SHILLONG: Meghalaya Governor Tathagata Roy has urged the youths to get inspired by Swami Vivekananda’s ideal of service to mankind.
Speaking on the occasion of the Foundation Day celebration of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre (RKMVCC), Quinton Road which coincides with the 118th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Shillong visit, the Governor said, “Ignoring the ritual part of the Vedas, Swamiji preferred the philosophical part which relates to non-duality of the self, which he considered as future religion” while adding that both Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya and Swami Vivekananda in their short life span of 32 and 39 respectively, endeavoured to spread the essence of the Vedas in India and rest of the world.
Inspired by the great teachings of Swami Vivekananda, the Governor informed the youths how a young monk named Ketaki Maharaj came to Meghalaya and served the local people and established Ramakrishna Mission in the state.
In his speech, Roy also recalled and shared some personal experience of his early days, when he was a resident of Lower Jail Road.
On the occasion, Swami Sarvalokananda Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Narendrapur, West Bengal asked the youths to discover their own potential as Swamiji advised and emphasized on development of atmavalam or self confidence. Echoing Swami Vivekananda, he asked all to get up from biological limitations to infinite reality. He said some people feel ashamed to be called as Indians. But more than a century ago, he said, the proud Indian Swami Vivekananda when teased by a Westerner in their land for his dress, answered that in your country, it is a tailor who makes a person gentle, but in our country it is character that makes a person gentle. Sarvalokananda then asked the youths to feel proud of being Indians.
Swami Sarvabhutanandaji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong said Vivekananda believed in the importance of education in his quotation – “Education is the medicine to all our problems.”
The President of the Managing committee, Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong, B. K. Dey Sawian also spoke and the Center-in-Charge of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Center, Swami Divyaswarupananda ji also spoke on the occasion.
An art exhibition by the kids of Drawing Painting Unit was also Inaugurated. The entire premises were decorated with Madhubani paintings by the teachers of the same department
In the afternoon session of the programme, Keya Sengupta, professor, IIM, Shillong showed how inspired by the service to mankind of Swami Vivekananda, John Rockefeller, the wealthiest American of all time and oil industry business magnate, founded the famous philanthropic organisation, Rockefeller Foundation. She said the philanthropic works of Bill Gates was inspired by Rockefeller, who got the idea from Swami Vivekananda while in India.
The professor said Swamiji inspired Jamshedji Tata whose philanthropic contribution is known to all.
She also informed how the recent mandatory corporate donation of 2% for the poor was also inspired by the ideals of Swamiji.
Earlier, the programme started with a floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda at his life size statue at the campus of RKMVCC by the Governor and other dignitaries followed by watering a plant to create environmental awareness, opening song and an audio visual presentation on Ramakrishna Mission, Shillong. The day also witnessed presentation of cultural programmes of Khasis, Jaintias and others while Marcel Dohtdong and Ganesh Sunar were awarded with Vivekananda Award of Excellence for the year 2019.