The date of September 11 possesses a remarkable duality where it is viewed as a tragic event as well as a source of inspiration for global peace and humanity.
On the 25th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on 9/11 which destroyed the lives of thousands of people, promising calmness for all and lead the country in the commemoration of this sorrowful event with reference to Swami Vivekananda.
Condemned Acts of Terrorism on 9/11. Though it has been 25 years since the horrible terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, when thousands of lives were lost due to the hijacking in the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville, American officials and leaders thought about the millions of people lost in terror attacks.
Prime Minister Modi has expressed his views on social media platform X sharing that India condemns all forms of terrorism and any terror activities around the world.
Digvijay Diwas 2026: The Importance of What Vivekananda Said
There is a difference between modern terrorist acts that are all about destruction and division and what happens in India on September 11, which is known as Digvijay Diwas. The event marks the famous speech delivered by Swami Vivekananda at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.
While speaking about this historic event, PM Modi pointed out that Vivekananda's first words, "Sisters and Brothers of America", helped break boundaries of geography and culture and show the spirit of India's civilization based on tolerance and acceptance of all religions and ideas.
- A Call for Harmony: In his famous speech, Vivekananda called for a religion that would teach people to accept not only each other's beliefs but also each other's religions as they were based on ancient Vedic traditions.
- Rejection of Fanaticism: In the nineteenth century, the reformer condemned sectarianism and fanaticism, stating that the narrowness of vision leads to violence and society's collapse.
- Global Resonance: In his speech, PM Modi also shared archival materials from Belur Math, emphasizing the idea of universal brotherhood put forward by Vivekananda. His vision of universal brotherhood remains just as relevant today in navigating global geopolitical fractures as it was over a century ago.
What is 9/11?
9/11 is the term used to describe the four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the militant group Al-Qaeda against the United States on 11 September 2001. It remains the deadliest terrorist attack in the world. Here are the key facts about 9/11:
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Perpetrators: A group of 19 hijackers from Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden, hijacked four commercial passenger planes.
Targets: Two planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were flown into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Another plane (American Airlines Flight 77) crashed into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. while the last plane (United Airlines Flight 93) crashed in Shanksville in Pennsylvania after passengers rebelled against the hijackers.
Casualties: A total of 2,977 people (excluding the hijackers) died on all the sites and many more were injured and suffered from health complications due to the attack.
Global Geopolitical Impact
The War Against Terrorism: Following the attacks, U.S. President George Bush proclaimed the start of a "War Against Terrorism", aiming at military interventions in Afghanistan to get rid of Al-Qaeda, and later in Iraq.
Employment of Aviation and Security Upgrades: The incidents resulted in major changes in the world in the field of airport security, the policy of immigration and the framework of intelligence sharing, which include the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in the U.S.
The 25th anniversary of September 11 and the Digvijay Diwas reminds humankind of the two options it has: the path of extremist destruction or the one that unites people and promotes coexistence based on mutual respect as people like Swami Vivekananda taught. As the world is facing various complex modern challenges.
It is again emphasized by India's philosophy that development of humanity is only possible through the means of conversation, peace, and recognition that we all live on one planet