Swami Vivekanada and the National Youth Day
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Swami Vivekanada and the National Youth Day
January 12, 2022
"…Only one kind of work I understand, and that is doing good to others; all else is doing evil. I therefore prostrate myself before the Lord Buddha…"
Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda served as one of the most inspiring intellectual fervor behind the Indian freedom struggle. He was looked upto as a source of motivation by great leaders such as Aurobindo Ghose, Hemchandra Ghosh, Mahatma Gandhi, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
Swami Vivekananda was one of India’s greatest spiritual leaders and a revered figure in India's history and culture. Swami Vivekananda strived to inculcate national consciousness among the people. His message was universal and was based on rationality and righteousness. It was a message that appealed to the people of all classes, castes and creeds. In fact, Swami Vivekananda's birthday on 12th January is celebrated as ‘National Youth Day’ every year. On this day, his memorable call to "Work, work, work" is remembered.
Remembering the Swami: Vivekananda's Story | DD News
Swami Vivekananda thought deeply about education and what it meant for the Indian society. He conceived education as the primary means of rebuilding Indian society. For him, education meant secular learning that built character and instilled human values in students. His ideals were based on value based education. Thus, in today's world, especially with the grave pandemic situation the education system should move beyond information provision to adequately emphasize on building core values. The Corporate sector and various organizations across the length and breadth of the country, moreover at the local level (with the support of central and state governments), should spread the message of Swami Vivekananda, far and wide.
Swami Vivekananda travelled extensively as a monk. His period of meditation at Kanyakumari is immortalized by the famous rock named after him. Swamiji started his ‘Desh Bhraman’ from Somnath, with the goals to counter disbelief in religion, inculcate ‘atam gaurav’ and stress on the uniqueness of Indian culture. The mission of Swami Vivekananda was to abolish differences of caste and creed and work for progress of the country.
Awakening India – EP #01 | Doordarshan National
Swami Vivekananda is considered as one of India's earliest cultural ambassadors. Swamiji's famous speech on 11th September 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago was a shining moment in Indian cultural history. He left a legacy in the area of creation of an individual and a nation. He himself was much more than being just an individual, rather he represents the ethos of the Indian nation. There are many facets to his personality that need to see the light of the day.
For more about Swami Vivekananda's historic speech from the year 1893 see:
Iconic Speeches | Swami Vivekananda | Sansad TV
To watch seven-minute film, Pramod Pati’s Explorer (1968), produced by the Films Division to mark Swami Vivekananda's birth anniversary and celebrate National Youth Day, see: https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/event-detail.htm?11251