The Great Journey to the West by Romain Rolland-KU&SU UG Sem 2 Unit 1

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Romain Rolland (1866–1944) was a distinguished French writer, dramatist, biographer, and essayist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1915 for his idealistic and humanistic writings.
Rolland held great respect for Swami Vivekananda, calling him “the warrior monk,” and for Mahatma Gandhi, whom he described as “the Indian soul of non-violence.” His friendships, studies, and writings reveal a sincere effort to bridge the intellectual and spiritual worlds of the East and the West.
Books:-
The Life of Ramakrishna – 1929
The Life of Vivekananda -1930
Mahatma Gandhi: The Man and His Work- 1924
About the lesson
In The Great Journey to the West, Rolland describes the increasing interest of Western minds in the ancient wisdom of India. He portrays India as a land that has preserved timeless truths about peace, meditation, and inner balance, in contrast to the fast, materialistic pace of the Western world.
The essay recounts Swami Vivekananda’s early experiences during his first journey to the West, particularly to the United States, and highlights the significant people he met and the impressions he formed. The Maharaja of Khetri had purchased his ticket for the voyage. When Vivekananda arrived in America, he had very little money, no contacts, and no clear support system. Yet he moved forward with confidence, observing the new world around him with the curiosity, openness, and wonder of a “great child.” What struck him most was the tremendous energy of American society—the rapid industrial growth, the dominance of machines, and the restless activity that defined modern civilization. Everywhere he went, he witnessed speed, discipline, and a powerful commitment to work, all of which left a deep impression on him.
The essay also mentions P. Chunder Mozoomdar of the Brahmo Samaj, who admired Vivekananda’s intellectual depth and spiritual strength. Another important figure in his journey was Professor J. H. Wright of Harvard University. When Vivekananda met him, Wright immediately recognized his extraordinary wisdom and broad scholarship. Wright strongly supported him and helped secure his participation in the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago by writing letters of introduction. It was Wright who famously said that asking Vivekananda for credentials would be like asking “the sun to state its right to shine.” (వివేకానందుని నుండి ఆధారాలు/ ప్రామాణికత అడగడం అంటే “సూర్యుడు ప్రకాశించడానికి తన హక్కును నిరూపించుకోవాలని అడగడం వంటిది” అని రైట్ ప్రసిద్ధంగా అన్నాడు.)
Hundreds rose to their feet and applauded at the World’s Parliament of Religions when he began his speech with “Sisters and brothers of America….” Each of the other orators had spoken of his God, the God of his sect. Swami alone spoke of all their Gods and embraced them all in the Universal Being.
Through these encounters and observations, Vivekananda emerges as a thoughtful philosopher-traveler who studied Western society not as a critic but as a seeker of truth. He admired the efficiency and power of industrial civilization but also warned that material progress must be balanced with spiritual values. His reflections clearly show his desire to harmonize human energy, technological progress, and spiritual wisdom to create a more meaningful world.
Rolland emphasizes how India’s spiritual heritage attracted many Western philosophers and seekers. The West, although highly advanced in science and industry, struggled with inner emptiness and moral restlessness. In this context, Indian philosophy, with its focus on the soul, self-realization, and universal harmony, offered a path to inner peace.
Rolland writes with great admiration about how Indian sages, scriptures, and philosophical traditions provide a “light” that the West desperately needs.