How Swami Vivekananda’s ideals influenced PM Narendra Modi

When the NDA came to power in 2014, riding on what the media and analysts called the Modi-wave, Narendra Modi’s people skills came to the fore, and how! The masses found him relatable. His social astuteness, coupled with excellent oratory and interpersonal communication skills, along with the uncanny ability to lead without seeming dogmatic were qualities that had rarely been seen together, especially in Indian polity. The reason for that is the one Modi idolises was an embodiment of all these qualities. Times and again, PM Modi has said on various stages that his inspiration comes from Swami Vivekananda.

Inspiration for the youth, Swami Vivekananda’s birthday is celebrated as the National Youth Day every year on January 12 since 1985. While making the announcement in 1984, the government had said that ''it was felt that the philosophy of Swamiji and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.''

The PM has said in the past that Swami Vivekananda’s speeches and life had a profound influence on his mind. The renowned philosopher’s impressive enunciation inspired young Narendra Modi to dedicate his life to service. This was the beginning of a journey of inner discovery. It began at the Ramakrishna Mission, where Modi lived with monks as a teenager, and got to spend time in Swami Vivekananda's chamber. Moved by Swami Vivekananda’s works, Modi started studying the philosopher’s life and works. The young Narendra Modi was a voracious reader and by nature a curious young man. He started collecting Swami Vivekananda's quotes in his diary — an exercise he would conscientiously adhere to for the years to come.

In fact, as a 16-year-old, Narendra Modi had made up his mind in 1966 to take up sanyasa at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram in Gujarat’s Rajkot, much like the young Narendranath — Swami Vivekananda’s name before he became a monk. Perhaps the uncanny likeness of their names was also a pull to the young Narendra Modi who was more drawn towards being a philosopher at that age, rather than the leadership role he would be donning in the years to come.

However, the course of his path of self-discovery was changed by Swami Atmasthananda — the then head of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram at Rajkot, and the one who would go on to become the 15th President of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission — who greatly influenced Modi’s thoughts on serving people. He reportedly told the young Modi that "sanyasa was not for him and his work was among people and not in seclusion."

While sanyasa was not for him, Swami Vivekananda continued being a philosophical influence on Modi, who now channelled his efforts to awaken national pride. A driven Narendra Modi was drawn to spreading the message of Swami Vivekananda. He regularly discussed the philosophy and contributions of the monk with young people and regularly incorporated Swami Vivekananda’s ideals in his political and public life. He carried the messages of the monk during his travels abroad, and people from the Indian diaspora in countries across the world were often drawn to Modi to discuss the ideas and teachings of the saint.

As a leader, Modi organised the 45-day Ekta Yatra from Kanyakumari in 1991, to spread the message of national unity and integrity as was proclaimed by the revered monk. Two years later in 1993, he was invited to attend the Global Vision 2000 convention in Washington DC, along with 10,000 delegates from 60 countries. This was for the centenary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda’s famous speech at the World's Parliament of Religions that the monk had delivered in 1893. The address, as Modi has said a number of times, inspired him more than most things. It was this impressive enunciation of India's ancient values and cultural ethos by Swami Vivekananda that underlined India's philosophical acceptance of the truth guiding every religion.

Further, Modi had also hosted a youth conclave during the centennial of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address. During the conclave, youngsters, accompanied by a band, had marched with Indian flags flying high.

The passion for spreading Swami Vivekananda’s life and his message was to continue in Modi’s life even as he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat. On the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago address, the then Gujarat CM Modi carried out a massive Swami Vivekananda Yuva Vikas Yatra across the state, commencing on September 11, 2012.

His passion was acknowledged by global leaders like former US President Barack Obama, who gifted PM Modi the rare copy of the book — The World’s Congress: Religions at the World’s Columbian Exposition — commemorating Swami Vivekananda's speech to the World Religions Summit of 1893.

To date, PM Modi has been spreading the message of Swami Vivekananda even as he strives to emulate the monk’s ideals in his life.