Swami Rama Tirtha : 22 Oct 1873 – 17 Oct 1906
Rama Tirtha was born in a Punjabi Brahmin family. His mother died when he was a few days old and he was raised by his elder brother . After receiving a master’s degree in mathematics he became professor of mathematics at Forman Christian College, Lahore.
A chance meeting with Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Lahore, inspired him to take up Sanyas. Having become well known for his speeches on Krishna and Advaita Vedanta he became a swami in 1899 on the day of Deepawali, leaving his wife, his children and his professorial chair. He neither touched any money nor carried any luggage with him. In spite of it he went round the world. He travelled to Japan and then to USA in 1902, where he spent two years lecturing on Hinduism, other religions and his philosophy of “practical vedanta”. He frequently spoke against caste system and the need for education for women and the poor.
Arguing that India needed educated young people, not missionaries, he began an organisation to aid Indian students in American universities and helped to establish a number of scholarships for them.
On his return to India in 1904 he completely withdrew from public life in 1906 and moved to the foothills of the Himalaya where he prepared to write a book giving a systematic presentation of practical vedanta. It was never finished. He died on 17 October 1906. Many believe he did not die but gave up his body to the river Ganges
