Saturday, May 23, 2020

Online Dating And Its Effects On The Internet Dating World

The internet has flipped the world on traditional relationships, and has opened up to the emergence of online, social dating. These online dating site have change the way relationships interact, gossip, flirt and communicate. However, numerous people do not understand the deception and manipulation aspect that comes with online dating. Forming a passionate relationship over the internet under false pretense can be emotionally destructive. Several studies have been performed in an attempt to explain and understand the non-traditional world of online dating. The sources explore and examine the self-presentation of online daters’ and the deception of physical attractiveness in the internet dating world. The significance of online dating is that users can create imagine of description about themselves and attract potential mates, how far will an online dater go to impress others? Online relationships are fueled on trust, since online dating sites prevent face-to-face interactions, the couples have to demonstrate a perception of trust in order to continue an online relationship. The research studies have a common theme which is how trust plays an important role in an online dating relationship. In a study by Kang and Hoffman (2011), focused on the likelihood of using a dating site to search for a potential mate if that person is easily trustworthy. The findings in this study was that â€Å"Individuals who use the Internet for a greater amount of tasks are more likely to use onlineShow MoreRelatedSocial Networks : A Network Of Individuals888 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many people these days who, when they hear social networks they think of the Internet but there are many different types of social networks that were around before the Internet was even invented. Social network existed long before the internet and there are several similarities as well as differences between social networks before and after the Internet. Two examples of social networks befo re the internet are the telegraph and the newspaper. The telegraph allowed for people to communicateRead MoreThe Time Is 8 O’Clock At Night And You Are On A Date With1261 Words   |  6 PagesThe time is 8 o’clock at night and you are on a date with whom you’ve been dating for a couple of weeks and as you talk to them, the conversation slowly becomes boring. You grab your phone out of instincts and start scrolling through the latest news of the Kardashians. Throughout the entire date, eye contact is the only source of communication. Neither one of you is brave enough to speak up. When dinner arrives, suddenly you are off the phones and now it s time to speak about something casual,Read MoreSocial Medi Effects On Relationships1178 Words   |  5 PagesSocial Media: Effects on Relationships Social media has affected culture in many ways, mostly relationships. People who are affected by the change in their culture do to society, don’t realize the change that has occurred. Over the years social media has drastically increased and plays a huge role within relationships causing insecurity. Dating sites like EHarmony, Christian Mingle, and others have grown in popularity. Not only have the dating sites become more predominant, there are even ways toRead MoreThe Negative Advantage Of Social Media1020 Words   |  5 PagesThe internet and the raise of social media have both dramatically changed the way people interact, access information, created opportunities for personal expression, but also new forms of exploitation. Before the introduction of the internet the most common forms of communication were letters, phone calls, but now instance direct communication such as texting, and email allows users to easily stay and maintain relationships. Individuals and families l iving heavily driven social media world will haveRead MorePositive And Negative Effects Of The Internet On Society998 Words   |  4 PagesThere can be both positive and negative effects of the internet on society. With society revolving around the internet, it is clear that the digital age can have both beneficial and harmful impacts on the 21st Century world, including communications, addictions, dating, schooling, work, savings, and hobbies and pastimes. One of the most affected and obvious impacts of the internet is on communications. The internet does make it easier to reach out to other humans both in and outside of our cultures;Read MorePragalath Mohandas. Eng. 101. Professor William J. Tooma1521 Words   |  7 Pages The benefits and consequences of the internet The Internet has negative and positive impacts, it depends how we will make use of it; the negative effects can be like a computer virus, internet theft, pornography, and dating sites, however the internet can be used for good purposes. Internet helps people to communicate and be connected with everyone all around the world by mail, Skype, Facebook, Google, twitter, and other social network appsRead MoreThe Problem Of Online Dating Essay1067 Words   |  5 PagesThere’s no question that dating 40 years ago was much different than dating now. While back then we actually had to go out and meet somebody to be seen, now, with the click of a button, our entire lives can instantly go public. Social media has created this labeling phenomenon in which individuals can categorize another based on a certain trait. Take online dating, for example. We set up a profile that includes hobbies, interests, places lived, and even sometimes body shape. But the most importantRead M oreSocial Media And Its Effect On Society1648 Words   |  7 Pagesolder adults are joining in on Facebook and Instagram to try and fit in with the new norm social media has created. In a world that is so fast paced, it is difficult to not be pulled into the newest trends, as they are advertised almost everywhere. There are even ways to find a romantic partner with apps and websites. The power social media has can be observed all over the world in many different settings. Sadly, this power can be both positive and negative. Though, it may be hard sometimes to seeRead MoreEssay On Face Ism1127 Words   |  5 PagesA 2016 study found that nearly eight out of ten Internet users in America have a profile on Facebook (Greenwood, Perrin, Duggan, 2016). With numbers like these, it should come as no surprise that researchers have turned their focus towards the digital world. Social media research spans a broad array of topics, but very few studies analyze the nonverbals communicated thro ugh self-selected profile pictures. However, the existing research exploring this phenomenon reveals several trends. __ ThroughRead MoreiGeneration: How We Have Evolved from Fire to Smartphones1177 Words   |  5 Pagesguided the changes of how humans communicate with another and how we are connecting, bonding and unifying in a whole new level both emotionally and physiologically. The brain creates a new neural pathway in result of us using technology such as the Internet and causes new associations and relations to be generated quicker and by different means. Latest research suggests that the human brain may interpret electronic interaction as same as it would be in person. Others can still tell the difference from

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Life Transition - 1126 Words

Jane Doe is the strongest person I know. She is my mother. Jane raised my brother and me on her own for most of our teenage years. Jane worked nights as a bartender to support us. When we arrived home from school, Jane was just leaving for work. My brother and I learned great work ethics from her example. Jane was also the strongest person I have ever known in my life. When Jane divorced, she knew that getting remarried was something she had no interest in doing. She just knew that she would take care of herself and her kids on her own no matter what it took. Jane never went to college. She was married right after she graduated from high school and started a family. Jane turned 65 years†¦show more content†¦Jane felt that her job in life was to take care of her children, not have her children take care of her. To Jane it felt like she was losing her independence, which is what most people look forward to while growing up. Jane was at a stage in her life where she was tra nsforming back to being dependent on others to survive. In Erik Erikson’s development stages he assumes that people will encounter a crisis at every stage, which involves a person’s psychological needs conflicting with society needs. In stage eight Erikson focuses on people who are 65 years of age and older, who may be struggling with a conflict over Ego Integrity vs. Despair. Jane was starting to feel dissatisfied with her life and what she had accomplished. What Jane was feeling was typical according to Erikson’s development stages. Some people may feel accomplish about the life they have lived, while others at this stage may be saddened by the things they have not accomplished. Erikson stated that the crisis people went through at each stage needs to be resolved by the ego at the same stage, otherwise development may not proceed correctly (Davis Clifton, 95). Jane’s depression about her life needed to be resolved before she could move on. People encouraged Jane to look at life as though she was starting a new chapter. Jane was going to do just that, start a new chapter in her life. When she moved to Indiana her daughter discussed the option of Jane working with her. JaneShow MoreRelatedRetirement Is An Important Life Transition1741 Words   |  7 Pagesrecognised as being an important life transition (Szinovacz, 1980), associated with a number of adjustments including social roles, income and daily routine adaption’s (Pinquart Schindler, 