Hi, I'm Curious City contributor Jessica Popovac.

Outsiders often associate Chicago with famous people like El Capone, Michael Jordan, the Obamas.

But for some, there's another name that comes to mind.

Swami Vivek Ananda, who came to Chicago.

We only identified Chicago with Vivekhananda who came to Chicago. We only identified Chicago with Vivekan.

There was no other connotation of Chicago for us.

Because Chicago and Vivekananda now has become synonyms.

If you go and reach India and say that I'm from Chicago, you'll see their eyes, they're laughing.

Oh, you're from Chicago. They all know Chicago.

And that was true for Mejir Patel, who moved to Chicago 20 years ago from India.

He says that back home, kids learn about Vivekananda's life and teachings in the same way

we might learn about Abraham Lincoln in the U.S.

That's because Vivekananda, around the turn of the century, introduced Hinduism to the West

and instilled a sense of pride in the Indian people that helped inspire the movement for independence from British rule.

And the key turning point in his life story took place here in Chicago

when he delivered a historic speech at the World's Columbian Exposition.

It was inspiring story.

So from my high school, I had a dream, dream in the sense.

I was hoping, like, someday I may like to visit that place where Vivekananda

gives speech, where he has shaken up the world.

And so when Meir had the opportunity to attend college here, he took it.

And soon after his arrival, he wanted to go to the exact spot where Vivekananda gave his speech

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