‘Vivekanand Used To Say…’: PM Modi Remembers ‘Swami’ On National Youth Day | All You Need To Know – News18

Last Updated:January 12, 2025, 11:57 IST

Born in 1863, Swami Vivekananda is best known in the United States for his groundbreaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in which he introduced Hinduism to America

Swami Vivekananda, the spiritual leader, philosopher and thinker, had an unwavering belief in the potential of youth. His faith continues to resonate deeply with young citizens (especially those in the age group of 15-29 years), who make up nearly 40% of India’s total population. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too, on Sunday, called him an eternal inspiration for the youth.

Paying tributes to the social reformer on his 162nd birth anniversary, PM Modi wrote on X, “An eternal inspiration for youth, he continues to ignite passion and purpose in young minds. We are committed to fulfilling his vision of a strong and developed India.”

Born in 1863, Swami Vivekananda is best known in the United States for his groundbreaking speech to the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in which he introduced Hinduism to America and called for religious tolerance and an end to fanaticism.

The works of Vivekananda, who founded the renowned Ramakrishna Mission, on Vedanta and other aspects of Hindu philosophy are highly valued.

Swami Vivekanand’s Birthday Is Celebrated As…

The National Youth Day or Rashtriya Yuva Divas is celebrated on January 12 every year in commemoration of the great spiritual leader.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government believes that the National Youth Day serves as a moment to acknowledge, celebrate, and harness the potential of the young India. They say that the day inspires young minds to contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.

The government, thus, is organising the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2025 on January 11 and 12 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs, formally inaugurated the Dialogue on Saturday.

For the National Youth Day event, 3,000 young leaders from across India were selected through a merit-based, multi-level process from over 30 lakh participants. PM Modi interacted with the participants during his visit to the exhibition at Bharat Mandapam on Sunday.

“Swami Vivekananda viewed the youth of India as a strong link to a glorious past and a grand future. Vivekananda used to say that all power is within you, call upon that power. You must believe that you can do everything. This belief in oneself and turning the impossible into possible is still relevant to the youth of the country and I am glad that the youth of India understands this very well. The youth is moving forward with self-believe,” PM Modi said.

Swami Vivekanand Education

Vivekanand, born as Narendranath Datta, was born on January 12, 1863. In 1871, at the age of eight, he was enrolled at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s Metropolitan Institution in Kolkata. He studied there till 1877, following which his parents moved to Chhattisgarh’s Raipur (was then part of Madhya Pradesh).

The Datta family stayed in Raipur from 1877 to 1879. Some believe that Vivekanand did not attend schooling during the family’s stay in Raipur as Rajagopal Chattopadhyaya wrote in his book — Swami Vivekananda in India: A Corrective Biography — that “there was no school in a remote place like Raipur”.

“So he spent time with his father. It was not only academic. They used to talk and argue a lot during their one-and-half year’s stay. Some educated and learned people used to visit their home. Among them Mahendranath remembered Roy Bahadur Bhutnath De, father of future linguist Harinath De, who lived in the same building with them,” the book reads.

In 1879, the Datta family moved back to Calcutta, where Narendranath applied for readmission at his old school, and passed the school after securing first division in examination. After schooling, he took admission in Kolkata’s Presidency College in 1879.

Narendranath was, however, “irregular” at his college, and in 1880, he joined General Assembly’s Institution (now known as Scottish Church College) and studied Philosophy. In 1881, he passed F.A. examinations. In 1885, he earned his B.A. degree from the same college.

Swami Vivekanand’s Chicago Speech

Swami Vivekananda delivered his iconic speech on September 11, 1893, at the first World’s Parliament of Religions (on the site of the present-day Art Institute). He is considered a key figure in the introduction of Vedanta and Yoga to the West and is credited with raising the profile of Hinduism to that of a world religion.

One of his famous quotes is: “Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached.” CLICK HERE FOR MORE QUOTES