2007). Although there is no single definition of what retirement is within existing literature (Denton Spencer, 2009), it can arguably be best understood as an subjective journey involving a psychosocial transition rather than a single event of exiting work or an objective life transition (Matour Prout, 2007, KimRead MoreThe Soldier For Life- Transition Assistance Program1371 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Anytime one is dealing with a transition in their life, there will always be the unknown. That’s exactly how I felt when retiring from the United States Army. After being with one career for 21 years of my life, that’s all I really knew. I faced many challenges when dealing with â€Å"Life after the Military†. The military has provided a program that helped me deal with my transition from soldier to civilian life. Getting out of the Military after a long period of time leads to so many uncertaintiesRead MoreLife Course Transition Case Study1091 Words   |  5 Pages Life Course Transition Children with ASD develop differently from other children. They must overcome challenges in interacting and communicating with others. These challenges can affect their development, learning and future trajectories of their lives. This diagnosis is particularly difficult on low income families and minority groups as well as for parents with low educational attainment and those living in rural areas who may not have the financial means, suitable knowledge or access to resourcesRead MoreSummary Of A Soldier For Life Transition Assistance Program725 Words   |  3 PagesSoldier for Life Transition Assistance Program Career Counselor As a Career Counselor at Fort Sill, OK, provided direct services to transitioning military personnel and their family members. Conducted automated and manual pre-separation briefings and delivered job assistance training in groups or individual setting. Assisted clients learning resume writing techniques and provided resume reviews and feedbacks. Built connection and rapport with all Service Members during the transition. Worked inRead MoreDemographic Trends Of The Demographic Transition Model846 Words   |  4 PagesThe demographic transition model shows historical population trends of two demographic characteristics such as birth rate and death rate. (Grover, D. 2014). In 1929 a demographic observer named Warren Thompson decided to make a chart that showed transitions in death and birth rates changed in an industrialized society of the last two hundred years. (Montgomery, K. 2015). The demographic model shows if population increased or decreased in all countries due to their economy stability.Read MoreF Time : Family Life Cycle Transition Essay1357 Words   |  6 PagesDiscuss one example of an off-time family life cycle transition. An â€Å"off-time† family life cycle transition is a non-normative event that happens outside the expected life cycle and may cause trauma or a conflict to the family of the child with the disability. These events that happen are known as unexpected transitions which are experienced at an unanticipated or unusual time during the life cycle transition of a family who have a child with disabilities (Turnbull, Turnbull, Erwin, Soodak, Read MoreNew High School Graduation Requirements789 Words   |  4 Pagesactivities, as well as serves as a repository for their career readiness skills and personal accomplishments (Solberg, Phelps, Haakenson, Durham, Timmons, 2012). Finally, the transition phase requires students to take part in activities to help them prepare for moving from their secondary studies to their postsecondary life. Transitioning activities vary but can include college campus tours, speaking with a military recruiter, and/or attending job fairs (Fox, 2014). These th ree phases make up students’Read MoreStructure Properties Of The Polymers1297 Words   |  6 Pagesnitrogen liquid both balls glass transition temperature will be changed and hence will not bounce. PART D: 1. Entanglements: Entanglements of the polymer chain can be defined as the mean paths of the chain. Polymers with longer chains tend to have entanglements. Entanglements of polymer chains determine various important concepts of the polymers. Well entangled linear chains have very tight and long lived contacts, and these contacts once formed can define the life time of the polymer. AmorphousRead MoreSmoke Signals Elements Of Symbols790 Words   |  4 Pagesto represent a cycle of life changing experiences that will ultimately change the character forever on a deeper, spiritual level than what scratches the surface. Going through life, major events that change that person’s sense of direction and demeanor, for better or for worse, can be visualized as an element. Anger, sadness, loss of hope can all be expressed as a natural element, all in a cycle of the characters life, knowing that one day that person will experience life changes and the elementsRead MoreThe Shape Memory Effect And Super Elas ticity2345 Words   |  10 Pageszirconate titane based ceramics. In these ceramics elastic change associated with electric field induced transition is utilized instead of thermally induced phase transformations. Certain Polymers also show shape memory characteristics. However the working fundamental is totally different from those of metal alloys. Here the polymer expands without coming back to the original shape under the glass transition temperature. Once it is brought above this temperature, it returns to its normal state. Polymer alloys

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Swami Vivekananda Free Essays

string(117) " study of Western philosophers, he was thoroughly acquainted with Indian Sanskrit scriptures and many Bengali works\." English: This is a manuscript of an English poetry written by Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902). The full poetry is: The mother’s heart, the hero’s will, The sweetness of the southern breeze, The sacred charm and strength that dwell On Aryan altars, flaming, free; All these be yours, and many more No ancient soul could dream before — Be thou to India’s future son The mistress, servant, friend in one. With the blessings of Vivekananda Swami Vivekananda From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda. We will write a custom essay sample on Swami Vivekananda or any similar topic only for you Order Now For other uses, see Swami Vivekananda (disambiguation). Swami Vivekananda| Swami Vivekananda in Chicago, September, 1893. On the left Vivekananda wrote in his own handwriting: â€Å"one infinite pure and holy  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ beyond thought beyond qualities I bow down to thee†. [1]| Born| Narendra Nath Datta 12 January 1863 Calcutta, India| Died| 4 July 1902 (aged  39) Belur Math near Calcutta| Nationality| Indian| Founder of| Belur Math, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission| Guru| Ramakrishna| Philosophy| Vedanta| Accompanying material: Woman Unknown Summary Literary works| Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga| Prominent Disciple(s)| Alasinga Perumal, Swami Abhayananda, Sister Nivedita, Swami Sadananda| Influence on[show]| Quotation| Come up, O lions, and shake off the delusion that you are sheep; you are souls immortal, spirits free, blest and eternal; ye are not matter, ye are not bodies; matter is your servant, not you the servant of matter. [2] (See more quotations in Wikiquote)| Signature| | Swami Vivekananda (Bengali pronunciation:   Shami Bibekanando  (help ·info)): Bengali pronunciation:  [? mi bibekan? n? o]) (12 January 1863–4 July 1902), born Narendra Nath Datta[3] (Bengali pronunciation:  [n? rend? ro nat d t? t? o]), was an Indian Hindu monk. He was a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world[4] and was credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion in the late 19th century. [5] He was a m ajor force in the revival of Hinduism in India and contributed to the notion of nationalism in colonial India. 6] He was the chief disciple of the 19th century saint Ramakrishna and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. [4] He is perhaps best known for his inspiring speech beginning with â€Å"Sisters and Brothers of America,†[7] through which he introduced Hinduism at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893. Born into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta,[8] Vivekananda showed an inclination towards spirituality. He was influenced by his guru Ramakrishna from whom he learnt that all living beings were an embodiment of the divine self and hence, service to God could be rendered by service to mankind. 9] After the death of his guru, Vivekananda toured the Indian subcontinent extensively and acquired a first-hand knowledge of the conditions that prevailed in British India. [10] He later travelled to the United States to represent India as a delegate in the 1893 Parliament of World Religions. He conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu philosophy in the United States, England and Europe. In India, Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated as the National Youth Day. 11] Contents * 1 Early life (1863–1888) * 1. 1 Birth and childhood * 1. 2 College and Brahmo Samaj * 1. 3 With Ramakrishna * 1. 4 Founding of the Ramakrishna Math * 2 As a monk wandering in India (1888–1893) * 2. 1 Northern India (1888–1890) * 2. 2 The Himalayas (1890–1891) * 2. 3 Rajputana (1891) * 2. 4 Western India (1891–1892) * 2. 5 Southern India (1892–1893) * 3 First visit to the West (1893–1897) * 3. 1 Parliament of the World’s Religions * 3. 2 Lecturing tours in America and England * 4 Back in India (1897–1899) * 4. Colombo to Almora * 4. 2 Founding of the Ramakrishna Mission * 5 Sec ond visit to the West and last years (1899–1902) * 6 Death * 7 Teachings and philosophy * 8 Influence and legacy * 8. 