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| Swami Vivekananda |
National Committee on Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of
Swami Vivekananda Meets in New Delhi
Government of India has decided to commemorate
the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and a National Committee has
been constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
The
first meeting of the National Committee was held today (20th May,
2010) in New Delhi, and presided over by the Prime Minister. In his opening
remarks Dr. Manmohan Singh said, Swami Vivekananda did a lot to inculcate a
national consciousness among the people. His message was universal and based on
rationality and righteousness. It was a
message that appealed to people of all classes, castes and creeds. His message
of unity and brotherhood has far-reaching appeal and relevance even today.
Here is the full text
of Prime Minister’s opening remarks at the meeting:
“I am grateful to the
distinguished members for joining us today for the first meeting of the
National Committee for the Commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda which falls in 2013. Swami Vivekananda was one of our greatest
spiritual leaders and will always be a revered figure in India's history and
culture. We should work sincerely to celebrate the commemorative year in a
befitting manner.
Swami
Vivekananda did a lot to inculcate a national consciousness among the people.
His message was universal and based on rationality and righteousness. It was a message that appealed to people of
all classes, castes and creeds. His message of unity and brotherhood has far-reaching appeal and relevance even
today.
We
hope to use the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary to promote interest,
particularly among our youth in his values, thoughts and ideals. In fact, we celebrate Swami Vivekanand's
birthday on 12th January as National
Youth Day every year. We recall on this day his memorable call to
"Work, work, work ".
Swami
Vivekananda thought deeply about education and what it meant for Indian
society. He conceived of education as the
primary means of rebuilding Indian society.
For him, education meant secular learning that built character and
instilled human values in students.
I
am happy that among the proposals we have received is one from the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna
Mission in Belur that is based on this theme. It seeks to promote and
implement Vivekananda's ideas on Value based education. Our education system
today is information based and does not give adequate emphasis on building core
values. I think that thought should be given to how we can mainstream some of
Swami Vivekananda's ideas on education into our school and college curricula.
We
have also received proposals from the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture
in Kolkata and also the Public Service Broadcasting Trust in New Delhi. We will be discussing these proposals
shortly.
But
I hope that we will be able to invite and receive proposals from organizations
and groups interested in Vivekananda's teachings from all four corners of the
country. I urge the Members of the
Committee coming from different parts to identify such organizations at the
local level so that we can support them to spread the message of Swami
Vivekananda far and wide.
In
fact, as is well known, Swami Vivekananda travelled extensively as a monk,
covering the length and breadth of the country. His period of meditation at Kanyakumari
is immortalized by the famous rock named after him. But his travels in other
parts of the country are less well known. Perhaps some attention should be
given to reviving interest in his travels and even in restoring some of the
buildings or places which are associated with him.
We
should be conscious that to reach our youth we will have to use media such as
the internet. I am often told that much of the material on India, including on
our historical figures such as Vivekananda, come from Western sources. If so,
we should make strenuous efforts to develop our own information sites in a
useful and attractive manner. We should also be willing to subsidise high
quality publications on Swami Vivekananda to make them affordable for
our youth.
Swami
Vivekananda was one of India's early
cultural ambassadors who was able to propagate Indian philosophy, thought
and culture to the outside world. He drew upon our ancient texts to communicate
with brilliance and eloquence the message of India which lays emphasis on
tolerance, plurality and openness.
Swami
Vivekanand's famous lecture at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on
11th September 1893 is a shining moment
in India's cultural history. I
understand that the State of Chicago does not allow memorials of people who are
not American citizens. But, we must find some way of commemorating this event
in the place where it happened. I am
sure that the Indian American community could be urged to find creative ways of
doing so.
As
we receive different proposals for the commemoration, we will have to set up a
mechanism to examine, approve and later monitor their implementation. I would suggest that we set up an Implementation Committee that could
take on this task and report back from time to time to the National
Committee. We can discuss this matter
later during the meeting.
The
main purpose of today's meeting is to seek your views on how best we should
move ahead to organize the commemoration events. The National Committee hopes to be able to
draw on the immense intellectual resources of
its members to guide the celebrations.
I look forward to hearing your views. Thank you.”
* * *
* * * *
Some of the members who
attended the meeting and contributed to the discussions:
Smt.Sonia
Gandhi (Chairperson, UPA),
Dr.
