Inspiration Unravelled At The Indian Student Parliament, MIT, Pune
The inspiring 13th Bharatiya Chhatra Sansad (Indian Student Parliament), a dynamic congregation of the youth at the MIT World Peace University, got inspired by Swamiji’s power-packed speech on ‘Yugantar: Youth in Transition’, and envisioned themselves in shaping India’s future development.
India has the world’s largest youth population today which is a matter of strength for our nation while poised to emerge as the third largest economy in a few years. Swamiji underscored the existing dilemma of how today’s youth is confronted with age-old traditions amidst cutting-edge scientific and technological breakthroughs. Hence, the most pressing question for today’s youth is whether they envision tomorrow’s India to ape a leadership devoid of moral and ethical values or build a nation that stands firm and strong on its rich cultural roots.
Swamiji delved into many real-life examples, starting with the famous King, Chandragupta Maurya, who ruled the largest kingdom in Asia. He had enquired from his Guru, Chanakya Pandit, about the position of a King apropos his Subjects, as per Vedic scriptures. Chanakya Pandit replied that the King was the servant of his citizens and nothing but their servant.
Drawing analogies from the ecological system, Swamiji elucidated how all living beings take from the environment; but they also give back. A bee extracts nectar from the flowers and provides us with honey. Even the worm, whose job is to merely survive and live in the ground, makes the land more fertile for agricultural purposes. It is only humans who have this nature of always wanting to take!
Five thousand years ago, Lord Krishna stated,
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara ~Bhagavad Gita 3.9
This means that any work that we perform must be done with the intention of Yagya, i.e., as a sacrifice. When we work in service of others and for the pleasure of God, we do not get bound by the maladies of our own mind, like anger, greed, attachment to results, etc. Instead of gratifying our mind and our senses, we liberate ourselves from the emotional entanglements and attract divine grace.
A beautiful ideal for this was established by King Raghu, the ancestor of Lord Ram. Raghu performed the Viśhwajit yajña, which requires donating all of one’s possessions in charity. He performed this sacrifice with the thought that just as clouds gather water from the Earth, not for their enjoyment, but to shower it back upon the Earth, similarly, all he possessed as a king had been gathered from the public in taxes, not for his pleasure, but for the pleasure of God. So he decided to use his wealth to please God by serving his citizens with it.” After the yajña, Raghu donated all his possessions to his citizens. Then, donning the rags of a beggar and holding an earthen pot, he went out to beg for his meal.
These principles of servant leadership are now being adopted by many global companies given the overall positive influence it has on the employees of the organization and consequently the business of the organization.
India’s heritage has blossomed with many such eternal teachings from the sacred books and scriptures from which many generations drew the wellspring of wisdom and inspiration. Further, our holy land has been graced by saints whose life stories exemplified the highest of human values and virtues. These cultural treasures and ancestral legacy can go a long way in building noble character in citizens and sustainable growth for Bharat.
Therefore, youth of today has to learn the art of political leadership by embracing India’s ancient and medieval cultural roots. Just like the Bonsai plant (grown inside a small container) looks stunt because it does not get the space to expand its roots, similarly, the roots of our success lie in our inner growth. If we wish to grow higher, our roots must go deep!
Even the youth icon, Swami Vivekananda once said, “I shall lift my mind to such heights that I inspire people everywhere until the world realizes that it is one with God”. The same principle reflected in the words of Shree Adi Guru Shankaracharya thousands of years ago, “jagat jitaṁ kena?” ‘Who shall conquer this world?’ The wise answer he gave was: “mano hī yena” ‘One who conquers their own mind, not one who has superior weapons or greater wealth.’ When someone reins in and elevates their mind, their thoughts and ideas become so inspiring that they influence the entire world. This internal development is the foundation for external progress.
Citing the popular phrase ‘Change begins from within’, Swamiji mentioned how the current Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, rose from being an ordinary tea seller to governing 1.4 billion people. This could not have happened without improvising his way of thinking! Swamiji encouraged students to ponder over noble, sublime, and uplifting thoughts, for leading an effective life and making a difference in this world!
From the time we are born, everyone breathes, but the life of those becomes meaningful who strive to work for the welfare of all.
Swamiji’s words on fortifying democracy and instilling a national vision in the youth of today spellbound the audience to become better future leaders, ambassadors, and change-makers of tomorrow’s India.