By IANS,
Kolkata : Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, one a great monk and the other a champion nationalist, believed in the power of youth to transform India, West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan said here Wednesday.
“Swamiji and Netaji were separated by a number of years. But there was a great deal of commonality between them. Swamiji exhorted tremendous influence over Netaji. Netaji remained an ardent devotee of both Swami Vivekananda and Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa,” Narayanan said while speaking at Netaji’s 116th birth anniversary celebrations here.
The nation is also celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birthday this year.
Describing Netaji as a “far sighted and visionary leader”, the governor said the sole purpose of his life was to serve the country to the best of his convictions.
Narayanan said the great freedom fighter believed in youth as did Vivekananda.
“Swamiji initiated the process of national rejuvenation and regeneration. He placed a great deal of hope on the youth of the country and felt that youth were essential for the welfare and progress of the community. Netaji believed that without youth nothing would progress in our country,” be said.
The governor said both the spiritual and nationalist leaders possessed an “inner calmness” as they achieved a certain level of realisation.
“Swamiji perceived services to humanity as a path to salvation and emphasised doctrines of social service. Netaji championed eradication of poverty and illiteracy and was a believer of an egalitarian society,” he explained.