1. Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders ofIndia.He was more than just a spiritual mind; he was a prolific thinker, great orator and passionate patriot.He carried on the free-thinking philosophy of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa forward into anew paradigm. He worked tirelessly towards betterment of the society, in servitude of the poor andneedy, dedicating his all for his country. He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualism andestablished Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage. His message of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevant especially in the current backdrop of widespread political turmoil around the world.2. The young monk and his teachings have been an inspiration to many and his words have become goals of self-improvement especially for the youth of the country. For this very reason, his birthday, January 12, is celebrated as the National Youth Day in India. Born Narendranath Dutta, into an affluent Bengali family in Calcutta, Vivekananda was one of the eight children of Vishwanath Dutta and Bhuvaneshwari Devi. He was born on January 12, 1863, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Father Vishwanath was a successful attorney with considerable influence in society. Narendranath’s mother Bhuvaneshwari was a woman endowed with a strong, God-fearing mind who had a great impact on her son.3. As a young boy, Narendranath displayed sharp intellect. His mischievous nature belied his interest in music, both instrumental as well as vocal. He excelled in his studies as well, first at the Metropolitan institution, and later at the Presidency College in Calcutta. By the time he graduated from the college, he had acquired a vast knowledge of different subjects. He was active in sports, gymnastics, wrestling and body building. He was an avid reader and read up on almost everything under the sun. He perused the Hindu scriptures like the Bhagvad Gita and the Upanishads on one hand, while on the other hand he studied western philosophy, history and spirituality by David Hume, Johann Gottlieb Fichte and Herbert Spencer.2 | P a g e4. Although Narendranath’s mother was a devout woman and he had grown up in a religious atmosphere at home, he underwent a deep spiritual crisis at the start of his youth. His wellstudiedknowledge led him to question the existence of God and for some time he believed in Agnosticism. Yet he could not completely ignore the existence of a Supreme Being. He became associated with Bramho Movement led by Keshab Chandra Sen, for some time. The BramhoSamaj recognised one God unlike the idol-worshipping, superstition-ridden Hinduism. The host of philosophical questions regarding the existence of God roiling through his mind remained unanswered. During this spiritual crisis, Vivekananda first heard about Sri Ramakrishna from William Hastie, the Principal of the Scottish Church College.5. Earlier, to satisfy his intellectual quest for God, Narendranath visited prominent spiritual leadersfrom all religions, asking them a single question, “Have you seen God?” Each time he came awaywithout a satisfying answer. He put forward the same question to Sri Ramkrishna at his residence inDakshineshwar Kali Temple compounds. Without a moment’s hesitation, Sri Ramakrishna replied:“Yes, I have. I see God as clearly as I see you, only in a much deeper sense.” Vivekananda, initiallyunimpressed by the simplicity of Ramkrishna, was astonished with Ramakrishna’s reply. Ramakrishna gradually won over this argumentative young man with his patience and love. The more Narendranath visited Dakshineshwar, the more his questions were answered.