Swami Vivekananda remains an icon for all time, especially for the youth. He touched the lives
of numerous personalities across the globe, including physicists like Nikola Tesla and J.C. Bose;
and entrepreneurs like Rockefeller and J.R.D Tata. His famous Chicago address at the Parliament
of Religions in 1893 is considered the turning point in the revival of Hindu pride at a universal
level. His speeches and writings cover a vast range of topics—from science to spirituality, from
technology to casteism, from Yoga to Vedanta. In a short lifespan of thirty-nine years, he triggered
national resurgence in all walks of life.
Essential Vivekananda is a compact, concise, representation that unveils all the shades of his personality
and gives the reader an essential understanding of Swami Vivekananda—the monk and the man.
It serves to introduce readers to his life, message and influence, and hopes to urge the reader to
go to the original sources and know more about this glorious son of India.