New Delhi: January 12 is observed as National Youth Day in order to mark the birth anniversary of scholar, spiritual leader, and philosopher Swami Vivekananda.
National Youth Day in India is celebrated to remember the legacy of Swami Vivekanand. Swami Vivekanand’s speech is recited in schools, colleges. Various programs for youth, competitions are organized for students and also for the younger generation are arranged.
Swami Vivekanand was born on twelfth Jan 1863. Youth and India at that time as a country were underdeveloped. India did not get freedom and hence youth’s roles were very important for the country. Youth is considered the future of the country. So if the base of the youth is developed at a very younger age, it benefits the whole country in future.
Swami Vivekanand highlighted the importance of the contribution of youth to the country. Swami Vivekanand is known for thinking out of the box and speaking of his mind. He explained how to channelize the youth’s energy and potential of the youth into concrete concepts. His outstanding speeches always motivated the country and youth.
Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of 19th century mystic and yogi Ramakrishna Paramhansa. He founded the Ramakrishna Math, a monastic order based on his guru’s teachings in Kolkata and a worldwide spiritual movement known as the Ramakrishna Mission based on the ancient Hindu philosophy of Vedanta.
Vivekananda is credited with contributing to a revival of modern Hinduism and inspiring nationalist consciousness during colonial rule. But he is best known for his famous 1893 speech where he introduced Hinduism to the Western world in Chicago.
Vivekananda’s writings and teachings had an impact on many of India’s nationalist leaders, who were fighting against the colonial rule. Subhas Chandra Bose called Vivekananda “the maker of modern India” and Mahatma Gandhi credited Vivekananda’s with increasing his “love for his country a thousandfold”.
Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902.
