Swami Vivekananda (born Narendranath Datta) was a delegate from India to the first Parliament of World Religions which was held in Chicago during the 1893 World’s Fair, the Columbian Exhibition. He was a Hindu monk who is credited with spreading Vedic traditions and Yoga to the West. His guru was Ramakrishna.

His speech “Sisters and Brothers of America,” which was given in the Art Institute building on September 11, 1893, called for religious tolerance and became famous around the world. The text of this speech was displayed in lights on the Grand Staircase of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2011 installation called Public Notice 3 by artist Jitish Kallat. This exhibit was reprised in September 2024.

Note: This sign has been moved from it’s original location directly outside the Art Institute. Look for it on the southeast corner of Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street on the traffic light pole.

Honorary Swami Vivekananda Way was featured on WBEZ Curious City in 2024

Honorary Swami Vivekananda WAY

Outside the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Avenue between Monroe Street and Jackson Street

Approved:

Ward: 42
Neighborhood: Michigan Avenue/Cultural Mile

b. January 12, 1863 in Calcutta, India
d. July 4, 1902. Age 39

near
The Art Institute of Chicago, the location of the 1893 Parliament of World Religions
111 S. Michigan Avenue

Source

https://www.artic.edu/swami-vivekananda-and-his-1893-speech

https://www.artic.edu/articles/710/sisters-and-brothers-of-america-swami-vivekananda-in-chicago

https://chicagovedanta.org/sv.html

https://chicagovedanta.org/1893.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda

https://www.wbez.org/stories/seeing-things-jitish-kallats-public-notice-3/feaa07f9-1b60-4355-b754-269a51d8ba47?utm_medium=url_copy

Honorary Chicago Guidebook, Second Edition, Michigan Avenue and Beyond