Talk On the role of Hindu Dharma

Vivekananda Kendra’s Vice President Kum. Nivedita Bhide is visiting various cities of United State of in occasion of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in August. In this connection we organized her talk & group discussion and want to invite all our family and friends who are interested in Swami Vivekananda or India. Niveditaji ‘Didi’ has authored several books and also represent India UNESCO International Meeting in Australia in 1999. She will also give brief information regarding Celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Venue : Sept 05 Wednesday - 6:30pm to 8pm ( Houston time): Keshav Smruti, 4018 Westhollow parkway, Houston, TX

Link:http://www.hindusofhouston.org/78-events-calendar/211-talk-by-nivedita-bhide-didi-from-vivekananda-kendra

Onam Celebration at VKV Kanyakumari

ONAM is the biggest harvest festival and the most important festival of the state of Kerala and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm irrespective of caste or community. ONAM  is celebrated in the beginning of the month of chingam, the first month of Malayalam calendar (kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to gregoriam calendar.

The word ‘ONAM' or Thiruvonam is derived from the Sanskrit ward shravanam. Thiruvonam is one among the 27 nakshatras  or constellations. Onam festival continues for ten days, starting from the day of Atham aand culminating on Thiruvonam. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961.

The festival marks the homecoming of legendary king Mahabali. He is also popularly called ‘Maveli and Onathappan’. Mahabali is the son of Virochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon king  Hiranyakashipu .Mahabali also belonged to the Asura dynasty but was an ardent worshipper of lord Vishnu. During the reign of King Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Everybody in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. It is believed that on the Thiruvonam day, Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatar as Vamana and sent him to the nether world. However, for all the good deed done by Mahablai, god granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.

The people of Kerala believe that on the Thiruvonam day King Mahabali visits his subjects and hence the day is marked by feasting and festivities. To welcome their reverted king, people lay flower mate (pookalam) and prepare a grand feast (Onasadya). It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes and served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal. It showcase the unity among people.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the snake Boat race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful right to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

Pulikkali or kaduvakali is another entertaining performance where the performers take the quire of tigers, painting their bodies yellow with patterns of black and red. Kummattikali is another recreational folk dance performed during Onam.

Kaikottikali is an elegant clap dance performed on the occasion of Onam. In this,  women sing songs praising the legendary king Mahabali and dance around the pookalam. Thumbi Thullal is another folk dance performed by a group of women who sit in a circle.

If we try to find out the meaning and significance behind its celebration we will see that according to legends it is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear king that they are happy and wish him well.

Onam not only keeps alive memories of a bygone era of peace and prosperity but bring families scattered in distant places to an annual get-together reinforcing the strong family bonds.      

3 September 2012 - Seminar on Strategic Posture: Sino-Indian Border

Seminar on Strategic Posture: Sino-Indian Border
(By invitation only)
Venue : VIF Conference Room, 3, San Martin Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi (IN)

VKVs Arunachal Pradesh : July 2012

No bird soars too high, if it soars with its own wings.”These words of the famous poet William Blake remind us the need of organised efforts to achieve the desired results.

The whole month witnessed a series of organised efforts to plan, re- visit the goals set with the guidance of Kendra Elders, taking stock of the activities conducted so far, analysing the exam results of Class X & XII and finalising the activities for the 150th Birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Trustee Board meeting

All the Trustees of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas of Arunachal Pradesh Trust assembled at VK Tezpur on 9th July to evaluate the overall performance of the schools, approve the financial auditing and also to decide important administrative matters. Seeing all the elders together in the formal occasion and getting the valuable guidance is really a great experience which helps the team to revisit the vision and also add new dimensions to goals.

Principals’ Meeting for the Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools

The meeting was held on the 10 & 11th of July at VKVAPT Dibrugarh. 18 Principals attended the meeting. Mananeeya Balakrishnanji and Nivedita Didi; the Vice Presidents, Adaraneeya Dr.Tejum Paduji, Trustee, Mananeeya D.Bhanudasji General Secretary, Mananeeya Pravinji, Joint General Secretary & Secretary of VKVs in North East made their noble presence to guide the Principals.

