Vivek Tirtha – A tribute to the great saint Swami Vivekananda

Posted on January 12, 2020 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Vivek Tirtha, named after Swami Vivekananda, has been planned to be one of the premier institutes of the country, comprising of a centre for value education, a school of languages, a computer institute, a digital library and more. It is being set up in New Town. The formal name of the place is Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences.

This top-class centre of education is being set up on land given by the Trinamool Congress Government. In fact, it was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had laid the foundation stone of the institute, on November 11, 2014, and had also named it ‘Vivek Tirtha’.

The project will cost about Rs 172 crore. Five acres has been allotted beside Eco Park.

The centre will have a 10-storey building to house the administrative office, seminar halls and an auditorium, with a capacity of 1,400. The main building will be designed after the Chicago Art Institute, where Swami Vivekananda had delivered his famous speech on September 11, 1893.

There will be four other buildings, to be named after four famous foreign disciples of Swami Vivekananda – Sister Nivedita, JJ Goodwin, Ole Sara Bull and Josephine McLeod.

An important feature of the programmes proposed to be offered by the Centre of Human Excellence include a retreat for professionals and people from all walks of life like sweepers, rickshaw pullers, labourers and shopkeepers. There will also be a course on citizenship training and value education for government and corporate employees. There will be courses on how to overcome fear and failure.

Honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekananda

Posted on January 12, 2020 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The great follower of the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is, she has named schemes and places after the great son of Bangla.

Here is a list of the works of the Bangla Government in preserving the legacy of Swami Vivekananda:

Giving autonomy and special status to Ramakrishna and Sarada Mission educational institutions, which are associated with Swami Vivekananda’s ideology to impart education and foster character-building
Naming the Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences being built by the Ramakrishna Mission as ‘Vivek Tirtha’ by Mamata Banerjee
Acquiring and handing over premises adjoining Swamiji’s ancestral house to Ramakrishna Mission
Renovating ‘Mayer Bari’ in Baghbazar, Kolkata at a cost of Rs 30 crore
Acquiring Sister Nivedita’s house at Baghbazar and handing it over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, and giving it heritage status
Allocating Rs 2 crore for the renovation of ‘Roy Villa’ in Darjeeling, associated with Sister Nivedita, and handing it over to Ramakrishna Mission
Building a skywalk connecting Dakshineswar railway station to the famous temple there; it is named Dakshineswar Rani Rashmoni Skywalk
Renaming Yuva Bharati Krirangan after Swami Vivekananda, as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan
Naming the Self-Help and Self-Employment Department-run self-employment scheme as Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasansthan Prakalpa
Naming the scholarship for economically disadvantaged families as Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
Organising Vivek Chetana Utsav from January 10 to 12, for commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, across the State

Bangla Govt committed to the welfare of the youth

Posted on January 12, 2020 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Swami Vivekananda always believed in the power of the youth. He laid a lot of stress on sports as an essential part of building character.

Today, January 12, marks the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. Let us take a look at the achievements of the Youth Wing of the State Youth Services & Sports (YSS) Department.

Youth Hostels: 17 youth hostels renovated, 9 youth hostels constructed (all 26 now operational), 16 youth hostels under construction

Grants to clubs: More than 18,000 clubs and other organisations given financial assistance for sports activities and development of sports infrastructure since 2014-15

Development of playgrounds: Financial assistance given to 398 schools, colleges, universities and clubs for the development of playgrounds

Setting up of multigyms: Financial assistance given to nearly 3,565 schools, colleges, universities and clubs for setting up of multi-gyms

Setting up of mini indoor games complexes: Financial assistance given to more than 684 schools, colleges, universities, clubs and organisations for setting up mini indoor games complexes

Youth Computer Training Centres: About 1,000 Youth Computer Training Centres run across the state in collaboration with various private agencies

Vocational training: Placement-linked skill development programme organised with the assistance of Technical Education, Training & Skill Development Department; more than 4,000 candidates given training till now

Honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekananda

Posted on September 11, 2019 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The great follower of the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is, she has named various schemes and places after this great son of Bangla. She has also ensured the renovation of buildings that have a historic connection to the great sage.

