SHILLONG, JAN 12: The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) today celebrated the 153rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Swami Achyuteshananda Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, was the chief guest on the occasion in the presence of NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof SK Srivastava.
Speakers deliberated on the ideas and teachings of Swami Vivekananda as well as displaying of Swami Vivekananda’s writings related to his teachings as per the illustrative activities given by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Swami Achyuteshananda Maharaj highlighted on the reason as to why Swami Vivekananda’s birthday is celebrated as a National Youth Day and how his ideas are making a tangible change in the life of the modern youth.
He informed that Swami Vivekananda wanted the youth to take a lead in removing all social malice. He believed that working for any social change required massive energy and spirit. Hence, he exhorted the youth to amplify both their mental energies and physical fitness.
Swami Achyuteshananda Maharaj also spoke on Swami Vivekananda’s Shillong connection (he visited Shillong in April 1901). “He considered this part of the country most suited to take care of his health,” Swami Achyuteshananda Maharaj said. He concluded by saying that Swami Vivekananda delivered his last public lecture in Shillong where he asked everyone to stand on their own feet. “Today is a great occasion to make a resolve, to fulfill his dream of seeing India in its highest glory”.
In his speech, Prof Srivastava recollected Sawmi Vivekanda’s famous inspiring words “arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached” and said that these words are what the modern day youths need to make this country great. The vice chancellor went on to quote some of the famous sayings by the spiritual leader like “Strength is life, weakness is death”, “Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead, if you lose, you can guide” and “The more we come out and do good to others, the more our hearts will be purified, and God will be in them.”
Earlier in his speech, Prof BK Agarwala, Head (In-charge), Department of Philosophy, NEHU, said we need to celebrate past events like birth, death anniversaries because “yesterday was the birthplace of today and today is the birthplace of tomorrow.”
He said that there is a need to reflect on yesterday as we are who we are today because of yesterday and so a celebration like today helps us to reflect on the great teachings of Swami Vivekananda.-By Our Reporter
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