BHUBANESWAR: A wave of patriotism swept across Odisha on January 12 as more than 21 lakh students from over 16,000 educational institutions participated in a simultaneous mass rendition of Vande Mataram to mark National Youth Day and the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
The collective singing took place at 11 a.m. across government and private schools, colleges, and universities, creating a powerful atmosphere of unity and national pride throughout the state.
The statewide program was jointly organised by the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, the Higher Education Department, the School and Mass Education Department, and the Sports and Youth Services Department of the Government of Odisha. Teachers, students, and staff members participated enthusiastically, transforming the event into one of the largest coordinated patriotic activities in the state.
Higher Education, Sports and Youth Services, and Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj hailed the program as a “historic moment,” stating that the collective voice of Odisha’s youth reflected their deep commitment to the nation and its ideals. He congratulated all participating institutions, students, teachers, and staff for making the initiative a grand success.
This mass rendition was part of a special statewide program announced by the Odisha government to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. In addition to singing the national song, students also took the Atmanirbhar Bharat Swadeshi Sankalp, reaffirming their pledge to self-reliance and national values. Each institution nominated one student as an Atmanirbhar Bharat Ambassador to promote patriotism and self-dependence among peers. Various competitions were also organised, and meritorious students will be recognised for their performance and participation.
Youth clubs across the state actively participated in the initiative, further strengthening community involvement. In preparation for the event, a statewide Vande Mataram training program was conducted earlier, with Odisha divided into five zones—Jeypore, Berhampur, Balasore, Sambalpur, and Bhubaneswar—where zonal-level training sessions were organised to ensure smooth and uniform participation.
The large-scale participation and meticulous planning underscored Odisha’s commitment to nurturing patriotism and youth leadership in the spirit of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals.
Swamiji’s Ideals Guide India’s Youth Towards Nation-Building, says CM at Utkal University
National Youth Day and the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda were celebrated with great fervour at Utkal University’s Vani Vihar campus on Monday, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attending the program and paying tribute to the revered monk.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister described Swami Vivekananda as the foundation of nation-building and a symbol of strong moral and character values. He stated that Swamiji remains an enduring source of inspiration for India’s youth, who he believes have the power to shape the nation’s destiny.
ଆଜି ଉତ୍କଳ ବିଶ୍ୱବିଦ୍ୟାଳୟ ପରିସରରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ 'ଜାତୀୟ ଯୁବ ଦିବସ' କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକ୍ରମରେ ଯୋଗଦେଲି । ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ପ୍ରତିଭାବାନ ଯୁବବନ୍ଧୁମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ସମୟ ବିତାଇ ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଆନନ୍ଦିତ। ସ୍ୱାମୀ ବିବେକାନନ୍ଦ କହୁଥିଲେ "ଶକ୍ତି ହିଁ ଜୀବନ" ଏବଂ ଆଜିର ଦ୍ରୁତ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତିତ ବିଶ୍ୱରେ 'ଦକ୍ଷତା' ହିଁ ସେହି ଅସୀମ ଶକ୍ତି। ଷ୍ଟାର୍ଟ-ଅପ୍ ଠାରୁ… pic.twitter.com/Y2BmUvej5r
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) January 12, 2026
Majhi highlighted Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy of education, emphasising that it extends beyond mere bookish knowledge to encompass character-building, discipline, faith, self-confidence, and brahmacharya. He noted that Swamiji strongly advocated a harmonious blend of Vedantic wisdom and modern Western science, an approach that remains relevant to India’s progress today.
The Chief Minister further noted that the Odisha government is implementing various initiatives to empower youth, including programs in education, skill development, training, sports excellence, and cultural activities. He noted that Odisha has earned national recognition as India’s “Sports Capital” for its consistent investment and achievements in sports.
During the occasion, Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj remarked that Odisha’s youth are making their mark on the global stage through their talent and performance. He also noted that the Fit India Mission, launched by the Government of India, has evolved into a nationwide movement, motivating citizens to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle.
Among those present at the event were Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh; Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University, Dr Yajneswar Dandapat; Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Higher Education Department, Arvind Agarwal; Secretary of the Odia Language, Literature and Culture Department, Bijay Ketan Upadhyay; and other senior officials and dignitaries.
The program emphasised the lasting relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s ideals in shaping a confident, capable, and morally grounded generation of young Indians.
