Swami Vivekananda & Banking

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New Delhi:- “If ever I get Money in my possession, I shall first spend that in the service of man. Man is first to be saved; he must be given food, education, and spirituality. If any money is left after doing all these, then only something would be given to society.”—Swami Vivekanand.

Swami Vivekananda was born 158 years ago on 12 January 1863 in Kolkata. His message, ‘ Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached,’ delivered on 26 January 1897 in Kumbakonam, Tamilnadu, has an eternal universal appeal and continues to resonate and motivate millions, even after one and a half-century years of its articulation.

Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna. The Indian teachings and practices of Vedanta and Yoga were introduced by him to the western world. He contributed to the concept of nationalism in colonial India.

Through his original nationalistic thinking, he influenced tall leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Jashetji Tata, J C Bose, and Anna Hazare. PM Narendra Modi is also a follower of Swami’s teachings.

Swami himself lived a modest early life of struggle. His father’s sudden death in 1884 left the family bankrupt, creditors began demanding repayment of debts. Close relatives threatened to evict the family from their ancestral home. Once a son of a well-to-do family, Swami became one of the poorest students of his college.

One day, Swami requested his Guru Ramakrishna to pray to goddess Kali for his family’s financial wellbeing. Ramakrishna persuaded him to go to the temple himself and pray. Swami went to the temple thrice but failed to pray for worldly necessities. He ultimately prayed for actual knowledge and devotion.

He realized and preached,” If Money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.” His attitude towards the utility of Money is the underlying philosophy of Indian banking today.

Ultimately Swami Vivekananda renounced everything and realized the service to human beings was the most effective worship of the Almighty God. Swami traveled across continents very light. His sole possessions were a Kamandalu (water jug), staff, and two favorite books, the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ and ‘The Imitation of Christ’. Vivekananda is renowned as a patriotic saint, and his birthday, which falls today, is celebrated as National Youth Day. Indian Banks Salute to the Youth of India today.

He propagated that the divine, the absolute, exists within all human beings regardless of social status. And seeing the divine as the essence of others will promote love and social harmony. Vivekanand popularized the notion of involution parallel to Darwin’s concept of Evolution. Involution expressed the involvement of divine consciousness into matter.

Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission for social service. Its ideals are based on Karam Yoga. Inspired by Swami Vivekanand Jamsetji Tata to set up a research and educational institution to empower teeming poor Indians.

Vivekanand drew attention to the extent of poverty in the country and maintained that addressing such poverty is was a prerequisite for national awakening. He developed sympathy for the suffering and the poverty of the people and resolved to uplift the nation. The message most pertinent for the contemporary present-day Banking community is,” All living beings are an embodiment of the divine self; therefore service to God could be rendered by service to humankind”. Swami said,” It is the privilege to serve mankind, for this is the worship of God. God is here, in all these human souls.”

The most pertinent message for the present generation he left is,” Money is the worst discovery of human life. But it is the most trusted material to test human nature. Money and all will come of themselves. We want men, not Money. It is the man that makes everything. What can Money do?

Among his innumerable inspiring thoughts expressed to uplift harmonious clean living, the one relevant for Bankers is Vivekananda linked morality with control of the mind, seeing truth, purity, and unselfishness as traits that strengthened it. He advised people to be holy, unselfish and dedicated with faith in the innate powers of humans. Bankers should see God in customers and harness their ilk to generate value for the nation through deserving lendings.

Rightly said Swami Vivekananda, “Neither Money pays, nor name, nor fame, nor learning, it is the character that can cleave through adamantine walls of difficulties.”

“If ever I get Money in my possession, I shall first spend that in the service of man.
-Hargovind Sachdev
hargovindsachdev@gmail.com

Mr. Hargovind Sachdev is an Ex-Banker, GM(Retd) of State Bank of India. Has over 39 years of experience in banking, having occu-pied senior positions in UCO Bank, United Bank of India,State Bank of Patiala, State Bank of Travancore & State Bank of India where he headed the Central European Credit Desk at Frankfurt,Germany from 2006 to 2011 covering 15 countries of Central Europe.Has undergone International Banking Training from Asian Institute of Management, Manila, Philippines in the Year 2003 and a Multi-currency lending-technique training at the Euro Money Institute, London in 2009.

He has specialisation in Credit, Foreign Exchange,Vigilance, Monitoring & appraisal of Corporate Loans, MSME Credit,Gold Loans, Agricultural Loans & NRI Business Management in assets & liabilities. As a Forensic Auditor, he has conducted various Transaction Audits allotted by Banks.

He was felicitated by the Central Vigilance Commissioner , Sh. C.V Chowdhry for winning first prize for best article on Preventive Vigilance in 2015. He is also an accomplished Public Speaker hav-ing conducted multiple Motivational Seminars for institutions like ONGC, National Housing Bank & Bank of Baroda. He is an Inde-pendent Director & consultant to various big entities in corporate sector at present.

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