Vivekananda on Culture and Inequality

Swami Vivekananda remains one of the most influential and contested figures in modern Indian history. Revered by some as a liberal reformer who challenged the caste system, and by others as a progenitor of Hindu nationalism, Vivekananda’s legacy straddles deep contradictions. Vivekananda on Culture and Inequality offers a critical examination of these tensions by focusing on his cultural philosophy and its implications for social hierarchy and national identity. This book explores how Vivekananda’s vision of culture—rooted in spiritual and philosophical ideals—both challenged and upheld systems of inequality. While he spoke of dignity for all and national unity, his cultural ideal placed Brahmanical Hinduism at the apex of a spiritual hierarchy, ultimately justifying social divisions rather than dismantling them. Through a close reading of his writings and speeches, the book argues that Vivekananda’s cultural nationalism subtly transformed inequality into a moral and spiritual necessity. By situating Vivekananda’s thought within contemporary debates on nationalism, social justice, and religious identity, this study sheds light on the enduring appeal of his ideas among large segments of the Hindu public. It also raises pressing questions about how culture is used to legitimize inequality in today’s world—making this book essential reading for scholars and students of religion, political theory, South Asian studies, and cultural history.