New Delhi: The Centre has reportedly asked close to 40,000 higher-education institutions to install projectors or televisions sets to broadcast Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Monday (September 11). It has also said that students at the institutions, including IITs and IIMs, must be encouraged to watch what could be a “life-changing” speech, Telegraph reported.

Modi will be addressing a student leaders’ convention in the capital to mark the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address at the World Parliament of Religions. The event, titled ‘Young lndia, New lndia – A Resurgent Nation: from Sankalp to Siddhi’, has been organised by the Deendayal Research Institute with support from the culture ministry, as part of the Deendayal Upadhyaya centenary celebrations, which end on September 25, Indian Express reported.

“It is requested that the above event is propagated effectively and interested students obtain the facility to view such a significant programme that could be life-changing,” University Grants Commission chairperson V.S. Chauhan wrote in a directive to universities, according to the Telegraph.

Rajive Kumar, adviser to the All India Council of Technical Education, wrote a similar letter to more than 6,000 technical institutions, the newspaper reported:

On 11th September, 2017, at 10.30am, Hon’ble Prime Minister will address the nation to remind one and all about the relevance and significance of Swami Vivekananda’s teachings in the backdrop of today’s social milieu. It would be of particular importance for the youth of today to understand and absorb the content of Swami Vivekananda’s messages to the world, in order to ensure their right educational career and spiritual growth. The students and teachers may be encouraged to participate in the event. The programme/venue may be prominently displayed on the campus notice board.

Atul Jain, director of the Deendayal Research Institute, told Indian Express, “We have invited close to 1,500 students leaders from more than 100 colleges and universities (to the event in Delhi). These include student union office-bearers and academic toppers from universities which do not hold student union elections.”

“When Swami Vivekananda addressed the World’s Parliament of Religion he was just 30 years old. The 125th year of his lecture is the perfect occasion for the prime minister to address the youth leaders of the country. It will be clarion call to all youngsters to build a nation that is clean and free of corruption, poverty, terrorism and discrimination on lines of cast and creed,” Jain added.

A film on Upadhyaya and Vivekanda will also reportedly be shown at the event.