COVID-19: Asiatic Society bulletin carries plague manifesto of Swami Vivekananda
The April bulletin has a cover picture with themessage "We shall overcome" with photos of mask wearing peoplein the background.
The bulletin, among others, reprints the plaguemanifesto written by Swami Vivekananda in 1898 which startswith the line: "We feel happy when you are happy and we sufferwhen you suffer. Therefore, during these days of extremeadversity, we are striving and ceaselessly praying for yourwelfare and an easy way to save you from disease and the fearof an epidemic."
Swamiji said in another part of the manifesto "Do notpay any heed to rumours. The British government will notvaccinate anyone by force. Only those who are willing will bevaccinated."
He also said if there is none to help the affectedperson, he/she can send information immediately to "theservants of Shri Bhagavan Ramakrishna at Belur Math. Therewill be no dearth of help that is physically possible."
"We thought about bringing to public view Swamiji'sthinking during the plague epidemic in undivided Bengal in the19th century. Some of his views seem so much topical even inthe present times," a spokesman of the Asiatic Society, whichwas set up in 1784, said.
The bulletin also contains articles like CoronavirusDisease 2019: An overview and update by two eminent doctors,under the shadow of a globalised disease by an academician,future of the past: a short history of COVID-19 and the worldbeyond 2020, articles of contagious diseases like tuberculosisand Spanish flu - among others.
"Our next bulletin will be a tribute to maestroSatyajit Ray on his 100th birth anniversary but consideringthe present situation there will also be write-ups on thevirus," the spokesman said. SUSRG RG