The 155th birth anniversary of spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda was celebrated on 12th January 2018. The day is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.

Swami Vivekananda was an Indian Hindu monk who was born on 12th January 1863 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India). Born as Narendranath Dutta (shortened to Narendra or Naren), Swami Vivekananda was the chief disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa. Swami Vivekananda was influenced by his guru Ramakrishna Paramhansa from whom he received the teachings of service to mankind.

Born in a Bengali Kayastha family, Swami Vivekananda is considered as a key figure in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the western world. He played a major role in the revival of Hinduism in India. Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897. His historic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893 which began as “Sisters and brothers of America….” is considered as one of the best speeches overseas by an Indian spiritual leader. He introduced Hinduism in his speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions and is credited with raising interfaith awareness and establishing Hinduism as a major world religion in the late 19th century. Representing India at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago Swami Vivekananda conducted several lectures spreading principles of Hindu philosophy across the United States. He also spread the principles of Hindu philosophy to the United Kingdom and Europe. 

Regarded as a patriotic saint Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth Day in India. Swami Vivekananda passed away on 4th July 1902 at the age of 39. It is said that Swami Vivekananda passed away due to rupture of a blood vessel in his brain. He passed away at Belur Math, Bengal Presidency, British India (present-day West Bengal, India).