India Behind The Lens (News Centre)

Today's 150th birthdayof the great son of Mother India - Narendra Nath, who, the world knows as Swami Vivekanand. The tribute will be paid from Pashchimbanga (West Bengal), his birthplace, to Gujarat, the land, where another Narendra rules the hearts.

150th Birth Birthday of Swami Vivekananda will be celebrated with various types of programs across the Pashimbanga and especially at Kolkata. All the Institutions & Religious places of Ramakrishna & Vivekananda will organize several programs on Swami Vivekananda whole day. West Bengal Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the Bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda at Dakshineswar Kali Temple complex. She has requested all the followers of Swami Vivekananda to participate in the Rally being organized on the occassion. It starts at 8am in the morning at College Square to Simla Street (Birthplace of Swami Vivekananda) of Kolkata. Before the rally, Siren & Shankh Dhwani program played at 6:31am in the morning which is the exact timings of Swami Vivekananda Ji's Birth.

Narendra Modi's Gujarat has planned to dedicate the entire year to Swami Vivekanand, celebrating it as the 'Year of the Youth Power'. Narendra Modi is learned to have quoted, "Today's Bharat is the land of youth. The youth have both zeal and strength. Seeing them empowered with advanced knowledge & technology coupled with fresh enthusiasm frees me from the worries of India's future."

In Gandhinagar, a grand youth convention is being organised at 3 PM at the Mahatma Mandir, which will be webcast live on narendramodi's website. It will be presided over by India's Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and CM Narendra Modi. The convention will mark the beginning of year long celebrations across the state. Modi has called for celebrating Swami Vivekanand’s 150th birthday with grandeur and in a magnificent manner. He said that Swami Vivekanand had spent maximum time in Gujarat during his tour of the nation and it is in the fitness of things that Gujarat celebrates the event as a guiding force to the nation. The youth should imbibe and emulate his ideals and philosophy in practical life. It was Swami Vivekanand who had inspired the youth with the slogan of ‘India First’.

Narendra Modi's website has listed some of the speeches of Swami Vivekanand which can be read here: Speeches & textfile