Foundation Day Celebrated

The Institute celebrated the 69th anniversary of its Foundation Day on 29 January through a colourful day-long programme that included, among other things, garlanding of Swami Vivekananda's statues, lighting of lamps at the front lobby, special puja and prayer at the shrine, morning function for the devotees and participants of the Institute, and screening of a film in the Vivekananda Hall. The morning function was presided over by Swami Prabhanandaji Maharaj who praised in his address the sincerity and spirit of service of the participants. Swami Ritananda, Sri Rebati Bhusan Mondal and his group, and Sri Ashesh Bandyopadhyay sang devotional songs, while Swami Sarvabhutananda and Swami Swagatananda read from the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. The morning programme ended with the distribution of prasad.

In the evening, the state Governor, Mr Gopal Krishna Gandhi inaugurated an art exhibition of students of the Sarada Devi School of Arts and Crafts and presided over the meeting in which Professor B.B. Bhattacharya, Vice-Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, gave the Foundation Day Oration. Swami Prabhanandaji earlier read out the report on the Institute's multifarious activities that took place in 2006.

In his thought-provoking address, Mr Gandhi said that the Ramakrishna Mission shows us how the twin ideals of renunciation and service to society can be practised simultaneously. Laying stress on the cultivation of the value of self-restraint by all, he said we have to find out the answer why, unlike other places, the Mission centres are always so clean and why do we feel so inspired when we visit the Belur Math and that feeling evaporates as soon as we step out of its serene surroundings!

Professor Bhattacharya in his speech on the 'Challenges of Socio-Economic Disparity in India' touched upon the phenomenon of globalization and its challenges. He pointed out that India cannot avoid the challenges as they have both good and bad sides. We have to devise suitable plan, he said, so that we can make use of its good sides ducking, of course, its fallout. Citing examples of various countries he showed how their overall economy keeps growing while disparities among people continue unabated.

Vivekananda Medal 2006

Srimat Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, handed over the 'Vivekananda Medal 2006' to SEWA Rural, Jhagadia, at a function held at the Institute on 11 January in the Vivekananda Hall. Dr Pankaj Shah, on behalf of the SEWA Rural, accepted the Medal, a cash award of Rs. 25,000 and a citation and spoke briefly about the growing activities of the organization. The Institute gives the Medal to a person or an institution for outstanding field-work and through it the dissemination of the ideas of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Two major books released

Srimat Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj also released at the same function two important books published by the Institute, namely Consciousness: A Deeper Scientific Search, jointly edited by Professor Jonathan Shear and Professor S.P. Mukherjee, and Swami Vivekananda In Contemporary Indian News (1893-1902) with Sri Ramakrishna and the Mission, Volume: II, edited with Introduction by Sankari Prasad Basu. Swami Atmasthanandaji, Swami Prabhanandaji and Professor Basu addressed the meeting, while Professor Anjali Mookerjee and Professor Visvanath Chatterjee spoke about the newly released books. Swami Ritananda offered the vote of thanks to all.

National seminar on Harmony

The Institute organized a National Seminar on 'Exploring Harmony among Religious Traditions in India' from 4 to 6 January. Professor J.N. Mohanty, Professor of Philosophy of Asian Studies, Emroy University, USA, delivered the Keynote Address and Dr Pratap Chandra Chunder, formerly Minister of Education, Government of India, delivered the Chairman's Address. Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, delivered the Inaugural Address. More than 20 scholars and distinguished religious personalities participated in the Seminar.

Convocation of the Centre for Indological Studies and Research 2006

The Convocation of the Centre for Indological Studies and Research for the students of Appreciation of Indian Arts Course, Indology Course and Functional Sanskrit Courses was held on 20 November 2006 at 6 p.m. in the Shivananda Hall. The Welcome Address was given by Swami Prabhanandaji Maharaj. Dr Ramaranjan Mukherji delivered the Convocation Address. Three successful students, one each from Appreciation of Indian Arts Course, Indology Course and Functional Sanskrit Courses were invited to express their views about the respective courses they completed. The participant who stood first in the Sanskrit Debate was also invited to present her viewpoint which she expressed in the debate.

Dr Anindya Sen, who did her pre-doctoral research at the Institute under the guidance of Professor Amitava Mukherjee and got Ph.D. from the Jadavpur University, was also felicitated on the occasion.

In Appreciation of Indian Arts Course (P. G. Diploma Examination 2006 under Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University, Nagpur), the number of successful students were 12. The student who stood first in this Course was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2000. Twenty-two students submitted their dissertations. The student who stood first in dissertation was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000/-.

In Indology Course (P.G. Diploma Examination 2006, under Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University), the number of successful students were 8. The student who stood first in this Course was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2000. Eighteen students submitted their dissertations. The student who topped in dissertation was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000/-.

In Preliminary Sanskrit Course (2005-06), the number of successful students were 23. The student who stood first in this Course was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000. In Intermediate Sanskrit Course (2005-06), the number of successful students were 13. The student who secured first place in this Course was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1000. In Advanced Sanskrit Course (P. G. Diploma Examination 2006 under Kavikulaguru Sanskrit University), the number of successful students were 6. The student who secured first place in this Course was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 2000.
Professor Anjali Mookerjee delivered the Presidential Address.