Guwahati: Swami Vivekananda gave this world the essence of the Indian social system and ethos of Hindu culture. He appreciated the spirit of Indian philosophy and showed humanity the right path to progress.
Inspired by this great soul, we need to go forward to forge a society based on the service of mankind. These are the observations of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal while inaugurating the life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda at Barpeta today. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that Swami Vivekananda helped to build a society based on the tenets of humanity.
He said that concerted efforts need to be taken to popularize the youth icon Swami Vivekananda among the younger generation and let them know Swamiji’s ideology on Hindu Philosophy.
If this can be done the mental and intellectual faculty young generation can be placed on a high pedestal of morality and humanity. Sonowal also said that Swami Vivekananda gave everything to the society following which the young generation can inculcate in them the virtues of morality.
Chief Minister Sonowal while referring to the Prime Minister said that Narendra Modi took all initiatives to transform India into a world leader based on the principle of Swami Vivekananda. Citing Vivekananda’s epoch-making Chicago speech at the Parliament of World Religion, Sonowal said that the Chicago speech put India on a high pedestal before the world.
Speaking on Swamiji’s vision for the development of all sections of the people especially the weaker sections, Sonowal said that buoyed by Swamiji’s philosophy, Prime Minister Modi enabled his government to take steps for the empowerment of women. Moved by Prime Minister Modi, the State government has also taken several steps for the empowerment of women. He said that the statue of Vivekananda unveiled at Barpeta would help the people of all sections especially the youngsters to move forward in the right spirit of humanity.
He said that the State government undertook a journey of harmony taking all sections of the people on board. In this context, Sonowal gave a brief snapshot of all the schemes and programmes taken by the Central and State governments together. Chief Minister Sonowal said that the development of North East received a new dimension when Bharat Ratna Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. This new dimension received a new fillip from Modi led BJP government at the Centre which has discovered the hidden potential of the North East and announced and implemented a series of programmes.
He said that during the tenure of the present dispensation the co-existence of all sections of the people has been made more harmonious along with minimizing the gap between Barak and Brahmaputra valley. He moreover said that taking a giant stride towards Atmanirbhar Assam, the present State government took powerful steps for the equal development of all the districts of the state. Union Minister of State (Ind) for DoNER Dr. Jitendra Singh while speaking on the occasion, said that Sarbananda Sonowal led government in the state has changed the image of the state which is now known for its powerful role in national development.
He said that because of the steps taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the social and economic empowerment narrative that has been unleashed has now become a national discourse. Assam and other parts of the North East were known for all the wrong reasons.
However, the image has undergone a sea change as the region has scripted new success stories in the last six to seven years. Speaking on the occasion, Chairman HOUSEFED Ranjeet Kumar Dass said that Swami Vivekananda preached the message of self-reliance. Swami ji taught how a spirited and empowered society can be forged based on Indian values.
Speaking on the New Education Policy, Dass said that Prime Minister Modi made the Education Policy based on the teachings of Swamiji. General Secretary Vivekananda’s Philosophical Centre, Barpeta Chinmoy Bagchi gave the welcome address in the programme which was also addressed by eminent social worker Basistha Bujarbaruah. Eminent social worker Shankar Das and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Later Chief Minister Sonowal took stock of the construction work of a flyover being constructed using fund from the DoNER Ministry over the railway line in Barpeta.
