Last week, at Maharashtra Sadan, we observed Jijau Maasaheb Jayanti and Swami Vivekananda Jayanti which is also celebrated as National Youth Day throughout the country. As I paid my homage to both, I was struck by a singular realization that home is the sanctuary where values are forged but the youth are the force which take forth those values into the soul of a nation.
History will always remember Jijau Maasaheb, as an epitome of purposeful motherhood. As the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who shaped a child into a just ruler and a nation builder by narrating mythological stories of valour which instilled discipline, and ethics in him. Her example portrays that the earliest lessons of courage, justice, honesty, dedication and self-respect are not learnt in classrooms, but begin from home.
That same legacy of value-based upbringing found a global voice in Swami Vivekananda. At the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, a young monk from a colonised nation stood before the world and spoke with quiet confidence, intellectual clarity, and spiritual authority.
His opening words“Sisters and Brothers of America” instantly captured hearts and restored India’s self-belief.
Swami Vivekananda did not speak as a subject of the British Crown; he spoke as an ambassador of the ancient, glorious Hindu civilization. His journey reminds today’s youth that preparation, intellectual clarity and spiritual strength are the ultimate tools of revolution.
What confidence he must have had to go alone, speak fearlessly, and represent a nation yet to be free. His commitment, preparation and zeal offer great lessons for today’s youth. It is therefore only fitting that his birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day.
It is sobering to recall that Swami Vivekananda attained samadhi at just thirty nine when he was in the prime of his life. Yet, in that short span, he awakened a nation’s conscience and inspired generations. His call to “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached” is both an inspiration and a warning, do not waste time.
Youth Day also brings to mind the sacrifices of freedom fighters, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru young men who embraced the gallows with unwavering resolve. They said with great pride “Waqt aane par bata denge kya hamare dil mein hai.” And when that moment of sacrifice came, they did not hesitate to rebel against the British and give up their lives with a smile. Their lives remind us that actions speak louder than words.
Today's youth are facing different challenges, more so in the digital world. They have to overcome the distractions and consciously balance fun with focus, social media with self-discipline, personal ambition with social responsibility.
We earned our freedom at the cost of youthful lives and great sacrifice so we cannot afford to be indifferent or waste our potential.
In this context, platforms like the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 which redirect youth to the habit of reading are very relevant. Reading cultivates depth in an age of speed and reflection in an age of noise.
Swami Vivekananda did not speak as a subject of the British Crown; he spoke as an ambassador of the ancient, glorious Hindu civilization. His journey reminds today’s youth that preparation, intellectual clarity and spiritual strength are the ultimate tools of revolution.
What confidence he must have had to go alone, speak fearlessly, and represent a nation yet to be free. His commitment, preparation and zeal offer great lessons for today’s youth. It is therefore only fitting that his birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day.
It is sobering to recall that Swami Vivekananda attained samadhi at just thirty nine when he was in the prime of his life. Yet, in that short span, he awakened a nation’s conscience and inspired generations. His call to “Arise, awake and stop not till the goal is reached” is both an inspiration and a warning, do not waste time.
Youth Day also brings to mind the sacrifices of freedom fighters, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru young men who embraced the gallows with unwavering resolve. They said with great pride “Waqt aane par bata denge kya hamare dil mein hai.” And when that moment of sacrifice came, they did not hesitate to rebel against the British and give up their lives with a smile. Their lives remind us that actions speak louder than words.
Today's youth are facing different challenges, more so in the digital world. They have to overcome the distractions and consciously balance fun with focus, social media with self-discipline, personal ambition with social responsibility.
We earned our freedom at the cost of youthful lives and great sacrifice so we cannot afford to be indifferent or waste our potential.
In this context, platforms like the New Delhi World Book Fair 2026 which redirect youth to the habit of reading are very relevant. Reading cultivates depth in an age of speed and reflection in an age of noise.
The theme of this year's World Book Fair was Indian Military History : Valour and Wisdom @75. It highlighted the contributions of India’s defence forces and their courage as well as sacrifices. Those ideals of discipline, sacrifice, leadership, and service remind young minds that nation-building which happens in the battlefield cannot be frittered away but must be adapted in classrooms, libraries, and communities.
A child who reads is a child who learns to think independently. Mothers, fathers, teachers, and elders all play a role in a child's upbringing but books remain lifelong guides.
From Jijau Maasaheb's nurturing guidance to Swami Vivekananda’s fearless voice on the world stage, from youthful martyrs to the quiet power of books, the message is clear, strong nations are built when values shape childhood and purpose drives youth.
The choice before today’s young Indians is therefore simple yet profound whether to merely consume time, or to use it meaningfully. Time has never waited for anyone and the youth of India should also not.
A child who reads is a child who learns to think independently. Mothers, fathers, teachers, and elders all play a role in a child's upbringing but books remain lifelong guides.
From Jijau Maasaheb's nurturing guidance to Swami Vivekananda’s fearless voice on the world stage, from youthful martyrs to the quiet power of books, the message is clear, strong nations are built when values shape childhood and purpose drives youth.
The choice before today’s young Indians is therefore simple yet profound whether to merely consume time, or to use it meaningfully. Time has never waited for anyone and the youth of India should also not.
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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