PRESIDENT Draupadi Murmu on Thursday paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary, and said, his teachings continue to inspire the youth to follow their dreams and achieve greater goals.

Spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863. “My tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his birth anniversary! An iconic personality who combined spirituality and patriotism, he propagated Indian values globally. His life and teachings continue to inspire youth to follow their dreams and achieve greater goals,” the President tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also paid tributes to Swami Vivekananda and said his great ideals and ideas will continue to guide the countrymen. His life, patriotism, spiritualism and dedication will always inspire, Modi tweeted on the iconic spiritual figure’s 160th birth anniversary. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to the great monk on Facebook.

“God can be found in those who serve humanity, in different forms manifested before us,” she wrote in Bengali.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari posted a video of his visit to Swamiji’s ancestral home and described Vivekananda as “the spiritual awakener of Modern India and a timeless youth icon who is revered the world over”.

The ruling TMC pledged to uphold Vivekananda’s teachings and follow his ideals. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge remembered the spiritual leader, and said he believed in India’s intrinsic value of unity.