Back in 1897, a freshly inspired monk rolled up his sleeves and laid down a blueprint that would forever change India’s spiritual and social landscape. That monk was Swami Vivekananda, and the organization he planted—Ramakrishna Mission—grew into a living testament of his vision: “service to man is service to God.”

First off, Vivekananda didn’t just declare lofty ideals—he hit the ground running. Drawing from Sri Ramakrishna’s teaching of harmony between all religions, he penned the Mission’s Rule and Bye-laws, blending the quest for personal realization with active karma yoga. Under his guidance, the Mission became a powerhouse of hospitals, schools, relief camps and more, proving that spirituality and social work can go hand in glove.

When cholera struck Calcutta in 1897, it was Vivekananda’s spark that mobilized monks and volunteers into makeshift ambulance teams, earning heartfelt praise from colonial authorities. That same no-nonsense attitude led to the opening of the first standalone center in Belur, near Kolkata, which later turned into a hive of education, healthcare and interfaith dialogue.

His magnetic charisma—first seen at the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago—also set the ball rolling for global outreach. Thanks to Vivekananda’s tireless tours across the West, sympathy and funds poured in, allowing the Mission to expand branches from Mumbai to Madras, from New York to Tokyo.

Today, whether tackling flood relief in Assam or running COVID-19 vaccination drives in rural Bihar, the Ramakrishna Mission still marches on Vivekananda’s rallying cry: “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” His unique blend of head and heart, vision and action, continues to light up countless lives, making his contributions as relevant now as they were over a century ago.