India celebrates the 37th National Youth Day today in honour of India’s esteemed spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. In his honour, schools and colleges hold events which comprise of speeches, music, youth debates, sports, and yogasanas.  

National Youth Day Origin 

The government of India took the decision to recognize Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary as National Youth Day in 1984. The Government has quoted that “the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth Day.’   

The Life and Times of Narendra Natha Datta, aka, Swami Vivekananda: 

Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January 1863. His family gave him the name Narendra. 

Narendra was an exemplary individual who excelled in studies, music and other activities. At an early age, Narendra was met with a crisis of faith. He met Sri Ramakrishna regarding that and eventually became his disciple. After Sri Ramakrishna’s death, Narendra left the materialistic world and took sanyas. 

It was during his saintly life that Narendra saw the poverty Indian masses suffered from. To fight this issue, he diverted all his energy to create a “machinery” which we today come to know as the Ramakrishna foundation. Ramakrishna foundation has ever since its establishment worked for the betterment of education, economy, and religion. 

In 1893, he was part of an event that imprinted his identity in India and across the globe as a true spiritual leader. In 1893 Narendra, aka, Swami Vivekananda addressed the World’s Parliament of Religions, Chicago. His welcoming address was so profound and impactful that the entire convention erupted into a standing ovation. The magnitude of his speech was such that he acquired many disciples with whom he started spreading the word of Sri Ramakrishna across the US.  

After delivering a series of lectures to increase religious awareness across the US, UK, and other countries, Swami returned to India in 1897. In the same year, he founded the Ramakrishna Mission. Ramakrishna Mission is an organization that gives many forms of social services which include running hospitals, education centres, rural development centres, and relief work during crisis.  

 Swami Vivekananda’s health deteriorated over the years and he died in 1902. Although he passed away living just 39 years, he completely transformed the way the world saw Hinduism and created an organization that could help and aid millions of lives. 

National Youth Parliament 

 

To celebrate the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give an address in the second National Youth Parliament Festival. The National Youth Parliament is conducted with an objective to hear the voice of the youth between the ages of 18-25 who aim to join careers in public service. According to reports, the festival aims to give encouragement to the Indian youth to engage in public issues. It also encourages the youth to understand the perspective of a common man and express that in an articulate manner.