1 150th birthday celebration * 9 Literary Works * 9. 1 Books by Vivekananda * 10 See also * 11 References * 11. 1 Notes * 11. 2 Citations * 11. 3 Sources * 12 Further reading * 13 External links| Early life (1863–1888) Birth and childhood Bhuvaneswari Devi (1841–1911). â€Å"I am indebted to my mother for the efflorescence of my knowledge. [12] – Swami Vivekananda Vivekananda was born as Narendranath in Calcutta, the capital of British India, on 12 January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival. He belonged to a traditional Bengali Kayastha (a caste of Hindus) family and was one of the nine siblings. [13] Narendra’s father Vishwanath Datta was an attorney of Calcutta High Court. [14] Narendra’s mother was a pious woman and a housewife. The progressive rational approach of his father and the religious temperament of his mot her helped shape his thinking and personality. 15][16] Young Narendranath was fascinated by the wandering ascetics and monks. [16] Narendra was an average student, but a voracious reader. [17] He was interested in a wide range of subjects such as philosophy, religion, history, the social sciences, arts, and literature. [18] He evinced interest in the Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. He trained in Indian classical music,[19] and participated in physical exercise, sports, and organisational activities. 18] Narendra joined the Metropolitan Institution of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1871 and studied there until 1877 when his family moved to Raipur. [20] The family returned to Calcutta two years later. College and Brahmo Samaj In 1879 after his family moved back to Calcutta, Narendra passed the entrance examination from the Presidency College. He subsequently studied western logic, western philosophy an d history of European nations in the General Assembly’s Institution (now known as the Scottish Church College). 21][22] In 1881 he passed the Fine Arts examination and in 1884 he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree. [23][24] Narendra studied the works of David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Johann Gottlieb Fichte, Baruch Spinoza, Georg W. F. Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, John Stuart Mill, and Charles Darwin. [25][26] Narendra became fascinated with the evolutionism of Herbert Spencer and had correspondence with him;[27][28] he translated Spencer’s book Education (1861) into Bengali. Alongside his study of Western philosophers, he was thoroughly acquainted with Indian Sanskrit scriptures and many Bengali works. You read "Swami Vivekananda" in category "Essay examples" [26] Dr. William Hastie, principal of General Assembly’s Institution, wrote, â€Å"Narendra is really a genius. I have travelled far and wide but I have never come across a lad of his talents and possibilities, even in German universities, among philosophical students. â€Å"[25] Some accounts regard Narendra as a srutidhara—a man with prodigious memory. 29][30][31] Narendra became the member of a Freemason’s lodge and of a breakaway faction of the Brahmo Samaj led by Keshub Chandra Sen. [22] His initial beliefs were shaped by Brahmo concepts, which included belief in a formless God and deprecation of the worship of idols. [32] Not satisfied with his knowledge of philosophy, he wondered if God and religion could be made a part of one’s growing experiences and deeply int ernalised. Narendra went about asking prominent residents of contemporary Calcutta whether they had come â€Å"face to face with God† but could not get answers which satisfied him. 33][34] His first introduction to the saint Ramakrishna occurred in a literature class in General Assembly’s Institution, when he heard Hastie lecturing on William Wordsworth’s poem The Excursion. [35][36] While explaining the word â€Å"trance† in the poem, Hastie suggested his students to visit Ramakrishna of Dakshineswar to know the real meaning of trance. This prompted some of his students, including Narendra, to visit Ramakrishna. [22][37][38] With Ramakrishna Ramakrishna, guru of Vivekananda. Narendra’s meeting with Ramakrishna in November 1881 proved to be a turning oint in Narendra’s life. [39] Narendra said about this first meeting that â€Å"Ramakrishna looked just like an ordinary man, with nothing remarkable about him. He used the most simple language and I thought ‘Can this man be a great teacher? ‘. I crept near to him and asked him the question which I had been asking others all my life: ‘Do you believe in God, Sir? ‘ ‘Yes’, he replied. ‘Can you prove it, Sir? ‘ ‘Yes’. ‘How? ‘ ‘Because I see Him just as I see you here, only in a much intenser sense. ‘ That impressed me at once. [†¦ I began to go to that man, day after day, and I actually saw that religion could be given. One touch, one glance, can change a whole life. â€Å"[39][40] Though Narendra did not accept Ramakrishna as his teacher initially and revolted against his ideas, he was attracted by his personality and started visiting him at Dakshineswar frequently. [41] He initially looked upon Ramakrishna’s ecstasies and visions as â€Å"mere figments of imagination†,[15] and â€Å"hallucinations†. [42] As a member of Brahmo Samaj, he was against idol worship a nd polytheism, and Ramakrishna’s worship of Kali. 43] He even rejected the Advaitist Vedantism of â€Å"identity with absolute† as blasphemy and madness, and often made fun of the concept. [42] Though at first Narendra could not accept Ramakrishna and his visions, he did not neglect him. Instead, he tested Ramakrishna, who faced all of his arguments and examinations with patience—†Try to see the truth from all angles† was his reply. [41] His father’s untimely death in 1884 left Narendra’s family bankrupt. Unable to find employment and facing poverty, Narendra questioned God’s existence. 44] During this time, Narendra found solace in Ramakrishna, and his visits to Dakshineswar increased. [45] Narendra gradually became ready to renounce everything for the sake of realising God. In time, Narendra accepted Ramakrishna as his guru. [41] In 1885, Ramakrishna developed throat cancer and he was transferred to Calcutta and later to Cossip ore. Narendra and Ramakrishna’s other disciples took care of him during his final days. Narendra’s spiritual education under Ramakrishna continued. At Cossipore, Narendra reportedly experienced Nirvikalpa Samadhi. 46] During Ramakrishna’s last days, Narendra and some of the other disciples received the ochre monastic robes from Ramakrishna, forming the first monastic order of Ramakrishna. [47] Narendra was taught that service to men was the most effective worship of God. [15][48] During his final days, Ramakrishna asked Narendra Nath to take care of other monastic disciples and in turn asked them to look upon Narendra as their leader. [49] Ramakrishna died in the early morning hours of 16 August 1886 at his garden house in Cossipore. 49] Founding of the Ramakrishna Math Vivekananda (standing, 3rd from left) and other disciples of Ramakrishna in Baranagar Math, in 1887[50] After the death of Ramakrishna, his devotees and admirers stopped funding the Cossipore mat h. The unpaid rents soon piled up and Narendra and other disciples of Ramakrishna had to find a new place to live. [51] Many of his disciples returned home and became inclined towards a Grihastha (family-oriented) life. [52] Narendra decided to make a dilapidated house at Baranagar the new math (monastery) for remaining disciples. The rent of the Baranagar Math was cheap and it was funded by â€Å"holy begging† (madhukari). In his book Swami Vivekananda: A Reassessment, Narasingha Prosad Sil writes, â€Å"the Math was an adult male haven, a counter–culture community of freedom–seeking youths on the fringe of society and the city†. [53] The math became the first building of the Ramakrishna Math—the monastery of the first monastic order of Ramakrishna. [39] Narendra later reminisced about the early days in the monastery:[54] â€Å"| We underwent a lot of religious practice at the Baranagar Math. We used to get up at 3:00  am and become absorbed in japa and meditation. What a strong spirit of detachment we had in those days! We had no thought even as to whether the world existed or not. | †| In January 1887, Narendra and eight other disciples took formal monastic vows. Narendra took the name of Swami Bibidishananda. Later he was given the name Vivekananda by Ajit Singh, the Maharaja of Khetri. [55] In January 1899 the Baranagar Math was transferred to Belur in the Howrah district, now known as the Belur Math. [56] As a monk wandering in India (1888–1893) Swami Vivekananda at Jaipur, ca. 885–1893. [57] Swami Vivekananda location unknown, ca. 1888–1893[57] In 1888, Vivekananda left the monastery as a Parivrajaka— the Hindu religious life of a wandering monk, â€Å"without fixed abode, without ties, independent and strangers wherever they go. â€Å"[58] His sole possessions were a kamandalu (water pot), staff, and his two favourite booksâ₠¬â€Bhagavad Gita and The Imitation of Christ. [59] Vivekananda travelled extensively in India for five years, visiting centres of learning, acquainting himself with the diverse religious traditions and different patterns of social life. 60][61] He developed a sympathy for the suffering and poverty of the masses and resolved to uplift the nation. [60][62] Living mainly on bhiksha (alms), Vivekananda travelled on foot and railway tickets bought by his admirers whom he met during the travels. During these travels he made acquaintance and stayed with Indians from all walks of life and religions—scholars, dewans, rajas, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, pariahs (low caste workers) and government officials. [62] Northern India (1888–1890) In 1888, Vivekananda’s