PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the 25th National Youth Festival in Puducherry, via video conferencing on Wednesday.

Today, being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda is observed as National Youth Day. 

During the event, the Prime Minister unveiled selected essays on “Mere Sapno ka Bharat” and “Unsung Heroes of Indian Freedom Movement”.

These essays have been selected from submissions by over 1 lakh youth on the two themes.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a Technology Centre of the MSME Ministry, established at Puducherry with an investment of about Rs. 122 crore.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Manimandapam – an auditorium with an open-air theatre, constructed by the Government of Puducherry at a cost of about Rs 23 crores.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister greeted the nation on National Youth Day.

Bowing to Swami Vivekananda, the Prime Minister said his birth anniversary in this year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is all the more inspiring.

The Prime Minister noted the added significance of this period as the celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Sri Aurobindo and also the 100th death anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi is falling in the same period.

“Both these sages have a special relationship with Puducherry. Both have been partners in each other’s literary and spiritual journey,” the Prime Minister said.

Commenting on the young profile of the ancient country, the Prime Minister said today, the world looks at India with hope and faith.

“Because, India’s demography is young, and the mind of India is also young. There is youth in India’s potential, and in its dreams. India is young in its thoughts as well as in its consciousness,” Modi said.

“India’s thinking and philosophy have always accepted change and there is modernity in its antiquity,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the youth of the country have always come forward in times of need.

“Whenever the national consciousness gets divided, youth like Shankar come and stitch the country in the thread of unity as Aadi Shankracharya,” he said.

“In times of tyranny, sacrifices of youth like the Sahibjaade of Guru Gobind Singh Ji guide us even today,” Modi said.

“When India needed sacrifice for its freedom, young revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad and Netaji Subhas came forward to dedicate their lives to the country. Whenever the country needs spiritual regeneration, sages like Aurobindo and Subramnayan Bharathi come to the scene,”  the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister said the youth of India have democratic values along with the demographic dividend, their democratic dividend is also incomparable.

“India considers its youth as a demographic dividend as well as a development driver,” he emphasised

The Prime Minister stressed that today, if the youth of India has the charm of technology, then there is also the consciousness of democracy. Today, if the youth of India has the ability for hard work, then there is also clarity about the future.

That is why what India says today, the world considers it to be the voice of tomorrow.

The Prime Minister said the young generation at the time of independence did not hesitate for a moment to sacrifice everything for the country.

But today’s youth has to live for the country and fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters, he said.

He added that the youth’s ability is not burdened by old stereotypes, he knows how to shake them.

This youth can evolve itself and society according to new challenges, new demands and can create new ones.

The Prime Minister remarked that today’s youth has a ‘Can Do’ spirit which is a source of inspiration for every generation.