GUIDING LIGHT OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

Today is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, a day we all celebrate as Youth Day. The youth are the driving force behind the development of any nation, which makes today a holy and inspiring day. Swami Vivekananda always encouraged the youth to walk on the right paths. He was a rare guide for the youth, igniting their enthusiasm. By creating texts like Yoga, Rajyoga, and Gyan Yoga, he paved the way for the youth. Through the dissemination of Vedanta and Yoga philosophy, he illuminated the world.

Swami Vivekananda, who saw the excellence of the nation in the progress of its youth, was the great soul who said that before inspiring a nation with political thoughts, it is necessary to channel spiritual ideas into it. Swami Vivekananda had a special connection with Rajasthan. His childhood name was Narendra Nath Dutt, but he became globally known as Vivekananda. This name was given to him by Rajasthan. The then Maharaja of Khetri, Shri Ajit Singh, recognized the potential in young Narendra Nath and inspired him to go to the Parliament of the World’s Religions. It was Maharaja Ajit Singh who named him “Vivekananda.” Before he went to speak at the World’s Parliament of Religions, Maharaja of Khetri gifted him a Rajasthani saffron turban, robe, and waist belt.

Swami Vivekananda was a scholar in religion, philosophy, art, and literature. Not only that, he had deep knowledge of classical music as well. There was no aspect of life untouched by the wisdom of Swami Vivekananda. He had a deep connection with the youth. By travelling across India, he found the divine path and awakened the youthful enthusiasm. It is said, “Only through hard work can tasks be accomplished, not through mere wishes.”

The aspect of his life related to addressing the World’s Parliament of Religions is also inspiring. When he reached Chicago, he had spent all the money he had. In the extreme cold, lacking warm clothing, and without the proper credentials to attend the Parliament, he faced many difficulties. Many others might have panicked and returned, but Swami Vivekananda did not lose patience. Despite the hardships, he gained entry to the Parliament and made India proud with his speech. He said in the Parliament, “No religion is a bondage, but a path to liberation. Whichever path a person takes, they reach the destination of that path.”

What he said in the Parliament is still inspiring today: “I belong to the religion that taught the world tolerance and universal acceptance. We not only believe in universal tolerance but also accept all religions as truth. I am proud to come from a country that has given shelter to the persecuted of all religions and nations. I am proud that we have kept in our hearts the sacred memories of Israel, where Roman invaders destroyed their holy places, and they found refuge in South India.”

The most important trait and determinant of our personality is our character. Swami Vivekananda inspired the youth to focus on character-building. He said that every human being is inherently endowed with divine qualities. These qualities, such as truth, integrity, dedication, courage, and faith, when awakened, help a person become great and virtuous. To build character, qualities like selfconfidence, self-reliance, selfknowledge, self-control, and self-sacrifice should be followed. By adhering to these qualities, an individual can reconstruct their personality as well as society and the nation. We know that in the Treta Yuga, Ravana had more knowledge, strength, military power, wealth, prosperity, and royal grandeur than Lord Ram. However, Lord Ram had the best character, and with that, he defeated Ravana. This is why Goswami Tulsidas wrote the “Ramcharitmanas.”

Swami Vivekananda’s words for the youth, “Strength is life and weakness is death,” are also no less inspiring. Guru Rabindranath Tagore did not say this without reason: “If someone wants to know India, they must first read Vivekananda.” His messages were all about positivity—there was nothing negative in them.

The youth of Rajasthan are also a courageous, hardworking, dedicated, enthusiastic, and energetic force, and they should advance, empower themselves, and help make Rajasthan and the country more developed. The Rajasthan government is fully committed to uplifting the youth. The government has pledged to recruit four lakh people in the next five years for state services. For the year 2025, a recruitment exam calendar has been issued for more than 81,000 positions for the first time in Rajasthan. The state government runs several schemes like the Chief Minister Anuprati Scheme for free coaching, the Rent Assistance Scheme, Rajasthan One Nation One Student ID, the Youth Policy-2024, the Atal Entrepreneur Scheme, the Chief Minister Yuva Sambal Scheme, and the Youth Internship Program. By availing these opportunities, youth can not only build careers in employment, self-employment, and entrepreneurship but also contribute to the development of themselves, their families, society, state, and nation. Your increasing capabilities will be the foundation for a developed Rajasthan and India.

Ultimately, it is our willpower that drives us to reach our goals, awakens our courage, makes us resilient, and inspires dedication. Swami Vivekananda said, “Take a thought, make it your goal, and become absorbed in it.” His interpretation of the Upanishads is also captivating. His famous quote, “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached,” is taken from the Kathopanishad verse, “Uttishthata Jagrata Prapya Varannibodhata.” Vivekananda used this mantra consistently to inspire youth. He always said that to act, intelligence, thought, and heart are necessary. Love can make the impossible possible. He often said that the youth are the bridge between the past and the future. His message to the youth was to live like a hero, rather than wasting away slowly. Vivekananda’s address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago was a flow of this very message. He said that the future is shaped by the past, so look at the past, then look ahead, and work to take India to bright paths.

Celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary as Youth Day means nurturing the youth with his ideals. It means empowering them intellectually and morally and inspiring them for the development of the nation. He was the torchbearer of preparing youth to lead a developed India, drawing inspiration from India’s glorious past. On this Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, let us be inspired by his ideals and move forward.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

BHAJAN LAL SHARMA, THE WRITER IS CHIEF MINISTER OF RAJASTHAN