‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ in the 21st century

By Nanditha Vinod Nambiar

“|| अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम्। उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्॥“

“Mine and not mine is a classification of the narrow-minded. For a noble soul, the entire world is family.” This is from Chapter 6, Verse 83- The Maha Upanishad.

This powerful quote resonated throughout the speeches I heard during my participation in the Chinmaya Mission’s Interschool Elocution competition, which brought together students from various schools in the Chinmaya-Prerana Navi Mumbai zone. I am immensely grateful to my teacher, Mrs. Priyamvada Sharma, for giving me the opportunity to represent my school in this prestigious event.

The chosen topic for the elocution, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam in the 21st century,” was both intriguing and heartwarming. Translated from Sanskrit, “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” means “the whole world is my family.” It’s a concept that truly warms the heart and embodies the rich and inclusive spirit of Indian culture, emphasising that we may grow in different directions like branches of a tree, but our roots remain as one.

In my speech, I aimed to encompass all my thoughts on this topic, but one particular aspect deeply captivated me. We are all familiar with the tragic events of the 9/11 attacks, which left a trail of sorrow and hostility. However, what struck me was that a few decades prior, something profoundly different occurred. Swami Vivekananda, a name often encountered in our classes, delivered his groundbreaking speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893. This speech, which began with the words “Dear sisters and brothers of America,” marked a pivotal moment in history that changed the face of global peace. The resonance of his words continues to echo in our hearts today. Inspired by his gesture, I decided to begin my speech with the same words to honour his legacy.

The semifinals of the competition took place on July 22nd at Apeejay School, Nerul. I had the privilege of listening to many exceptional speeches and diverse perspectives on the idea that the world is one family. The members of the Chinmaya Mission welcomed us warmly and shared their unique viewpoints. A week later, I received the news that I was going to the finals, competing against approximately 16 other participants. The finals occurred at the Chinmaya Prerana Temple, where we also had lunch with students from other schools. That day, we participated in two competitions, and I was fortunate to secure a place among the top five speeches.

One particular segment from a speech that intrigued me was as follows: “We all have originated from the mother cell, Vasudha. Vasudha was a single cell on our planet, a mere blot, with no other purpose but to survive. Then, she divided. And from those cells, all humans were born. We all have Vasudha in every single part of our body.”

Overall, it was an enthralling experience, and what I found most enriching was listening to the myriad of perspectives on this profound topic. After all these experiences, I reached a profound conclusion, which I’d like to illustrate with an example. When a pot contains milk, we call it a milk pot. And when that same pot contains honey, it becomes a honey pot. Similarly, a NATION is defined by its people. We, the people of India, exemplify to the world that family isn’t determined by last names or blood; it’s defined by commitment, love, and having each other’s backs. Let us explore India hand in hand, discovering her innocence through mischievous children, love in forgiving elders, fearlessness in loyal soldiers, leadership in visionary teachers, persistence in ardent seekers, and in ourselves. We are India. We should take pride in being Indian and in belonging to this beautiful country. Because even though we may come from different castes, creeds, and places…

We are one.