The Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati, in collaboration with the National Service Scheme (NSS) Cell of IIT Guwahati, is organizing a special program on the topic “Transforming Pressure into Power: Swami Vivekananda’s Insight for Today’s Youth.” The event will be held on 16th August, 2025, at the Mini Auditorium, IIT Guwahati. This program aims to inspire and empower the youth by drawing from Swami Vivekananda’s timeless wisdom on how to channel challenges and pressures into constructive energy for personal growth and nation-building.
Purpose/Aim of the event: To inspire and empower young individuals by drawing upon the timeless wisdom of Swami Vivekananda. The lecture seeks to help youth understand how to channel the challenges and pressures of modern life into positive energy, strength, and purposeful action, fostering resilience, character-building, and confidence grounded in Swami Vivekananda’s thought process.
Speakers/Inaugurated:
- Shri Hanumant Rao ji (All India Vice President, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari)
- Kalyan Bodo (Junior Superintendent, Centre for Indian Knowledge System of IIT, Guwahati)
- Pankaj Kumar (Technical Officer, Department of Chemical Engineering of IIT, Guwahati)
Highlights of the Event: The event started with the ceremonial lighting of the diya. A student of IIT, Guwahati, hosted the event. Following that, Kalyan Bodo ji delivered the welcome speech and introduced the chief guest. Afterwards, the distinguished guests, Sri Hanumantha Rao Ji and Kalyan Bodo Ji, were felicitated.
This was followed by the lecture given by Sri Hannumantha Rao ji, where he spoke on “Transforming Pressure into Power: Swami Vivekananda’s Insight for Today’s Youth”. This lecture by Hannumantha ji explores the transformative ideas of Swami Vivekananda and their relevance in personal growth, particularly for students to focus on academics and careers. Hanumantha ji emphasises how Swami Vivekananda's teachings can help manage stress, anxiety, and tension, transforming them into powerful energies for self-development.
The lecture further dives into the concept of how our inner energies should be seen as treasure, which can be categorised into physical, psychological, and intellectual energy. When these energies are not utilised effectively, they can cause harm to us. By engaging in physical activities, emotional transactions, and scholarly pursuits, we can channel these energies in a positive direction. Hanumantha ji also emphasised Swami Vivekananda’s focus on “one idea,” according to which one should take up one idea and make it their life’s focus. This highlights the importance of focus and concentration required for success. Ultimately, the session underscores the idea that pressure can be transformed into power, and by harnessing this pressure constructively, individuals can lead more balanced and impactful lives.
After the lecture, Hanumantha ji interacted with the audience by answering their questions and clearing their doubts. With this, he conducted a session of breathing exercises for mental and physical calmness.
Following that, Alka Gauri didi introduced and explained the works of Vivekananda Kendra, including Yoga Varga in many places and Anandalayas in the tea gardens of Assam. She also introduced the concept of Sewa Brati, where students from across India dedicate two years of their lives to serving the nation. With that, she urged the students in the audience to come forward and participate in this noble cause.
The session concluded with the vote of thanks by Pankaj Kumar.