President Murmu, PM Modi and others pay tribute to Swami Vivekananda on 164th birth anniversary

NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various other leaders on Monday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his 164th birth anniversary. President Murmu paid homage to the spiritual leader, highlighting that his “teachings will continue to inspire humanity”.

“I pay my humble tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary 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. Swamiji instilled national pride among Indians and inspired the youth to contribute to nation building. His teachings will continue to inspire humanity,” the President wrote on X.

PM Modi said that Swami Vivekananda remains a “powerful source of inspiration for India’s youth,” and his personality and works continue to strengthen the resolve for a developed India.

“My respectful tribute to Swami Vivekananda, the powerful source of inspiration for India’s youth power, on his birth anniversary. His 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,” PM Modi wrote on X.

“I pay my humble tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary 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. Swamiji instilled national pride among Indians and inspired the youth to contribute to nation building. His teachings will continue to inspire humanity,” the President wrote on X.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah extended his greetings to the nation on the occasion and recalled Swami Vivekananda’s contribution to youth empowerment and social service.

In a post on X, Amit Shah wrote, “On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Ji’s birth anniversary, I pay my respectful obeisance to him and extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the citizens of the country on ‘National Youth Day’. Swami Vivekananda Ji, who connected the youth of the country with the Indian tradition of knowledge, philosophy, and spirituality, and took its reach to global forums, also established ideals of social service through the Ramakrishna Mission. The thoughts of Swami Ji, who gave the message of not stopping before achieving the goal, are awakening a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth and accelerating the construction of a developed India.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his 164th birth anniversary. He highlighted Swami Vivekananda’s enduring legacy in elevating Indian culture on the global stage.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “On the birth anniversary of the great ascetic Swami Vivekananda Ji, I offer my humble salutations to him. Swami Vivekananda Ji elevated India’s culture onto the global stage through his profound thoughts. His ideals will forever continue to inspire every Indian.”

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his 164th birth anniversary. In a post on X, Kharge remembered Swami Vivekananda as a great thinker and philosopher who continues to inspire India’s youth.

“Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on National Youth Day. Today is the birth anniversary of India’s great thinker and philosopher,Swami Vivekananda ji. He is a symbol of Indian life values and an invaluable source of inspiration for our youth. As a tribute to Swami ji’s thoughts and ideals, Shri Rajiv Gandhi had declared this day as “National Youth Day.” Some excerpts from his historic speech delivered at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, America, in 1893, which are still highly relevant today,” he wrote.

समस्त देशवासियों को राष्ट्रीय युवा दिवस की हार्दिक शुभकामनाएँ।

आज भारत के महान चिंतक और दार्शनिक स्वामी विवेकानंद जी की जयंती है। वे भारतीय जीवन-मूल्यों के प्रतीक हैं और हमारे युवाओं के लिए प्रेरणा का अमूल्य स्रोत हैं।

स्वामी जी के विचारों और आदर्शों को श्रद्धांजलि स्वरूप, श्री… pic.twitter.com/nYlkHCJYZy

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 12, 2026

Emphasising the enduring relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s ideas, Kharge recalled his strong message against sectarianism, intolerance, and division, as articulated in his landmark address at the Parliament of Religions.

“Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence. How many times has this earth been reddened with blood. How many civilizations have been destroyed and how many countries have been ruined. If these terrible demons had not been there, human society would have been much more advanced today, but now their time is over. I am fully confident that the conch sound of this conference today will destroy all dogmas, all kinds of strife, whether by the sword or the pen, and all ill feelings between people.”

“Swami Vivekananda ji taught humanity important lessons like spiritual development and equality and gave India a distinct identity in the world,” the post added on X.

Congress leader Pawan Khera portrayed Vivekananda as a “warrior monk” who fought against narrow-mindedness and promoted values of service and unity.

आज स्वामी विवेकानंद जी की जयंती है। अपने अल्पकालिक जीवन में वे हमारे लिए विपुल विवेक-संपदा छोड़ गए हैं। उस योद्धा संन्यासी ने आजीवन सांप्रदायिकता, संकीर्णता और क्षुद्रता से युद्ध किया। वे सहिष्णुता, सद्भाव और सेवा जैसे मूल्यों के निर्भीक पोषक बनकर खड़े रहे।
यह इस देश का, हिंदू… pic.twitter.com/7OqNWR6OvR

— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) January 12, 2026

In a post on X, Khera wrote, “Today is the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda ji. In his short life, he left behind for us a vast treasure of wisdom and discernment. That warrior monk spent his entire life fighting against sectarianism, narrow-mindedness, and pettiness. He stood firm as a fearless proponent of values like tolerance, harmony, and service. It is the misfortune of this country, of Hinduism, of our times, that a gang spreading communal frenzy is able to cunningly exploit Swami ji’s name through organized falsehood and deceit. The poisonous vine of communal madness that Swami ji devoted himself to uprooting is being replanted today. The very youth whom he inspired toward human service by calling them “sons of nectar” are now being preached to take “revenge” in this so-called era of nectar”.

Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897, which would bring together monks and laypeople to propagate Practical Vedanta and various forms of social service.

Swami Vivekananda is always remembered all over the world for his address at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, which led the western intelligentsia to turn around and recognise the great culture and tradition India has had since time immemorial.

The National Youth Day or Rashtriya Yuva Divas is celebrated on January 12 every year in commemoration of the great spiritual leader, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda, whose unwavering belief in the potential of youth continues to resonate deeply with young citizens of the country, as per the release from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Vivekananda, born Narendranath Datta, was a key figure in the renaissance of Hinduism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His fiery eloquence, profound understanding of Eastern and Western philosophies, and unwavering belief in the potential of youth resonated deeply with audiences worldwide. His landmark speech at the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago in 1893 is widely considered a turning point in the global perception of Hinduism. (ANI)