Swami Vivekananda(Jan 12,1863 - July 4,1902)

Swami Vivekananda(DOB January 12, 1863–July 04, 1902)born Narendra Nath Datta into an aristocratic Bengali family of Calcutta,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.

Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of the 19th century Saint Ramakrishna and the founder of the Ramakrishna Math (with HQ Belur Math,West Bengal) and the Ramakrishna Mission (founded Ramakrishna Mission on May 1,1897)
Ramakrishna Math at Belur Math

Ramakrishna Mission conducts extensive work in health care, disaster relief, rural management, tribal welfare, elementary and higher education and culture using the combined efforts of hundreds of ordered Monks and thousands of householder disciples.
 Ramakrishna Mission Emblem

After the death of Guru Ramakrishna, Vivekananda toured the extensively and acquired a first-hand knowledge of the conditions that prevailed in British India.

In 1893, Vivekananda visited USA representing India as a delegate in the Parliament of World Religions,where his inspiring speech beginning with "Sisters and Brothers of America," through which he introduced Hinduism is  best known till date.

Vivekananda conducted hundreds of public and private lectures and classes, disseminating tenets of Hindu Philosophy in  USA, England and Europe.Vivekananda was a key figure in the introduction of Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western World.

Vivekananda was a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India and contributed to the notion of nationalism in colonial India.Also,Vivekananda was credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion in the late 19th century.

Vivekananda was a powerful orator and writer both in English and Bengali and many of his published works were compiled from lectures given around the world.Vivekananda's 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.

Death
Vivekananda died at ten minutes past nine p.m. while he was Meditating on July 4,1902 and rupture of blood vessels in the brain was reported as a possible cause of the death.

Vivekananda's Legacy
The first Governor General of Independent India,C Rajagopalachari, said "Vivekananda saved Hinduism, saved India."
According to Subhash Chandra Bose, Vivekananda was "the maker of modern India"
According to Rabindranath Tagore "If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him everything is positive and nothing negative."
Vivekananda is regarded as a patriotic saint and his birthday is celebrated as the National Youth Day.