The week-long Swami Vivekanada Samsruti, a programme to commemorate the 150 birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, began in the city on Friday. A large number of students from the city and neighbouring places took part in the programmes.
The programme is organised jointly the Ramakrishna Math, the Dakshina Kannada district administration and the Akashawani. Congress leaders boycotted the inaugural function to protest against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat inaugurating it.
In his opening remarks, Swami Jitakamananda, President of the Ramakrishna Math’s Mangalore unit, said the week long programme would throw light on different facets of the life of Swami Vivekananda. “He is a person who has imbibed Bharatiyate. Knowing about his life will be a guiding light for many youngsters,” he said.
Swami Jitakamananda said although there was a change in the situation and circumstances in which Swami Vivekananda lived and now, his teachings and ideals were still relevant. Swami Vivekananda, he said, believed in providing education that helped build a character and the personality. “This is what is lacking in the present system.” The week-long programme was an effort to propagate the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda to youngsters on whom he held lot of faith.
RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat said Swami Vivekananda had the way of telling in a modern way the tenets of India’s rich culture. While believing in Hinduism, Swami Vivekananda gave respect to other religions. “He believed that blaming others was like blaming your own god.”
Mr. Bhat highlighted the importance that Swami Vivekananda gave for women and their development. It was necessary for youngsters to follow the line taken by the great spiritual leader, he said.
Deputy Speaker of the Legislatiive Assembly N. Yogish Bhat spoke.
There were speeches by Tejaswi Surya on “Swami Vivekananda Mattu Rastra Preema” and Raghottama Rao on “Yuvakanmani Swami Vivekananda”. Play Navayuga Geetacharya – Swami Vivekananda was staged by Bhagawadgeeta Myitri Sangha from Kaiga.
Programme in Manipal
Udupi Special Correspondent reports:
The Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC) will organize a programme “Swami Vivekananda in 21st Century” to mark his 150th birth anniversary here on January 12.
According to a press release here on Friday, Director of the Institute Varadesh Hiregange said that National Research Professor M.S. Valiathan will be the chief guest. There will be a screening of a film on Swami Vivekananda. MIC auditorium would be the venue.
The screening of the film will start at 4 p.m. and the talk is scheduled at 5.30 p.m. There will be an exhibition of photographs connected with Swami Vivekananda’s life.
Over the years, certain aspects of Swami Vivekananda were highlighted and other aspects were being ignored. The event was being organised primarily to look at Swami Vivekananda in his entirety.
January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day throughout the country.