The reporting of the various aspects of the progress of the schools during the last academic session by the Principals was the highlight. There were important sessions like Delegation of works and empowering co-workers, Academic matters, changing trends in Education and preparing ourselves to accept the change were dealt in the meeting. There were also brain storming sessions on Admission policy, Preparation of Templates for Model School and analysing the results of Class X & XII.

Tirap Cluster Level Principals meeting

The meeting was conducted on 21st July, 2012 at VKV-Jairampur.  All the Principals of the cluster schools attended the meeting.  Shri. Krishna Kumar, cluster in charge, Shri. Unnikrishnan.P.M, Education Officer, Shri Nitin.R.Jain, Manager HRD and Kumari B. Radha Devi, Jt. Secretory  attended the meeting. The focus of the meeting was to make a minute level planning for the implementation of various programmes decided for the academic session.   The cluster Level Principals meeting of other clusters are scheduled in the month of August and 1st week of September.

Acharya Prashikshan Shibir for Mathematics Teachers

A three day Teachers orientation camp for Mathematics Teachers was held on 28th to 30th July at VKV- Nirjuli. 50 selected teachers from various VKVs have participated in the three day residential camp. Dr.P.K.Chaurasia, the renowned academician and the Assistant Professor of the Department of Education in Science and Mathematics, NCERT was the resource person for the camp.

Dr.P.K.Chaurasia has enriched the teachers through various sessions on the  Nature of Mathematics, Constructivism in Maths teaching, the need of developing Number sense among students, Conceptual understanding on fractions and the Art of Problem posing and problem solving skills. He has also equipped the teachers in handling ‘Geogebra’ to enhance Mathematics teaching.

He urged the teachers to focus on the five characteristics of Maths namely Precision, Definition, Reasoning, Coherence and Purposefulness and appealed the teachers to be imaginative and continuously thoughtful on the process of teaching.

There were also sessions on the Formative assessment in Mathematics by Smt. Shilpi Das Gupta of VKV- Itanagar, and the use of teaching aids in Mathematics by Shri. Ratul Sharma, VKV, Roing. It was very nice to see the enthusiasm of the teachers in learning, discussing and actively participating in the camp and could see some of the sessions went up to 10 pm due to the eagerness shown by the teachers in the camp. We fervently wish that the teaching of mathematics should go beyond teaching of mechanical operations in Mathematics. Let us work together to have pedagogical understanding to give conceptual clarity to our students.

Celebration

All the schools have celebrated Gurupoornima with great pomp and show. The notable thing in the celebration is that the conscious efforts done by the school to increase the participation of parents.  Let us make a conscious effort to see that the   parents are invited for all the coming celebrations too.

Unhesitatingly for the help

The Principal, VKV Niausa- Shri R.M.Pillai, along with his staff Shri. Keshav Rai and Hemanta Gogoi without having a second thought rapidly rushed to save the Army Personnel whose vehicle met with an accident and fell in to a gorge near to Longding. Shri. R.M.Pillai and others went to Longding for the official purpose on 20th June. While retuning they saw the accident and jumped into action. They carried 4 Jawans to Hospital and informed to the army outpost about the accident. They nursed one of the soldiers who died in their hands after taking the last drip of water from them. The Commanding Officer of Rajput Regiment expressed his gratitude by thanking VKV- Niausa for their timely help.

VKVians excel in the State Level NTS Examination

10 students out of 25 students qualified for Stage 2 are from VKVs. VKV students bagged 3,4 & 5th Position in the state level Examination. Results are awaited in the Second stage examination.

Laurels to VKVs

Kum. Lijum Sora the alumni of VKV- Jirdin received the prestigious National Merit Award under the Dr.Ambedkar National Merit Awards Scheme from the Dr.Ambedkar Foundation , Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment , Government of India, New Delhi on her splendid performance in Class X examination in March 2011. She received a cash award a sum of 40,000/- (Forty thousand) and certificate. She also received Sangay Laden Award from the Department of Education for her Academic Performance Kudos to Kum. Lijum Sora!

