Swadhyay at VK Karnataka JP Nagar Branch

On 31st May, 2023 VK karnataka, JP Nagar branch conducted a Swadhyay competition in BMS college of commerce and Management.

The swadhyay was based on the book "Swami Vivekananda: Hero of youth". 80 students registered, 65 students participated in the exam.

Smt. Nagamani didi, faculty of BMS college conducted the competition. Top 3 students will be awarded prizes. Certificates will be given to all the participants.

Free Multi Specialty Medical Camp by VK Arun Jyoti

A Free Multi Specialty Medical Camp was organized by Vivekananda Kendra Arun Jyoti Arunachal Pradesh on 28th May 2023 at Govt. Secondary School, Yealiang, Sunpura, Dist- Lohit in association with Rotary Club Tinsukia, The Mishmi Takin Riders and VKV Alumni Association Lohit and Anjaw Chapter. Dr. Rashmita Upadhayay(Medicine Specialists), Dr. Neena Dey Das(Child Specialist), Dr. Swaraj Bhattacharya(Eye Specialist) ,Dr. Harshit Bakulsaria(Dental Surgeon) and Dr. Snehil Bakulsaria(Skin specialist) from Rotary Club Tinsukia and the mobile medical unit of VK Arun Jyoti rendered their valuable services to 242 patients of greater Sunpura area. Free medicines were given to all the patients.

Few pairs of reading glasses were provided to some elderly eye patients. The volunteers of Rotary Club, The Mishmi Takin Riders and VKV Alumni Association Lohit and Anjaw Chapter assisted the whole day camp to make it a successful one.

The local administration had given wide publicity for the program.The ZPM of Sunpura, Smt. Angen Chaitom arranged the lunch and refreshment for the medical and volunteer team.

Eye and Life Style Disease Detection Camp by VKSSS

Vivekananda Kendra Swasthya Seva Sadan, Laipuli, Tinsukia in association with Drishti Netralaya, Dibrugarh and Chiwrapatty Devi Mandir Committee, Tinsukia conducted a free eye camp and life style disease detection camp on 21st May 2023. A total 232 patients were benefitted.

Eye examinations were done for all patients by experts with latest machines and some spectacles were given at a very subsidized rate. 28 cataracts were detected during the camp and out of them 24 were operated sucessfully next day at Drishti Netralaya, Dibrugarh. Medicines required for the camp were donated by Mediplus, Tinsukia. 

This is to be mentioned that Vivekananda Kendra Swasthya Seva Sadan, Laipuli, Tinsukia organized another cataract detection camp in association with District Blindness Control Society, Tinsukia on 27th April at Devipukhuri Mandir and 31 cataract patients were identified. Out of them 16 were successfully operated. 

C20 Policy Dialogue at Tripura University

Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati, in collaboration with the Tripura University, organised a Civil Society 20 Policy Dialogue, on 12th May, 2023 at Seminar Hall 2, Building Number 11, Tripura University, Agartala, under the theme Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect (DIMR). The programme was supported by Partners Jamatia Hoda and Maharaja Bir Bikram University, Knowledge Partner by North East Training Research and Advocacy Foundation and sponsors were Rotary Clubs of Tripura, Zone XVI, RID 3240 and Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission.Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture (VKIC), Guwahati, in collaboration with the Tripura University, organised a Civil Society 20 Policy Dialogue, on 12th May, 2023 at Seminar Hall 2, Building Number 11, Tripura University, Agartala, under the theme Diversity, Inclusion, Mutual Respect (DIMR). The programme was supported by Partners Jamatia Hoda and Maharaja Bir Bikram University, Knowledge Partner by North East Training Research and Advocacy Foundation and sponsors were Rotary Clubs of Tripura, Zone XVI, RID 3240 and Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission.

The programme started with the Mangalacharan and Deep Prajwalan by the Dignitaries, Mannaneya Jishnu Dev Varma, who was also the moderator of the consultation programme, Prof. Ganga Prasad Prasain ji, Honourable Vice Chancellor of Tripura University, Prof. Satyadeo Poddar, Honourable Vice Chancellor of Maharaja Bir Bikram University, and Dr. Joram Begi, National Co ordinator, Working Group, DIMR also the Chairman of Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture. Then an inaugural song of the Kulageet of Tripura University was presented by the Volunteers of NSS Unit of the Department of Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policies (Tribal & Ethnic Studies) (CSSEIP) and Dr. Utpal Biswas. The introduction of the theme by the Chairman of VKIC, he explained about the prospects under which the Consultations have been taking place and about how the C20 group explores and enunciate on the need to acknowledge, respect, adopt and recommend diverse approaches for solving various issues. Also how y bringing together stakeholders the Civil Society 20 and move with diverse approaches for solving diverse social issues.

