Swami Vivekananda
Birth: He was born as Narendranath Datta on 12th January, 1863.
National Youth Day is held every year to observe the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Introduced the world to the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga.
He preached ‘neo-Vedanta’, an interpretation of Hinduism through a Western lens, and believed in combining spirituality with material progress.
Laid the greatest emphasis on education for the regeneration of our motherland. Advocated a man-making character-building education. Vivekananda was opposed to degeneration in religion, manifold divisions, caste rigidities, practice of untouchability, superstitions etc.
Best known for his speech at the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called Vivekananda the “maker of modern India.”
Associated Organisations:
He was the chief disciple of the 19th-century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa and established the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
Ramakrishna Mission is an organization which works in the area of value-based education, culture, health, women's empowerment, youth and tribal welfare and relief and rehabilitation.
In 1899, he established the Belur Math, which became his permanent abode.
Death: He died at Belur Math in 1902. Belur Math, located in West Bengal, is the headquarters of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission.