The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 was held to celebrate the

400 th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America in 1492 and to

showcase the fruits of man's material progress and the achievements of Western
civilization.

The fair had a profound effect on architecture, sanitation, the arts, Chicago's
self-image, and American industrial optimism. The exposition covered more than
600 acres (2.4 km2), featuring nearly 200 new (but purposely temporary)
buildings of predominantly neoclassical architecture, canals and lagoons, and
people and cultures from around the world. More than 27 million people attended
the exposition during its six-month run.

The World's Columbian Exposition was the first world's fair with an area for
amusements that was strictly separated from the exhibition halls. The Fair bore
testimony to several firsts -- the Ferris Wheel made its first appearance, the
United States Post Office produced its first picture postcards, phosphorescent
lamps (the predecessor of fluoroscent lamps) were introduced, Cracker Jack and
Quaker Oats were introduced for the first time, the first fully electrical kitchen
including an automatic dishwasher was demonstrated, among others.

REASONS FOR THE CONVENTION

1. To bring together in coference, for the first time in history, the leading
representatives of the great Historic Religions of the world. 2. To show to men,
in the most impressive way, what and how many important truths the various
Religions hold and teach in common...4. To set forth, by those most competent
to speak, what are deemed the most important distinctive truths held and taught
by each Religion and by the various chief branches of Christendom...7. To
inquire what light each Religion has afforded, or may afford, to the other
Religions of the world...9. To discover from competent men what light light
Religion has to throw on the great problems of the present age, especially the
important questions conncected with Temperance, Labor, Education, Wealth
and Poverty. 10. To bring the nations of the earth into a more friendly fellowship
in the hope of securing permanent international peace."

The Parliament of Religions opened on the morning of September

11, 1893 at the newly constructed Art Institute of Chicago

At ten o'clock, ten solemn strokes of the New Liberty Bell which was
inscribed "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another", proclaimed the opening of the Parliament -- each stroke
of the bell representing one of the ten chief religions — Theism,
Judaism, Mohammedanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism,
Confucianism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Catholicism, the Greek
Church, and Protestantism

The first day, September 11, was devoted to speeches of welcome from the
officials and responses by the delegates. Through it all, Swami Vivekananda
remained seated, meditative, and prayerful, letting his turn to speak go by time
and again. It was not until the afternoon session, and after four other delegates
had read their prepared papers, that he arose to address the congress.

It will be a religion which will have no place for persecution or intolerance in

its polity, which will recognize divinity in every man and woman, and whose
whole scope, whose whole force, will be created in aididing humanity to
realise its own true, divine nature.

FINAL ADREES QUOTES

Much has been said of the common ground of religious unity. I am not going just
now to venture my own theory. But if any one here hopes that this unity will come
by the triumph of any one of the religions and the destruction of the others, to him
I say, "Brother, yours is an impossible hope." Do I wish that the Christian would
become Hindu? God forbid. Do I wish that the Hindu or Buddhist would become
Christian? God forbid.

The seed is put in the ground, and earth and air and water are placed around it.
Does the seed become the earth, or the air, or the water? No. It becomes a plant. It
develops after the law of its own growth, assimilates the air, the earth, and the
water, converts them into plant substance, and grows into a plant.

Similar is the case with religion. The Christian is not to become a Hindu or a
Buddhist, nor a Hindu or a Buddhist to become a Christian. But each must
assimilate the spirit of the others and yet preserve his individuality and grow
according to his own law of growth.

If the Parliament of Religions has shown anything to the world, it is this: It has
proved to the world that holiness, purity and charity are not the exclusive
possessions of any church in the world, and that every system has produced men
and women of the most exalted character. In the face of this evidence, if anybody
dreams of the exclusive survival of his own religion and the destruction of the
others, I pity him from the bottom of my heart, and point out to him that upon the
banner of every religion will soon be written in spite of resistance: "Help and not
fight," "Assimilation and not Destruction," "Harmony and Peace and not
Dissension."

INTOLERNCE

'...The Hindoo religion does not consist in struggles and attempts to believe a certain
doctrine or dogma, but in the realizing not in the believing, but in the being and
becoming. The whole struggle in their system is a constant struggle to become perfect...
this becoming perfect... constitutes the religion of the Hindoos...'

HIS JOURNY

Journey to the west

Vivekananda BEGAN his journey to America from Bombay, India on 31 May 1893.[3] His journey
to America took him to China, Japan and Canada

Meeting with Jamsetji Tata

In the journey from Yokohama to Canada on the ship Empress, Vivekananda accidentally
met Jamsetji Tata who was also going to Chicago Vivekananda inspired Tata to set up a
research and educational institution in India. They also discussed a plan to start a steel factory in
India

Journey to Boston

After reaching Chicago Vivekananda learned no one could attend the Parliament as delegate
without credential or bona fide. He did not have one at that moment and felt utterly disappointed.
He also learned the Parliament would not open till first week of September. But Vivekananda did
not give up his hope. To cut his expenditure, he decided to go to Boston, which was less costly
than Chicago. Mrs. Sanborn,

Meeting with John Henry Wright

At Boston Vivekananda met Professor John Henry Wright of Harvard University.HELPED

SWAMI TO represent Hinduism in the parliament.after tta Mrs. G. Hale, helped him find the venu.

At the Parliament of World's Religion

Response to Welcome (11 September 1893)[

Why we disagree (15 September 1893)[

Paper on Hinduism (19 September 1893)

Religion not the Crying need of India

In this brief address Vivekananda made a "little criticism" and told, religion was not the most
important need of Indians at that moment. He regretted for sending Christian missionaries and
trying to save the souls of Indians although poverty had been a much more important issue at
that time. He then told, his aim was to join the Chicago Parliament of Religions and to seek aid
for his impoverished people.

Buddhism, the Fulfillment of Hinduism (26 September 1893)[