Mananeya Jishnu Dev Varma ji, in his deliberation mentioned about the traditional culture of Tripura. How the ancient culture of the state and the Royal families of Tripura were inherently following their own culture unless certain influences tended to wipe out the cultural aspects of the state. But it is the people who can revive that by practicing their own culture. The deliberation of VC of MBBU mentioned the changes that a society goes through over the ages with respect to various ideologies, but the aspects regarding the basic needs of the society should not be compromised. The VC of Tripura University, who presided over the programme, concluded the first session thanking the dignitaries for their presence and hoped the programme to be successful. The inaugural session concluded with the National Anthem and was followed by Tea break.
The second session was introduced by the Local co ordinator of the programme, Dr. Rajesh Chatterjee, Asst. Professor, Dept. Of CSSEIP, Tripura University with the deliberation of partners Jamatia Hoda and NETRA and then the moderator, Respect Jishnu Varma ji explained the guidelines to the participants and the consultation started. An approximate of 30 organisations participated in the discussion and they shared their success stories and certain policy recommendations which would help them in smoothing their work. Those recommendations were noted down by three Rapporteurs, from the Tripura University, which will then be compiled and taken up in the final conclave of C20 to be held at Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh on June 11 and 12. The prayers of gratitude was expressed by Prof. Parimal Ch. Bhattacharjee, Director of VKIC. There was a display of VKIC publications outside the auditorium as well.

Samskar Varga Prashikshan Shibir at Hyderabad

Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, Hyderabad Vibhag conducted Samskar Varga Prashikshan Shibir at VK Kaushalam from 28th April, 2023 to 1st May, 2023. The theme of the shibir was “Let’s take a step further”. A total of 28 participants participated from Nagole nagar and 4 Karyasthans (Gajularamaram, Ibrahimpatnam, Dilsulknagar, Sangam).The organizing team consisted of 11 Karyakartas of Telugu Prant under the guidance of Shibir Adhikari Sri. Arun Gaud Ji and Prant Vyavastha Pramukh Shri. P. Ramakrishna Ji. 

The main thrust of this Shibir was on developing the young Sahabhagis, Gat Pramukhs, Varg Shishaks to undertake Samskar Vargas in their respective vistars. The camp activities are scheduled in such a manner so as to make the participants to understand the importance of Samskar Vargas in achieving our motto of nation building through man-making.

Participants learnt the skills to take Suryanamskar, khel, geet, kahani and agyna in Samskar varga through Naipunya Sessions. The Baudhik sessions were on the topics Veer Deshbhakt Sanyasi Swami Vivekananda, Mann Bharatmata, Jeevan Lakshya Jeevan Dhyey and Jeevan Mulay. As part of this camp, the participants also performed Bharat Mata aarti on 30th April, visited nearby Kaushalam Gaushala and performed 51 Suryanamaskars on 1st May. As a follow-up of this Shibir, Ekatrikaran of Samskar Vargas and 108 Surya-Namaskar programme are planned to be conducted on International Day of Yoga (21st June) this year.

North East Calling - Bengaluru

The program started with shanti mantra at 11 AM. An audio visual documentary about the story of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and its extension the Vivekananda Kendra was shown to the audience. The students of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Assam presented the vibrant culture of North east and freedom movement through music, dance, and drama. Mananeeya Hanumantha Rao ji, Vice President, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari introduced the guests and welcomed the audience. The guest of honor Dr. M Jagannath Shenoy well wisher of Vivekananda Kendra felicitated the chief guest his Excellency Shri R N Ravi, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu. Mananeeya Rekha Davey, Joint General Secretary of VRM and VK felicitated Smt Jagannath Shenoy. Hon’ble Governor Shri R N Ravi delivered his Keynote address and covered various aspects including brief history of north east states formation, cultural richness of the region and the current government’s efforts to bring the region’s people in to main stream of the nation. He explained how and why the region became an issue for so long. It was deliberately done by design by the then British rulers for centuries based on their interest. The British also passed the India charter act which mandated religious conversion or evangelization of India. Unfortunately this narrative of difference continued post-independence as well, by accepting the notion that the region is completely different than the main land. This led to the formation of seven states and thirty autonomous regions based on trivial differences amongst the people. Earlier governments kept on making many avoidable accords based on the local leadership’s demand. Shri R N Ravi appreciated the efforts of Vivekananda Kendra and mentioned that the Kendra in spite of minimal connectivity and lack of resources worked tirelessly in the region to bring them back to the fold of Rashtra.

Further, Hon’ble Governor narrated few stories from his own personal experience with local people, which revealed that there is no difference between their culture and main land culture. Existing issues can be resolved by taking them into confidence by talking to them with a condition that there should not be any gun battle and no negotiation on the sovereignty of the nation. And this is the effort of the current government and now the north east is a story of development. Hon’ble governor said the Vivekananda Kendra’s service in remote areas during difficult time is a great service to the nation and it is remarkable. Further said, all the things that Vivekananda Kendra did was with a very minimal resources and to continue these efforts Kendra deserve all possible support from the audience and in general, all possible people from Bangalore/Karnataka.
Session was opened to questions from the audience and all questions were elaborately answered by the Hon’ble governor which were well received by the audience with huge applause. Mananeeya Balakrishnanji, President, Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari thanked all the dignitaries and appealed to the people to do their best by contributing monetarily or by service to continue and expand Kendra’s work in the north east region where there are additional requirements for schools and higher educational institutions. Program concluded with shanti mantra and National anthem by VKV students. Prasad (lunch) was arranged for all participants after the program. 400 people including karyakartas of VK from various parts of Bharat attended program.