Swami Ji as we Bengalis call him affectionately, has stayed in my heart since a very young age. He is after all a huge source of national pride, for he put India- the land of eternal spirituality in the modern world map powerfully and successfully.
Over the years, Swami has meant different things for me. As a child, whenever I would see a poster of his celebrated words, “Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached!” I would feel very inspired with fresh energy brimming in my body and mind.
Swami ji was a symbol of tireless commitment to me back then. His words would motivate me to study harder, practice football with more heart and devote myself completely to the aim my heart had set for myself.
And I did get the results! I quickly found myself among the top 5 students of the class (Math still refused to be my friend) and I also got sharper and quicker on the field.
Then in my college days, a relative gifted me 3 books, one on Swami ji, one on his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev and the third one on Maa Sarada Devi, wife and spiritual consort of Ramkrishna Dev. I was in first year then and though initially I was a bit unhappy after receiving the gift (as I expected fiction books) but reading those books was a sheer delight.
To learn about the life of Naren and how he transformed himself into Swami Vivekananda and served so much within such a short life motivated me immensely. Back then I was working to kick start the creative writing society of my college in Delhi University. Swami ji again came to me but this time to spread the message of dreaming big and not giving up. And I kept taking steps towards my goals.
Around my third year, in a WhatsApp forward, I received an audio of Swami ji’s iconic speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago. I was curious to hear the voice of this mahatma and the moment his powerful deep voice entered my ears, my mind pictured someone with the face of a lion. Such an unshakable confidence resounded in that voice and some bit rubbed off on me as well.
And this helped me to achieve my college life dream. After a lot of time, lots of strategic changes and committed hard work, I along with my team founded the creative writing society named Petrichor, which functions even today in Delhi University.
Now, since the past two years I have been a ‘working individual’. Whenever I feel the pressures of life, Swami ji again comes to my rescue and tells my spirit to do innovative work, what truly my soul yearns for. Swami ji now stands as a symbol of fearless spirit for me.
In life we fear situations, consequences, and people’s disapprovals. And unfortunately, we shrink ourselves to fit the mold. Swami ji realised in his own words ‘the divinity present within’. Over the years, my critical thinking skills have sharpened but my faith has also strengthened. I too believe that the only way one can become such a lion spirit is by releasing the presence of the divine within oneself.
We have to stop being the submissive version of ourselves. We can’t be our own version of Facebook Lite now, right?
To all students reading this piece, especially all youngsters, here are a few lessons we all can learn from Swami ji’s incredible life, that will help you make the most of this National Youth Day
- Success may or may not come to those who are very talented or well-connected but it surely comes to those who refuse to give up!
- If you think of yourself as weak, you shall become that. So believe you are strong, and strong you shall be!
- And lastly, fear not obstacles and defeats, they only add more power to your wave.
Believe in yourself and spread your magic to the world!
Long live Swami Vivekananda!