Dr. Vishal Sharma
vishal.sharma@fulbrightmail.org
Swami Vivekananda famously remarked:
“Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life. We must have life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas.”
In this age of intelligence, where the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) lies in processing large amounts of data at lightning speed, this understanding of education has become more crucial than ever.
Swami Vivekananda’s birth anniversary on 12 January has been observed as National Youth Day in India since 1984, underscoring the Nation’s recognition of his enduring vision and unwavering faith in the transformative power of young minds. Born as Narendra Nath Datta on 12 January 1863 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Swami Vivekananda emerged as one of India’s most influential thinkers and spiritual leaders. A Hindu monk and the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he blended spiritual depth with scientific clarity. Revered as the wandering monk of India and often described as a scientist of spirituality for his rational, fearless, and experiential approach to truth. Vivekananda attained global recognition through his historic address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, where he presented India’s spiritual wisdom to the world with confidence and scientific facts.
On the occasion of National Youth Day 2026, the relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings for today’s youth in the age of Artificial Intelligence emerges as a pressing and critical question. Today’s young generation is growing up alongside AI systems that influence education, careers, communication, and even decision-making. While AI provides unprecedented speed, efficiency, and access to information, it remains value-neutral and directionless without human guidance. Vivekananda’s emphasis on self-belief, discipline, character-building, critical inquiry, and fearless thinking offers a moral and intellectual compass for youth navigating this technology-driven era. His message reminds us that while machines may enhance intelligence, it is strong character and clarity of purpose that shape wise individuals and responsible societies. He famously declared, “You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself,” urging people to recognize their inherent strength and divinity. As AI systems take over routine cognitive tasks, this call to discover one’s unique human capabilities becomes increasingly pertinent.
Humans & Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has captured global attention because it is spreading at an unprecedented speed and scale, faster than almost any previous technology. From smartphones and banking apps to healthcare diagnostics, education platforms, and public governance, AI is rapidly reshaping how societies function. Machines can now analyse vast amount of data at lightning speed, recognise patterns and extract meaningful conclusions, generate language, and make decisions once associated exclusively with human intelligence. While these advances promise efficiency and innovation but have also raised urgent questions about ethics, bias, inclusion, accountability, and the place of human values in an increasingly automated world.
We often wonder how artificial intelligence is able to perform so many complex tasks at such extraordinary speed. The answer lies in the way it learns by processing and learning from vast amounts of data. Swami Vivekananda has said, “Experience is the only teacher we have. We may talk and reason all our lives, but we shall not understand a word of truth until we experience it ourselves.” This insight invites an interesting reflection in the age of artificial intelligence. AI, too, learns through experience by processing vast volumes of data, identifying patterns, refining its responses, and improving performance through repeated training. Much like humans learn through observation and practice, AI systems evolve through exposure to data and feedback. The key difference, of course, is that AI’s experience is digital and mathematical, not conscious or intuitive. It does not feel, reflect, or possess awareness; its learning is driven by algorithms rather than inner understanding.
Youth in the Age of AI
Youth are among the most active users of the internet and AI technologies and are now facing unique challenges in this digital landscape. Their constant engagement with digital platforms makes them more vulnerable to distraction, over-dependence, and difficulties in disconnecting, often struggling with digital overload or burnout. Without proper guidance, training and awareness, they are also at a higher risk of using AI unethically whether by spreading misinformation, misusing data, or making decisions without considering ethical consequences. Prolonged exposure to technology and lack of balance can contribute to serious mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, addiction, and in some cases, even substance abuse. The digital world, while connecting people virtually, often isolates them emotionally. Social media comparisons, constant notifications, algorithm-driven content consumption, and reduced face-to-face interactions have contributed to anxiety, low self-esteem, and emotional fatigue. In some cases, this mental vacuum pushes young people towards drugs and other harmful escapes.
