Today is the birthday of one of the greatest spiritual leaders from India, Swami Vivekananda and is also celebrated as National Youth Day. The Government of India commemorated this day in 1984. The Government strongly believes Vivekananda’s philosophy and ideals are an amazing source of inspiration for the youth in the Country. Hence, it was decided that Swami’s birthday would be celebrated as National Youth Day.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 22nd National Youth Festival via video conferencing. Modi took to Twitter to pay homage to the spiritual leader. He posted a video with the caption, “I bow to Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. Today, on National Youth Day I salute the indomitable energy and enthusiasm of our youngsters, who are the builders of New India.”
I bow to Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. Today, on National Youth Day I salute the indomitable energy and enthusiasm of our youngsters, who are the builders of New India. pic.twitter.com/1aXEqvVRgY
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 12 January 2018
Swami Vivekananda was the great figure who toured America and England and known for his brilliant eloquence. But studies was not Vivekananda’s strongest asset as he scored a meager 47% at the university entrance level. Swami went on to score 46% in the FA (later this exam became intermediate) and 56% in his BA finals.
Vivekananda was born into a wealthy family but after his father passed away the family was reduced to poverty. Swami would lie to his mother and say he had lunch invitations just so the rest of the family got larger portions to eat. Swami was quoted saying, “On such days, I had very little to eat, sometimes nothing at all. I was too proud to tell anyone.”
Swami’s sister Jogendrabala committed suicide, regarding this Vivekananda said, “Do you know why we Duttas are so talented in our thinking? Ours is a family with a history of suicides. There have been many in our family who have taken their own lives. We are eccentric. We do not think before we act. We simply do what we like and do not worry about the consequences.”
The Maharaja of Khetri Ajit Singh sent Rs. 100 to Vivekananda’s mother to help her with the financial problems. This was one of the most closely guarded secrets.
Here are some of Swami Vivekananda’s best quotes:
“Struggle hard to get money, but don’t get attached to it.”
“Talk to yourself once in a day. Otherwise, you may miss meeting an excellent person in this world.”
“Your country requires heroes; be heroes; your duty is to go on working, and then everything will follow of itself.”
“Choose the highest ideal and live your life up to that. Look at the ocean and not at the wave.”
“Each soul is potentially divine.”
“Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached.”