first destination was Varanasi,[63] where he met the Bengali writer, Bhudev Mukhopadhyay and the saint Trailanga Swami. He also met Babu Pramadadas Mitra, the noted Sanskrit scholar, with whom he corresponded on the interpretation of the Hindu scriptures. [64] After Varanasi he visited Ayodhya, Lucknow, Agra, Vrindavan, Hathras and Rishikesh. [63] At Hathras, he met Sharat Chandra Gupta, a railway station master who later became one of his earliest disciples as Sadananda. [65][66] Between 1888 and 1890, he visited Vaidyanath and Allahabad. From Allahabad, he went on to Ghazipur, where he met Pavhari Baba,[67] an Advaita Vedanta ascetic who used to spend most of his time in meditation. [68] During this period, Vivekananda returned to Baranagar math a few times, because of ill health and to arrange for monetary funds for the math. [66] The Himalayas (1890–1891) In July 1890, accompanied by the fellow monk Swami Akhandananda (also a disciple of Ramakrishna), Vivekananda visited the Himalayas. This constituted the first phase of his journey that would encompass the West. [66][69] He visited Nainital, Almora, Srinagar, Dehradun, Rishikesh and Haridwar. During these travels, he met Swami Brahmananda, Saradananda, Turiyananda and Advaitananda. They stayed at Meerut for some days engaged in meditation, prayer and study of scriptures. At the end of January 1891, Vivekananda left his fellows and journeyed to Delhi. [69][70] Rajputana (1891) After visiting historical sites at Delhi, Vivekananda journeyed towards Alwar in Rajputana. Later Vivekananda journeyed to Jaipur, where he studied Panini’s Ashtadhyayi with a Sanskrit scholar. He next travelled to Ajmer, where he visited the palace of Akbar and the Dargah Sharif. At Mount Abu, he met Raja Ajit Singh of Khetri, who became his ardent devotee and supporter. Swami Tathagatananda, a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order wrote of the relationship: Swami Vivekananda’s friendship with Maharaja Ajit Singh of Khetri was enacted against the backdrop of Khetri, a sanctified town in Northern Rajasthan, characterized by its long heroic history and independent spirit. Destiny brought Swamiji and Ajit Singh together on 4 June 1891 at Mount Abu, where their friendship gradually developed through their mutual interest in significant spiritual and secular topics. The friendship intensified when they travelled to Khetri and it became clear that theirs was the most sacred friendship, that of a Guru and his disciple. [71] At Khetri, he delivered discourses to the Raja, became acquainted with the pandit Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu, and studied Mahabha? ya on sutras of Panini. After two and a half months there, in October 1891, he proceeded towards Maharastra. [62][72] Western India (1891–1892) Vivekananda visited Ahmedabad, Wadhwan and Limbdi. At Ahmedabad, he completed his studies of Islamic and Jain culture. 62] At Limbdi, he met Thakur Saheb Jaswant Singh, who had himself been to England and America. From Thakur Saheb, he first got the idea of going to the West to preach Vedanta. He later visited Junagadh, where he was the guest of Haridas Viharidas Desai, the Dewan of the State. The Diwan was so charmed with his company that every evening he, with all the State officials, used to meet Vivekananda and converse with him until late at night. Vivekananda also visited Girnar, Kutch, Porbander, Dwaraka, Palitana, Nadiad, Nadiad ni haveli and Baroda. At Porbander, he stayed three quarters of a year, furthering his philosophical and Sanskrit studies with learned pandits. [62] Vivekananda’s next destinations included Mahabaleshwar, Pune, Khandwa and Indore. At Kathiawar, he heard of the Parliament of the World’s Religions and was urged by his followers there to attend it. After a brief stay in Bombay in July 1892, he met Bal Gangadhar Tilak during a train journey. [73] After staying with Tilak for a few days in Pune,[74] Vivekananda travelled to Belgaum in October 1892 and to Panaji and Margao in Goa. He spent three days in the Rachol Seminary, the oldest convent of Goa, where rare religious manuscripts and printed works in Latin were preserved. There, he studied Christian theological works. [75] Southern India (1892–1893) Vivekananda Temple on Vivekananda rock at Kanyakumari, India Later Vivekananda travelled to Bangalore, where he became acquainted with K. Seshadri Iyer, the Dewan of the Mysore state, and stayed at the palace as a guest of the Maharaja of Mysore, Chamaraja Wodeyar. Iyer described Vivekananda as â€Å"a magnetic personality and a divine force which were destined to leave their mark on the history of his country. The Maharaja provided the Swami a letter of introduction to the Dewan of Cochin and got him a railway ticket. [76] From Bangalore, he visited Trichur, Kodungalloor, and Ernakulam. At Ernakulam, he met Chattampi Swamikal, contemporary of Narayana Guru, in early December 1892. [77] From Ernakulam, he travelled to Trivandrum, Nagercoil and reached Ka nyakumari on foot during the Christmas Eve of 1892. [78] At Kanyakumari, Vivekananda meditated on the â€Å"last bit of Indian rock†, known later as the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. At Kanyakumari, Vivekananda had the â€Å"Vision of one India†, also commonly called â€Å"The Kanyakumari resolve of 1892†. 79] He wrote, â€Å"| â€Å"At Cape Camorin sitting in Mother Kumari’s temple, sitting on the last bit of Indian rock—I hit upon a plan: We are so many sanyasis wandering about, and teaching the people metaphysics—it is all madness. Did not our Gurudeva use to say, ‘An empty stomach is no good for religion? ‘ We as a nation have lost our individuality and that is the cause of all mischief in India. We have to raise the masses. â€Å"[79][80]| †| From Kanyakumari he visited Madurai, where he met the Raja of Ramnad, Bhaskara Sethupathi, to whom he had a letter of introduction. The Raja became his disciple and urged him to go to the Parliament of Religions at Chicago. From Madurai, he visited Rameswaram, Pondicherry and Madras and there he met some of his most devoted disciples, who played important roles in collecting funds for his voyage to America and later in establishing the Ramakrishna Mission in Madras. With the aid of funds collected by his Madras disciples and Rajas of Mysore, Ramnad, Khetri, Dewans and other followers, Vivekananda left for Chicago on 31 May 1893 from Bombay assuming the name Vivekananda—the name suggested by the Maharaja of Khetri, Ajit Singh. 80] First visit to the West (1893–1897) Vivekananda visited several cities in Japan such as Nagasaki, Kobe, Yokohama, Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo,[81] and some places in China and Canada en route the United States. [82] He arrived at Chicago in July 1893. [82] However, to his disappointment he learnt that no one without credentials from a bona fide organisation would be accepted as a delegate. He came in contact with Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University who invited him to speak at the university. 83] On learning that Vivekananda lacked credential to speak at the Chicago Parliament, Wright is quoted as having said, â€Å"To ask for your credentials is like asking the sun to state its right to shine in the heavens. â€Å"[84] On the Professor, Vivekananda himself writes â€Å"He urged upon me the necessity of going to the Parliament of Religions, which he thought would give an introduction to the nation. â€Å"[84] Parliament of the World’s Religions Main article: Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of the World’s Religions (1893) Swami Vivekananda on the platform of the Parliament of Religions September 1893. On the platform (left to right) Virchand Gandhi, Dharmapala, Swami Vivekananda[85] Parliament of the World’s Religions opened on 11 September 1893 at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the World’s Columbian Exposition. [86] On this day Vivekananda gave his first brief speech. He represented India and Hinduism. [87] He was initially nervous, bowed to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of learning and began his speech with, â€Å"Sisters and brothers of America! . [83][88] To these words he got a standing ovation from a crowd of seven thousand, which lasted for two minutes. When silence was restored he began his address. He greeted the youngest of the nations on behalf of â€Å"the most ancient order of monks in the world, the Vedic order of sannyasins, a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. â€Å"[89] He quoted two illustrative passages from the Shiv a mahimna stotram—†As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their water in he sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which men take, through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee! † and â€Å"Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths that in the end lead to Me. â€Å"[89] Despite being a short speech, it voiced the spirit of the Parliament and its sense of universality. [89][90] Dr. Barrows, the president of the Parliament said, â€Å"India, the Mother of religions was represented by Swami Vivekananda, the Orange-monk who exercised the most wonderful influence over his auditors. [88] He attracted widespread attention in the press, which dubbed him as the â€Å"Cyclonic monk from India†. The New York Critique wrote, â€Å"He is an orator by divine right, and his strong, intelligent face in its picturesque setting of yellow and orange was hardly less interesting than those earnest words, and the rich, rhythmical utterance he gave them. † The New York Herald wrote, â€Å"Vivekananda is undoubtedly the greatest figure in the Parliament of Religions. After hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation. [91] The American newspapers reported Vivekananda as â€Å"the greatest figure in the parliament of religions† and â€Å"the most popular and influential man in the parliament†. [92] The Boston Evening Transcript reported that Vivekananda was â€Å"a great favourite at the parliament†¦ if he merely crosses the platform, he is applauded†. [93] He spoke several more times at the Parliament on topics related to Hinduism, Buddhism and harmony of religions. The parliament ended on 27 September 1893. All his speeches at the Parliament had the common theme of universality, and emphasised religious tolerance. 