PM Modi unveils statue of Swami Vivekananda in Malaysia
Modi calls for adoption of the leader’s philosophies to solve terrorism, climate change
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a statue of Swami Vivekananda in Malaysia on Sunday, saying that the spiritual leader is the personification of Indian culture.
“It is a matter of great fortune for me that I got to unveil statue of Swami Vivekananda on Malaysian soil. Swami Vivekananda is not just name of person, he personifies the thousands of years old culture of India. From the Vedas to Vivekananda, India’s culture is rich,” Modi said, while unveiling the 12-foot tall bronze statue at the Ramakrishna Mission at Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lampur.
Made by sculptor Anil Kumar Ghosh of Kolkata, the statue was transported from India. An Indian devotee of Ramakrishna paid for the construction of the statue, while a Malaysian devotee paid for its shipping.
Addressing the gathering, Modi called for the adoption of Vivekananda’ s philosophies, which he asserted would solve many problems plaguing the world.
“Very few people remember that the idea of “One Asia” was first talked about by Swami Vivekananda... The philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and Asia can help find solutions to the world’s problems, like terrorism and climate change,” he said.
The PM also launched a book by Indian yoga teacher Ajaya Kumar Sahoo titled Yoga For Holistic Health, written in Malay and English. “Today the world is attracted to yoga. It holds the key to a tension free life and holistic healthcare,” Modi said.