The 163rd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was observed across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on January 12 with enthusiasm and reverence, as institutions, students and members of the public gathered to mark National Youth Day and reflect on the philosopher’s enduring message.
The main commemorative function was held near the statue of Swami Vivekananda at Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), where the event unfolded in a solemn and reflective atmosphere. Commissioner-cum-Secretary Chanchal Yadav attended the programme as chief guest and led the tributes by offering floral homage at the statue, followed by other dignitaries and participants.
Director of Education and Sports Vikram Singh, Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission, Sri Vijaya Puram, Swami Omkaratmananda, monks of the Ramakrishna Mission, students from schools and colleges, and members of the general public were also present at the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chanchal Yadav highlighted the continuing relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in contemporary society. She said Vivekananda had unwavering faith in the strength and potential of India’s youth and believed that young people would play a decisive role in guiding the nation towards progress and prosperity.
Referring to Vivekananda’s call, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,” she said the message remains a powerful reminder for citizens to awaken their inner strength and work persistently for national development. She urged the younger generation to draw inspiration from Vivekananda’s ideals and actively contribute to nation-building.
Yadav also noted that the writings and quotations of Swami Vivekananda continue to inspire people across generations. She encouraged students and citizens to read his works to gain clarity of purpose, inner strength and motivation.
In his address, Swami Omkaratmananda spoke on the life and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, calling upon the gathering to follow the path of knowledge, courage and strong moral character, which formed the core of the spiritual leader’s teachings.
As part of the National Youth Day observances, a rally was organised in which a large number of students and officials participated. The rally commenced from Netaji Stadium and passed through key locations including Clock Tower, Model School, Post Office, Bengali Club, CEO Office, LIC Building, Gandhi Statue, Narayan Chowk, Swimming Pool, Girls School and Ramakrishna Mission, before culminating at the Vivekananda statue at JNRM.
The programme was jointly organised by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, in association with the Department of Education, JNRM, Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Ramakrishna Mission.
The observance concluded with a collective resolve to uphold Swami Vivekananda’s message of service, self-discipline and character-building, aimed at fostering a strong, enlightened and progressive society.
