IMPHAL, March 7: A regional level youth convention was organized at Asha Hall today by Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Cherrapunjee, Meghalaya as a part of the 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda which is being observed throughout the country and abroad through various programmes.
Addressing the function, Governor of Manipur Vinod Kumar Duggal felt honoured to be present at the inaugural session of the Regional Level Youth Convention.
He further said that Swami Vivekananda became globally known for his inspiring words which began, “Sisters and brothers of America” in which he introduced India at the Parliament of the World`s Religions in Chicago in 1893.
After his Chicago address, he became famous and many positions were offered to him which he rejected. After his return, he founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 for serving his ideals based on Karma Yoga.
Swami Vivekananda was a multi-faceted personality who is respected by the entire world even today and Ramakrishna Mission is one of his enduring legacies that provide wholesome education to the youth, he said added that it is only, therefore, befitting that the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram is celebrating the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as is being done by several national and international organisations around the globe.
Meanwhile highlighting the life history of Swami Vivekananda, he said that he was born as Narendranath Datta in 1863 and was a brilliant student who was interested in a wide range of subjects ranging from philosophy, history, religion, social science, art, literature and Hindu scriptures.
He said that he was well versed in western logic and philosophy, Narendra became a Freemason through a breakaway faction of the Brahmo Samaj and continued that he rejected idol worship, polytheism and Ramakrishna`s worship of Kali.
In 1888, he became a wandering monk and travelled extensively and developed sympathy for the sufferings and the poor people resolved to uplift the nation. During his travel, he met and stayed with people from all walks of life and from all religions.
He further said that Swami Vivekananda believed that a country`s future depends on its people and his teachings focused on human development.
Vivekananda revitalised India and his teachings were the main reason for the enthusiastic reception of yoga, transcendental meditation and other forms of Indian spiritual self improvement in the West.
He said that Swami Vivekananda was a nationalist but he maintained that addressing the poverty was a pre-requisite for national awakening and continued that Government of India observed his birthday on January 12 as National Youth Day.
This Regional Level Youth Convention is also a part of the Celebrations and the youth of the region will not only inculcate the values espoused by Vivekananda but also interact among one another with the objective to make India strong and vibrant.
Speaking at the function, chairman of Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, P Dhankumar said that Swami Vivekananda is an eminent person of the country who was involved in various activities for the upliftment of the nation.