On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, India celebrates National Youth day every year.In fact, India has been celebrating the National Youth Day since 1984 because Swami Vivekananda is seen as a youth idol owing to his unique ideas and worthy ideals.
A strong spiritual personality, Swami Vivekananda became popular in the western world after he rendered a famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893.
One of the most significant ideas proposed by Swami Vivekananda was the importance of education in building a strong nation. He was of the view that education is the primary means to empower people and their thoughts. He specially emphasized on education for common masses.
According to Swami Vivekananda, “The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion- is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.” And as the quote says, real education to Vivekananda was the education that instilled human values and strength of character in students or even in common mass of people.
Furthermore, Swami Vivekananda also established “Ramakrishan Mission” which worked in the areas of value based education, culture, health, women’s empowerment, youth and tribal welfare and relief and rehabilitation.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi too paid homage to the spiritual personality by visiting Belur Math, a monastery serving as the headquarters of the Ramakrishan Mission which was founded by Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishan Parmahamsa.
