BALA-SAMARPAN

                      SWADHYAYA EXAMINATION AT SCHOOLS 
                                            ON THE OCCASION OF  
BHAGINI  NIVEDITA 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

              

In connection with Bhagini Nivedita 150th Birth Anniversary,  a swadhaya examination was conducted in Malayalam based on the book on Bhagini Nivedita. Around 300 students from 6 schools registered. 280 students wrote the examination which was held in their own schools on 7th November. Out of the total of 280, 55 students who had scored average marks, were invited to Anandadham on 14th November, for an inter-school quiz competition on life and messages of Swami Vivekananda and Bhagini Nivedita.  

On the morning of 14th November, Children's  Day, two programmes were simultaneously conducted on the campus, one of the successful students of Swadhya competition and the other of Shishuvihar tiny tots. Lighting of the lamp was done by Little Aradhya of LKG dressed as Bhagini Nivedita and little Achut dressed as Chacha Nehru. Prayer was chanted by the UKG tiny tots. The tiny tots and their parents and teachers went for campus cleaning ('Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan'), a one hour programme on 14th November, every year which they had taken up from last year onwards.
The other group of older children coming from different schools got the opportunity to listen to the talk by Mananeeya Didi on Bhagini Nivedita's life and message and why they should know about this great personality who had given her all for the sake of the Indian masses. The students also got an opportunity to listen to the Chief Guest for the occasion, none other than India's  first female  Merchant Navy Captain Radhika Menon, and who had received the  Exceptional Bravery award by International Maritime Organisation(IMO). All potential is within us, the need of the hour is to have the confidence in one's own self and determination to keep going till the end and to be able to practically apply the knowledge acquired in any field in life, was what the Captain advised the students.Captain Radhika gave away the prizes and certificates to the successful students of the swadhya examination.
The second part of the programme was the inter-school quiz on Swamiji and Bhagini Nivedita.The students of Shantiniketan International school received the trophy for best performance in the quiz. All the students had a sumptuous lunch after the programme concluded.

Concluding Program - Samarpanam

Concluding Function Of Sister Nivedita Birth Anniversary

The Chembai Sangeetha college auditorium was the venue to the culmination of the one year long celebrations in conjunction with the 150^th birth anniversary of Sister Nivedita. The events were jointly organised by Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation and Vivekananda Darshanika Samajam.  On the occasion were distinguished guests from different walks of life.   On the dais were :

• Hon. Justice  K P Jyothindranath - High court of Kerala,
• Param Poojya Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji - Vice President, Sri Sarada Math, and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission,
• Hon. Mr. Peter McIvor, Deputy Head of the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi,
• Mr. François Gautier, editor in chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde and   trustee founder of FACT – India(_http://www.fact-india.com/ ) and
• Mananeeya. Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari, Chairperson 'Samarpanam',  Past President of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari and Chairman of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation , Kodungallur.

Revered Swami Golokananda Maharaj of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Kalady, also graced the occasion.

The lighting of the Bhadra deepam was carried out by Justice Jyothindranath.(🎧 https://goo.gl/wJkX5e )

Post this Lakshmi Didi's opening address stressed upon "Shraddha/avivesha " with references from Kathopanishad and throwing light upon the thoughts for choosing Margaret Elizabeth Noble to be Sister Nivedita whose life was dedicated to the people of India, especially in the upliftment of women. (🎧 https://goo.gl/c3EZbU )

'Thank you Ireland for having produced such a wonderful Lady' said Mataji in her address to the gathering. Towards the end of her address she asked everyone to remember the 5 words 'Mother's heart', 'Hero's will', 'the leader, servant and friend in one'. She ended the talk by saying "Try your best to nourish those ideals within you, as much as you can for God's children, that will be the highest homage we can give to Sister Nivedita."(🎧 https://goo.gl/BoUkp1 )

Hon. Mr. Peter McIvor spoke on the contribution of Sister Nivedita, her lifetimes work, education and empowerment of young women. He continued, 'She was an important interpreter of India to the outside world. Informing a western audience about India of all it wonderful phases -  It's history, it's heritage, it's mythology, it's religions and it's cultural reawakening of that times. Later she was also to write about the life of  her master and his master Shri Ramakrishna, for whose life and teachings she had developed a strong attachment.' (🎧 https://goo.gl/KK41yr )

As a token of India's love and respect for Sister Nivedita's sacrifice for our motherland, Justice K.P.Jyothindranath presented a memorabilia to Hon. Peter McIvor who represents Ireland, the motherland of Sister Nivedita.

Mr. François Gautier in his talk started off by saying 'I am not a knowledgeable man of Sister NIvedita" but I have always admired her and this is why I accepted this invitation, for most of the time I refuse invitations to this type of conferences.' He continued 'Sister Nivedita is a special person to me, because she is one of the very very few westerners who come to India not to give something but because India gave here something. Sister Nivedata had a rare intuition when she met Swami in London that there is a rare knowledge in India that she needed.' He talked off a similar intuition that he had when he came to India many years back.(🎧 https://goo.gl/fvQDxH )

Sister Nivedita award was presented to Smt. Uma Preman, Founder, Santhi Medical Information Centre, Guruvayur By Mrs. McIvor  & the Citation for the same was read by Shri. Arun. A.  In response to the award Smt. Uman Preman  thanked the organisers and shared her experiences.

