Every year on January 12, India observes National Youth Day to mark the birthday of Narendranath Dutta, better known as Swami Vivekananda, one of the country’s greatest spiritual leaders and philosophers. He was a votary of education, self-improvement, and social justice.

This national event honors the country’s youth and encourages young people to embrace Vivekananda’s ideas and philosophies and follow in his footsteps.

Swami Vivekanada was a Vedantist. The doctrine of Vedanta are based the Upanishads, mystical texts in Hinduism. . 

In 1983 Swami Vivekananda went to the US and attended the famous “Parliament of Religions” at Chicago. His speech at that august assembly earned him fame and followers throughout the world. New York Herald wrote, “after hearing him we feel how foolish it is to send missionaries to this learned nation”

Sir Valentine Chirol characterizes Vivekananda as “the first Hindu whose personality won demonstrative recognition abroad for India’s ancient civilization and of her new-born claim to nationhood.”
 

What is the theme of National Youth Day, 2023?

The theme of the National Youth Day 2023 is “Viksit Yuva-Viksit Bharat.

Why is National Youth Day Observed on January 12?
National Youth Day is observed on January 12 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The Indian government first declared Swami Vivekananda’s birthday, January 12, as National Youth Day in 1984 to encourage young people to follow in his footsteps. Since then, the day has been observed as National Youth Day throughout the country.