I can win, we can win, India can win: APJ Abdul Kalam

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday kicked off the year-long celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in the presence of 5,000 college students gathered at Mahatma Mandir from across the state. CM Narendra Modi and state cabinet members were present at the gala event.

Kalam exhorted the youth of India to have firm faith in the self and then resolve to utilize the same faith in the service of the nation through sheer hard work. He gave the mantra: "I can do it, we can do it and India can do it". If the will is there, he said, "I can win, we can win and India can win."

As most of the audience comprised college students from different universities of the state, the event was charged up with the zeal and energy of youth.

In fact, in the electrifying atmosphere in the main hall of the Mahatma Mandir, it was like a punishment for all the ministers who had to sit idle on the dais for more than an hour. Indeed, state civil supplies minister Narottam Patel took an afternoon nap on the dais.

Welcoming Kalam, Fakirbhai Vaghela, state sports, youth and cultural affairs minister praised Narendra Modi and compared him with Narendranath (Swami Vivekananda). "The glory and power which Narendranath had 150 years back is in our Narendrabhai. Whatever message Swami Vivekananda gave in his life time, Narendrabhai is working hard to realize it," said Vaghela.

In his speech Modi said, "Swami Vivekananda was a source of inspiration to the youth in the past. He awakened them from the slumber and drudgery of slavery to fierce patriotism. He interpreted the Vedas to explain the highest forms of spiritualism in a simple language.

Modi called upon the youth to adopt the mantra of 'Skill-Will-Win' as the best possible tribute to Vivekananda.