Prof (Dr.) Jaipal Singh
Swami Vivekananda, born as Narendranath Dutta on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata (then Calcutta), was a visionary spiritual leader, preacher, and social reformer. His teachings emphasized universal oneness, nationalism, character building, self-improvement, and rejecting superstitions. His words and actions inspired not only the youth of India but also the global community. Swami Vivekananda gained international recognition with his ground breaking speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893, where he introduced the concept of interfaith awareness to the Western world.
Swami Vivekananda’s teachings resonate deeply with today’s youth. He advocated values like selflessness, unity, truth and honesty while emphasizing the need for critical thinking and focused action. One of his famous quotes is: “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Success will come your way to touch your feet.” He believed in the immense potential of youth. As per his vision, Youth is asource of change, possesses great capability of strengthening progress and isbuilder of a strongnation.
GOI recognising the ideals and philosophies of Swami Vivekananda declared January 12 the National Youth Day (NYD) to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a visionary who continued to inspire young minds and sternly emphasized the power of youth in nation-building.
NYD is being celebrated every year since 1985 with different themes to promote India’s vision among the masses through the participation of Youth and Young minds. Some of the speaking themes from recent years are: Sabse Pehle Bharat(2011), Celebrating Diversity in Unity(2012). Awakening the Youth Power(2013), Youth for Drugs Free World(2014), ‘Youngman and Youth for Clean, Green and Progressive India(2015), Indian Youth for Development, Skill and Harmony(2016), Youth for Digital India(2017), Sankalp ke Siddhi(2018) ….etc.
This year’s theme for National Youth Day 2025 is “Empowering Youth: Building a Resilient Future.” The theme is speaking itself of its significance i.e equipping youth with the tools to adapt, innovate, and lead a secured future. Concern of the Government of India is towards youth’s involvement in nation building – by harnessing youthful energy, by utilising their creativity, ideas, thoughts, by addressing global challenges and by building sustainable/acceptable solutions with their fertile potential following the footsteps of Swami Vivekananda.
It is my strong belief that the youth of today are the architects of tomorrow. Beyond academic learning, they are needed to be trained with the vision to multiply their critical thinking, problem-solving ability and strengthening of professional and leadership skills. Empowering them is not just an investment in their personal growth but a step toward building a strong and healthy society/nation that can innovate solutions to meet modern challenges and have the potential to bounce back from setbacks or difficulties so as to remain in alignment with the path of progress along with the rest of the world. By equipping young minds with accessible quality education, skill and vocational trainings, promoting digital literacy shall help us to prepare them for an ever-evolving world. Empowering youth also means creating an environment that values their voices and addresses their concerns for a resilient future where challenges are met with determination for sustainable progress.
Colleges across the nation organize events such as youth festivals, leadership workshops, and motivational speeches, seminars, cultural programs, debates, Sports competitions, essay contests and promotes various social initiatives to achieve the aims of the theme of NYD. Many institutions also engage students in community services, aligning with Vivekananda’s call for serving humanity.
Teachers act as mentors, inspiring students to embrace positive values and guiding them in understanding Vivekananda’s philosophies. Parents play a supportive role by encouraging participation and fostering a culture of discipline and compassion at home. Youth as role models set examples by promoting unity, creativity, and dedication to the well-being of society.
Both state and central governments play a crucial role by promoting initiatives that empower youth, such as skill development programs, scholarships, and awareness campaigns. National Youth Festivals, sponsored by the government, provide a platform for young talents to shine. Its significance lies with the fact that PM Narendra Modi is to interact with 3000 young leaders selected through a merit based, multilevel selection process from over 30 lakh participants at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi today on Jan 12, 2025. Young leaders to present their vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 to PM Modi to ignite ideas for a brighter nation.
This day is special as it honours Swami Vivekananda’s enduring message to the youth: to awaken, arise, and act with courage. His values of strength, wisdom, and selflessness inspire generations to build a better tomorrow and inclusive society. National Youth Day reminds us of the incredible potential of young people to shape the future and vision of the nation. It is a day for reflection, inspiration, and action. It is the time of the hour that families, educators, governments, and society must work together to nurture this potential. Without nurturing this potential any society/nation cannot fulfill its mission of success and achievements.
In gist, Author is of the view that Swami Vivekananda’s message of empowerment, selflessness, and nation-building continues to inspire young people. He believed in the immense potential of youth, urging us to provide them with the right tools for growth and leadership.
The theme “Empowering Youth: Building a Resilient Future” highlights the need for a balanced approach – through education, skill development, entrepreneurship and digital literacy to prepare youth to face global challenges. By nurturing their potential, we empower them to lead with innovation and build a brighter and more resilient future.”The youth of today, with their vision and determination, are poised to transform challenges into opportunities, ensuring a brighter future for all”.
(The writer is Principal, SG GDC Doongi, Rajouri)