Revisiting Swami Vivekananda’s Educational Vision in the Context of India’s NEP 2020

India, with its rich cultural and spiritual heritage, has produced numerous luminaries whose ideas continue to shape its national identity. Among them, Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) stands out as one of the most influential educationists and spiritual reformers of the 19th century. His philosophy of education emphasized moral and spiritual development, character-building, self-realization, and the holistic development of individuals. Vivekananda’s interpretation of the Hindu tradition and his belief in India’s potential to contribute meaningfully to global civilisation sparked a new sense of national pride and self-confidence among Indian reformers and leaders. According to him, education should facilitate the evolution of human beings from their lower nature to a divine state through disciplined self-effort. True education, he believed, awakens the inner spirit and empowers individuals to lead purposeful and ethical lives. This paper examines the enduring relevance of Swami Vivekananda’s educational philosophy in the context of India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aspires to create a more holistic, multidisciplinary, and values-based system. By revisiting his vision of "man-making" education, this study highlights the need to integrate moral, spiritual, intellectual, and aesthetic dimensions into contemporary curricula to nurture well-rounded and responsible citizens. His call to “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached” serves as a timely reminder of the transformative power of education rooted in India’s timeless values.