Nation pays tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 159th birth anniversary

Jan. 12: The nation remembered Swami Vivekananda on his 159th birth anniversary on 12 January, 2022. In 1984, the Government of India declared Swami Vivekananda’s birthday – January 12 – as National Youth Day, to honour one of India’s greatest philosopher’s and spiritual leaders, Vivekananda, and his legacy. Since January 12, 1985, this day has been celebrated.

The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;”I pay tributes to the great Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. His was a life devoted to national regeneration. He has motivated many youngsters to work towards nation building. Let us keep working together to fulfil the dreams he had for our nation.”

I pay tributes to the great Swami Vivekananda on his Jayanti. His was a life devoted to national regeneration. He has motivated many youngsters to work towards nation building. Let us keep working together to fulfil the dreams he had for our nation.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2022

Swami Vivekananda was born Narendranath Datta on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was always inclined towards spirituality. He practised meditation from a very early age and also joined the Brahmo Samaj movement for a certain period. One of the greatest patriots, he was also credited for introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world.

He was the chief disciple of 19th century mystic and yogi Ramakrishna Paramhansa, and founded the Ramakrishna Math in Kolkata. A revival of modern Hinduism and inspiring nationalist consciousness during colonial rule are considered to be Swami Vivekananda’s key achievements and his 1893 speech in Chicago was instrumental in putting Hinduism on the global map, introducing it to the Western world. Swami Vivekananda died on July 4, 1902.

His message to the youth was, “What I want is muscles of iron and nerves of steel, inside which dwells a mind of the same material as that of which the thunderbolt is made.” Through messages like this, he wished to instill basic values into the youth.