About The Book
Today, India is one of the richest countries of the world in terms of youth power and potentials. Statistical data proclaims that sixty-six percent of its population (808 million) below the age of 35 determines India as the world's largest young community owner. Youth is the backbone of any country. The growth and prosperity of any nation is grounded on the productivity and dynamism of its young population. Any discussion on youth is incomplete without the reference of the Youth-Icon Swami Vivekananda. His vision for youth expounds the detailed structural and functional framework for the overall development of youth. This book spells the themes of philosophy given by Swami Vivekananda to a broader audience and a wider readership. Here a survey based research work has been taken to assess the ideas of Swami Vivekananda among the modern young generation of Varanasi/Kashi region. Kashi is the capital of ancient knowledge and spirituality in the world. This book will serve as a major resource for Varanasi/Kashi studies, youth studies and Swami Vivekananda studies and can be used as model frame for similar cities of the world. It examines the relevance of Swami Vivekananda's thoughts and principles for each and every youth of the global platform. The messages of this book establish that if we follow the manifesto designed by Swami Vivekananda for the youth, the present and future scenario of the globe will significantly change and emerge as the goal oriented, action oriented and thinking oriented cohort. It may be useful for researchers, policy makers, educators, and practitioners in the field of youth development and empowerment.
About The Author
Alka Rani Gupta is Professor and Head of the PG Department of Political Science at Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi. Her academic journey as a teacher has crossed the span of more than twenty-one years. She received UGC Senior Research Fellowship for Ph.D. dissertation that has been awarded from the Banaras Hindu University. She has completed a Research Project on Youth-Vision been sponsored by UGC. Recently she has been selected as IUC (Inter-University Center) Associate at the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla. She is a Resource Person and Project Facilitator of the students and trainee teachers of the Karlstad University and the Lulea University of Sweden. She has authored a few books and published some research papers in the journals of National and International repute. Besides academics, she is passionate for youth awareness and sensitization through her constant social activities.
Foreword
Though not much is known of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Dev's first visit to Varanasi, the year of his visit is very significant. It was in 1863, the year in which the Shiva-Avatara Swami Vivekananda was born! Sri Ramakrishna had brought Swami Vivekananda from the sublime transcendental realm to this mundane plane. Swami Vivekananda was born from the Indivisible Spirit for the good and well-being of the world in this age, Swami Vivekananda's mother Bhuvaneshwari Devi in her longing for a son arranged for regular prayers and worships at the temple of Vireshwar Mahadeva in Varanasi. Unsurprisingly, Swami Vivekananda was born on Monday-an opportune day to worship Lord Shiva. Swami Vivekananda had a deep and ardent devotion to Lord Vishwanath and to holy Varanasi. He was fascinated by Varanasi's spiritual heritage and its hermitic tradition. In fact, he visited Varanasi twice in his lifetime: once in 1890 during his itinerant days, after the passing away of his Master (Guru) Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Dev, and again in 1902, the year of his Mahasamadhi. When he began his itinerary, on his pilgrimage, to know and experience more about India, Varanasi was always a priority. Though he didn't spend a long stretch of his life in Varanasi, the mysticism of Varanasi found a great admirer in the great visionary, the ascetic miracle of India, and of humanity, and the experiences, the teachings, the learning. that he had in Varanasi, always echoed in his teaching throughout his life. "The Life of Swami Vivekananda: By His Eastern and Western Disciples' describes the visit to Varanasi in 1890 beautifully: "...his extended pilgrimages, the first of these was Varanasi, the home of monks, the centre of learning and the Seat of Shiva. He set out from the Baranagore Math, accompanied by Premananda and Fakirbabu, a lay devotee of the Master. The sacred Ganga, the praying votaries, the numerous temples, especially those of Vishwanath, Annapurna and Durga, the atmosphere of holiness, the thought that it was here that the Buddha and Shri Sankara had preached-all these made a vivid impression on him." Between the Durga Kunda and Sankat Mochan, occurred the famous incident of him being chased by a group of monkeys when an old monk called out to him "Don't be afraid! Face the brutes". Doing as advised, the monkeys retreated hastily, revealing to him a life-long lesson. Swamiji narrated this story in his New York lecture to mean it is a big lesson for our whole life. If we face our problems instead of running away from them, they will run away like those monkeys. Swamiji observed that the rich people of India, specifically of Varanasi, showed no enthusiasm in public welfare work. So, he once said angrily to the elite group of the city, "I am now leaving Kashi, and shall not return until I have burst on society like a bomb-shell; and it will follow me like a dog." During his visit to the West, Swami Vivekananda gave his message of the glory to the Spirit! And he would announce prior to his lecture, "Come to hear me.
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