Participants at the convention. Telegraph picture

Ranchi, April 26: Unless the foundation of a building is laid properly, it cannot stand. Similarly, the foundation of any nation is its youth. Unless they are groomed towards the right direction, the nation, howsoever strong, will collapse.

Inspector-general P.R.K. Naidu, chief spokesperson on the second day of the youth convention-cum-national integration organised by the Rama Krishna Mission Ashram, spoke on human values as propagated by Swami Vivekananda.

While discussing three slokas from the 16th chapter of the Geeta, Naidu highlighted the importance of human values.

Not only veterans, but thoughts of youngsters, too, reflected that the arduous task of nation-building rests on the shoulders of the youth.

Most youngsters who attended the workshop seemed to have turned didactic.

Pammi Singh, a student of the Vivekananda University, believes that one needs to understand their rights and also learn to fulfil the duties bestowed upon him. Only then will the society develop, thus paving a way for the nation’s development.

Rama Krishna, a student of the same university, points out that Swami Vivekananda, who lived over a century ago, propagated certain values that if followed can help us build our nation in a proper way even today.

“We all tend to lust and run towards a neverland that has all the amenities that one would need to live an easy life. Most of us in the long run often stoop to corruption, lies and dishonesty,” said Nand Lal Kumar.

Humanitarian values, as preached by the Swamiji, can never become outdated, points out Kashi Nath Mukherjee from the Rama Krishna Mission Ashram. Mukherjee, now retired, says he spends most of his time at the ashram and volunteers in organising programmes like these.

“Someone needs to take the youth away from the atmospheric pollution in the society,” says Mukherjee. “And what better way than reviving the values as preached by Swami Vivekananda, ” he added.