Vivekananda146;s words

A Government of India communication of 1984 proclaimed January 12, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. The dedication ...

A Government of India communication of 1984 proclaimed January 12, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, as National Youth Day. The dedication of the day to the youth of the country was most appropriate on two accounts. One is that the Swami was himself an embodiment of youth. He rose to meteoric heights and carried out his monumental work through the period of his youth. Sadly, his life itself ended when he was 39, the accepted cut-off age for the period called 8216;youth8217;.

The second is that the Swami reposed utmost faith in the young people of this country to carry forward his message and mission. 8220;If we are serious in our effort to build a strong and integrated India,8221; he said, 8220;it is incumbent upon us to ensure that the younger generation understands and appreciates, not only its religious traditions, but also that of the other religions in the country.8221;

But in 21st century India, when technology rules the hearts and minds of the young, how relevant is religion? Amazingly, a century and a quarter later, the teachings of the Swami still have in them the power to appeal to the thinking person. They are valid for all times, because the Truth that he preached had its base in Reason. The Swami was the meeting point, not only of East and West, but also of Past and Future. Some quotes from the Visionary Swami:

8220;The best way to serve and seek God is to serve the needy, feed the hungry, help the fallen and friendless, irrespective of caste or creed.8221;

8220;Give up all that hateful malice, that doglike bickering and barking at one another and take your stand on good purpose, right means, righteous courage, and be brave.8221;

8220;I admire the British perseverance and the American spirit of equality. I want you to make a European society, with India8217;s religion.8221;

8220;Anything reference to fear of God, superstition that makes you weak, physically, intellectually, spiritually, reject it as poison. It cannot be true. For Truth is strengthening. Truth is purity.8221;8220;Be an occidental in your spirit of equality, freedom, work ethics, and energy. But if you give up Indian spirituality, leaving it aside to go after the civilisation of the West, the result will be that in three generations you will be an extinct race. Because the backbone of the nation will be broken!8221;