Swami Vivekananda statue in biggest Muslim country |
It is significant because a full statue is considered an idol. The statue was unveiled in the famous city of Bali to mark the golden jubilee celebration of the Swami Vivekananda Shila Memorial. It is set at the Indian Cultural Centre in Bali now renamed the Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre. Indonesia`s` Senator Dr. Shri I Gusti Nagur, Arya Bedkarna Mahendradatta Bedastraputarsuasha III, Indian Ambassador of Indonesia His Excellency Shri Pradeep Kumar Rawat, Principal Consul General of India Shri Prakash Chand, and, Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center in Bali, Mr. Manohar Puri, were present on the occasion. The master sculptor I Bayan Agus Viratma from Indonesia was also honored on this historic occasion. Senator Arya Bedakarna said that any young man who sees this idol or goes through it will have new energy inside him. He said that Swamiji was an icon of youth. Highlighting the inseparable history and cultures of India and Indonesia, the Senator said Indonesia word is derived from the Sanskrit language of India, and without India, there would be no Indonesia. Senator Arya Bedakarna said that the first President of Indonesia, Mr Sukarno, used to say that Swami Vivekananda was an extraordinary Indian, from whom every young man in the world, not just India and Indonesia, should draw inspiration. Indian Ambassador Pradeep Rawat said that the statue was symbolic of the extremely close and growing relations between the two countries. The statue was not funded by the Indian government and is made by funds generated by local Indonesians who consider India`s history and heritage as their own. They also don`t shirk from drawing their origin from Hindu India. Indonesia finds a special mention in the Indian scripture Ramayana.
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