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PAGE- 3 July 2016
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JULY SURPRISE PARTY
His powerful speech at the inaugural World Par-
liament of Religions in Chicago, 1893 captured the
hearts of Americans. Many went on to become his
disciples and decided to join him in his mission and
serve the needy.
On July 4 th in 1898, Swami Vivekananda was travel-
ling with his western disciples in a houseboat on Dal
Lake in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Sister Nivedita,
Josephine Macleod and Sara Bull were the disciples
travelling across India as this helped them in con-
necting to Indian masses, Indian culture and its his-
tory.
Sister Nivedita was a Scots-Irish social worker, au-
thor and teacher. Josephine MacLeod and Sara Bull
were American followers who had a strong attach-
ment to India and active participants in the Ram-
akrishna Vivekananda movement. Swami considered
Sara Bull as his American mother, addressing her
as ‘Dhira Mata’.
On this travel, Vivekananda conspired to surprise his
American friends with a Fourth of July celebration
since they were far away from their homeland. He
took the help of Sister Nivedita to carry out his plan.
On the morning of the special day, it was a wonderful
sight when Sara Bull and Josephine Macleod arrived
for breakfast. The houseboat was decorated with
pretty flower arrangements and an American flag
was set up. As a part of this celebration Vivekananda
had even requested a local tailor from the region to
stitch the American flag.
He had composed a poem just for the occasion and
“If the road to success were easy, no one would stand out for its success”
Behold, the dark clouds melt away,
That gathered thick at night, and hung
So like a gloomy pall above the earth!
Before thy magic touch, the world
Awakes. The birds in chorus sing.
The flowers raise their star-like crowns–
Dew-set, and wave thee welcome fair.
Move on, O Lord, in thy resistless path!
Till thy high noon o’erspreads the world.
Till every land reflects thy light,
Till men and women, with uplifted head,
Behold their shackles broken, and
Know, in springing joy, their life renewed!
had requested for it to be read out loud. It was ti-
tled “To the Fourth of July”. Excerpts from the poem
reads as follows
A truly one of a kind celebration till date, Sara Bull
had carefully preserved this poem. It beautifully ren-
ders the major elements of the American freedom –
liberty, justice, sacrifice and freedom.
But perhaps we can also stand to get inspired from
his poetic lines which alludes to an eternal freedom
for mankind rekindling the thought there is always
the hope of salvation, through service to humanity. It
is significant to say that as fate would have it Swami
Vivekananda attained heavenly abode on July 4 th
1902.
DEEPTHI.K
Deepthi Karuppusami
‘Sometimes all you need is a perfect song on that perfect drive to make you
feel infinite’. She believes that it’s all the small things in life which make it
worthwhile. Be it amateur cooking lessons, video games,Carnatic music,
meditation, funny cat videos, Bharatanatyam or Stephen King novels you
can be sure she has a way to spin it around for better or for worse and ap-
preciate what life has to offer.
July -4- 2016 4:00 PM
Tumbleweed Park,
745 E Germann Rd,
Chandler, AZ 85286
There are no Kid Zones at this event. Musical
entertainment / DJ, Fireworks starts at 9:00 PM
.
aspx?pageid=162
July -4- 2016 6:00 PM
Fountain Park,
12925 N. Saguaro Blvd,
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268
DJ, games, prizes, Fireworks starts at 9:00 PM
/fourth-at- the-fountain/
events/2016
July -4- 2016 5:00 PM
Westgate Entertainment,
6770 N Sunrise Blvd,
Glendale, AZ 85305
at Fountain Park near the AMC movie theaters.
DJ, dancing, activities for kids and giveaways,
Fireworks starts at 9:00 PM
/
Chandler’s July 4th Fireworks
Spectacular
Fourth at the Fountain
Firework Fest
As we gear up to enjoy and witness the celebrations
on America’s Independence Day this year, do rejoice
in the fact that
Mother India has played a gra-
cious host for all of history to remember.