Karan Singh (M.P.),
Shri
Pranab Mukherjee (FM),
Shri
S.M.Krishna (External Affairs Minister),
Shri
Kapil Sibal (HRD Minister),
Smt.
Ambika Soni (I&B Minister), Shri B.P. Singh, Governor, Sikkim,
Shri
Narendra Modi (Chief Minister, Gujarat),
Sh.
Ramesh Pokhriyal (Chief Minister, Uttrakhand),
Smt.
Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha,
Smt.
Girija Vyas (Chairperson, National Commission for Women) Shri Sitaram Yechury
(Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Tourism & Culture) and
Senior
Ministers representing the Chief Ministers of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam
and Punjab.
Swami
Prabhananda, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur
Math including 3 Swamjis.
Prominent
among the experts and intellectuals who attended were:
Prof.
Lokesh Chandra (former M.P),
Sh.
Aveek Sarkar (Chairman, Anand Bazaar Patrika Group),
Sh.
Shankar (eminent author),
Prof.
Mirinal Miri (Former Vice Chancellor, NEHU),
Prof.
M.G.K. Menon,
Prof.
Samten (Vice Chancellor, Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath),
Prof.
Satkari Mukhopadhyay (Scholar) and
Prof.
Rudrangshu Mukherjee (Historian).
Considering
Swami Vivekananda’s lasting legacy being the role model of the youth, the
Committee focused on the following six areas:
1.
Vivekananda as an Icon for the Youth, for
Ø Character
building;
Ø Value
education;
Ø Imbibing
India’s plural & secular tradition
2. Vivekananda & National consciousness
v Synchronized
both eternal Indian and modern India;
v Arouse
dormant national consciousness
3. Vivekananda’s relevance in the 21st century;
§ Emphasise
his ideas in contemporary context;
§ Let
us move forward, with his ideals
4. His service to the poor and service to the
mankind·
Emphasis on BPL population, rural/tribal
areas and naxalite pockets.
5. Highlight his contribution to gender issues·
Ø Through
his writings & letters.
Ø Through
special programmes for women education and health
6.Vivekananda’s
interest in Science·
v Research
& re-kindle interest in scientific enquiry.
Initiatives
and Interventions suggested:
1.Involve
youth through competitions, essays, interactions and study circles.
2.
Publications
(i) Reprint complete works in improved form
(ii)
Abridged versions for different segments
(iii)
Books of quotations and messages
3. I). Biography of Swami Vivekananda by
eminent Authors
ii).
Reprint Romain Rollands biography of
Swami Vivekananda
4.
Education:
(i)
Publish letters on secular ideas
(ii)
Education and Curriculum:
(iv)
In schools and colleges
(v)
Create Vivekananda Chairs in Universities
5.
Vivekananda and Yoga
(i) Develop its proper understanding
(ii) Establish standards for it
6.
Electronic Media as the most popular medium of propagation of the
Swamiji’s Messages.
(i) All India Radio and Television
(ii)
CDs, DVDs etc,
iii)
Internet and Website
(iv) Films on Vivekananda:
i. Most popular concept unanimity on it
ii.
PBST proposal supported
7.
Vivekananda Travels throughout India
(i) Preserve some important heritage sites
(ii) Encourage students to visit through
concessions
8.
International Programmes on Vivekananda
(i)
Organize Conferences, Lectures and Seminars
ii)
Involve overseas Indians.
(iii)
Establish Chairs in Overseas Universities
9.
Research on Religion and Harmony, Inter-Faith Dialogue
(i)
Bring his ideas into current discourse, study including Tribal religion and their autonomy
(ii)
Counter current perception of religion as violent and divisive Emphasis on secular
aspects of religion
10.
Commemorate Chicago Address
(i) Indian Community in U.S.A. may suggest
programmes
(ii)
A Chair in Chicago University may be set up
(iii)
An endowment for an Annual Lecture be created
11.
MISC:
(i) Coin a catch word or phrase for the
Commemoration
(ii)
Create a Logo
(iv)
Invite ideas for the Commemoration
(v)
Mobile Exhibitions
12.
Prime Minister announced setting up of a National
Implementation Committee under the Chairmanship of Finance Minister to work
out the further details.
COURTESY: Government of India
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