The nation is remembering the youth icon and globally renowned spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda on the occasion of his 160th birth anniversary.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary and said that his great ideals and ideas will continue to guide the countrymen.


"His life, patriotism, spiritualism and dedication will always inspire," the PM tweeted on the iconic spiritual figure's birth anniversary.






Prime Minister Modi, on several occasions, has mentioned that Swami Vivekananda has always had a major influence on him. The Prime Minister is also set to inaugurate the National Youth Festival in Karnataka on Thursday to mark the day.


Remembering the spiritual leader, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he believed in India's intrinsic value of unity.


Extending greetings on National Youth Day, he said the youth is vying for change and their aim to take India to the pinnacle of global progress can be achieved only if the society is in harmony, reported PTI.


"We extend our warmest greetings on National Youth Day, celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of one of India's greatest philosophers — Swami Vivekananda, who believed in India's intrinsic value of unity - 'Bharat Jodo',” he said in a tweet.






In his message to fellow citizens, Kharge said, "I extend you the warmest greetings on National Youth Day".


"Swami ji believed in India's intrinsic values of 'Bharat Jodo', which is clearly enunciated by his historic address at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, excerpts of which I want to recall today," he added.


"Swami ji said 'Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilisation, and sent whole nations to despair…'," he said.


According to PTI, the Congress chief said as crores of our people, aspire and dream about unifying India and fighting prejudices and hate, Swami ji's message remains the guiding light for all of us, especially our youth.


Noting that India is home to a fifth of the world's youth population, he said India's youth is vying for change, dreaming about a better and secured life.


Kharge said, "They aim to take India to the pinnacle of global progress. We know that this can only be possible if we break the barriers of – religion, caste, language, ethnicity, colour, creed or gender."


"Only a society living in harmony can achieve this. So let us join hands to usher this change. Like Swami Vivekananda ji said - 'Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached!'," Kharge said in his message.


Political leaders including Maharastra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Piyush Goyal took to Twitter to remember the youth leader.


'The Kashmir Files' director Vivek Agnihotri also remembered Swami Vivekananda. He tweeted, "'I want men with muscles of iron and nerves of steel' - Swami Vivekananda. I try to follow his path. My philosopher. My guide. #VivekanandaJayanti"






Actor Pawan Kalyan remembered the leader and said, "My Heartfelt Wishes to all the youth on Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi.
The future of our Nation is yours.. Jai Hind!"






(With PTI Inputs)