94] Lecturing tours in America and England â€Å"I do not come†, said Swamiji on one occasion in America, â€Å"to convert you to a new belief. I want you to keep your own belief; I want to make the Methodist a better Methodist; the Presbyterian a better Presbyterian; the Unitarian a better Unitarian. I want to teach you to live the truth, to reveal the light within your own soul. â€Å"[95] Following the Parliament of Religions, Vivekananda spent nearly two years lecturing in various parts of eastern and central United States, mostly in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and New York. He founded the â€Å"Vedanta Society of New York† in 1894. [96] By the spring of 1895, his busy and tiring schedule led to poor health. [97] He stopped lecturing tours, and started giving free and private classes on Vedanta and Yoga. Starting in June 1895, he conducted private lectures to a dozen of his disciples at the Thousand Island Park in New York for two months. [97] During his first visit to the West, he travelled to England twice—in 1895 and 1896. His lectures were successful there. [98] There in November 1895, he met Margaret Elizabeth Noble, an Irish lady, who would later become Sister Nivedita. 97] During his second visit to England in May 1896, Vivekananda met Max Muller, a noted Indologist from Oxford University who wrote Ramakrishna’s first biography in the West. [90] From England, he also visited other European countries. In Germany he met Paul Deussen, another Indologist. [99] Vivekananda was offered academic positions in two American universities —one for the chair of Eastern Philosophy at Harvard University and another similar position at Columbia University—which he declined since such duties would conflict with his commitment as a monk. [97] Swami Vivekananda in Greenacre, Maine in August, 1894[100] Vivekananda attracted several followers and admirers in the US and Europe, such as Josephine MacLeod, William James, Josiah Royce, Robert G. Ingersoll, Nikola Tesla, Lord Kelvin, Harriet Monroe, Ella Wheeler Wilcox, Sarah Bernhardt, Emma Calve, and Professor Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz. [15][97][99][101] He initiated several followers into his mission; Marie Louise, a French woman, became Swami Abhayananda, and Mr. Leon Landsberg, became Swami Kripananda. [102] From West, Vivekananda also set his work back in India in motion. He was in regular correspondence with his followers and brother monks,[nb 1] offering advice and monetary funds. His letters in this period reflect motives of his campaign for social service,[103] and often contained strong words. [104] He wrote to Swami Akhandananda, â€Å"Go from door to door amongst the poor and lower classes of the town of Khetri and teach them religion. Also, let them have oral lessons on geography and such other subjects. No good will come of sitting idle and having princely dishes, and saying â€Å"Ramakrishna, O Lord! â€Å"—unless you can do some good to the poor. [105][106] Eventually in 1895, money sent by Vivekananda was used to start the periodical Brahmavadin, for the purpose of teaching the Vedanta. [107] Later, Vivekananda’s translation of first six chapters of The Imitation of Christ was published in Brahmavadin (1889). [108] Vivekananda left for India on 16 December 1896 from England with his disciples, Captain and Mrs. Sevier, and J. J. Goodwin. On the way they visited France and Italy, and set sail for India from the Port of Naples on 30 December 1896. [109] He was later followed to India by Sister Nivedita. Nivedita devoted the rest of her life to the education of Indian women and the cause of India’s independence. [97][110] Back in India (1897–1899) Vivekananda at Chennai 1897 Colombo to Almora The ship from Europe arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 15 January 1897. [111] Vivekananda received an ecstatic welcome. In Colombo, he gave what constitutes his first public speech in the East, India, the Holy Land. From there on, his journey to Calcutta was a triumphal progress. He travelled from Colombo to Pamban, Rameswaram, Ramnad, Madurai, Kumbakonam and Madras delivering lectures. People and Rajas gave him enthusiastic reception. During his train journeys, people often squatted on the rails to enforce stopping of the train to hear him. [111] From Madras, he continued his journey to Calcutta and then to Almora. While in the West he talked of India’s great spiritual heritage; on return to India he repeatedly addressed social issues—uplift of the population, getting rid of the caste system, promotion of science, industrialisation of the country, addressing the widespread poverty, and the end of the colonial rule. These lectures, published as Lectures from Colombo to Almora, show his nationalistic fervour and spiritual ideology. [112] His speeches had influence on the contemporaneous and subsequent Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Bipin Chandra Pal, Balgangadhar Tilak and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. [113][114] Founding of the Ramakrishna Mission Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, a branch of the Ramakrishna Math, founded on 19 March 1899, later published many of Swami Vivekananda’s work, now publishes Prabuddha Bharata journal On 1 May 1897 at Calcutta, Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission—the organ for social service. The ideals of the Ramakrishna Mission are based on Karma Yoga. [115][116] Its governing body consists of the trustees of the Ramakrishna Math—the organ to carry out religious works. [117] Both Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission have their headquarters at Belur Math. [90][118] He founded two other monasteries—one at Mayavati on the Himalayas, near Almora, called the Advaita Ashrama and another at Madras. Two journals were started, Prabuddha Bharata in English and Udbhodan in Bengali. [119] The same year, the famine relief work was started by Swami Akhandananda at Murshidabad district. 90][117] Vivekananda had earlier inspired Jamsetji Tata to set up a research and educational institution when they had travelled together from Yokohama to Chicago on Vivekananda’s first visit to the West in 1893. Now Tata requested him to head the Research Institute of Science that Tata had established; he declined the offer citing conflict with his â€Å"spiritual interestsâ € . [120][121][122] Vivekananda visited Punjab where he tried to mediate ideological conflict between Arya Samaj (a reformist movement of Hinduism) and Sanatans (orthodox Hindus). 123] After brief visits to Lahore,[117] Delhi and Khetri, he returned to Calcutta in January 1898. He consolidated the works of math and trained disciples over the next several months. He composed Khandana Bhava Bandhana, a prayer song dedicated to Ramakrishna in 1898. [124] Second visit to the West and last years (1899–1902) Swami Vivekananda– the photo was taken in Bushnell Studio in San Francisco, 1900. [125] The Swami Vivekananda temple at Belur Math, on the place where he was cremated. Vivekananda left for the West for the second time in June 1899 despite his declining health. 126] He was accompanied by Sister Nivedita and Swami Turiyananda. He spent a short time in England, and went on to the United States. During this visit, he established the Vedanta societies at San Francisco and New York. He also founded â€Å"Shanti Ashrama† (peace retreat) at California. [127] He attended the Congress of Religions in Paris in 1900. [128] From the US, he went to Paris. His lectures in Paris dwelt on worship of Linga and authenticity of the Gita. [127] From Paris he visited Brittany, Vienna, Istanbul, Athens and Egypt. The French philosopher Jules Bois was his host for most of this period. [127] He returned to Calcutta on 9 December 1900. [127] Following a brief visit to Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati, he settled at Belur Math from where he continued to coordinate the works of Ramakrishna Mission and Math, and also the works in England and America. Many visitors came to him in these days, including royalties and politicians. He was unable to join the Congress of Religions in 1901 in Japan due to deteriorating health. He, however, went for pilgrimages to Bodhgaya and Varanasi. 129] Declining health and ailments such as asthma, diabetes and chronic insomnia restricted his activities. [130] Death On 4 July 1902, the day of his death, Vivekananda woke up very early in the morning, went to chapel and meditated for three hours. He taught Shukla-Yajur-Veda, Sanskrit grammar, and yoga philosophy to pupils in the morning at Belur Math. [131][132] He discussed with colleagues a plan to start a Vedic college in th e Ramakrishna Math, and carried out usual conversation. At seven p. m. he went into his room and asked not to be disturbed. 