Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday remembered Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, marking the anniversary of the speech that introduced a powerful message of Indian civilisation, religious harmony and universal acceptance to an international audience.
Vivekananda delivered the address on September 11, 1893. His opening words and emphasis on tolerance quickly made the young monk an important voice at the gathering. More than 130 years later, the speech remains one of the most recognised moments in India’s spiritual and cultural history.
Modi said the address offered the world a glimpse of India’s civilisational ethos and that Vivekananda’s inspiring words continue to reverberate globally. The Prime Minister also shared the historic address published by Belur Math.
The significance of the speech extends beyond its historical setting. Vivekananda challenged religious sectarianism, bigotry and fanaticism while presenting acceptance and coexistence as essential principles. His message was not simply about India’s religious traditions; it was also an argument for recognising a shared humanity across different beliefs.
That message carries renewed relevance in 2026, when religious tensions, geopolitical conflicts and social polarisation continue to shape public discourse. Vivekananda’s emphasis on dialogue rather than hostility offers a framework that remains strikingly contemporary.
The anniversary also highlights the global evolution of India’s soft power. Vivekananda travelled to Chicago at a time when India was under colonial rule, yet his appearance demonstrated that Indian philosophy could contribute to international debates on religion and humanity.
For India, remembering the Chicago address is therefore not merely an exercise in celebrating the past. It is also an opportunity to ask whether the values of tolerance, acceptance and universal brotherhood that Vivekananda championed can be translated into the realities of the present.
