Writeup by Ananya Singh, Image by Harvish KP
National Youth Day (Yuva Divas), also known as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, is celebrated on the 12th of January each year.
It is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
This day has been celebrated as Yuva Divas since 1984, when the Government of India recognised it as a tribute to Swami Vivekananda as well as the youth of the country. This is the 25th National Youth Day.
Each year, the government announces a theme for Yuva Divas and 2022’s theme is “It’s all in the Mind”.
Why?
National Youth Day is celebrated to encourage and support the youth of the country to work towards the advancement and betterment of India.
It is a day when the contributions of Swami Vivekananda towards society and the country are honored by reading his books, delivering speeches about him, understanding his ideals, and celebrating his life.
Swami Vivekananda’s aims were to bring social, gender, and caste equality, and to motivate the youth to rebel against the British.
He wanted the youth to participate in the fight for independence and express their views by speaking out.
What?
On National Youth Day, schools and colleges hold competitions to promote out-of-the-box thinking and innovation.
A National Youth Festival is organised each year where youth from all over India come together to participate in cultural and educational activities to promote unity and innovation.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will also be giving a speech at the festival.
In Uttar Pradesh, Mission Bhartiyam organises a two-day event called Basti Yuvo Mahostav where NGOs participate to support and aid youth from underprivileged backgrounds.
Who?
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12 January 1863 as Narendranath Datta.
He was an avid reader who delved in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and Indian Classical Music aside from standard school education.
In 1863, the First Parliament of Religions was held in Chicago, USA, and Swami Vivekananda represented Hinduism at that event. His speech began with the words, “Brothers and Sisters of America”, leading to a resounding applause in the Hall and creating a memory that is still cherished.
After the event, he remained in USA to spread the message of India and the Indian freedom struggle. He is famous for the speeches he gave in the USA.
He has also written many books and promoted the Indian Independence Movement in countries abroad.
Swami Vivekananda was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.