Digvijay Divas 2025: Honoring Swami Vivekananda’s Mission to Unite India through Vedanta”-Puri

Jaswant Singh Puri/ September 11,2025

Swami Vivekananda, born on 12 January, 1863, and named Narendranath Datta was an Indian monk, philosopher who was credited with raising interfaith awakening and elevating Hinduism to the peak and zenith of glory in the world. ‘Digvijay Divas’ is an annual observance on September 11 to commemorate the historic speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893 with his message of Indian spirituality, tolerance, compassion and universal brotherhood. The day is celebrated to honour Swami Vivekananda’s ‘conquest’ of the Western World, delivering his inaugural address at the Parliament of World Religions which began with the iconic words “Sisters and brothers of America”, which mesmerised the audience and earned him with a standing ovation. In that instant, Swami Vivekananda became the roaring voice of a long-silenced civilisation.

Swami Vivekananda’s message highlighted that service to humanity is service to God. The day inspires the younger generations to follow his ideals of fearlessness, strength and selfless service. He emphasised the philosophies of Vedanta and Hinduism to the Western world. He elevated the status of Indian culture and spirituality. The day signifies to reflect on his teachings and their continued relevance in promoting peace in a diverse world.

Some of his inspiring quotes are:

“Take risks in your life. If you win, you can lead. If you lose, you can guide”.

“I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance”.

The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet.

We want that education by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased.

Everything is easy when you are busy, but nothing is easy when you are lazy.

There is no other spiritual teacher than your own soul.

All power is within you ! You can do anything and everything.

Love opens the most impossible gates; love is the gate to all the secrets of the universe.

Anything that makes you weak physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject as Poison.

I’m a lover not a fighter, but I will fight for what I love.

Prof. (Rtd.) ASHWANI KUMAR DATTA, Former I/C Vice – Chancellor, Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education (LNIPE), Gwalior, writes about Swami Vivekanand as follows: Few Words on Vivekananda, a Hindu Monk & Spiritual Leader

“It is said life need not be long but how well one lives seems absolutely true on Vivekananda. He advocated for universal acceptance, interfaith tolerance and all religions lead to the same divine truth.

He was a youth icon and his core message to the youth was to” Arise! Awake! and stop not until the goal is reached”.

He inspires the youth by promoting self belief, character development and service to humanity.

Further, he advocates that youth shall consider life as a “gymnasium” for self improvement.

His message to the youth that is still relevant is “You will be nearer to heaven through football than through the study of Gita”.

In short, Vivekananda provides a timeless message to youth for empowerment and purposeful living”.

I take pride in acknowledging that Jaswant Singh Puri was my colleague in PYKKA Resource Centre (PRC), at Gwalior. (PYKKA: Panchayat Yuva Kreeda Aur Khel Abhiyan), a flagship scheme of Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for the promotion of sports in rural areas. He worked as Public Relation Officer at PRC.\

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA & HIS SPEECH ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1893, CHICAGO

Speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda on September 11, 1893, at the first World’s Parliament of Religions on the site of the present-day Art Institute Sisters and Brothers of America, It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world, I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: “As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee.”

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: “Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me.” Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA MEMORIAL / ISLAND

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument and popular tourist attraction in Kanyakumari, India’s southernmost tip. The memorial stands on one of the two rocks located about 500 meters off mainland of Vavathurai, Tamil Nadu. It was built I n 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda, who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock.