Swami Vivekananda Study Circle of Faculty of Commerce, GLS University organised the Swami Vivekananda inter-collegiate and inter-school elocution competition in which students from 45 educational institutes enthusiastically participated. The final round of the competition was held on 9th January,2025. Swami Vivekananda Study Circle continuously makes an effort and plays an instrumental role in bringing to life the teachings, philosophies and ideals of Swami Vivekananda. In honour of his inspiring legacy, January 12th, Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary, is celebrated as National Youth Day every year.
The elocution competition was a two-tiered competition. The topics given to the participants for the competition were:
The participants were allowed to speak in English, Hindi and Gujarati language whichever language felt comfortable to them which helped them be more confident while putting their points across to the audience.
The judge of the final round of the elocution competition was Ms. Ruhee Parelkar, a trainer, poet & writer. The participants showcased excellent talent and confidence on the stage. There was an impressive range of speeches, each offering a distinct perspective, articulate expression and profound thought. The speeches of the participants gave a deeper insight into the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and it also showed the relevance it holds today, especially with the youth. Swami Vivekananda lived for only 40 years but even after 162 years, people still look up to him, his teachings and his thoughts. The student participants see Swami Vivekananda as a youth icon, who exemplified courage, self-belief and resilience, he also believed in the power of young people as the architects of a better future.
The participants believe in being the creator of their own destiny, they put an emphasis on using hard-work, determination and resilience, explaining that the excuses are the chains that one puts on themselves. One needs to be determined with their actions, mindset and thought process to control the trajectories in life by making good choices and achieving their goals.