Nivedita Raghunath Bhide, All India Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari recently visited Chicago and addressed a press conference where she spoke about the impending celebration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Swami Vivekananda did three days and nights sadhana at Kanyakumari rock. Vivekananda rock memorial is a place of inspiration for Hindus. Vivekananda Kendra is natural and spiritual evolution of Vivekananda Rock memorial committee.
Vivekananda Kendra is a Hindu spiritual organization based on the principles preached by Swami Vivekananda.
Nivedita ji Bhide who is a Jeevan Vrati (full timer) since her college graduation, said that she was in the U.S. to spread his message of unity of mankind. She emphasized further that Swamiji is not an alien to America, rather he is the one who strengthened the base of Hindu Philosophy of Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga, about which he spoke extensively in the U.S. during his first visit to this country in the year 1893 to attend the Parliament of World Religions.
Nivedita ji said that with a view to continue the activities of Swami Vivekananda Sardashati Samaroh (SVSS), Vivekananda Kendra of Bharat had set up 41 regions in India each with a working committee. They plan to extend it further by setting up village level committees across India in each state. She believes that this is yet another opportunity to reach the message of Swamiji to the youth, who are showing interest in his works and teachings.
If India is set for celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the Indian monk who came here 100 plus years ago and won over Americans with his charming personality and his expounding Indian philosophy, the Indian Americans in this country are not far behind.
Indian Americans in Chicago, that was the destination of Swami Ji, are gearing themselves for the event. They had the gracious presence of Ms Nivedita Bhide, vice president of Vivekananda Kanyakumari Kendra (VKK), who has come here to meet, greet and energize Indians by giving them more insight into the way celebrations are planned in India.
Ms Nivedita had a series of meetings with the volunteers and also decided to meet ethnic Indian media before leaving for New York and back to India. At a news briefing here, she said that the best way to celebrate Swamiji’s birth anniversary would be to spread his message of love and unity for mankind. She was in the US with the avowed objective to push up this mission of Swamiji.
She said that Swami Vivekananda Sardashati Samaroh (SVSS) had set up 41 regions in India each with a working committee. They plan to extend it further by setting up village level committees across India in each state of the Indian Union. She explained the five-fold dimensions of the celebrations focusing on educating youth, women, villages (janajatis, that is different groups of people who needs the services.) SVSS is working through Seva, Swadhyaya, Suraksha and Swawalamban i.e. service, self-study, vigilance and self-dependency under different programs, such as Seva Week or Seva Months.
Delineating the functions and services of each unit, she said that the objective of Yuva Shakti Aayam is to awaken and canalize massive youth power waiting to be exploded, especially in the context of impressive economic growth in India. Weekly or monthly the volunteers will go to interior places in order to spread the message by house to house contacts. Vivekananda Swadhyaya Mandalas will organize essays and other intellectually stimulating competitions, samuhika surya-namaskaras and “Awake Bharat Marathon events” promoting physical development of the youth.
With the help of Samvardhini Aayam the SVSS will encourage the participation of women in all walks of life to respect and enhance the nurturing capacity of women by promoting conventions in different areas like, Shakti Sammelana, Dampati (conjugal) Sammelana, Youth development camps (Kishori Vikas-girl students) by inviting leading women to discuss and present issues through symposiums in various vocations and professions.
She said the Gramayana Aayam (Village development schemes) will organize villagers to involve in the total development of their personal as well functional competency through harmony, satsang, service and shrama-samskara camps with such activities as Vivekananda Vatikas, Kirtan, Katha, pravachan and exhibitions on various topics.
Through Asmita Aayams for people living in forests and interior villages the SVSS will arrange medical camps, sports and games, competitions, conferences, focusing on encouraging literature, music, story-telling, and learning history. Whereas the focus of these activities will be on the entire society requiring education on all aspects of village (vanavasi and farmers) the main target will be to promote Yuva Shakti through public lectures, yoga training and conducting seminars and symposiums on the life and letters of Swami Vivekananda
On international level, the motto of the SVSS is Universal Peace through Yoga and Dharma by almost repeating the local activities on international stage through seminars, lectures and mass Surya Namaskara in different cities of US, UK Australia and Canada.
Nivedita Bhide, who is currently on tour of the US, had joined VKK as its life-warder in 1977.
She is responsible for the training of Jeevanvratis (dedicated full-time workers) which include training of the teachers of 65 Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalayas, co-ordination of Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture, Guwahati. She is a regular faculty in All India Yoga Shiksha Shibirs and All India Spiritual Retreats conducted at Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari.
Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Kanyakumari celebrated 42nd anniversary of the dedication of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Universal Brotherhood day celebration. On the first parliament of religions at Chicago , Swami Vivekananda addressed the audience as “Sisters and Brothers of America” which had an electrifying effect on them.
His message to the people was to help others and not to fight, assimilation and not destruction to have harmony and peace and not dessension for the first time to westers audience, the message of Universal brotherhood and its proper understanding was given by Swami Vivekananda.
To commemorate the world famous speech given by Swami Vivekananda on 11th Sep 1893, Eknathji the founder of Vivekananda Kendra wanted this day to be celebrated as Universal Brotherhood day.
The program was inaugurated with traditional auspicious lamp lightening by our honourable chief guest. Mr. Kathirvel, Principal of Sun College engineering and technology Erachakulam followed by other dignitaries on the dices. Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya Students paid tribute to mother Bharat through the song Vande Matharam.
Shri. S.Abraham Lingom, Principal of Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya, Kanyakumari delivered the address that was like the colourful rainbow adorns the sky on a rainy.
The Employees who have completed their ten and twenty years of service in Vivekananda Kendra were honoured. Ma. Balakrishnanji, Vice President, VRM & VK, in his Presidential address told about the importance of 150th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and to celebrate it in a grand manner. He also told about, this celebration must reach is each and every person. Chief guest Mr. Kathirvel , Principal of Sun College of Engineering and Technology gives a sweetful speech about the golden thoughts of Swami Vivekananda. He told the younger generation to “Araise ! and Awake !! to achieve their goal."
The speciality of our motherland was known through Hindi Song by the students of 9th std. of VKV, Kanyakumari.
The Book was released by the name of “Swami Vivekananda in London” it was released by Ma. Bhanudhasji, General Secretary, VRM and VK and the first copy was given to the Chief guest.
The ceremony concluded with the cultural program performed by Vidyalaya Students.
