Using Vivekananda’s poor BA marks, Tejasvi Surya underlines importance of knowledge over mere academics

Swami Vivekananda is one of the greatest spiritual leaders and philosophers the world has ever seen. Even to this day, millions of his followers look up to him for guidance and inspiration.

But do you know how many marks he scored in his BA exams?

In an interaction with students, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya broached upon this topic of Swami Vivekananda.

Here is a look at swamiji’s BA marks card:

English - 56
Sanskrit - 43
History - 56
Math - 61
Philosophy - 45

Total - 261/500

Delineating on his BA scores, the MP said, “Swami Vivekananda is one of the greatest philosophers the world has seen. But his Philosophy score is just 45. However, marks do not define the knowledge of an individual.”

Emphasising that knowledge is always superior to marks, he added that marks are  only an attempt to reach that knowledge.

Also, we should make it clear that he did not denounce academic learning of which marks are an indicator. His purport was that acquisition of knowledge should always take precedence over mere acquisition of marks.

More on Swami Vivekananda 

Swami Vivekananda is the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, an essentially monastic organisation.

He is known for his Chicago Address in the World Parliament of Religions which he delivered on September 11, 1893.