2 August 2026, Amritapuri Ashram
Nasha Mukt Yuva, Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyan
Amma and her children joined Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of the Nasha Mukt Yuva campaign. The youth-led movement encourages every citizen to pledge themselves to a healthier, drug-free India and to work collectively towards building a developed nation.
Amma, along with all the Swamis and Swaminis and thousands of students, assembled in the main hall to participate in the Prime Minister’s program.
“The country needs your energy, your imagination, and your talent, so staying drug-free is crucial for the country and for your own lives,” said Prime Minister Modi over the online campaign.
“Today, the government stands firmly with the youth against drugs. Strict action is being taken against drug traffickers, with record arrests and seizures. Both the Central and State governments are working in mission mode” said the Prime Minister in his address to the youth.
Amma’s participation in the campaign is being supported by AYUDH, Amrita University’s 11 campuses, 86 Amrita Vidyalayams across the country, and more than 2,800 villages reached through Amma’s humanitarian initiatives across India.
After the Prime Minister’s speech, students from Kuzhithura Government Fisheries High School, where Amma studied from the 2nd to 4th standard, presented a musical mime depicting the dangers of addiction.
Value of parents and their tension
Speaking about drug addiction and its impact on society, Amma addressed the assembled students:
“No one can fully imagine what a mother goes through. From the moment she knows she is carrying a child, every moment is filled with anxious thoughts. With every heartbeat, she wonders, ‘What will my baby be like?’ She carries the child in her womb, enduring pain and sacrifice, always praying for the child’s well-being.
After the baby is born, her concern does not end. ‘Will my child have any physical disability? Will my child be able to sit up properly? Can the child lie on the stomach and turn over properly? Will my child be able to stand up? Will my child be able to walk? When will my child be able to speak? Why is my child not smiling? Will my child be intelligent? Will my child have a good future?’ It is endless.
Parents are constantly thinking and worrying about their children. When the child goes to school or college, until they return home, the parents’ hearts keep beating with concern: ‘Will my child come home safely? Is my child studying well? Is he or she getting into some bad company? Why is he or she getting late? Has anything happened? Has there been any trouble?’
Dear children, think of the sacrifices your parents have made to educate you, to send you to school and college, and to give you a bright future. Reflect on that sincerely.
The virus of selfishness
Today, we have forgotten our own worth. We have forgotten the value of our homes, the value of our parents. We have forgotten our responsibility towards society. We have even forgotten our own true Self. We create a demon like Jarasandha within ourselves, and that demon goes on to destroy society.
We can summarise the root cause of all problems in the world in one word: selfishness, which is like a virus. We can see the presence of this virus in all global catastrophes, including wars, poverty, environmental disasters, and political conflicts.
Initially, when we become sick with a viral flu, we may not have any symptoms. When a virus enters the body, we do not notice it at first. As the virus rapidly multiplies, we begin to feel sick. Only when the disease becomes severe do we become aware of it. By then, it has already begun to spread to others. It has become contagious.
Similarly, the virus of selfishness first dries out the stream of compassion within our hearts. Gradually, it begins to infect the minds of those around us. Only by the water of compassion can this virus of selfishness be destroyed. We should fill our hearts with compassion, which is being infected by this virus of selfishness. Otherwise, from that heart, more and more Jarasandhas will be created.
The pathetic condition of the society
When the roots of a tree begin to decay from within, eventually the whole tree is lost. That is what is happening today.
The youth, our nation’s future, are the flowers that should spread the fragrance. But even while they are still buds, they are being eaten away by worms and falling off without blossoming.
Amma then reminded everyone of the pathetic condition of the current society. “A teacher who lives in the Ashram reported to Amma that children as young as 4th standard are exposed to alcohol and drugs. This is the shocking and terrible level that substance abuse and addiction have reached. That is why Amma feels that we should not treat this drug addiction as a small or ordinary problem. It has become a serious social crisis, and we must face it with the seriousness it deserves.”
A life of purpose
Focusing on the youth, Amma said: “My children, you must reflect deeply on your responsibility towards those who have sacrificed so much for you, and ask yourselves: ‘What is the purpose of our life? What is the difference between us and an earthworm?’ They also eat, sleep, procreate, and eventually die. At least they help with the fertility of the soil. On the other hand, we take from and destroy nature while living, and even after death. We add chemicals to decompose the body while burying it, or burn it, creating pollution in the atmosphere.
When a turtle crawls in the sand, it leaves a mark. Similarly, you should leave some mark of selfless work in this world before you depart from here. You have to do some selfless action and help others. Whatever good fortune you have, you should share with others.
You need to ask this question to yourself: ‘Who am I? Why am I here?’ We need to awaken ourselves to reality, to the truth. Unfortunately, we are in friendship with a friend who is a fool. Our mind is that fool, and it is always fooling us. So remind your mind, ‘Oh mind, don’t become a fool; don’t make me a fool either.’ Keep repeating this mantra.
Remember, ‘We are not a candle to be lit by somebody; we are a self-effulgent, self-luminous sun. That is our real nature.’ Without understanding this, we will always be taking from nature, never giving anything back. And we may destroy nature too. We should feel gratitude towards everything in this creation. We should invoke that state of mind within.
Amma wishes that you all will become role models for others to emulate and will not fall into the trap of intoxicants.”
Value of diamond is lying in excreta
Amma then gave a special warning to the college students present: “Your parents send you here, to this college, with the expectation of a better future, a better life. They are very anxious and holding their breath. They have a lot of tension. They are not relaxed. Look at your mother—from the moment of conceiving till now, she is in tension, thinking about your welfare. Amma wants you to make sure that you won’t make your parents sad at all. Even if you cannot give them joy, at least don’t give them sorrow.”
Amma also reflected on the Prime Minister’s address and urged the students to look beyond political differences and focus on the value of the message.
“We were listening to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is speaking for the country and countrymen. Some people may not like him. He is talking for the nation. The security of the nation and the health of the youth are very important. Don’t look at this event politically.
Don’t look at who said, look at what he said. ‘Who said it?’ is not the question. The right question is, ‘What did he say?’ We should develop a mindset to accept whatever is good in the world, wherever it is. For example, even if a precious diamond is lying in excreta, you will take that diamond, right? The diamond is the values of life. And we need to imbibe these values of life, and that should benefit us as well as society. It is our responsibility to imbibe these values.”
Amma emphasized that awareness is essential in overcoming addiction: “Unless you are aware of the consequences of drugs, you will not be able to come out of their addiction. Suppose you are taking medicine for diabetes, but you are consuming sweets along with it. Then the treatment won’t benefit you. You also need to have awareness along with it.”
A flower in a desert
Amma reminded the youth that even a small change can have a powerful impact: “So many people are listening to this program now. If 10 people out of 100 are changing by attending this program, that itself is a big change. Imagine a plant has bloomed in a desert. Even if it is a single plant, it brings beauty to the desert, right?
These values are like a seed. It has to go deep into you; it has to sprout, become a plant, and then grow into a tree to give shade and fruits to so many living beings.
Today’s youth are being infested at the budding stage itself. That should not happen. They should bloom fully and give fragrance to the whole world.”
Amma concluded by reminding the youth of their responsibility: “Amma is reminding the youth: you need to ask this question, ‘Who am I? Why am I here?’ And, understanding this, imbibe the values and practise Dharma in your daily life. You do have responsibility towards your parents and towards society. Don’t make your parents sad at all. So take a vow now. We have to start from here. Amma prays that may you all become role models for others.”
-Sakshi
