IAPAC reflects on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Swami Vivekananda’s enduring call for tolerance, mutual respect and unity
Our Bureau
Houston, TX
As America marks 25 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC) joins the nation in remembering the thousands of innocent lives lost and honoring the courage, sacrifice and resilience that followed.
September 11 is a solemn reminder of the devastating consequences of hatred and extremism. For Indian Americans, the date also carries another profound historical significance.
On September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda stood before the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago and began his historic address with the words, “Sisters and Brothers of America.” Representing India and Hinduism, he delivered a powerful appeal for religious tolerance and mutual respect and warned against sectarianism and fanaticism.
In his closing words, Vivekananda expressed a hope that still resonates today:
“I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen.”
More than 130 years later, his message remains strikingly relevant.
The two September 11s are separated by 108 years and vastly different circumstances. One brought to America a message of understanding among people of different faiths. The other demonstrated, with devastating human consequences, where hatred, extremism and intolerance can lead.
Remembering both gives September 11 a special resonance for Indian Americans while offering a message for all Americans: our differences need not divide us. Building bridges across communities, cultures and faith traditions remains essential to a strong and diverse nation.
That reflection takes on additional meaning in 2026 as the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of American independence. It is an opportunity not only to celebrate our nation’s history, but also to reaffirm the ideals of liberty and equality and our continuing responsibility to strengthen the bonds that unite us.
For IAPAC, whose mission includes civic engagement and building bridges across Greater Houston’s diverse communities, these lessons are central to our work.
On this September 11, we remember those whose lives were lost, honor the first responders and all those who acted with extraordinary courage, stand with the families who continue to carry that loss, and reflect on a message spoken in Chicago more than a century ago that continues to speak to our time.
May remembrance lead to understanding, understanding to respect, and respect to greater unity.
About IAPAC
The Indian American Public Affairs Council (IAPAC) is a nonpartisan, secular 501(c)(3) organization advancing civic education and engagement, leadership and empowerment, and connections across Greater Houston’s diverse communities.