From the mesmerizing landscapes to rich heritage, from unique culture and diverse history to joyful festivals, India is a gorgeous amalgamation of traditions, languages, and people. Being a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-religious society, India, the golden sparrow, inspired by the iconic heroes always believed in “Unity in Diversity“and spreads the message of peace and oneness, takes pride in our traditions and our unparalleled knowledge of Vedas and Upanishads.
India is currently celebrating its seventy-five years of independence where Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is being observed to celebrate the glorious history of its people, culture, and achievements.
“Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached”
This sacred message by a personality with an incomparable charisma, wisdom, caliber, and far ahead of his time teachings that have become a yardstick around the world to understand India and its development.
He was none other than Swami Vivekanand. He was the man of action, a change maker who transcended through the clutches of race, religion, and nations and emerged as the man of the millennium. His ideologies marched to become the voice of the 21st century. While living, he played a hero and after death, continues to be an inspiration for the present generation. He had ignited the spark of nationalism and thrilled the entire globe and introduced India to the west at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago more than a century ago sending across the oceans, the eternal philosophy of universal brotherhood that broadened the horizon of India’s wisdom and its age-old spiritual legacy.
What makes Swami Vivekananda the most popular youth icon and the guiding force for youngsters?
SWAMIJI’S VISION FOR BHARAT
When India was suffering from the tentacles of British slavery, the clutches of torture, and plagued by poverty, Swami Vivekananda envisioned that a resurrected and a low in confident India would be the pioneer of the world (Vishwa Guru Bharat) which will regain its name as Golden Sparrow. Around 125 years back he had addressed at the international level- “This is your century right now, but the 21st century is India’s century”. It aroused India from deep slumber and sent a strong message to the youth to give their best for India’s spiritual and national renaissance.
The empowered youth from diverse backgrounds like food to fashion to finance are the forerunners of assessment, awareness, action, and advocacy for sustainable development. They are the main stakeholders, policymakers, powerful resources in handling responsibilities, revolutionizing fellow men, and catalysts for change is the change you want to see in your country.
Today, the world is home to the largest generation of the important drivers of global change and innovation i.e. the youth, contributing about 43% of the global population. A temper of the will, quality of imagination, the predominance of courage, and an appetite for adventure make this huge cohort a vibrant, constructive force which can address global issues and create a more just, equitable, and peaceful world.
1) SELF RELIANT INDIA:
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inspired by Swamiji's preachings, gave a national call amidst the Covid-19 pandemic for AtmaNirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) on 12th May 2020, while addressing the nation to win the battle against the ongoing Covid-19 outburst. Prime Minister Modi also recalled that the 21st century must belong to India. “We must strive to make the 21st century India’s century and the path to do that is ‘self-reliance.’
India has the capacity to emerge as a global leader post-pandemic. When India speaks of becoming self-reliant, it doesn’t advocate a self-centered system but rather a concern for the whole world’s happiness, cooperation, health, and peace. Ways, methods, processes, procedures, and courses of action can be different but the idea that has to be common is our prime goal to make India Self Reliant.
The first step towards Self-reliant India will be to acknowledge our glorious history and out of that will raise the conviction to reclaim our position amongst other nations. Swamiji says
“On one Side new India is saying, “If we only adopt Western Ideas, Western language, Western Food, Western Dress, and Western manners, we shall be as strong and powerful as the Western nations; on the other, old India is saying, By imitation of other’s idea it never becomes one’s own; nothing unless earned, is your own.’’
So, We can learn from the west but should not imitate their ways blindly. We have to look across the globe, and take ideas but absorb them in our own way.
2) EDUCATED INDIA:
Swamiji advocated education as the most powerful weapon for a change that is not merely a tool for employment, but rather a life-building, and character-making assimilation of ideas that would equip themselves for the struggle of life.The type of education by which character is built, the strength of mind is enhanced, intellect is expanded, and by which one can stand by his own feet.
3) VASUDHAIVA KUTUMBAKAM (The world is a family):
His idea of India and Hindutva was beyond caste, creed, color, and religion or race. He recognized India’s infinite hidden potential which lies in its values and traditions.
