National Youth Day (NYD) is an annual event celebrated on 12th January. The day was chosen to coincide with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, an influential philosopher and spiritual leader who played a key role in shaping Indian identity. Meanwhile, the United Nations designates its own International Youth Day on 12th August since 1999.
The Inception of National Youth Day
The Indian Government first recognized NYD in 1984, deciding to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s birthday as a mark of respect for his contributions to society. The day has been celebrated all over India since then. The purpose of this celebration is to recognize and promote the potential of the nation’s youth, who are our future, and to remember Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on harnessing this energy for national development.
Theme for 2022: It’s all in the mind
Every year, a theme is selected for NYD to guide its observance and events. For 2022, the chosen theme is “It’s all in the mind.”
25th National Youth Festival
Aside from NYD, there are other related activities aimed at fostering national unity and promoting diverse cultures. One such event is the National Youth Festival, which is a five-day festival inaugurated by the Prime Minister. This event is organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Related Youth-oriented Initiatives
Several initiatives have been launched in support of youth development. These include the National Youth Policy-2014, Generation Unlimited in India (YuWaah), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, YUVA: Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring Young Authors, World Programme of Action for Youth, Global Youth Summit, and Global youth skills day.
Swami Vivekananda’s Legacy
Born as Narendranath Datta on 12th January, 1863, Swami Vivekananda introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga. He was a disciple of the spiritual mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa in the 19th century. Swami Vivekananda strongly emphasized the importance of education for the regeneration of India and advocated for character-building education.
In 1897, Swami Vivekananda established the Ramakrishna Mission, an organization focusing on value-based education, culture, health, women’s empowerment, youth and tribal welfare, and relief and rehabilitation. The mission continues its work to this day from its headquarters at Belur Math in West Bengal, where Vivekananda passed away in 1902.
