National Youth Day is celebrated on January 12, every year in India to honor the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of India's greatest leaders and believers of youth power. was an ardent disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and a major force in the revival of Hinduism in India. Celebrated as one of the greatest social leaders of the country, Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863, in Kolkata.

He pushed for national integration in colonial India, and his famous speech remains as the one that he gave in Chicago in 1893. Yuva Diwas is also celebrated to encourage the youth in the country to become a better person and achieve an honorable life contributing to the development of the country.

National Youth Day: History

In 1984 the Government of India declared this day as National Youth Day and since 1985, the event is celebrated in India every year.

It was a decision of the Government of India taken in 1984 to celebrate the birthday of great Swami Vivekananda, i.e. 12 January, as National Youth Day every year. The Government of India quoted that ' the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth Day.

Inspirational quotes by Swami Vivekananda:

• All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark
• We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far
• Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life -think of it, the dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success
• All differences in this world are of degree, and not of a kind because oneness is the secret of everything
• If money helps a man to do good to others, it is of some value; but if not, it is simply a mass of evil, and the sooner it is got rid of, the better.