Spirituality which teaches people that God resides in everyone and hence no being should be harmed. India, as a millennia-old civilization has yet retained its commonness and unity in spite of centuries of persecution. With great philosophies of ahimsa (non-violence) and karma, India can conquer the world. In Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s words, Swamiji was one of the great founders of the national modern movement of India.
4) EMPOWERED YOUTH:
Youth act as critical thinkers with their energy, voice, and actions. They have the capacity to identify and challenge the existing powers and expose the barriers to change. Being good communicators to their peers and communities at the grass-root level, they make people aware.He spoke of Vyaktitva vikaas (personality development). This development process is all the more vital for us because we are a country with 40% of youth-force and a holistic personality of the yuva-shakti is essential for a strong and vibrant nation. Swami Vivekanand appealed to the youth to be strong and fearless, kind, benevolent, strictly moral, and of high character. He desired them to possess “muscles of iron and nerves of steel, inside which dwells a mind the same material”
5) INDIA AS A SPIRITUAL TORCH BEARER:
India with its powerful weapon of spirituality can broaden the horizon of scientific, social, and political agendas. His discipleship under Paramhansa Ramakrishna, the most outstanding spiritual leader of the 19th century, made Swamiji a master of philosophical and spiritual leader in India.
He dedicated his life to reminding us Indians of that potential, of the prodigious capabilities of the Indian mind. Our obsession with the west and lack of admiration for Indian heroes, Indian thoughts, and all that is Indian in nature have gradually depleted our innate potential.
It is now that we can feel the urgency of his message that India will be the spiritual torchbearer for humanity. When some countries are busy in weapon making, we need the India of Vivekananda’s vision.
“Take up one idea, make that one idea your life, think of it, dream of it, live of it, let the brain, muscle, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea and leave others.”
6) STRONG INDIA WITH ITS VALUES:
Swami Vivekananda throughout his life focused on the idea of ‘Man Making’ and, according to him, through this process, India will arise and awake once more and the ancient mother will be sitting on her throne rejuvenated, more glorious than ever. India was considered to be a slave and a country of snake charmers, a land of superstitions which was being ruled by foreign invaders for centuries. We need to join hands and accomplish our mission of a strong yet peaceful India.
7) HEALTHY INDIA:
A healthy and fit India that honours Yoga, a healthy diet, and Ayurveda as a chief mantra. Medical facilities should be easily accessible to each and every one. Each of us should pledge to donate organs and encourage others to do this noble work.
Yoga can open the gates of the future before the youth, filling them with a new spirit of inspiration, heroism, and dynamic action. He laid emphasis on the growth and development of body and soul for human excellence. Work and more work to strive for excellence of body, mind, and spirit is the need of the hour.
8) WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
A country that sees women as its assets, not as liabilities. The self-reliant and empowered women have equal rights with men and there is no discrimination in the job based on gender. Where a woman feels safer walking alone at the night.9) CORRUPTION FREE INDIA:
Where an honest man will not have to pay bribes and will combat corruption by refusing to pay and by reporting about corrupt officials to the higher authorities. Speedy disposal of cases in courts and greater accountability in the judiciary. Better governance, a transparent and accessible media that would unmask the corrupt he preached universal brotherhood through his secularism.10) EMPLOYMENT:
A place where the deserving candidate will get the job first rather than reserved candidates. Where there are government job opportunities for every deserving youth11) DISCRIMINATION:
True independence is freedom from the clutches of religion, caste, colour, gender, race, and social and economic status.12) POWERFUL ECONOMY:
India would be self-sufficient in food and where no one is dying of hunger and poverty.Swami Vivekananda’s views as a progressive Indian thinker for the development of the patriotic and national self-consciousness of people really made a positive impact. His considerable contribution to our national struggle and his teachings still continue to motivate the masses. Born on 12th Jan 1863, he is 150 years young and still going strong
TO SUMMARISE
India where
Poverty and Illiteracy are history,
Agriculture and Health work in symphony,
Women and Children live in harmony,
Wildlife, Heritage, and Technology live with integrity
“Swach Bharath, Swasth Bharath,
Shresht Bharath, Samrudh Bharath”