Act on the educated young men, bring them together and organize them.  Great things can be done by great sacrifice only.  Work, work the idea, the plan... my brave, noble, good souls-to the wheel, to the wheel put your shoulders!  Stop not to look back for name, or fame or any such nonsense.  Throw the self overboard and work.  Remember, “The grass when made into a rope by being joined together can even chain a mad elephant.”

                                           ~~ Swami Vivekananda

कार्यकर्ता प्रशिक्षण शिबिर - ईटानगर

"विवेकानन्द केन्द्र कन्याकुमारी, शाखा-ईटानगर द्वारा पांच दिवसीय कार्यकर्ता प्रशिक्षण शिबिर का आयोजिन 18 से 22 अगस्त 2012, विवेकनन्द केन्द्र विद्यालय, निर्जुली में सम्पन्न हुआ। शिविर का प्रारंभ भजन संध्या से किया गया। श्री कल्याण दत्त, नगर प्रमुख - ईटानगर, द्वारा "मनुष्य निर्माण से राष्ट्रपुनरुत्थान" विषय पर कार्यकतोंओं को बताया कि त्याग यानि मनुष्य ओर सेवा यानि राष्ट्र ऐसे मनुष्यों का निर्माण करना जो भारतमाता के लिए कार्य करता रहे। श्री दंगसम भैया, केन्द्र कार्यकर्ता द्वारा स्वामी विवेकानन्द विषय पर बताया कि स्वामी जी का जीवन ओर अग्निमंत्र सभी व्यक्ति को शक्ति प्रदान करते है। कार्यकर्ताओं को स्वामीजी का जीवन का ज्यादा से ज्यादा अध्ययन करना चाहिए। श्री सुभाषचन्द्र दीक्षित, प्राचार्य (प्रिंसीपल) वि.के. विद्यालय, चिम्पू-ईटानगर, द्वारा संगठित कार्य की आवश्यकता विषय पर बताया गया कि सृष्टि में बिना संगठित कोई भी कार्य संभव नही।

श्री तारा दाजाम, सह नगर प्रमुख, ईटानगर द्वारा विवेकानन्द शिला स्मारक और माननीय एकनाथजी विषय पर स्वामी विवेकानन्द के विचारों का जीवन्त स्मारक है जिसे मा.एकनाथ जी ने सम्पूर्ण राष्ट्र के योगदान से जीवन्त रुप दिया। श्री अशोक आटले, नगर संगठन - ईटानगर, द्वारा कार्य पद्वाति और कार्यप्रणाली विषय पर विस्तुत रुप से बताया कि कार्यपद्वति के तीन प्रमुख अंग १. योग वर्ग २. स्वाध्याय वर्ग ३. संस्कार वर्ग ओर कार्य प्रणाली लोक संग्रह, लोक संपर्क, लोक संस्कार और लोक व्यवस्था को कार्यकर्ताओं के समाने रखा। श्री लोवसांग ताशी थोंगन द्वारा संगठन ओर कार्यकर्ता विषय पर बताया कि संगठन में कार्यकर्ता नदी के पानी के तरह होता है जो अन्त में विशाल सागर में मिल जाता है जहां कार्यकर्ता और संगठन एक हो जाते है।
श्री फुन्तसो गोम्बू द्वारा केन्द्र प्रार्थना का अर्थ बताया गया कि इसमें किसी व्यक्ति का नही, परंतु संगठन को शक्ति प्रदान करने की प्रार्थना कि गई है। श्री तावा तातुप, स्वामी विवेकानन्द सार्ध शती समारोह प्रांत कार्यालाया प्रमुखने, अरुणाचल प्रदेश, द्वारा स्वामी विवेकानन्द सार्ध शती समारोह की विस्तुत जानकारी दी। श्री रुपेश माथुर, प्रांत संगठक, अरुणाचल प्रदेश द्वारा आहूति सत्र का मतलब बताया गया ओर कहा की भारतमाता का कार्य ही कार्यकर्ता का ध्येय होना चाहिए। शिविर में योगाभ्यास, संस्कार वर्ग, केन्द्र की विस्तुत जानकारी मंथन के द्वारा कार्यकर्ताओं को बताया गया और आहूति सत्र से शिविर का समपान किया गया।