Tag Archives: Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda: An Inspiration to the Modern Youth

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The youth today celebrates Rose Day, Valentine’s Day, Friendship Day and much more but the National Youth Day is barely given notice. “Youth life is the most precious life. Youth is the best time. The way in which you utilize this period will decide the nature of coming years that lie ahead of you,” said the great philosopher Swami Vivekananda. As the nation celebrates the National Youth Day on 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, it’s time to draw inspiration and look at what the youth around the world can learn from his teachings.

What the youth can learn from youth icon Swami Vivekananda?

The youth is what a nation has, which will pave its path into the future. But, with the recent number of cases of crime such as rape, etc coming into light, it has certainly raised an alarm on what the youth of the nation is heading towards. In a sad state where rape by juveniles has become a trend, what is it that can draw them back on track? It must be inculcated in the people and the youth that women must be respected.

Swami Vivekananda said in his biography that “Americans look with veneration upon women, who play a most prominent part in their lives. Here this form of worship has attained its perfection — this is the long and short of it. I am almost at my wit’s end to see the women of this country. They are Lakshmi, the Goddess of Fortune, in beauty, and Sarasvati, the Goddess of Learning, in virtues — they are the Divine Mother incarnate. If I can raise a thousand such Madonnas — incarnations of the Divine Mother — in our country before I die, I shall die in peace. Then only will our countrymen become worthy of their name.”

He once had said “To all women every man save her husband should be as her son. To all men every woman save his own wife should be as his mother. When I look about me and see what you call gallantry, my soul is filled with disgust. Not until you learn to ignore the question of sex and to meet on a ground of common humanity will your women really develop. Until then they are playthings, nothing more.”

The right direction to guide the youth from straying

In recent times the increasing crime rate by the juveniles in the country has alarmed the nation. It was noted that in 2011, around 34,000 criminals held were juvenile, which is a 10 percent jump from 2010.

The Government of India‘s was quoted saying “it was felt 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.”

Swami Vivekananda was a youth saint and is an example to the world with the teachings he shared. The youth can know and learn about his ideals, life and achievements.

A generation exposed to drug abuse calls for a savior!

Substance abuse is another trend seen among the youth, not just in India but around the world. It is seen that there is an increased number of minors addicted to drugs. Many of them use their money to buy cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.

Swami Vivekananda was once quoted saying “This wonderful period of the first state of your life is related to you as the soft wet clay in the hands of the potter. Skillfully the potter gives it the right and correct shapes and forms, which he intends to give. Even so, you can wisely mould your life, your character, your physical health and strength, in short your entire nature in any way in which you make up your mind to do. And you must do this now.”

The final message

Rabindranath Tagore had said “If you want to know India, study Swami Vivekananda- in him everything is positive and nothing is negative.”  The message of the youth icon Swami Vivekananda would be to spread the message of positivity.

“You cannot teach a child any more than you can grow a plant. All you can do is on the negative side — you can only help. It is a manifestation from within; it develops its own nature — you can only take away obstructions,” said the great philosopher.

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Five Initiatives Inspired By Swami Vivekananda

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“Whatever you think, that you will be. If you think yourselves weak, weak you will be; if you think yourselves strong, strong you will be…They alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive“, with his golden words, the youth icon of 18th century Swami Vivekananda ignited a spark in every soul in the world.

India celebrates his anniversary as National Youth Day every year. But his words has not only encouraged youths but also inspired many phenomenal figures who tried to bring a change in the society. On the eve of 150th anniversary of Vivekananda, we have come up with some icons and interesting incidents and situations which have inspired them to walk on the way of mankind and bring a change in the world.

Vinayak Lohani-Founder of ‘Parivaar’

Vinayak Lohani, a B.Tech from Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and an IIM graduate from Calcutta founded a Dreamweaver organization called ‘Parivaar’, which takes care of children who are unsupported, children who can not afford education and healthcare.

This young man didn’t attend his placement process immediately after his post-graduation in IIM. It was the icon Swami Vivekananda who influenced him to do something for others. He says, “Swami Vivekananda has been the inspiration for me as he says that any work done with selflessness and purity, one can be sure that God’s par is behind that work, as there is nothing stronger in the world than a pure will… In a process of service, the server is the one who is benefitted the most, as he is going through a tremendous change”, as told to CNN IBN.

V. Muralidharan-Founder of ‘Sevalaya’

Sevalaya is a charitable organization on Chennai, founded by V. Muralidharan with his friends. Along with Swami Vivekananda, he was much influenced by Mahatma Gandhiji and Mahakavi Bharathiyar. This organization runs a free school for the children of their orphanage and the surrounding village; a free medical center; a free library; a goshala to protect & raise cows; and, an old age home for destitute senior men and women.

He says, Vivekananda says that “People who are poor and needs support, they are Gods. Even if a single animal in the World remains hungry, then what is the need of having religion and so many Gods. We want our children to learn everything and not just bookish knowledge. We want them to respect old people and animals as well.”

