IGNOU Nagpur Regional Centre has celebrated National Youth Day by organizing a Webinar with four young
prominent speakers, who shared their perspective of Indian Youth. Dr. P. Sivaswaroop, Senior Regional Director of IGNOU Nagpur Regional Centre welcomed the participants and explained the objectives of the Webinar. He said that Swami Vivekananda’s life and views are highly relevant to present-day society and that’s why his Birthday of 12th January is celebrated as National Youth Day since 1985.
He explained IGNOU’s contribution towards youth development; Dr. Sivaswaroop said that in the initial years, IGNOU was considered as a second opportunity for elders. But in the 21 st century, even youngsters are choosing IGNOU as first option for their higher studies and also as a parallel option for enhancing their job-oriented skills.
He shared the story of 5 young tribals in Kasari village of Kurkheda taluka of Gadchiroli and also a prisoner who completed undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees while in Jail and after release, became a teacher.
The Archer, Ms. Jayalakshmi Sarikonda is the first speaker. She is the Asiad champion and Bronze Medalist in World
championships spoke on “Indian Youth and Sports. Ms.Jayalakshmi said that sports be taken by every young person as a daily activity, if not as a career. Because sports will develop patience, confidence, determination, perseverance and team spirit, which will shape the future of the young person.
She narrated her World Championship at Mexico for the Bronze Medal. She had only 7 seconds in hand to hit the Bull’s eye and she did it. Thus the entire country was proud of winning a Bronze Medal in Archery at World Championship. She said, at that moment she felt that she fulfilled her responsibility of bringing a Bronze Medal to the Nation.
The Second speaker is Mr. Nikhil Vadnam, IRS and presently Deputy Director at Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence, Nagpur. He spoke on “Indian Youth and Civil Services”. Dr. Sivaswaroop said that for millions of young
Indian graduates, Civil Services is a Dream Career, irrespective of whether they are from Rural, Urban or Metro. Mr.Nikhil said that he studied in Telugu medium up to 10th standard in his village and so language has no barrier to crack Civil examinations. He also said that he did not take any coaching for Civil and studied on his own. Mr. Nikhil stated “we limit ourselves in our thinking and that limits our achievements”. He emphasized that the young people have great zeal and enthusiasm at young age and the Civil servants are given policy implementation at that age. So this combination leads to great development of the Nation.
Mr.Siddharth Roy, a National Youth Award Winner spoke on “Indian Youth and Society”. He referred to Swami
Vivekananda’s saying that we have to empower ourselves first and then we can serve Nation. He said we had holistic
education in our Ancient Nalanda, Takshashila systems, where 64 kala’s were part of education. But today we feel
knowledge is the whole education and we became “keyboard warriors”. He emphasized for humanism and moral values among youth and healthy competition for serving the Society.
Mr.Kshitij Gupta, Pracharak of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh and Sah Pramukh of College Students of Vidarbha
spoke on “Indian Youth and Nation Building”. He said that Swami Vivekananda and Nation Building are synonymous with each other. His words are relevant to us even today. At his time, India was under British rule and mindset was also
British. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose said “Swami Vivekananda is the spiritual father of Indian Nationalist Movement”.
Swami Vivekanand said our Sanyasis should go to villages and educate the masses to uplift the country. He found similarities of Swami Vivekananda Mission of Education and IGNOU work in Tribal and Rural areas. Mr. Kshitij said that according to Hinduism Motherhood is the highest form of feminity and consumerism of Western culture be rejected. Dr. P. Sivaswaroop proposed a formal vote of thanks and said that the video recording of the webinar is available on RC Nagpur YouTube channel and Facebook page.