131] Vivekananda died at ten minutes past nine p. m. while he was meditating. [133] According to his disciples, Vivekananda attained Mahasamadhi. [134] Rupture of blood vessels in the brain was reported as a possible cause of the death. [135] His disciples believed that rupture was on account of Brahmarandhra  Ã¢â‚¬â€the aperture in the crown of the head  Ã¢â‚¬â€being pierced when he attained Mahasamadhi. Vivekananda had fulfilled his own prophecy of not living to be forty years old. [136] He was cremated on sandalwood funeral pyre on the bank of Ganga in Belur. On the other bank of the river, Ramakrishna had been cremated sixteen years before. [137] Teachings and philosophy Main article: Teachings and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda Part of a series on| Hindu philosophy| | Schools[show]| Personalities[show]| * v * t * e| Vivekananda believed a country’s future depends on its people; his teachings focused on the development of the mass. [138] He wanted â€Å"to set in motion a machinery which will bring noblest ideas to the doorstep of even the poorest and the meanest. [139] Vivekananda believed that the essence of Hinduism was best expressed in the Vedanta philosophy, based on the interpretation of Adi Shankara. He summarised the Vedanta’s teachings as follows:[140] â€Å"| Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this Divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal. Do this either by work, or worship, or mental discipline, or philosophy—by one, or more, or all of these—and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines, or dogmas, or rituals, or books, or temples, or forms, are but secondary details. †| Vivekananda linked morality with the control of mind. He saw truth, purity and unselfishness as traits which strengthened the mind. [141] He advised his followers to be holy, unselfish and have Shraddha (faith). He supported practice of Brahmacharya (celibacy),[142] and believed that such practice was the source of his physical and mental stamina, as well as eloquence. [143] Vivekananda emphasized that success was an outcome of focused thought and action. In his lectures on Raja Yoga, he said, â€Å"Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced. â€Å"[144] Influence and legacy Swami Vivekananda statue near Gateway of India, Mumbai. Vivekananda revitalised Hinduism within and outside India. He was the principal reason behind the enthusiastic reception of yoga, transcendental meditation and other forms of Indian spiritual self-improvement in the West. 145] Professor Agehananda Bharati explained that, â€Å"†¦ modern Hindus derive their knowledge of Hinduism from Vivekananda, directly or indirectly. â€Å"[146] Vivekananda espoused the idea that all sects within Hinduism and, indeed, all religions, are different paths to the same goal. [147] This view, however, has been criticised for oversimplification of Hinduism. [147] In the background of ger minating nationalism in the British-ruled India, Vivekananda crystallised the nationalistic ideal. In the words of the social reformer Charles Freer Andrews, â€Å"The Swami’s ntrepid patriotism gave a new colour to the national movement throughout India. More than any other single individual of that period Vivekananda had made his contribution to the new awakening of India. â€Å"[148] Vivekananda drew the attention towards the prevalence of poverty in the country, and maintained that addressing such poverty was prerequisite for the national awakening. [149] His nationalistic thoughts influenced scores of Indian thinkers and leaders. Sri Aurobindo regarded Vivekananda as the one who awakened India spiritually. 150] Gandhi counted him among the few Hindu reformers â€Å"who have maintained this Hindu religion in a state of splendor by cutting down the dead wood of tradition. â€Å"[151] The first governor general of independent India, Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, said â⠂¬Å"Vivekananda saved Hinduism, saved India. â€Å"[152] According to Subhas Chandra Bose, a major proponent of armed struggle for Indian independence, Vivekananda was â€Å"the maker of modern India†;[153] for Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekananda’s influence increased his â€Å"love for his country a thousandfold. Vivekananda influenced India’s independence movement;[154] his writings inspired a whole generation of freedom fighters such as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghose, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bagha Jatin. Many years after Vivekananda’s death, Rabindranath Tagore told French Nobel Laureate Romain Rolland,[155] â€Å"If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative. † Rolland himself wrote that â€Å"His words are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his, scattered as they are through the pages of books, at thirty years’ distance, without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports, must have been produced when in burning words they issued from the lips of the hero! † [156] Jamsetji Tata was influenced by Vivekananda to establish the Indian Institute of Science—one of India’s best known research universities. [122] Abroad, Vivekananda had interactions with Max Muller. Scientist Nikola Tesla was one of those influenced by the Vedic philosophy teachings of Vivekananda. On 11 November 1995, a section of Michigan Avenue, a major thoroughfare in downtown Chicago, was renamed â€Å"Swami Vivekananda Way†. [157] National Youth Day in India is observed on his birthday, 12 January. [158] He is projected as a role model for youth by the Indian government as well as non-government organisations and personalities. [158][159] In September 2010, India’s Finance Ministry highlighted the relevance of teachings and values of Vivekananda in the modern competitive environment. The Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, approved in principle the â€Å"Swami Vivekananda Values Education Project† at the cost of 100  crore (US$18  million) with the objectives such as involving the youth through competitions, essays, discussions and study circles and publishing Vivekananda’s complete work in different languages. [160] In 2011, West Bengal Police Training College was renamed as â€Å"Swami Vivekananda State Police Academy, West Bengal†. [161] The state technical university of Chhattisgarh has been named as Chhattisgarh Swami Vivekanand Technical University. 162] In 2012, the airport in Raipur was renamed as Swami Vivekananda Airport. [163] 150th birthday celebration Main article: 150th birthday of Swami Vivekananda 150th birthday of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated all over India and in different countries of the world. Ministry of Youth Affairs Sports of India decided to observe 2013 as the year of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami V ivekananda. [164] Year-long events and programs were organized by different branches of Ramakrishna Math, Ramakrishna Mission, central government and different state governments of India, education institutions, youth groups etc. Bengali film director Tutu (Utpal) Sinha made a film The Light: Swami Vivekananda as a tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his150th birth anniversary. [165] Literary Works Manuscript of â€Å"Blessings to Nivedita† a poem written by Swami Vivekananda in his own handwriting. [166] Vivekananda was a powerful orator and writer both in English and Bengali. [167] Majority of his published works were compiled from lectures given around the world. Vivekananda was a singer and a poet,[168] and composed many songs and poems including his favourite Kali the Mother. He blended humour in his teachings; his language was lucid. His Bengali writings stand testimony to the fact that he believed that words—spoken or written—should be for making things easier to understand rather than show off the speaker or writer’s knowledge Books by Vivekananda Published in his lifetime[169] * Karma Yoga (1896) * Raja Yoga (1896 [1899 edition]) * Vedanta Philosophy: An address before the Graduate Philosophical Society (1896) * Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1897) * Bartaman Bharat (Bengali) (March, 1899), Udbodhan[170] My Master (1901, The Baker and Taylor Company, New York) * Vedanta philosophy: lectures on   Jnana Yoga (1902) Published posthumously Here a list of selected books of Vivekananda published after his death (1902)[169] * Addresses on Bhakti Yoga * Bhakti Yoga * The East and the West * Inspired Talks (1909) * Narada Bhakti Sutras – translation * Lectures from Colombo to Almora (1904) * Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion * Pra ctical Vedanta * Jnana Yoga * Raja Yoga (1920) * Speeches and writings of Swami Vivekananda; a comprehensive collection How to cite Swami Vivekananda, Essay examples

Saturday, May 2, 2020