Sevalaya also have Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Old Age Home which provides shelter to poor and destitute old men and women, who have nobody to care for them and who cannot afford to go to institutions where they have to pay for their maintenance to spend their final years in peace and with dignity.

Mamoon Akhtar-Founder of ‘Sanaritan Help Mission’

Vivekananda once said, “There is no chance for the welfare of the world if the condition of women doesn’t improve.” With this thought in mind, a young lad Mamoon Akhtar from a basti of Tikiapara (West Bengal) initiated a self help group to empower women.

Mamoon had to leave his studies as his father couldn’t afford the fees, but his aim in life is to provide good education to the children of his locality. He says, “Every human being has equal rights and the right to education. Every woman should be trained and should be empowered.” The girls and women of his basti were not allowed to go out of their home for long, but now the situation has changed. Women work in this self help group and are self dependent, unlike before when they were dependent on their family and had no freedom.

Anna Hazare-Social Activist

All know the name Anna Hazare as one of the greatest social activist of modern India. With is firm determination and dream to see India as a corruption free nation, Anna has taken up many reforms one of which was to demand for the Lokpal Bill. Being a former solder of the Indian Army, Anna always dreamt of a better India.

But hardly few people know that this man of firm determination and strong moral values once went for committing suicide. Failed to find the answer to his human existence Anna got frustrated and wanted to end his life. Just before he was thinking to do so at a railway platform, Anna chanced upon a book on Swami Vivekananda. He kept on reading the book and finally realized the true purpose of human existence was to serve selflessly to his fellow humans.

Today, Anna is idolized as a genuine fighter against corruption and despite of being a 75 year man, is considered as the most respected youth icon.

Aditya Maheswaran
Aditya Maheswaran, now a Marketing Manager at Cognizant, got associated with the Ramakrishna Mission to help the Youth Leadership Program in 2011. Being a management student, at that time it was more of an opportunity to attend an event than spirituality. But the monks dressed in saffron robes, oblivious to material needs and physical desires made him more curious.

He asked himself, “Who are they? Were they born different? Raised different? How do they manage to see the other side of the wall when we are still playing in our compound?” He was so influenced by the teaching of Vivekananda that he made a documentary. He says, “Great people can make you change your outlook towards life. Swami Vivekananda has done that to me.” (as Quoted by Wikipedia)

“Teach yourselves, teach everyone his real nature, call uon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity”, Swami Vivekananda.

 

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Swami Vivekananda: Youth icon at 150 years

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A patriotic saint, a man who stood tall both literally and figuratively and created ripples not only in India but also in the West, Swami Vivekananda was much more than a religious figure. In my opinion, he is the greatest saint India has seen. “Arise, awake and stop not that till the goal is reached” was his clarion call to the youth and it’s a message that resonates with us even today.

Yesterday, India celebrated National Youth Day on the occasion of Vivekananda’s birth anniversary. It was his 150th Birth Anniversary, and it’s worth wondering whether Vivekananda remains relevant to the youth of India. Has he faded into oblivion? Sadly, yes. And yet, he remains an inspirational figure. He was a man who went across nations spreading knowledge. From Mahatma Gandhi to Rabindranath Tagore to Margaret Elizabeth, Vivekananda was held in high regard by one and all. Gandhi once said, “My love for India has become a thousandfold after thorough reading of Swami Vivekananda.”

Vivekananda was absolutely fearless. He used to say, “Fly from evil and terror and misery, and they will follow you. Face them and they will flee.” He understood that undertaking any social change needed enormous energy and will, which was why he called upon the youth to not only hone their intellect, but also build upon physical prowess. “It would be better to play football than read the Gita…” is one of his controversial statements and it’s bound to resonate with Young India today. After all, our vision of India’s youth is similar to his: strong, fearless and independent. Incidentally, the above speech inspired Kolkata boys to earnestly take up football and these efforts culminated with a barefoot Mohun Bagan team defeating the Eastern Yorkshire Regiment team to become the first Indian team to win the IFA Shield in 1911.

Another one of Vivekananda’s missions was in the field of education. Did you know that the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore has a Vivekananda connection? Jamsetji Tata and Vivekananda accidentally met on a ship and discussed Tata’s plans to bring the steel industry to India. Impressed by Vivekananda’s views on science and leadership abilities, Jamsetji wanted him to lead this project. Vivekananda endorsed the project and Tata, with the aim of developing the country’s scientific capabilities, constituted a Provisional Committee to prepare a plan to set up an institute of research and higher education.

“Give me 100 energetic young men and I shall transform India”, Vivekananda had said. His faith in the Indian youth never wavered. “My faith is in younger generation, modern generation. Out of them will come my workers. They will work out whole problems like lions.” He believed and lived by the ideals of Tyaga (Sacrifice) and Seva (Service).

Vivekananda died at the age of 39. In less than four decades, he achieved greatness and impacted millions not just in India but all over the world. Here was a man who reached out to the youth with what he said, what he did and what he preached.

Tanmay Shah