Rajiv Gandhi Empowered Youth: Lowered Voting Age, Opened Tech Doors

Tagore highlighted Swami Vivekananda's "timeless" message of courage, character, and service, which, he said, continues to inspire India's youth to rise with confidence and compassion. He also "reaffirmed" the faith in the power of India's youth to shape a just, progressive and inclusive future.

Through his X post, he said," On the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, we celebrate National Youth Day. Swamiji's timeless message of courage, character and service continues to inspire India's youth to rise with confidence and compassion. It was Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi who truly empowered the youth of this nation--lowering the voting age to 18, opening the doors of technology, education and modern India to young minds. On National Youth Day, we reaffirm our faith in the power of India's youth to shape a just, progressive and inclusive future."

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in his X post, called Swami Vivekananda "a symbol of Indian life values and an invaluable source of inspiration for our youth."He recalled that "as a tribute to Swami ji's thoughts and ideals, Shri Rajiv Gandhi had declared this day as 'National Youth Day'." Quoting from Vivekananda's Chicago speech, Kharge highlighted its enduring relevance in today's world marked by conflict and intolerance.

Through his X post, he said, "Heartfelt greetings to all countrymen on National Youth Day. Today is the birth anniversary of India's great thinker and philosopher Swami Vivekananda ji. He is a symbol of Indian life values and an invaluable source of inspiration for our youth. As a tribute to Swami ji's thoughts and ideals, Shri Rajiv Gandhi had declared this day as 'National Youth Day.' Some excerpts from his historic speech delivered at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, America, in 1893, which are still highly relevant today. --'Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence. How many times has this earth been reddened with blood. How many civilizations have been destroyed and how many countries have been ruined. If these terrible demons had not been there, human society would have been much more advanced today, but now their time is over. I am fully confident that the conch sound of this conference today will destroy all dogmas, all kinds of strife, whether by the sword or the pen, and all ill feelings between people.' Swami Vivekananda ji taught humanity important lessons like spiritual development and equality and gave India a distinct identity in the world. Millions of salutations."

In addition to members of Congress, party leaders from across the political spectrum paid tribute to Swami Vivekananda on National Youth Day.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Vivekananda as a guiding force for India's youth. He added that Vivekananda's personality and works "continuously infuse new energy into the resolve for a developed India," and expressed hope that the day would bring "new strength and new self-confidence for all fellow citizens, especially our young companions."

Through his X post, he said, "My respectful tribute to Swami Vivekananda, the powerful source of inspiration for India's youth power, on his birth anniversary. His personality and works continuously infuse new energy into the resolve for a developed India. My wish is that this divine occasion of National Youth Day brings new strength and new self-confidence for all fellow citizens, especially our young companions."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid homage to Vivekananda, highlighting Vivekananda's global influence. Shah said he "connected the youth of the country with the Indian tradition of knowledge, philosophy, and spirituality, and took its reach to global forums." He further noted that Swami Vivekananda's message of perseverance continues to "awaken a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth and accelerate the construction of a developed India."

Through his X post, the Home Minister said, "On the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Ji's birth anniversary, I pay my respectful obeisance to him and extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the citizens of the country on 'National Youth Day'. Swami Vivekananda Ji, who connected the youth of the country with the Indian tradition of knowledge, philosophy, and spirituality, and took its reach to global forums, also established ideals of social service through the Ramakrishna Mission. The thoughts of Swami Ji, who gave the message of not stopping before achieving the goal, are awakening a sense of duty and patriotism among the youth and accelerating the construction of a developed India."

- ANI