Here is a list of works of the Bangla Government done to preserve the legacy of Swami Vivekananda:

* Making Swami Vivekananda’s famous Chicago address part of the syllabus for schools under the Madhyamik Board

* Giving autonomy and special status to educational institutions run by Ramakrishna Sarada Mission

* Allotting 5 acres and allocating Rs 10 crore for the Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences being built by the Ramakrishna Mission in New Town, as a replica of the Art Institute of Chicago, where Vivekananda delivered his famous speeches in 1893; it has been named ‘Vivek Tirtha’ by Mamata Banerjee

* Acquiring and handing over of the premises adjoining Vivekananda’s ancestral house to Ramakrishna Mission

* Renovating ‘Mayer Bari’ in Baghbazar, Kolkata, where Maa Sarada, the wife of Sri Ramakrishna lived, at a cost of Rs 30 crore

* Acquiring Sister Nivedita’s house in Baghbazar and handing it over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, and giving it heritage status

* Allocating Rs 2 crore for the renovation of Roy Villa in Darjeeling, associated with Sister Nivedita, and handing it over to Ramakrishna Mission

* Building a skywalk connecting Dakshineswar railway station to the famous temple there; it was named Dakshineswar Rani Rashmoni Skywalk by Mamata Banerjee

* Renaming Yuba Bharati Krirangan after Swami Vivekananda, as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan

* Naming the self-employment scheme run by the Self-Help and Self-Employment Department as Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasansthan Prakalpa

* Naming the scholarship for students from economically disadvantaged families as Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship

* Organising Vivek Chetana Utsav from January 10 to 12 every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda across the State (January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day, being the birthday of Swami Vivekananda)

* State Assembly passing Bills for the setting up of two private universities – Sister Nivedita University (Bill passed in 2017) and Swami Vivekananda University (Bill passed in 2019)

Honouring the legacy of Swami Vivekananda

Posted on January 11, 2019 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The great follower of the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is, she has named schemes and places after the great son of Bangla.

Here is a list of the works of the Bangla Government in preserving the legacy of Swami Vivekananda:

Giving autonomy and special status to Ramakrishna and Sarada Mission educational institutions, which are associated with Swami Vivekananda’s ideology to impart education and foster character-building
Naming the Centre for Human Excellence and Social Sciences being built by the Ramakrishna Mission as ‘Vivek Tirtha’ by Mamata Banerjee
Acquiring and handing over premises adjoining Swamiji’s ancestral house to Ramakrishna Mission
Renovating ‘Mayer Bari’ in Baghbazar, Kolkata at a cost of Rs 30 crore
Acquiring Sister Nivedita’s house at Baghbazar and handing it over to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission, and giving it heritage status
Allocating Rs 2 crore for the renovation of ‘Roy Villa’ in Darjeeling, associated with Sister Nivedita, and handing it over to Ramakrishna Mission
Building a skywalk connecting Dakshineswar railway station to the famous temple there; it is named Dakshineswar Rani Rashmoni Skywalk
Renaming Yuva Bharati Krirangan after Swami Vivekananda, as Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan
Naming the Self-Help and Self-Employment Department-run self-employment scheme as Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasansthan Prakalpa
Naming the scholarship for economically disadvantaged families as Swami Vivekananda Merit-cum-Means Scholarship
Organising Vivek Chetana Utsav from January 10 to 12, for commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, across the State

Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address to be included in school curriculum

Posted on January 11, 2019 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The State Education Department has decided to distribute booklets containing Swami Vivekananda’s address at the Parliament of World’s Religion in Chicago among students.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Sampriti Saptaha that the State Government had organised to celebrate 125 years of Swami Vivekananda’s address in the Parliament of World’s Religion in Chicago, State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said: “Booklets containing the speech of Swami Vivekananda will be distributed among school-goers free of cost. The move has been taken as a character-building programme.”

At the same time, Chatterjee said details related to the life, works and messages of social reformers will also be included in the textbooks. The expert committee will be discussing the same and will take the decision in this connection. The committee will finalise the books where such contents would be introduced. They will also decide on the class in which these books would be launched.

“After the committee finalises all the aspects in this connection, it will be placed before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” he said.

The minister added, “In the past four decades, no steps were taken to circulate messages of the social reformers among the masses. Now, the chief minister has taken up this initiative.”

Vivek Tirtha – A tribute to the great saint

Posted on January 11, 2019 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The project will cost about Rs 172 crore. Five acres has been allotted beside Eco Park.

There will be four other buildings, to be named after four famous foreign disciples of Swami Vivekananda – Sister Nivedita, JJ Goodwin, Ole Sara Bull and Josephine McLeod.

Evil conspiracy foiled my Chicago visit: Mamata Banerjee

Posted on September 11, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

Today is the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago. Bangla Government is commemorating the occasion through week-long programmes.

To celebrate the historic day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was present at a function organised by the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math.

She said, “I wanted to visit Chicago but unfortunately I could not visit the place where Swamiji delivered his historic address. There was an evil conspiracy behind this. Some people did not want me to go.”

To commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at Chicago, Mamata Banerjee was invited by Ramakrishna Mission to attend a function in Chicago. However, the event was cancelled for ‘unavoidable circumstances’ in June.

Highlights of Chief Minister’s speech:

There is a great similarity in the ideals espoused by leaders – spiritual and political – like Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath, Netaji, Gandhiji.

Swami Vivekananda had won the heart of the world with his speech at Chicago in 1893.

I wanted to visit Chicago to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swamiji’s historic address. Sadly, I could not because of evil designs of a section of people, who did not want my presence there.

