ICON FOR THE YOUTH: SWAMI VIVEKANANDA JI

- By Dr. Meenu Sodhi Sharma,

Author and Ex- Lecturer S.M.J.N P.G College, Hardwar

Swami Vivekananda Ji was a pragmatic, magnetic, and charismatic personality. He was much ahead of
his time and an orator par-excellence. The impact he made on his listeners was deep and thought-
provoking, leaving a lifelong impression not to be erased by the passage of time. His ideals were crystal
clear, with no grey areas anywhere. Being young, bright, and forceful in his ideas, he had the power to
influence young minds in a very positive way, steering them towards virtuous influences.

He directed the youth to work towards a moral and spiritual way of life, imparting clear-cut and simple
instructions for their personality development, spiritual, moral, and ethical enhancement, along with
fostering faith in themselves and their ability to do good for people and their country. Swami
Vivekananda Ji wanted the youth to follow the path of unselfishness, love, honesty, and truthfulness.
Bravery was the watchword in his disciplined life, as weakness was akin to death according to him.

He urged the youth to hold onto their moral, ethical, and spiritual ideals without fear and to march on the
path of success, progress, and heroism. Their faith in their capabilities should not falter at any point
because their strong character could support them to be upright, bold, and truthful at all times and under
all circumstances.

Swami Vivekananda Ji's vision was quite futuristic about the path that the young generation had to take to
reach their goals in life. His clarion call to the youth was,
"Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached."

This famous quote highlights the importance of empowering young people to play an active role in the
development of the country, eliminating poverty, and discrimination among many other things. He
wanted the youth to rise up, wake up, and realize the power they had within themselves. That's why his
birthday, falling on 12th January, is celebrated as National Youth Day. The government of India declared
his birth anniversary as ‘National Youth Day’ in 1984, and since 1985, the event is celebrated in India
every year to honor and inspire the dynamic energy and potential of youth, fostering a sense of
responsibility and leadership among the younger generation.

Swami Vivekananda Ji was a great believer in the potentiality of youth and wanted them to choose their
steps and path with utmost care and deliberation. He guided them with his wise words of great
experience, believing that one should not use the mind as a dustbin for hatred, anger, and jealousy but
as a treasure box for all the positive aspects of life like love, happiness, and sweet memories. He
emphasized the power of thoughts, saying,

"We are what our thoughts have made us, so take care about what you think."
According to Swami Vivekananda Ji's wisdom, one should not believe in fighting and warring because
it does not obliterate tomorrow’s troubles but takes away today’s peace. He deeply believed in the power
of exchanging good ideas, making people richer in their way of thinking. He also had faith in the dreams
and ambitions of the youth, believing that one was not poor because he did not possess riches but was
truly poor if he did not have dreams and ambitions.

He had very clear and concise ideas about relationships. According to him, one should not get
into and make close relationships without properly understanding, and one should not break a
close relationship because of some misunderstanding.

It is also imperative to mention that he had an abiding faith in the divinity of each soul. He
believed that each one of us could change our destiny by our hard work, dedication, honesty,
optimism, virtue, and total control over ourselves. He also believed that we can achieve any goal
in our life in a much disciplined way. Therefore, for people who have control over themselves,
there is no slavery anymore.

He also believed intensely in giving happiness to others because by making others happy we
gain for ourselves the happiness and satisfaction that are long-lasting. So, helping others should
be our chief aim in life.

It is also pertinent to mention that he also instilled the feeling of fearlessness in the hearts of the
youth as according to him, the whole secret of existence is to have no fear. The youth can
achieve all their goals only if they inculcate the feeling of fearlessness.

Swami Vivekananda ji was a key figure in the introduction of Hindu philosophy of Vedanta and
yoga to the Western world, and he is credited with bringing Hinduism to the status of a major
world religion during the late 19th century. Swamiji symbolizes the best that our ancient
culture and tradition have to offer. That is the reason for his relevance in the past, present, and
future times to come. So, he will always remain the epitome of all the best that our country has to
showcase and an inspiration for all times to come. Therefore, to conclude, Swami
Vivekananda ji and his ideas will always remain immortal for all times to come.