PM, President pay homage to Swami Vivekananda

President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary.

He was born on January 12, 1863, as Narendranath Dutta in then Calcutta. His birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day.

“A timeless visionary and spiritual icon, he preached that inner strength and service to humanity were foundations of a meaningful life. He carried India’s eternal wisdom to the world,” President Murmu said in a social media post.

She said Vivekananda instilled national pride among Indians, and his teachings will continue to inspire humanity. Vice-President Radha Krishnan paid floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda at the Vice President’s Enclave here.

Remembering Swami Vivekananda’s enduring legacy in a social media post, he said Swami Vivekananda’s life and teachings emphasised inner strength, self-discipline, and selfless service as the pillars of a purposeful life.

He said that by taking India’s civilisational wisdom to the world, Swami Vivekananda ignited national pride and instilled confidence among the youth to work for the nation’s progress. The Vice -President added that Swami Vivekananda’s ideals continue to inspire generations.

In his message, Prime Minister Modi Stated that Swami Vivekananda’s personality and works continuously infuse new energy into the resolve for a developed India. “My wish is that this divine occasion of National Youth Day brings new strength and new self-confidence for all fellow citizens, especially our young companions,” Modi said in a social media message.

Home Minister Shah paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda and Rajmata Jijabai, mother of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, on their birth anniversaries on Monday. In a message posted on social media on National Youth Day, Shah said, “I bow in reverence to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary and extend my heartfelt greetings to all citizens on National Youth Day. Swami Vivekananda connected the youth of the country with India’s knowledge tradition, philosophy and spirituality, and carried its reach to global platforms.”

“Through the Ramakrishna Mission, he also established ideals of social service. Swamiji’s thoughts, which give the message of not stopping before achieving the goal, are awakening a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth and accelerating the creation of a developed India,” the minister said.

Paying tributes to Rajmata Jijabai, Shah said in another post that she inspired Chhatrapati Shivaji to achieve the great goal of protecting the country. “From childhood itself, Rajmata Jijabai ji instilled in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj the values of courage, self-respect and protecting one’s own culture.”

“She awakened in Shivaji Maharaj the resolve to establish Hindavi Swaraj and inspired him to work towards achieving the great goal of safeguarding the nation. I bow in reverence to Rajmata Jijabai Ji on her birth anniversary,” the home minister said.