Swamiji’s Teachings for AI Youth
In this context, the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, a prominent youth icon, becomes especially relevant today. Though he lived in an era untouched by digital technology, his focus on character, ethical strength, education, and human dignity offers critical guidance for navigating the challenges of the AI age. At a time when anxiety, low self-esteem, emotional fatigue and substance abuse are emerging as serious global concerns, Vivekananda’s timeless wisdom offers a clear roadmap to guide the youth toward a life of purpose, discipline, and inner fulfilment.
Inner Strength and Self-Reliance
One of Swami Vivekananda’s core teachings is the cultivation of inner strength and self-reliance. He emphasized that every individual possesses immense potential, which can be realized through self-discipline, courage and determination. For those struggling with depression or addiction, his powerful words “Strength is life, weakness is death” acts a s a source of hope and motivation. Depression and Drug dependency often arise from a sense of inadequacy or an attempt to escape life’s challenges. Vivekananda’s call to face difficulties with courage and confidence empowers individuals to break free from the chains destructive cycles.
Youth as the Torchbearers of Change
Swami Vivekananda’s message to the youth was direct and inspiring: “Arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached”. He envisioned young people as the driving force of societal transformation. Vivekananda’s teachings encourage young minds to channel their energy into constructive pursuits, such as education, social service, and spiritual growth. By doing so, they can overcome destructive habits and contribute positively to society.
Power of Will and Positive Thought
Another cornerstone of Vivekananda’s teachings is the power of will and focused thinking. He believed that a strong and focused mind could overcome any obstacle. He famously stated, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success”. Addiction often weakens an individual’s willpower, trapping them in a cycle of dependence. Vivekananda’s emphasis on positive thought, self-belief, and determination can inspire individuals to reclaim control over their lives.
Building a Helpful Community
Vivekananda also stressed the importance of collective effort and mutual support. He believed that a strong and united community could uplift its members, fostering an environment of growth and healing. He said “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,”. Families, friends, and social organizations can draw inspiration from his teachings to support individuals battling addiction. Through education, awareness, and empathy, communities can create a nurturing space that encourages recovery and discourages substance abuse.
Swami Vivekananda believed that the youth are the real builders of a nation. He famously declared, “Give me a few men and women who are pure and selfless, and I shall shake the world.” Today, when young minds are surrounded by unprecedented technological power, this statement acquires renewed significance. As technology advances, it reminds us that while both humans and AI may learn through experience, only human experience carries wisdom, values, and consciousness. This distinction is crucial at a time when societies are increasingly tempted to equate intelligence with speed, data, and efficiency alone. Swami Vivekananda repeatedly emphasised that true knowledge is not merely the accumulation of information but the transformation of character. His thought reminds us that the true measure of progress lies not merely in technological capability, but in the moral and spiritual development of human beings who create and use that technology.
The Final Thought
In conclusion, as Artificial Intelligence reshapes the world at unprecedented speed, Swami Vivekananda’s timeless wisdom serves as a much-needed anchor. Perhaps the deepest anxiety surrounding artificial intelligence is existential: what happens to human values in a world increasingly shaped by machines? As algorithms outperform humans in specific tasks, there is a risk of equating intelligence with computation alone. Vivekananda offered a far richer understanding of intelligence: one that included empathy, self-awareness, moral discernment, and spiritual depth. These qualities cannot be automated. He reminds us that while machines may learn from data, only humans can learn from values; while AI can process information, only humans can transform knowledge into wisdom. For India’s youth, the challenge is not merely to master AI, but to master themselves. A drug-free, mentally strong, ethically educated, and purpose-driven youth is the real foundation of Viksit Bharat. By blending the power of AI with the spirit of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings, India can move towards a future that is not only technologically advanced, but also deeply humane, inclusive, and enlightened.
In this sense, Vivekananda is not a historical figure confined to the past, but a contemporary thinker whose ideas can shape India’s response to one of the most transformative technologies of our time. In the end, the relevance of Swami Vivekananda in the age of artificial intelligence lies in a simple yet profound truth: technology can transform the world, but only values can humanise it.
(The author is a Fulbright Fellow USA and Head of Electronics & IT, GCW Udhampur)
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