SWAMI VIVEKANANDA A ROLE MODEL TO THE YOUTH

Good morning everyone,

First of all Im very thankful to all my teachers and professors for giving me an opportunity
to speak about Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his birthday celebration National
Youth Day.
I am going to speak briefly about who was Swami Vivekananda, why he is popular in the
world and why he is remembered even after his death.
Swami Vivekananda was born as Narendranath in Calcutta on 12 th January 1863 during
Makar Sankranti festival. He belonged to traditional family from Bengal. Narendras father
Viswanath Dutta was an attorney of Calcutta High Court. Narendras mother Bhuvaneshwari
Devi was a religious woman and a housewife. The progressive rational approach of his father
and religious temperament of his mother helped him to shape his thinking and personality. He
was interested in wide range of subjects such as philosophy, religion, history, social sciences,
arts and literature.
As a child Narendra was very lively and naughty. He was good in studies as well as in games.
He was such a freak that he was questioning everyone- Have you seen God? As a child he
had great respect for sanyasis. He would give away anything to anybody if asked for.
Whenever a beggar asked for alms he would give anything he had.
By the time he came to know about Shri Ramkrishna Paramhans of Dakshineshwar. Sri
Ramakrishna was a priest in the temple of Goddess Kali. He was not a scholar but he was
great devotee of Kali Mata. It was being said of him that he had realised God. Once Narendra
went to Ramkrishna Paramhans and asked him whether he had seen God. The instantaneous
answer from him was Yes, I have seen God, just as I see you here. Narendra was astounded
and puzzled by his answer. He could feel the mans words were honest. He started visiting
Ramakrishna frequently. Later on he made Ramakrishna as his guru. The name Swami
Vivekananda was given by his guru.
Swami Vivekananda spent his entire life uplifting mankind and attaining perfection and
personifying the power of will. Most importantly Swami Vivekananda has been a role model
for many youths of the country who seek wisdom and empowerment in his words. And not
only youth, he is also much admired by men and women of all ages in the country and the

world. Swami Vivekananda is widely considered to have inspired Indias freedom struggle
movement. His writings inspired a whole generation of freedom of freedom fighters
including Subash Chandra Bose, Aurobindo Ghosh, Bagha Jatin etc. Aurobindo Ghosh
considered Vivekananda as his spiritual mentor.
Vivekananda inspired Jamshedji Tata to setup Indian Institute of Science, one of Indias
finest Institution today. Several leaders and philosophers of 20 th century of India have
acknowledged Vivekanandas influence. The first Governor General of Independent India
Chakravarthi Rajagopalchari, once said Vivekananda saved Hinduism and thus saved
Hindustan. According to Subash Chandra Bose Vivekananda is the maker of modern
India and for Mahatma Gandhi Vivekanandas influence increased his love for his country a
thousand fold.
Swami Vivekanandas writings were concerned to the Indian youth and how they should
strive to uphold their ancient values while fully participating in the modern world.
Also in foreign countries many people were inspired by Swami Vivekananda. Scientist
Nikola Tesla was one of those influenced by the Vedic philosophy teachings of Swami
Vivekananda. In 1883 Swami Vivekananda went to America to attend the conference of
world religions in Chicago. He earned a wide applause for beginning his address with My
dear brothers and sisters of America.
Really, what a great personality. Personally I am very inspired by his thoughts and simplicity.
Swami Vivekananda died on July 04 1902 at the age of 39. According to one of his disciple,
Vivekananda once had told him 4-5 years back before his death that he is going to leave his
body within next 5 years. He left his body when he was in Samadhi in evening time.
In 1984 the government of India decided and declared to celebrate his birthday as National
Youth Day every year from 1985 onwards. He will be always inspiration to every youth of
the world.
By saying these few words I complete my short speech. Thank you.