National Youth Day

Beware of everything that is untrue. Stick to truth and we shall succeed. Fifty centuries are looking on you; the future of India depends on you. Work on….

-Swami Vivekananda

Swamee jee is a phenomenon which cannot be captured only through words. It demands each one of us to step over the threshold of our capabilities, beliefs and goals and herald the start of an altogether different “US”. An individual who absorbs the Right and sheds the Wrong, who empowers himself/herself to be able to empower others, who dominates none but himself/herself, who hates none but his/her own wrongdoings, who longs only for the betterment and upliftment of his/her society, who doesn’t fear Death and who regards Religion as a means of attaining Nirvana and not the ultimate salvation in itself.

Almost 3 years back, I had the privilege of visiting the Vivekananda Ashram located at Kanyakumari. The place has the aroma and spirit of all preaching by Swamee jee. One cannot roam the premises without being influenced. It wasn’t any different than me. But my devotion and feelings touched a new high when we were shown a video on the life of Swamee jee. How many tears I shed I cannot recollect but their sanctity and purpose is very clear in my mind and soul. I have always desired to leave things behind and become his full-time follower. Yet, today, because of wasting my time for stupid MNCs, I have to take on the mantle in whatever ways possible. I am a much improved Human Being since that experience. And I endeavour to love and help all Living Beings.

The legacy of Swamee jee has been beautifully summarized by Shree Nikhalananda, a renowned disciple.

In the course of a short life of thirty-nine years (1863-1902), of which only ten were devoted to public activities-and those, too, in the midst of acute physical suffering-he left for posterity his four classics: Jnana-Yoga, Bhakti-Yoga, Karma-Yoga, and Raja-Yoga, all of which are outstanding treatises on Hindu philosophy. In addition, he delivered innumerable lectures, wrote inspired letters in his own hand to his many friends and disciples, composed numerous poems, and acted as spiritual guide to the many seekers, who came to him for instruction. He also organized the Ramakrishna Order of monks, which is the most outstanding religious organization of modern India. It is devoted to the propagation of the Hindu spiritual culture not only in the Swami's native land, but also in America and in other parts of the world.

Swami Vivekananda once spoke of himself as a "condensed India." His life and teachings are of inestimable value to the West for an understanding of the mind of Asia. William James, the Harvard philosopher, called the Swami the "paragon of Vedantists." Max Muller and Paul Deussen, the famous Orientalists of the nineteenth century, held him in genuine respect and affection. "His words," writes Romain Rolland, "are great music, phrases in the style of Beethoven, stirring rhythms like the march of Handel choruses. I cannot touch these sayings of his, scattered as they are through the pages of books, at thirty years' distance, without receiving a thrill through my body like an electric shock. And what shocks, what transports, must have been produced when in burning words they issued from the lips of the hero!''

People of India started celebrating 12th January as "National Youth Day" from 1984. On this day in the year of 1863, a one man industry was born. He was known as the great philosopher, an inspiration to the youth, the embodiment of Indian culture and intelligence. He was "Shree Swami Vivekananda, the great spiritual guru” of India. He stands as a role model for generations in various respects. The path laid by saintly philosophers, for leading a truthful and purified life is hardly followed by the materialistic society of today. Swami Vivekananda inspired many young people including great leaders like Netaajee Subash Chandra Bose through his works. His works and knowledge are ideals and inspiration for the youth to achieve greater things in life.

A video dedicated to the National Youth Day can be viewed here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlUbWnfdIgY