SKIE Camp at Nilambur - Dec2016

The first of the 2 camps for the year 2016-17, was held at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Palemad, Nilambur. The Asrama is headed by Swami Atmaswarupananda.

On 24th December the participants reached the private Bus Stand at Kodungallur, by 6:45 am. After the initial travel to Thrissur by bus, everyone had an exciting journey by train to Nilambur. For some of the children, it was the first time that they were traveling by an ordinary passenger train.

Train journeys are always accompanied by lots of snacks, fun and frolic, which included some anthakshari. There is always to the rush to grab the window seat. The wind gushing on the face as the trains speeds is a great experience, it is not just the wind, there are different fragrances that whiff through... the smell of smoke from the engine, the trees that recede away, the green paddy fields, and of course the smell from the open snack boxes ;-)

During the train journey, one came across many an old multistoried thatched house, a rare spectacle in the modern town. we reached Nilambur Road(Railway Station) by around 1:30 pm and were overjoyed to meet Swami Atmaswarupanandaji who had come down to the Nilambur station to receive us.

At the Sri RamakrishnAshrama, Palemad, Nilambur, the children did not loose any time and after a quick delicious lunch they started exploring the surroundings; Joy, excitement, curiosity at seeing the lush green surroundings with the red soil. The spirit and excitement of the children got the elders to follow....

Post this everyone retired for sometime to freshen up for the Sandhya Bhajan. The Ashrama and its surroundings reverberated to the Omkara, kirtans and chantings. Soon it was time for dinner and we were served with a sumptuous meal.

25th morning after Prarthana and yoga, it was time for a short walk and exploration. The experience of walking on a log bridge; Climbing up this small hillock, in the cool hours of the morning, to have a sneak peek of the sunrise. The sun had risen some time back, however we got to see it then. What would it be like to hold the Sun?

A sunrise cannot be complete without a group photo....Time for a selfie too...

  

It was time to move out to explore Nilambur. The first stop was Aruvakode,  a small village situated close to Nilambur. Known for its fine pottery carried out by a traditional community named Kumbharan. The advent of globalization has literally killed this art form and it is Artist K.B Jinan who initiated the Kumbham Handicraft Project to revive the art form and save the people from the clutches of poverty. It is also said that the artisans originally belonged to Andhra Pradesh, and were provided land by the then rulers of the Nilambur Kovilakam.

A visit to Nilambur cannot be complete without the visit to Conolly's Plot. Named after H. V. Conolly, the British Malabar district collector, who was instrumental in the systematic planting of teak there. However it was Chathu Menon, a forest officer, who organized the planting of the saplings, and as like all other things the creator/inventor always remain obscured....nature is the best example. The initial plantation was about 1500 acres, of this abut 9.1 acres of teak were chopped off to meet the requirements of the allies in World War II.The two sides of the plot are bordered by the rivers Chaliyar and Kurinjipuzha, the other two sides by the dense forests of Kerala. Kurinjipuzha supposedly has the purest water in the region in all the seasons, it merges with the Chaliyar at the corner of the Conolly's plot.

Framing, yes the base of this tree is so huge that it is perfect frame for a group photo. A group shot on the longest hanging bridge, on the Chaliyar river at Conoly's plot, is a must :-) Nilambur Kovilakam, the seat of erstwhile Nilambur rulers was the next stop. However, we were not able to see the interiors.  A visit to the teak museum, Nilambur was next on the card.


The children had a surprise visit from Sri Mahadev an avid traveller, Photographer and Managing Trustee of Sukritham Girls Home, Kozhikode. He was accompanied by Sri Manoharan.  Sri Mahadev introduced"Sukritham" and then transported each of us on a mystical journey to Shrikhand Mahadev and Kinner Kailash with his photo presentation.

On 26th morning after prathah smaran, yoga and breakfast we visited Karakkode Kavu and Sri Ramananda Asramam. 'Kavu' means sacred grove.The 'Kavu' is very unique to Kerala and is generally a self-sustaining ecosystem. It is believed that Parasurama the great sage had his penance in this area. The ancient Devi temple of Goddess Vana Durga represents the vision received by the sage from his penance.

'I come from haunts of coot and hern,

I make a sudden sally

And sparkle out among the fern,

To bicker down a valley. ....' "The Brook - Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson"

The beautiful Karakkoden Puzha a tributary of the Chaliyar river flows through the Ashram premises.....'I chatter over stony ways,

In little sharps and trebles,

I bubble into eddying bays,

I babble on the pebbles. ' The children were thrilled...and amidst their chatter 'I chatter, chatter, as I flow

To join the brimming river,

For men may come and men may go,

But I go on forever. '

 

A group photo along with Dr. Dharmananda Swamiji, the present head of Sri Ramananda Asramam and Swami Atmaswarupanda(who led us here). Post the visit to the Kavu, it was trekking time,  walking along SH28 towards the Tamil Nadu border.The high energy of the children and group inspired the driver of our vehicle to join the trek.....And we keep blaming that children are always glued to TV and mobiles. Finally after a long walk we reached the border.

    

     

 

Back at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Palemad, had a delicious lunch prepared by Narayanan Chetan. A short rest and it was time for krida. Swami Atmaswarupananda, who heads the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, at Palemad, Nilambur to whom we are so grateful to, to accommodate us. The interactions with Swamiji were highly knowledge gaining and thought provoking for each of us in its own ways...

In the front row the first person from the left is Sri Narayanan Chetan, person behind the hunger needs of all of us. The food was absolutely mouth watering and a big namaskar to him for managing the kitchen single-handedly. He even packed lunch for us to have in the train on the way back.

With memories, experiences, knowledge and lots of energy locked away inside the camp to a close.... eagerly waiting for the next one...

 

 

Vishwabhanu

Vishwabhanu October - November  2016

150th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Bhagini Nivedita at Kochi

As part of Kochi International Book Festival 2016,  the organising committee of Samarpanam, celebrated the 150th Birth Anniversary celebration of Sister Nivedita on 5th December 2016. The programme started at 5 pm with a short prayer by Sushree Sutapa.

Dr Vinaya Ramamurthy, Executive Committee member, Samarpanam welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the Chief guest and the dignitaries on the dais.

Dr Lakshmi Shankar, General Convener, in her introductory speech, gave an indication of the fire power that was to follow. 

Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi, Chairperson of Samarpanam gave the presidential address and cited upon the inspirations derived from the book The master as I saw him. Sri Eldhose Kunnappily MLA shared his thoughts on the plight of modern man and his un-ending desire of worldly possessions. 

The event was inaugurated by the renowned journalist, Sri Rantidev Sengupta, from Kolkata, who was also instrumental in the visit of Selenda Girardin, grand niece of Sister Nivedita, on February 17th, 2015 to Kolkata. In his inaugural address, he showcased important aspects and events in the life of Bhagini Nivedita.

Srimad Swami Bhadreshanandaji Maharaj and Pravrajika Sumedha Prana Mataji of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Vytilla and Sri Sarada Math, Ernakulam respectively shared  their thoughts on Sister Nivedita.

Smt. Meena Vishwanath, Academic Consultant, Bharatiya Vidya  Bhavan, provided the felicitations to the guests and speakers. Srimad Swami Nandatmajanandaji Maharaj, Editor, Prabhuddha Keralam held the audience spellbound with Vanichithrapuja. The vote of thanks was accorded by Dr. Jyostna G Nair.

Lectures on Sister Nivedita in colleges and Sadhana Divas Celebration

VKVVF was fortunate enough to have Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, (Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra)on the 17th and 18th of November.  On the 17th morning, an hour-long talk on Sister Nivedita and her idea of Education was delivered by her at Hindi Prachar Kendra, Kodungallur for the benefit of B.Ed students . Fifty students attended. How Sister, transformed herself under the able guidance of Swami Vivekananda and how she applied her unique methods of teaching for the all-round development of the girls of the school which she established in Kolkata. The key points highlighted by her were the essential qualities of a budding teacher.  

On the 18th morning, at Asmabi College, Mannaneeya Nivedita Didi spoke to the first year B.A.and BSc students. Dr.Ranjit and Dr Mrs Soorya Ranjit both from the Hindi department of the college arranged the talk.She told them about Sister Nivedita who was trained by Swami Vivekananda when she came to India to serve Mother India.The qualities  required to be an able student were - All knowledge is within us, the need is of  self-confidence which  Sister  Nivedita stressed on. She narrated how Sister prepared her girl students some of who were  child widows, to become faculty members of the Vishwa Bharati International University of Rabindranath Tagore,  at Shantiniketan. The second quality  needed for a student is to know how to learn and  for this, concentration is a must, like that of Swami Vivekananda who was known for his photographic memory. Concentration can be increased by developing self-control. Again along with concentration, detachment also must be practised. Another important method was -TCI (Topic-Concept-Information) technique. This was how Sister Nivedita taught her girls. She also mentioned that, a student should understand his or her  oneness with nature since each of them was a spark of the Divine, hence one has to give more than take. That is what Sister Nivedita made her students understand. She taught her girl students everything including the pride for their family, society and country. The whole talk was delivered in simple Hindi which the students listened with rapt attention.  Lastly one of the girls came and delivered a beautiful vote of thanks.

SWANTANAM

On the eve of Mananeeya Eknathji's birthday, there was a gathering of senior citizens at Anandadham to participate in the 'Santwanam' programme meant for the retired teachers who were honoured by V.K.Vedic Vision on Gurupurnima day, all the elderly well-wishers and karyakartas of Kendra. Taking the opportunity of the presence of Mananeeya Nivedita Didi's  at Anandadham on the 18th evening , the unique programme was arranged.  

Man. Nivedita Didi's talk was on the four Ashrama system of our Indian culture and how it bound the people of all ages together, how it helped to build up the inclusive nature of every child as it grew up to be a man with dignity and total personality . She stressed on the duties of a Vanaprasthi for the society in which he or she lived. 

Inaugural talk was followed by a short meditation session conducted by Sri Sudhakarji, a video clipping on Sri Narayan Guru's 'Daiva Dashakam'. The programme ended with Kendra prarthana, with an assurance to all that 'Swantanam' was a monthly programme for all the vanaprasthis who had responded to this programme.  25  people attended the programme.

DIWALI CELEBRATION

DIWALI CELEBRATION

Pushpa Archana

On Sunday morning, Samskar Varga children celebrated Diwali by paying homage to Veermata Nivedita. Little Dakshina dressed as Sister Nivedita together with Mananeeya LakshmiDidi, lit the lamp in front of the photo of Sister. Some parents of the Sandeepani Sishuvihar and the inmates of Anandadham were present as the audience to encourage them.A short speech by Little Sister,  chanting of Suktas of Sister and Swamiji, a group song and Surya Namaskar formed part of their programme. Didi spoke to them on the life and work of Sister Nivedita. At the end, after pushparchana each of them received a booklet on Sister Nivedita as prasad.

Suryanamaskar

Sister listening attentively to Didi

Reciting Ssuktam

Our Ganapati temple on Diwali day