The forces that foiled my Chicago visit, I hope they read the preaching of Swami Vivekananda.

The Hinduism which Swami Vivekananda preached was not ‘imported’ from outside. It was formed in this soil. It has its roots in Vedas, Vedanta and Upanishads.

Swamiji used to say Hindu dharma is universal. He said, Hinduism not only tolerates other religions, but also recognises them as the truth.

We follow the Hinduism as preached by Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda. We do not believe in ‘imported’ Hinduism.

I’ve read Swamiji’s books and I believe in his ideals. The youth must be taught about Swamiji’s philosophy and thinking.

A true leader must always be ready to make sacrifices for the people. He must be dedicated to the country.

Tolerance is the essence of Hinduism. Hinduism is universal.

In just 39 years of his life, Swami Vivekananda shaped the spine of this country.

I feel ashamed when some people dictate you cannot eat this or you cannot wear that or who can stay here and who cannot.

Bangla is the land of tolerance. Hindu dharma teaches us to love people, not discriminate.

Come forward, lead a new awakening in the country.

We must despise conservatism. I appeal to all to embrace people with love. Humanism is the true religion. Religion is personal, festival is for all.

We must follow the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramhansa.

Ramakrishna had said, some people call mother ‘Ma’, some call her ‘Amma’. But we are all humans. That is our biggest identity. We must believe in harmony, not communalism.

Swami Vivekananda resides in our hearts. Hinduism teaches us to embrace everyone as equal.

Swamiji had said, “I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance”. We must all follow this philosophy.

We are giving Rs 1.5 crore to Vivekananda University. I am handing over a grant of Rs 10 crore to Swamiji. My respectful homage to all Maharajas.

Bengal Govt to celebrate 125th anniversary of Swami Ji’s Chicago Speech as ‘Sampriti Dibas’

Posted on March 11, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The state government will celebrate September 11, the day when Swami Vivekananda had addressed the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, as Sampriti Divas. It will celebrate the 125th anniversary of Swamiji’s Chicago address in a befitting manner.

Sampriti Week will be observed from September 12 to 19. The decision was taken at the first meeting of the committee set up for the celebration, which was held on Thursday, said state Education minister Partha Chatterjee.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will attend the function which will be organised at Belur Math on September 11. The concluding programme will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium on September 19.

The state government will provide another Rs 10 crore for the proposed Centre of Excellence, which is coming up near Eco Park in New Town. The state government had earlier provided Rs 10 crore as well.

Swamiji had spoken about harmony and peace at the World’s Parliament of Religions which was a part of Columbian Exposition, a programme organised to celebrate 400 years of Columbus’ discovery of America in 1893. He had spoken about “Universal Religion” and was confident that such a religion will be the religion of the future, when all people irrespective of class, creed, sex and religion will be respected.

এবার থেকে স্কুলে পড়ানো হবে স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা

স্কুলে পড়ানো হবে স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা। রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশনের প্রস্তাব মেনে পাঠ্যসূচিতে বদল আনতে চলেছে রাজ্য সরকার। স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতার ১২৫ বছর উদযাপন করা হবে। বেলুড়, নেতাজি ইনডোরের পাশাপাশি শিকাগোতেও অনুষ্ঠান হবে। উপস্থিত থাকতে মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে আমন্ত্রণ করা হয়েছে।

১৮৮৩ সালে বিশ্ব ধর্ম সম্মেলনে এই ভাবেই বক্তৃতা শুরু করেছিলেন স্বামী বিবেকানন্দ। দু’মিনিট ধরে হাততালি চলে। একদিন রামকৃষ্ণ মিশনের স্কুলগুলিতেই পড়ানো হত স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা। এবার থেকে স্কুলের পাঠ্যসূচিতেও স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা পড়ানো হবে। শিকাগো বক্তৃতার ১২৫ বছর উদযাপনে কমিটি তৈরি করা হয়েছে। বৃহস্পতিবার সেই কমিটির সঙ্গে বৈঠক করেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। ছিলেন শিক্ষামন্ত্রী ও রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশনের সাধারণ সম্পাদক স্বামী সুবীরানন্দ। সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে,

– স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা পাঠ্যসূচিতে অন্তর্ভুক্তি করা হবে

– রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশনের প্রস্তাব মেনে সিদ্ধান্ত রাজ্যের

– আগামী শিক্ষাবর্ষ থেকে পাঠ্যসূচিতে স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতা

রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশনের প্রস্তাব মেনেই এই সিদ্ধান্ত। স্বামীজির শিকাগো বক্তৃতার ১২৫ বছর উদযাপনে ১১ থেকে ১৯শে সেপ্টেম্বর দেশজুড়ে সম্প্রীতি সপ্তাহ পালিত হবে। বেলুড় ও নেতাজি ইনডোরে অনুষ্ঠানে উপস্থিত থাকবেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। শিকাগো বক্তৃতার ১২৫ বছর উদযাপন কমিটি শিকাগোতেও অনুষ্ঠান করবে। সেখানে উপস্থিত থাকার জন্য মুখ্যমন্ত্রীকে আমন্ত্রণ করা হয়েছে।

Bengal Govt institutes bravery award for girls in the memory of Sister Nivedita

Posted on January 22, 2018 | by aitc | Leave a Comment

The Bengal Government has instituted a bravery award for girls in the memory of the philanthropist and social reformer, and one of Swami Vivekananda’s foremost disciples, Sister Nivedita. The decision was taken recently by the committee formed by the government to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Nivedita.

The awards have been decided to be handed over on October 5 at Netaji Indoor Stadium, during the course of a programme on the social reformer.

Sister Nivedita, for her whole life, worked tirelessly for the education and all-round empowerment of women, hence the State Government decided to constitute the award in her memory.

The other decisions taken by the committee on that day include the distribution of a collected works of Sister Nivedita, to be compiled by Ramakrishna Math and Mission, among students from standards IX to XII in State Government-run schools and the renovation of the mausoleum of the Sister in Darjeeling.

Earlier decisions taken with regard to the sesquicentennial celebrations include converting the house of Sister Nivedita in Darjeeling into an educational centre of excellence and the granting of 5 acres in Rajarhat to Ramakrishna Mission for the setting up of a humanitarian centre of excellence.

Under the express instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the State Government has been extensively celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita, to inculcate in today’s youth the humane values she stood for, just as it had done for the 150th birth anniversary of her guru, Swami Vivekananda.

ভগিনী নিবেদিতার নামে সাহসিকতার পুরস্কার

ভগিনী নিবেদিতার জন্ম সার্ধ শতবর্ষে মেয়েদের জন্য সাহসিকতার পুরস্কার চালু করছে রাজ্য সরকার। ভগিনী নিবেদিতার জন্ম সার্ধ শতবর্ষ উদ্‌যাপন কমিটি এই সিদ্ধান্ত নিয়েছে বলে জানিয়েছেন রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশনের সাধারণ সম্পাদক স্বামী সুবীরানন্দ মহারাজ।
এই বছরে ৫ অক্টোবর ভগিনী নিবেদিতাকে নিয়ে নেতাজি ইন্ডোর স্টেডিয়ামে একটি অনুষ্ঠানের আয়োজন করেছে রাজ্য সরকার। এই অনুষ্ঠানে মেয়েদের বিভিন্ন সাহসিকতামূলক কাজের জন্য এই পুরস্কার দেওয়া হবে। নারী সমাজের উন্নয়ন, নারী শিক্ষা, নারীর অধিকার নিয়ে ‌ভগিনী নিবেদিতা সারা জীবন কাজ করেছেন। তাই তাঁর নামে এই সাহসিকতার পুরস্কার চালু করছে রাজ্য সরকার।
এছাড়াও ভগিনী নিবেদিতার বিভিন্ন লেখা নিয়ে একটি সঙ্কলন তৈরি করবে রামকৃষ্ণ মঠ ও মিশন। সেই সঙ্কলনটি রাজ্য সরকার স্কুল ও কলেজের ছাত্রছাত্রীদের মধ্যে বিতরণ করবে। বিশেষ করে নবম থেকে দ্বাদশ শ্রেণি পর্যন্ত পড়ুয়াদের মধ্যে সঙ্কলনটি পড়ার জন্য দেওয়া হবে, যাতে ভগিনী নিবেদিতার চিন্তাধারায় তারাও উদ্বুদ্ধ হতে পারে।
মহারাজ এদিন বলেন, স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের সার্ধ শতবর্ষ যেভাবে মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের সরকার পালন করেছে, তা আর কোনও সরকার করেনি। ঠিক একইভাবে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার ভগিনী নিবেদিতার জন্ম সার্ধ শতবর্ষও উদযাপন করছে।
কমিটির বৈঠকে শিক্ষামন্ত্রীর উপস্থিতিতে সিদ্ধান্ত হয়েছে দার্জিলিঙে ভগিনী নিবেদিতার সমাধিস্থল সংস্কার এবং সৌন্দর্যায়ন করা হবে। আগেই ঠিক হয়েছিল দার্জিলিঙে ভগিনী নিবেদিতার বাড়িতে শিক্ষার প্রসারে উৎকর্ষ কেন্দ্র তৈরি করা হবে।
এখানে রাজারহাটে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকার ৫ একর জমি রামকৃষ্ণ মিশনকে দিয়েছে, ভগিনী নিবেদিতার নামে মানবিক উৎকর্ষ কেন্দ্র গড়ে তোলার জন্য।‌‌

Source: Aajkaal