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“Arise! Awake! and stop not until the
goal is reached.” – Swami Vivekananda
Every year on January 12, Indians
celebrate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda who was a youth icon and a
spiritual leader. He was born in an
affluent family in Kolkata on January 12, 1863 and a disciple of Sri
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. His birth anniversary is celebrated as National Youth
Day across India. Let us take stock on this day how far we have grown as a
nation and society.
Swami Vivekananda has many followers across
the world, and I am one of his ardent followers influenced more than 30 years
ago. I read most of his works and inspired with his philosophies, and I set a
vision to build one million students as global leaders by 2030. I share his ideals and ideas with students
during my leadership development training programs and also through my books
and social media posts regularly. I dedicated my award-winning book ‘Student
Leaders: Growing from Students to CEOs’ URL: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Leaders-Growing-Students-CEOS/dp/9351101630
to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former
President of India gave me permission to incorporate his pledge in this book. There
are several eminent leaders who were inspired by this legend including Indian
leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Subhas Chandra Bose and international leaders
like Bill Gates and John Rockefeller. I would like to share a few thoughts on
this legend.
Leadership
Lessons from Swami Vivekananda
There are several leadership lessons
we can learn from this legend. Here are some of them:
- Example: He led by example. He walked his talk. He practiced what he preached throughout his life. He toured India and abroad to spread spiritual, moral and ethical values.
- Ethics: He emphasized on ethical and moral values. He laid stress on character education among the Indian youth. He asserted that character is the beginning of a person’s development.
- Excellence: He strove for excellence in all spheres. He pioneered to deliver best. He inspired the imagination of people and implored them to raise their bar to unlock their human potential to achieve excellence.
- Empowerment: He empowered Indian youth and strove for women empowerment. He rightly remarked, "There is no chance of the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing."
- Eloquence: He was a great orator. His famous speech in World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago was an historic one. He mesmerized the audience by addressing, “Dear brothers and sisters of America ..” It aroused a huge applause from audience and he continued his speech, “It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given me. I thank you in the name of the Mother of Religions and in the name of the millions and millions of Hindus of all classes and sects.” He spoke about greatness of India and the need for religious toleration and secularism.
Swami Vivekananda had a broader vision
unlike his colleagues. He set both national and global goals. With his national
goals, he awakened India and Indian youth to grow their potential; and with his
global goals, he presented India’s cultural and spiritual values in a positive
perspective to the world. He was the
first Indian religious leader to travel and explore India. He was deeply moved
by poverty and backwardness of the people. He understood the challenges at the grass
root level in India and inspired Indians when the nation needed his
leadership. He was a bridge between the
east and the west and he elevated India globally in a positive perspective in
modern India. It was a rare contribution by any Indian spiritual leader. He was
an authentic leader who led from the front. He was a simple and humble leader without
any hypocrisy. His life was a message. He is above Hindu religion and his
influence is beyond national borders. He
is a great humanist and pioneer of religious toleration and secularism.
India is blessed with both natural and
human resources. If the present human resources which is predominantly young
works hard, India can unlock its potential to grow as a super power in the near
future.
Presently some of the Indian youth
lack focus, discipline and a right attitude. They must inculcate them to grow
as good citizens and great leaders. They
must take a pledge to become healthy citizens to build a strong nation and a great
global society.
Swami
Vivekananda’s Relevance
Swami Vivekananda’s ideas and ideals
are timeless. He is relevant as long as the civilization exists. There is
intolerance everywhere across the world. Therefore, the world needs another
Swami Vivekananda to promote fraternity and brotherhood.
On the eve of his birth anniversary, I
implore Indian youth to inculcate ethical values and achieve success with
integrity. Build a tolerant and secular society. Strive for global peace and
prosperity. Respect your parents, teachers and elders. Have a positive attitude, enhance your
commitment, and above all, have a backbone with a strong character to excel as
a good citizen and as a great global leader. Jai Hind!
“All differences in this world are of
degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.” - Swami
Vivekananda
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Professor M.S.Rao, India
Founder of MSR
Leadership Consultants India
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Professor M.S.Rao is a global leadership guru who is passionate to build one million students as global leaders. He has a huge number of followers globally including in Malaysia. He gave autographs to his fans in Malaysia in August 2015 who bought his award-winning book. '21 Success Sutras for Leaders' which is widely read by leaders and CEOs globally. I enjoy his training programs. I read most of his books. I love his vision. I am proud to be one of his one million global leaders. Jai Hind!
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