The provided text is the Preface to a work based on a 1984 lecture by Swami Prabhananda, exploring Swami Vivekananda’s vision for rural development.

The author critiques the traditional economic view of development, which focuses solely on GNP and consumption, arguing that these metrics fail to satisfy deeper human needs. True development requires the active participation of the people involved and must prioritize rural India, where the majority of the population resides.

By synthesizing Vivekananda’s scattered teachings, Prabhananda proposes a "Vivekananda model" aimed at fostering self-reliance and higher moral values. The text emphasizes that urban progress is unsustainable unless villages thrive. Ultimately, the work serves as a practical guide for rural workers to implement development projects rooted in spiritual and social integrity.