“Be a Hero. Always say, ‘I have no fear’. Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead. If you lose, you can guide! Believe in yourself and the world will be at your feet.”
-Swami Vivekananda
National Youth Day commemorates the birthday of Indian philosopher, thinker, and social leader, Swami Vivekananda. As a way of recognizing this great man and his accomplishments, the Government of India designated 12th January as National Youth Day
An Special article on Swami Vivekananda’s 161st birthday on 12 January 2023 by Pankaj Jagannath Jayswal
Swami Vivekananda was an Indian spiritual leader who was born on 12 January 1863 and died on 4 July 1902. He is a world-renowned youth icon, embodied in the philosophy of Hinduism, which is rooted in eternal life.
A great soul, spiritual master, philosopher, and youth icon, Swami Vivekananda urged the youth to focus on their dharma (religious duty) instead of an animalistic lifestyle and leave the world with a positive impact on society, nation, and environment. He wanted future generations to get more benefits. A foundation was laid by Sanatana Dharma principles.
Eating, sleeping, fearing someone, and sexual desire are all common human and animal behaviors.
It is only “dharma” that distinguishes between men and animals. As a result, dharma (righteous duty) must be practiced fulfilling the obligations bestowed by God on all human beings.
How can Youth recognize Swami Vivekananda’s qualities?
How can youth recognize Swami Vivekananda’s relevance in these exciting and challenging times, when on the one hand people and nation are engaged in the noble task of developing the personality and leadership qualities of the youth through various nation-building activities and through new education policy, and on the other hand there are challenges of poverty, unemployment, corruption, terrorism, religious conversion, lack of entrepreneurship and drug abuse.
“Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man. Educate and raise the masses, and thus alone a nation is possible. Education has yet to be in the world, and civilisation – civilisation has begun nowhere yet. If education is identical with information, the libraries are the greatest sages in the world, and encyclopedias are the Rishis. If the mountain does not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. If the poor cannot come to education, education must reach them at the plough, in the factory, everywhere.”
-Swami Vivekananda
Swami Vivekananda advocated education as the primary means of empowering the people among the various ways he proposed to rebuild Indian society. “Is education worth the name if it does not help the common mass of people equip themselves for the struggle for life, if it does not bring out the strength of character, philanthropy, and the courage of a lion?” he once said.
True education is the ability to stand on one’s own two feet.
For him, education meant learning through Smruti and Shruti which shaped students’ personalities and instilled human values in them. The same concept and philosophy are being considered in the new education policy being developed by ex-ISRO chief K.Kasturirangan and his team of experts.
The real challenge is the implementation part, which many political parties and universities are opposing, forgetting that it is purely based on Swami Vivekananda’s vision of building a great nation through the development of youths in all aspects of life.
Swami Vivekananda believed strongly in the power of youth to change the world.
He urged Indian youth to educate themselves and emphasized the importance of service in their lives. “It is a privilege to serve mankind, for this is God’s worship,” he once said. God exists in all these human souls. “He is man’s soul.”
He suggested that while youth could learn a lot from the West, they should also have faith in their own spiritual heritage.
Today, when our youth are gripped by increasing isolation, purposelessness, depression, and mental fatigue, despite the material success, they must embark on a spiritual journey to achieve greater goals.
Swami Vivekananda in Chicago convention 1893
Swami Vivekanand encouraged young people to participate in social activities not only for the benefit of society but also for their own personal evolution and growth.
“It is the young, the strong, and the healthy, with a sharp intellect, who will reach the Lord,” he said. He was an advocate for intellectual pursuits, such as running schools, colleges, and awareness and empowerment programs. The goal is to raise one’s intellectual level, gain knowledge, and spread and share it with society.
Swami Vivekanand is still relevant today because of the ideals and goals he devised for youth. He was a keen observer of the human mind and society in general. As a result, he proposed a scientific method for achieving these goals through these quests.
Youth can choose from one of four options (physical, social, intellectual, and spiritual). The freedom to choose, regardless of gender, birth, caste, or other identifiers, is what makes this path so appealing today. Everyone can begin by preparing himself for the larger cause.
Swami Vivekanand once said about caste discrimination “The solution to India’s caste problem is not to degrade the higher castes, but to raise the lower up to the level of the higher.”
Understanding Swami Vivekananda and his message and communicating it to our youth may be the simplest way to address many of India’s current problems. It is the right time for the youth to rise up, face their fears, and take up the mantle of shaping Bharat.
In 1995, the Art Institute formally renamed Michigan Avenue, one of Chicago’s most prominent streets, “Swami Vivekananda Way”. Specifically, the Art Institute commemorated Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 speech with a bronze plaque.
More info about Swami Vivekananda Ji
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 in Kolkata. His childhood name was Shri Narendra Nath Dutt. He has been inclined towards spirituality since childhood. He had learned from his Guru ji in childhood that God exists in all living beings.
Therefore God can be served by helping the needy and serving the people. After the death of his Gurudev Shri Ramakrishna Paramhans, Swami Vivekananda Traveled to the countries of the Indian subcontinent intending to gain knowledge about the condition of the people living in these countries during the British rule.
With time, he became a well-known and influential spiritual teacher of Vedanta.
In 1893, he got the opportunity to represent Sanatan Dharma on behalf of India in the World Religion General Assembly being held in Chicago, America.
In the General Assembly of World Religions, Swami Vivekananda was given only two minutes to keep his point, but he started his speech by saying, “My American sisters and brothers” impressed by this address, all the present delegates stood up.
Swami Vivekananda was greeted amidst thunderous applause for a long time. This first sentence of Swami Vivekananda won the hearts of all the delegates present there.
While many Americans are unaware of Swami Vivekananda, he has had a profound influence on them.
On September 11, 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered a speech at the first World’s Parliament of Religions on the site of the present-day Art Institute
“I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. “
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