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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.
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.
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
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
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,
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.