Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today addressed a Students’ Convention on the occasion of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Centenary Celebrations, and 125th Year of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago Address, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. 

Prime Minister said that 125 years ago, on the same day that has recently come to be known as 9/11, with just a few words, a youngster from India won over the world and showed the world the power of oneness. The 9/11 of 1893 was about love, harmony and brotherhood, he added. 

PM Modi said that Swami Vivekananda raised his voice against the social evils that have entered our society. He recalled that Swami Vivekananda said that only rituals will not connect an individual to divinity; he said that ‘Jan Seva is ÂPrabhu Seva.’ 

Swami Vivekananda did not believe in sermonising, the Prime Minister said. His ideas and idealism paved way for an institutional framework through the Ramakrishna Mission, he added. 

He specially mentioned all those people who are working tirelessly to keep India clean, noting that they were the ones who had most imbibed the spirit of Vande Mataram. Student organisations, while campaigning for university elections should give more importance to cleanliness, PM Modi said. He said that only those who respect women, can take legitimate pride in the opening words of Swami VivekanandÂs address  ÂBrothers and sisters of America. 

The correspondence between Swami Vivekananda and Jamsetji Tata will show the concern Swami ji had towards India’s self-reliance, the Prime Minister said. Both knowledge and skills are equally important, the Prime Minister added. 

PM Modi said, that people now say that the 21st century is AsiaÂs century. But long ago, Swami Vivekananda had given the concept of ‘One Asia,’ and said that the solutions to the world’s problems will come from Asia. 

There is no better place for creativity and innovation than university campuses, Prime Minister said, adding that campuses should organize days to celebrate the culture and language of various States, to strengthen the spirit of ÂEk Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat. 

India is changing, India’s standing at the global stage is rising and this is due to Jan Shakti, Prime Minister said. ÂFollow the rules, and India will rule, he exhorted the student community