

Naidu said that the unequivocal messages of tolerance, acceptance, unity and plurality of love, compassion, service, charity, gender equality, poverty alleviation and protection of the environment that exponents like Swami Vivekananda had spread across the world embody timeless values that are more relevant today than ever before.

"We should ensure that these values are further reinforced through behavior and action, as Swamiji said, by ‘being’ and ‘becoming’," said he.

Saying that India is also moving on an ambitious reform agenda that seeks to transform people’s lives, the Vice President said that at this juncture, the values we all cherish, as Indians, can be the guideposts for our individual growth and collective advancement.

"We have inherited a treasure house of ideas, values and attitudes. In a world of unprecedented changes, we need a sheet anchor and a spiritual compass. India could offer those to the world. In a world that is filled with bitterness, India could provide the honey of wisdom gathered from different flowers by different bees," said he.

Naidu held a bilateral meeting with Vice President of Surinam Adhin Ashwin on the sidelines of the World Hindu Congress and discussed issues of mutual interest.

Congressmen Bill Foster and Peter Roskam called on the Vice President and shared their appreciation of the progress in Indo-US relationship as well as the common understanding on many issues of contemporary relevance. 

Twelve CEOs of various companies in Chicago met Naidu and shared their experiences.

The Vice President gave an overview of the policies and administrative reforms in India, especially those facilitating ease of doing business.