Dr. Nikhil Yadav Starts Vivekananda 125: From Campus to Community from IIT Madras

The year 2027 marks 125 years since Swami Vivekananda’s Mahasamadhi (Punyatithi). To mark this milestone by taking his ideas beyond commemorative programmes and into conversations with young people and communities, VIVEKANANDA 125 – From Campus to Community has been launched as a youth-oriented initiative led by Dr. Nikhil Yadav.

The initiative will run from 11 September 2026 to 12 January 2028, connecting 50 educational institutions and 75 villages and communities across India. Its focus is not simply to remember Swami Vivekananda, but to explore the relevance of his ideas on strength, character, fearlessness, self-discovery, service, leadership and nation-building for young India today.

The initiative formally began on 11 September 2026 at IIT Madras, a date that carries special significance in the history of Swami Vivekananda. On 11 September 1893, Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, a speech remembered for its message of acceptance and universal brotherhood. IIT Madras held its first celebration of Universal Brotherhood Day on this occasion, organised by the student-run groups Vande Mataram and Vivekananda Study Circle.

The programme was coordinated by Shri Ashish Yadav, PhD Scholar at IIT Madras. Dr. Nikhil Yadav, Deputy Head, Vivekananda Kendra, Uttar Prant, and Dr. Ananya Awasthi, Director, Anuvaad Solutions, were invited as speakers.

The Beginning at IIT Madras

Speaking to students and members of the IIT Madras community, Dr. Nikhil Yadav reflected on the significance of 11 September in Swami Vivekananda’s life and message.
He also recalled Swami Vivekananda’s historic association with Chennai. After returning to India from his first journey to the West in 1897, Swami Vivekananda visited Chennai and delivered several important lectures that articulated his vision for India and humanity.

Among these were:

⦁ My Plan of Campaign
⦁ The Sages of India
⦁ The Vedanta in its Practical Application to the Problems of Indian Life
⦁ The Future of India
⦁ The Work Before Us
Dr. Nikhil Yadav highlighted how these lectures demonstrate the special place Chennai occupies in the history of Swami Vivekananda’s work.

The discussion then moved to the continuing relevance of Swami Vivekananda for Generation Z. His message was discussed in the context of challenges faced by young people today — the need for inner strength, clarity, fearlessness, character and the ability to translate ideas into purposeful action.

Dr. Nikhil Yadav also spoke about Swami Vivekananda’s influence on important figures in modern India, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi and Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. He emphasised the central place of selfless service in Vivekananda’s thought and discussed his understanding of Vedanta as a vision extending beyond narrow divisions towards the unity of humanity.

The programme concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, with faculty members, scholars and students engaging with the speakers.

For the student-led groups at IIT Madras, the programme provided an opportunity to explore Swami Vivekananda not merely as a historical figure, but through questions relevant to young people and society today.
And for VIVEKANANDA 125 – From Campus to Community, IIT Madras became the starting point of a larger journey — from campus to community, from ideas to action, and from inspiration to responsibility.

The journey now continues across 50 campuses and 75 villages, taking conversations on Swami Vivekananda to young people and communities across India.