Emerging Economies In Globalising World †Free Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Emerging Economies In Globalising World. Answer: Introduction The economic performance of the different developing countries over the past few decades reflects a wide range of disparity among these countries and also in comparison to the developed nations. The economic growth in some of the developing countries over a period of a few years has been remarkable. This gives rise to the concept of emerging market economies and provides a scope to study the transition of these countries over the past decades. The reason why some of the developing countries emerged rapidly while others were left behind can be manifold. The disparity in the economic performance of the various developing countries can be attributed to a number of economic parameters like the national income, the per capita income which also accounts for the population level, performance of the share market, openness to international trade and foreign investment, etc. While many developing countries have registered high economic growth rates over the past decades, the growth rate of dev eloping countries have been relatively low during the same period of time. However, the records of high growth rates for the developing countries have been temporary ranging for around a decade. The economic growth in most of these countries has been unsustainable. The emerging market economies registered the rapid economic growth mostly during the decades of 1990 and 2000 mainly due to the increased global supply of funds. Most of the developing nations opened up to the international market in terms of the output and financial markets during the early 1990s. Most of the developing countries, however, have not shown any sign of high paced growth they have been in the transition phase since the past few decades and will continue to be in that phase for years to come. The emerging market economies that registered the most notable economic performance over the two decades concerned are Brazil, Russia, India and China, popularly referred to as BRIC. Though these countries have not expe rienced any major parametric change in common, their economic performance with respect to a number of factors has been notably high and has surpassed most of their developed counterparts. However, since the income levels in these countries are widely different, they cannot be compared in terms of all the economic parameters (Mankiw, 2012). When a developing country starts from a low level, the growth rate would naturally be prominent over a period of time. Since, developed countries have already attained that level; the growth rate seems comparatively sluggish (Sharma, 2012). Economic Growth And Development The economic growth of a country is determined by a number of factors. The determinants of economic growth are the same for both developed and developing countries, but the structure and transformations of these economic parameters are different for developing and developed nations. Accordingly, the difference in economic growth is generated. The most important factor is that developed and developing nations start off with different endowment levels, that is, different levels of initial allocations (Blanchard and Johnson, 2012). This is what affects their growth parameters over time. Due to different initial levels of output and income, the economic growth rate of developed and developing countries are different with developing countries registering a higher growth rate. This is mainly because when a developing country starts at a low initial level, the rate of growth in the transition phase is much higher than the rate of growth of a developed country that has already attained the s ame level of economic output. During the period considered, the major developing economies in the world were going through a wide variety of transformations. Major economic reforms were undertaken in most of these economies (Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz, 2013). The government policies had been modified to suit the immediate growth requirements of such countries and accordingly the policies were implemented. Under the influence of the major economic changes, the economic growth rate of these countries was largely paced up. The decade of 1990 and that of 2000 were known for major global economic changes that took place. These triggered the rapid growth rate of these economies in the coming decades. However, for most of the developing economies, the growth rate was not sustained for a long period of time. The two decades witnessed large scale economic and social changes in the low and middle income countries which transformed a much developed economic structure as compared to the earl ier decades. Increased volume of exports and availability of natural resources are two major factors that have influenced the growth rates of developing economies over this period. Moreover, due to better and improved health and medical facilities, the life expectancy in these countries also improved which largely contributes to economic growth by improving the productivity and efficiency of the labour force in the economy (Mankiw, 2012). When these countries opened up to the global economy in the early 1990s, there was increased investment from foreign investors who perceived potential returns in these countries. Increased investment augmented economic growth to a large extent by improving the production conditions. Again, due to increased job opportunities and eased mobility across countries, the unemployment rate also decreased over the year in most of these countries. Multinational organizations established their counterparts in some developing countries and hence generated larg e scale employment. A few countries like Malaysia and Thailand would have transformed from middle income to high income economies during this course of time. However, due to unstable political, economic and financial conditions, they soon experienced a financial meltdown in the years 1997 98. Since then they have been unable to catch up their earlier growth levels. In terms of per capita income, the developing countries had registered a very low level till before the 1990s. Thereafter, as a consequence of the rapid economic growth and progress, the per capita income had risen considerably relative to that of the developed countries. Hence, there has been an improvement in the general standard of living in these economies as compared to their previous economic situation. This is mainly due to a number of different policies adopted by the governments of these countries to control the population. The population control policies have mainly contributed to the increase in the per capita income of these countries (Samuelson and Nordhaus, 2009). For example, in China, the one-child policy measure imposed by the government has over the years controlled the population to a considerable extent. The rapid decline in population has pushed up the per capita income and hence the standard of living in these countries over the two decades. However, post 2011, the difference between the per capita incomes of the developing and developed nations again widened back to the earlier levels. Thus, the rapid growth did not sustain for most of the developing economies (Blanchard and Johnson, 2013). Globalization In Emerging Economies Globalization is an increasingly important issue that has large scale impact on the world economy. It is defined as the process of amalgamation of different nations across the globe in terms of ideas, culture, products and services, perspectives and political, social and economic structures. Over time, it has created and increased the already created interdependence among the developed and developing countries across the world through the medium of social, political and economic parameters. Infrastructural advancement and advanced means of transportation and communications among different countries has resulted due to globalization. Many underdeveloped countries with potential growth prospects have absorbed the technological improvements from their developed counterparts and they have experienced rapid growth based on this (Krugman, Obstfeld and Melitz, 2012). Globalization, especially for the developing nations has not only facilitated mobility of products and services but also the mobility of people across nations, thereby improving global productivity and also increasing the share of developing countries in the global gross domestic product. It has generated the flow of information across nations which has led to the improvement of production technologies and expanded the efficiency of developing economies (Krugman and Wells, 2012). Over the two decades, most of the developing economies in the world have experienced large scale globalization in terms of the output as well as the financial markets. For example, Taiwan emerged in the global economy in the year 1991 followed by India which opened up to the global economy in the year 1992 after the economic reforms of the country. In South Korea, globalization was pronounced in the year 1993 and in 1995 for Russia. Similarly, all the major emerging market economies characterized as developing economies began their international participation around this period. Foreign investment in these countries over this per iod of time made a remarkable progress and increased from as low as 1 percent to nearly 8 percent of the global stock market. However, the effect of globalization did not retain for a very long period of time for all the developing nations across the world. During the period 1994 to 2002, there came about an economic crisis from Mexico to Turkey and hence the stock market of the developing world shrank 50 percent to 4 percent of the global total. China was the only exception because instead of shrinking it expanded to 4.5 percent of the global total. This is mainly because the growth rate in China during this period of time has been almost the highest and it has sustained for a really long period of time. Hence, ultimately, the issue of emerging markets was basically applicable to China only. Though the other emerging economies have experienced large scale transformations and expansion compared to their previous situation, the progress of China was the most pronounced during the two decades considered. However, in 2003 again, emerging market economies were seen to rise as a group as a consequence of the global boom that occurred. Their share of global GDP rose to 34 percent from 20 percent during this period of time. Their stock market share also rose to a considerable extent. Again, in 2008, large scale losses had been inflicted upon the global economy due to the global financial crisis. Though the developing countries had recovered from the crisis in due time, they have not been able to attain their previous economic conditions. More funds are required to flow into the developing economies for their adequate growth and progress. Moreover, the funds should be channelized optimally so as to augment the economic growth by improving the general efficiency level of the developing countries. Globalization has had manifold effects on individual