Amma inaugurated the Kerala-Lakshadweep Chapter of Youth4Nation in an event at the Amritapuri Ashram. This formally launched the youth organization’s activities in the region to engage young people as nation builders based on values, service, and responsible leadership.
“Youth should come forward. India is like a rainbow with lots of different cultures, roles, customs, and traditions. Amma only prays that all the children of India can stand united to love and serve the country,” she said in her address.
“Not understanding and valuing Indian culture is similar to forgetting your own birth mother. Inner growth and social harmony can occur only when we develop love, respect and a profound understanding of our cultural roots.”
Former Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Harikumar Radhakrishnan (PVSM, AVSM, VSM) was the Guest Of Honour and stated that the youth will shape India’s future and that Youth4Nation is a vehicle for them to direct their energy for community service, leadership, and innovation with the help of mentoring teams of experienced persons.
“Not understanding and valuing Indian culture is similar to forgetting your own birth mother. Inner growth and social harmony can occur only when we develop love, respect and a profound understanding of our cultural roots,” he said.
Maj Gen P. Vivekananda State President, Kerala–Lakshadweep Chapter, stated, “Youth4Nation is a nationwide initiative formed around four years ago with the aim of connecting with the youth primarily in colleges and universities in order to inculcate and enrich nationalist thought processes among them and empower them in skills and personality development, as well as make them socially and environmentally responsible citizens.”
Youth4 Nation is an apolitical, national movement that aims to create a ‘Nation First’ mindset in university students across India by inspiring them to take action. The movement is supported by a wide network of more than 250 distinguished leaders including retired military officials, IAS/IPS officers, scientists, entrepreneurs and professors with the goal of empowering youth to participate in the overall development of their country.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Prof G.S. Murthy, Founder & Chairman, Youth4Nation; Prof D.S. Chauhan, National Chairman; Lt Gen V.K. Chaturvedi, National President; P. Balakrishnan; Dr Raveendranathan; Dr Yamuna Pathak; and many senior academicians, veterans and youth representatives.
In her address, Dr Yamuna Pathak passionately expressed how Amma is leading all of humanity to a better world.
“Today, I do not stand here merely as a speaker. I stand here as a witness…..A witness to a force that does not conquer with armies, does not rule with authority, does not persuade with ideology—but melts the human heart with love. I stand before you at Amritapuri— not just a place on the map of Kerala, but a spiritual epicenter of the world,” she said.
“Amma teaches us a radical truth: You cannot change the world by hating it. You change it by loving it awake.”
While it is imperative to be open to the many different cultures, Amma’s important message was that every citizen of every country should honour their motherland.
“We must love and nurture our own culture like we would do for our mother, with both respect and gratitude,” she said.
Amma urged all of the younger generation to absorb the principles of morality and be spiritually aware. Youth must shine their light onto society, and this is only possible if they develop inner strength, along with clear moral judgement.
She honored everyone who is committed to nation building and encouraged the youth to build capacity in society by cultivating compassion, cultural sensitivity and spirituality in their lives.
