On the occasion of the 133rd anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic Chicago Address, commemorated as Digvijay Diwas, the Swami Vivekanand Research Chair, SVSU, organized a special programme at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut. The programme comprised a “Commemorative Screening of a Short Film followed by an Open Quiz Competition” on the theme “Swami Vivekananda’s Life, Teachings & Chicago Address.” The event was celebrated with great enthusiasm and aimed to commemorate the life, thoughts and ideals of Swami Vivekananda while inspiring the youth to embrace the values of nation-building, self-confidence, courage, service and humanity in their personal and professional lives.
The programme commenced with a floral tribute to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. On the occasion, Prof. (Dr.) Monika Mehrotra, Professor and Convener, Swami Vivekanand Research Chair, SVSU, warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, Maj. Gen. (Dr.) G.K. Thapliyal, SM (Retd.), Pro-Chancellor, and Registrar Gp Capt. M. Yakoob. The programme was compered by Ms. Kanishka and Ms. Devika.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Maj. Gen. (Dr.) G.K. Thapliyal, SM (Retd.), appreciated the significant role being played by the Swami Vivekanand Research Chair. He observed that the Chair is not merely confined to the academic study of Swami Vivekananda’s life and philosophy, but also serves as an important platform for taking his thoughts to the younger generation and nurturing a sense of responsibility towards the nation, society and humanity.
He further stated that Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy continues to inspire young people to develop self-confidence, character, discipline and a spirit of service. Such programmes provide students with an opportunity not only to learn about his teachings but also to understand their relevance and incorporate these values into their lives and working practices. He expressed confidence that the Swami Vivekanand Research Chair can play a vital role in carrying forward this inspiring legacy.
Registrar Gp Capt. M. Yakoob described the life of Swami Vivekananda as a powerful source of inspiration for the youth. He said that Vivekananda’s life demonstrates that regardless of how challenging circumstances may be, determination, self-confidence and persistent effort can transform even seemingly impossible goals into reality.
He highlighted that Swami Vivekananda gave Indian culture and spiritual thought a distinguished identity on the global stage. His Chicago Address was not merely a historic speech, but a landmark moment through which the world received India’s message of tolerance, humanity and religious harmony. He urged the youth to draw inspiration from Vivekananda’s life and strengthen their personality, character and sense of responsibility towards the nation.
As part of the celebration, a special film based on the life and contributions of Swami Vivekananda was screened. Through the film, students and participants gained a deeper understanding of his life struggles, philosophy, values and message to the world. The screening aimed not only to acquaint students with an important chapter of history but also to connect Swami Vivekananda’s ideals with contemporary life. The programme emphasized that his teachings remain highly relevant to personal development, social harmony and nation-building even today.
A quiz competition based on Swami Vivekananda’s life, teachings, philosophy, historic Chicago Address and contributions to society was also organized. Students participated with great enthusiasm and confidence, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding through their responses. The winners of the competition were felicitated with prizes.
The organizers stated that fostering curiosity for learning, active participation and self-confidence among students is one of the key objectives of such initiatives.
The programme was attended by Dr. Subhash Tripathi, Col. Rajesh Tyagi SM (Retd.), Prof. (Dr.) Sudhir Tyagi, Prof. (Dr.) Pintu Mishra, Prof. (Dr.) Tarak Nath Prasad, Dr. Ajay Verma, along with university faculty members, research scholars, staff members and students, who participated enthusiastically in the celebration.
The programme provided students with a meaningful opportunity to connect with the life and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda. The central message of the event was clear: if the youth imbibe Swami Vivekananda’s ideals of self-confidence, character, courage and service, they can play a transformative role in the progress of society and the nation.