economies and the world economy on the whole. It has affected economic growth via channels of trade in goods and services, foreign investment, labour migration, information flows and technological integration. It has been effective mainly because most of the developing nations have abundant natural resources and cheap labour and other factors of production. This has led to increased economic activity in the developing countries generated in the developed countries over the years. Over time, globalization has also generated economies of scale for different nations and hence enhanced the growth prospective. Developing countries have mostly benefited from globalization mainly due to increased efficiency and productivity along with information flows which helps improve the production technology. When globalization took place, multinational organizations have expanded their business in various developing countries thus generating labour demand in those countries. The domestic producers have also been able to expand their capacity with foreign investment and hence they also acquired increased labour. Under t he availability of surplus labour in most of these countries, the unemployment rates have reduced. Thus, globalization has played a major role in changing the economic conditions of the developing countries over the years (Caves, Frankel and Jones, 2007). Bric The emergence of the developing nations in the global economy has been remarkable in the decades of 1990 and 2000. The main drivers of this progress were the developing countries Brazil, Russia, India and China popularly referred to as BRIC. These countries were said to be developing at a very fast pace during the past two decades, so much so that they almost caught up and in some cases even surpassed their developed counterparts. Though these economies do not share any common macroeconomic situation, yet individually, the performance of these countries was notable during the decades of rapid economic growth. Brazil The decade of 1990 is referred to as the reform decade for the economy of Brazil. This is mainly because during this period, the economy underwent a number of changes in terms of economic and administrative policies that shaped the economy differently in the years to follow. There was large scale foreign capital inflow into Brazil at the beginning of the decade which was accompanied by major technological changes that transformed the production parameters of the economy. However, the macroeconomic situation in the country was unstable during this period of time which hindered the absolute participation of the country in the international movements. The path of economic growth seemed to have been marked for Brazil according to the success indicators for the other emerging economies. In an attempt to control inflation, the domestic economic situation was further worsened. However, in the latter half of the decade, stabilization was focused on and duly achieved in terms of prices. There was notably increased trade openness in the country in terms of merchandise and capital which allowed for the integration with the other developed nations in the world. The access to international capital was facilitated by the various reforms undertaken. The decade of 1990 was marked as a turning point in the economic history of Brazil. The price stabilization process facilitated positive economic transformations to a great extent and it was sustained for over 6 years. The channels via which price stabilization augmented the economic performance of the country are the creation of wealth effect for both consumers and producers, establishment of a stable political situation and generating confidence in foreign investors. Thus during the decades of 1990 and 2000, the Brazilian economy, having undergone rapid economic reforms, registered high growth rates. Once a stable economic situation was achieved, the economic growth slowed down in the years to follow. Russia During the 1990s, the transformation of the Russian economy from a central planning system to a market-based economy was brought about through the emphasis on economic restructuring and macroeconomic stabilization. For economic restructuring, the establishment of legal, commercial and institutional organizations like banks, commercial and legal codes, private property, etc. was necessary such that the economy could perform efficiently. On the other hand, for macroeconomic stabilization, implementation of appropriate fiscal and monetary policies along with the stabilization of prices and exchange rates were emphasized. The economy was opened to the international forum and this facilitated the economic growth of the country in the following years. As a measure of macroeconomic stabilization, the government budget deficit was aimed to be reduced such that as a long-term effect the inflation rate could be controlled. During the years of 1992 and 1993, money supply and credit was widely e xpanded by the government which led to inflation and depreciation of the exchange rate. This monetary policy was soon curbed which stabilized prices again. The increase in money supply was a result of the large scale credit inflow from foreign investors. Thus the Russian economy during the period post 1990 had experienced rapid economic growth. However, post the two decades, the output market and the stock market of Russia have been known to be one of the weakest in the world. Thus the economic condition of Russia could not be sustained for long. India The decade of 1990 witnessed large scale economic transformation of the Indian economy. Economic reforms covering a wide variety of macroeconomic issues were undertaken in India in the year 1991. The economic reforms of India were mainly characterized by liberalization, privatization and globalization. Besides undertaking numerous macroeconomic transformation policies, the country completely opened up to the international economy in terms of the output market as well as the financial market. In the following years, the country developed rapidly in terms of foreign trade and foreign direct investment. Trade barriers had been removed as a reform policy by the government which facilitated the increased volumes of trade across the world with the Indian economy at the forefront. Thus there was rapid economic growth in the country. Foreign direct investment has been increasingly flowing into the country ever since. This is because the country is a potential and business hub for investment and business. Thus the output and income in the economy was augmented which led to rapid economic growth. The reforms had mainly been undertaken to correct the unstable macroeconomic situation that the country has been subject to in the preceding years. In the attempt, the country achieved major economic goals and registered high economic growth over the period. China Of all the major emerging market economies, the economic performance of China over the decades of 1990 and 2000 was the most remarkable. In fact, the term emerging market economies was essentially applicable to only China after a point of time. Throughout the two decades, China recorded high economic growth rates and the country has been progressing rapidly. It has been through large scale economic transitions through the implementation of different policies over the years. The progress of the Chinese economy was far better compared to the other developing economies at that point. Having started from a low initial level of resources, the economy of China was the fastest growing economy over a considerable period of time surpassing the major economies in the world. At one point of time, China was almost said to be overtaking the United States as the largest economy in the world. The growth rate of china has slowed down post 2009 and the record has been low ever since. Even during the financial meltdown when most of the economies were shrinking in terms of the stock market, China experienced an expansion. However, the growth of the Chinese economy has been sluggish in the recent years. Though China has adopted various population control policies, the population of the country is too large to accommodate the benefits of economic growth. Moreover, the Chinese population is aging and hence the productivity and efficiency of the economy is being hampered. The surplus labour in the economy has already been used up and hence there is little scope for further economic growth. Conclusion The developing countries of the world have over the past few decades experienced rapid economic growth due to a number of reasons. Of the developing countries some have shown remarkable performance in terms of economic growth and development whereas the growth in other economies has been negligible. The main drivers of the growing market economies have been Brazil, Russia, India and China, the economic performances of which have been most noteworthy. Though these countries do not have any macroeconomic situation in common, the economic growth registered was same paced. Each country has grown and developed in a different way given the completely different initial economic situations. Even though the rapid growth process in these economies could not be sustained, the economies are still growing. No comparison should be drawn between the developing and developed economies since they are measured on completely different scales and marking one with respect to the other might underestimate the economic performance of the developing nations (Sharma, 2012). References Blanchard, O. and Johnson, D. (2012). Macroeconomics. 6th ed. New York: Pearson Education. Dornsbusch, R. Fischer, S. and Startz, R. (2013). Macroeconomics. 12th ed. New York: McGraw Hill Education. Mankiw, N. (2012). 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