From Vedas to Vivekananda, India’s culture is rich: Narendra Modi

Kuala Lumpur, Nov 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that from Vedas to Swami Vivekananda, India has a rich cultural history and that the sage is the soul of the India.

“From the Vedas to Vivekananda, India’s culture is rich,” Modi said after he unveiled Swami Vivekananda’s statue at the Ramakrishna Mission in Petaling Jaya near here on the second day of his visit to Malaysia.

Modi said: “I am sure this statue will be a source of inspiration to the people here.”

Of Malaysia’s total population of around 30 million, around two million people are of Indian origin.

“We should try to install Swami Vivekananda in our heart and soul,” he said.

Speaking on Swami Vivekananda and his guru Ramakrishna Paramhans, Modi said the pursuit of truth brought them together.

“Swami Vivekananda is not the name of a person. It is about the aatma (soul) of India,” a tweet by Prime Minister’s Office quoting Modi said.

“Narendra (Swami Vivekananda) was in pursuit of the truth. He was not looking for any Guru. Similarly, neither was Ramakrishna Paramhans looking for a disciple.

“It was pursuit of truth that got them together,” he said. (IANS)

The Ramakrishna Mission complex in Petaling Jaya came up in 2001.

Modi, who arrived here on Saturday, attended the 13th Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India Summit and then the 10th East Asia Summit on Sunday.