Plans have been announced for the establishment of the Vivekananda Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago, in honour of the late Indian saint, religious leader and philosopher's 150th birth anniversary.
Indian High Commissioner Shri Malay Mishra is heading the project which is proposed to take shape by September 2013.
Swami Vivekananda espoused revolutionary ideas on religion and spirituality to mankind.
Former Guardian columnist Pandita Dr Indrani Rampersad told the gathering at an international seminar held at the Learning Resource Centre, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, recently that Swami Vivekananda, Indian saint, philosopher and thinker, brought revolutionary ideas to the global table of religion and spirituality when non-Christians were seen as "pagans and barbaric."
"Swami Vivekananda challenged people to step out of the religious armour that isolated them from those who were different, an armour that excluded all others through violent thoughts, violent rhetoric and violent actions. He showed them that spirituality respected all life and united all creation," she said.
Dr Rampersad said that he was revolutionary in differentiating between spirituality and religion, and demonstrated how it could apply to Hinduism as well.
"His man-making religion was holistic in developing strength in body, mind and soul, and his teachings and philosophy could be applied to help motivate this country's young people.
"By highlighting the inherent divinity of man, Vivekananda revitalised Hindu ethics and a sense of morality. He highlighted the worship of God with service to mankind.
"He showed that India's cultural unity was its strength and that it was based on spirituality."
Mishra pointed out that Swami Vivekananda was a figure who galvanised the support of people of India, as well as others of the world in such places as USA, England and Japan, with the simple but powerful words, "I Am Divine."
Swami Vivekananda emphasised that there was divinity in "each and every being on earth, and that reality came from within us, and that we could see God as clearly as we could see each other."
'His words filled with fire, energy'
Mishra called on the young people to read Swami Vivekananda's writings as his words were "dynamic and full of fire and energy." He added, "When we are divine, how can we be weak, how can we be inefficient, how can we be sinners?"
Theme of the seminar was "One World: One Reality," which sought to discern the eternal truth proclaimed in the ancient scriptures and strongly endorsed by Swami Vivekananda.
Fr Anthony Bhaskar of the Moruga RC Church pointed out that the basic philosophies of Vedanta and Christianity merged at one level. "Both taught self-realisation, personal sanctification, forgiveness and renunciation, and both encouraged us to be brave, bold and fearless, believing that all power was within us."
Fr Bhaskar said that "the kingdom of God is love, peace, patience and kindness and that all religious paths lead to salvation, or moksha, or nirvana...eternal bliss, and that is the ultimate reality."
Pundit Dr Rampersad Parasram, chairman of the Swami Vivekananda 150th birth anniversary, said the message of the inherent divinity in all of us regardless of the discrimination of class, caste, or creed makes the case for us to embrace each other and create a world where despite the diversity, we can break down the walls of prejudice and work together towards salvation, which is the ultimate goal of human birth.
Acting principal of the University of Trinidad and Tobago Dr Fazal Ali said man must work towards self-realisation as this is of quintessential importance for mankind.
Swami Vivekananda's writings and speeches were also on display, and it was organised by young people, all of whom have a deep interest in his works. Other programmes are being planned in honour of Vivekananda.