REMEMBERING SWAMIJI ON NATIONAL YOUTH DAY
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“Believe in yourself and the World will be at your feet”
: Swami Vivekananda
The indomitable spirit, the Great Social Reformer, The Legendary Philosopher, The Educationist and The Greatest Spiritual Leader, Thinker and Monk Of Modern India, “His” inspirations, motivations and influences have drawn the World time and again. No wonder, we are talking of our National Youth Icon, Swami Vivekananda, whose magnetic speeches have led the Universe, the world and our country, derive a new shape and form. His teachings and thoughts still inspire and motivate millions and give us the right direction in our lives. Today on His Birth Anniversary, celebrated as The National Youth Day, let us remember him and his thoughts once more.
EARLY LIFE
The Great Monk was born as Narendranath Dutta on 12th January 1863, in his ancestral home at the then Calcutta of British Presidency to Viswanath Dutta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi. He, though a bit restless at childhood, got inclined towards spirituality at an early age. The rational, liberal approach of his father and spiritual temperament and inclination of his devout mother, helped and went on for a long way to develop his progressive and religious personality. An avid reader from his childhood, Narendranath mastered himself in Western philosophy, logic, social science, art and literature. He was the first one to get first division marks in the Presidency College Entrance Examination. In 1884, he completed the Bachelor of Arts Degree. According to William Hastie, principal of Christian College, Calcutta, from where Narendra graduated) wrote, “Narendra is really a genius. I have travelled far and wide but I have never come across a lad of his talents and possibilities, even in German universities, among philosophical students. He is bound to make his mark in life” [Source : K.R GUPTA, AMIT GUPTA ed “Concise Encyclopaedia Of India]. Narendranath was known for his outstanding memory and his superb oratory skills .
INFLUENCE OF SRI PARAMHANSHA
Swamiji met Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansha, the Great Saint at Dakshineshwar. Initially though, he opposed to his ideas, but later on he swept himself onto the teachings of Paramhansha and accepted him as his “Guru”…This marked a turning point in his life. He was taught by Paramhansha that “to serve men is to serve God”. Under Sri Ramkrishna’s divine feet, his spiritual education continued and thus he gradually realized to renounce everything for the sake of realizing God. After Paramhansha’s death, Narendranath and other disciples took monastic views and decided to live their lives as their master did and hence “Swami Vivekananda “ was born from Narendranath.
CLARION CALL AT WORLD PARLIAMENT OF RELIGIONS : CHICAGO
With His Clarion Introduction of “Sisters and Brothers of America”, the Great Monk won everyone’s hearts at the World Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893, held at Chicago. His superb oratory skills and his speech, representing India and Hinduism attracted widespread audiences from all over. According to Professor William James of Harvard, “This man is an honor to the humanity”. Swamiji attracted widespread attention even in the press, which mentioned him as “the cyclonic monk from India”.
SWAMIJI’S VIEWS / THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION
“Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man”
Swamiji believed in the “man-making” and “holistic” education. To him education was an assimilation of noble ideas. He urgently stressed the need of imparting positive education to the children, with the help of which they can gain self respect and confidence. He emphasised on Creation of Self Confidence, Formation Of Character, Development Of Personality and Promotion Of Universal Brotherhood as the main aims of education. In his scheme of education, he harped on “physical development” of an individual, along with the “culture of the mind”. He laid importance on the foundations of physical and social environment of a child for proper impart of education. Time and again Swamiji stressed on the importance of female education, as to him only a proper education would help them stand on their own feet and solve their problems. The main aim of women’s education to him is to make them strong, fearless and aware of their own chastity and dignity.
SWAMIJI’S MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH
“See for the highest, aim at that highest and you shall reach the highest”
Swamiji’s Clarion call to the youth of the Nation, inspires us till day. He firmly believed that the nation’s youth hold the key responsibilities for solving the problems facing the country. His message to the youth travelled far and wide, breaking the shackles of all rigidities. His message was simple yet powerful… He urged the youth to be physically and morally strong, for only a sound soul can reside in a sound body. The Monk’s message to the youth of our Nation, can be best summarized as :”Awake, Arise…Stop Not Till The Goal Is Reached”…Well, such an encouragement was acutely needed for the spirit of the youth to regenerate not only in the then doomed British India, but in each and every sphere of now too!
Swamiji is probably the most influential personality, whose magnetism has drawn not only the youth of the Nation, but people across the world. His teachings and philosophies have ranged from Nationalism, to Society to Art and Aesthetics and far and wide. Today, in a fear-struck and conflict-driven world, his thoughts are needed acutely for a holistic development of society…Let us embrace his vision of man-making education, services to mankind and humanity and to love our fellow men…Let the youth and all of us remember his immortal speech :”Doing service is a way of realizing oneself”.
