Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Bihar–Jharkhand Prant, Patna Vibhag, Patna in collaboration with the Vivekananda Study Circle, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Patna, organized a Yuva Samvad Programme on the occasion of Universal Brotherhood Day on 20 September 2026 at NIT Patna. The programme witnessed the participation of 40 people, including students and faculty members. Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, All India President of Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, graced the occasion and interacted with the students.
The programme commenced with Deepa Prajwalan by Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, followed by a floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda. Prof. Sanjeev Sinha (HAG), Planning and Development, NIT Patna, who attended as the Chief Guest, presented a memento to Mananeeya Nivedita Didi.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Omji Shukla, Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT Patna, emphasized the importance of values in guiding technological advancement. He observed that while technology is in our hands, our future is determined by the values we uphold.
In his address, Prof. Sanjeev Sinha encouraged the students to take pride in Bharatiya culture and human values. He emphasized that rights and responsibilities must go hand in hand and that technological progress should never come into conflict with fundamental human values.
Addressing the gathering, Mananeeya Nivedita Didi highlighted the need to balance technological advancement with human welfare and spiritual development. She emphasized that technology must progress, but not at the cost of human life, and should always be directed towards the larger good of society. Referring to the growing influence of artificial intelligence and technology, she explained that handling artificial power requires inner strength, which can be developed through understanding and practising the fundamental values of life.
Elaborating on Swami Vivekananda's message of Universal Brotherhood, Mananeeya Nivedita Didi explained that diversity does not imply separation. She emphasized that all beings are interconnected and interdependent, and that this understanding forms the foundation of Bharatiya thought.
She further explained that the individual expands into the family, the family into society, society into the nation, and the nation into the entire universe. This interconnectedness brings with it a responsibility towards every level of existence. She encouraged the youth to recognize that as technology brings the world closer together, humanity must cultivate greater acceptance, mutual respect and a sense of shared responsibility.
The address was followed by an interactive session, during which Mananeeya Nivedita Didi responded to questions raised by the students, providing further insights into the relationship between technology, values, personal development and nation-building.
As part of the programme, prizes were distributed to the winners of the Quiz and Speech Competitions conducted at the NIT Patna campus.
The programme concluded with the chanting of Om and the Shanti Mantra.
The Yuva Samvad Programme provided a meaningful platform for students and faculty members to reflect on the relevance of Swami Vivekananda's vision of Universal Brotherhood in the modern technological age. The interaction inspired the youth to pursue scientific and technological excellence while remaining rooted in Bharatiya values, ethical responsibility and the spirit of service to humanity, contributing towards the mission of Man-Making and Nation-Building.