Prize distribution for Quiz competition winners were given by Shri N. Nandakumar, 

President, Vivekanada Darsanika Samajam.

Vote Of Thanks was given by Ms. Beena Govind.

A sanyasini and non-sanyasini listening

From R to L : Mr. François Gautier, Mr. Peter McIvor, Justice  K P Jyothindranath, Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji, Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari

Deepa prajwalanam by Justice  K P Jyothindranath 

Rev. Swami Golokananda Maharaj 

Justice K.P.Jyothindranath presented a memorabilia to Hon. Peter McIvor

Smt. Uma Preman and Mrs. McIvor

Panoramic view of the auditorium

Vishwabhanu

Vishwabhanu August - September 2017
 

Reception Accorded To Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi at Kodungallur

   Programme started at 10.30a.m. with Shishuvihar UKG students leading the prayer which was followed by the lighting of lamp by the Chief Guest and the members on stage. Dr. M.S. Muralidharan, Director of Hindi Prachar Kendra, Kodungallur, was the Chief guest for the programme. The whole programme was conceived and executed by the parents of Sandeepani Sishuvihar.

The Chief Guest in his speech stressed the importance and need of the hour for value education which would help children in the long run as they grow up and start planning for their future and goal in life.  They would then effortlessly use their discriminative power to follow the path of sreyas rather than fall prey to the numerous evils of the present. Hence more and more children should be introduced to spirituality and not mere academics. He was full of praise for the selfless service rendered by Mananeeya Didi who is a friend, philosopher, and guide for the people who approach her.

Others on the dais were Sri Gopalankutty Menon, a retired teacher and poet, Smt Anandavalli, retired teacher of OK school,Kodungallur, Dr. Sanjeev Prabhu Parent representative, Major Gen. Dr. Vivekanandan (Retd) a close well-wisher of Vivekananda Kendra and  Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi.

Didi was honoured with a Ponnada by the Chief Guest and 'Mangalapatra' by Sri Gopalankutty Menon a well-known poet, popularly known as 'Nimisha Kavi'(one who can compose poems instantly). Many well-wishers expressed their happiness that Ma. Didi was chosen for the AmritaKeerti Award. Among them who congratulated her, were counselors of Kodungullur Municipality Smt Asha Latha, Smt Parvathy, Smt. Rekha, Sri Shaji principal of HDPY School, Andipilikavu,  Sr Venugopal, President OKAY Yogam, etc. The representative of the parents Dr Sanjeev Prabhu, informed of the plan to build a small children's' park in the premises of Anandadham campus for the Sandeepani Sishuvihar children as a tribute to Ma. Didi. Everyone was requested to contribute wholeheartedly to this Project. The first contribution was by Smt. Shanta Devadas and Sri Devadas, parents of Kum. Lakshmi an alumnus of Sisuvihar(first batch).

Sri Shally introduced Ma. Lakshmi Didi to everyone present. Kum. Drishya and Smt. Jaya Radhakrishnan meticulously anchored the program.

Ma. Didi expressed her gratitude for the love and affection showered on her. Didi emphasised on the opportunity that she got to play(even though trivial) in the conservation of the India's culture and heritage. She requested one and all to give a portion of each of their time for the welfare of others, and join them in their times of joy and be a pillar of comfort and hope in times of sorrow.

The programme concluded with Shantimantra. Everyone dispersed after a sumptuous lunch.

AMRITA KEERTI PURASKAR

Service, though selfless, should be duly recognized and encouraged. If the knowledge, wisdom, and talent of those who serve society are ignored and left to languish, it is society’s loss. In order to prevent such tragedy, the Mata Amritanandamayi Math has conferred its annual Amrita Keerti Award since 2001, distinguishing people who have made significant contributions to Indian Culture and the Vedic tradition. The goal is to assist the preservation of the ancient and enduring human values of Sanatana Dharma.The awards are presented each year on Amma’s birthday. 

Two categories of people are eligible to receive the award: those engaged in writing original, in-depth studies of India’s spiritual texts and those dedicated to constructive social or national service. Sannyasins are not eligible for the award, as their service is part of their spiritual practices. 

This year the awardee has been selected by the five-member committee and decided to honor a woman who has dedicated her life for spreading the message of Swami Vivekananda throughout the country for the last four decades. Ma. Lakshmi Didi has been selected unanimously for the Puraskar this year. The same was awarded to her this year AMRITHAVARSHAM64 by Mata Amrithanandamayi Devi on 9th October in a function wherein top dignitaries from all over the world participated. This is a happy occasion for all the workers of Vivekananda Kendra and its well-wishers for whom Ma. Lakshmi Didi has been a source of inspiration 

Sri Jual Oram, Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, presenting the Amrita Keerti Puraskar to Dr. M. Lakshmi Kumari in the presence of Mata Amritanandamayi on Monday.

Man. Lakshmi's Didi reply after receiving the award

My most humble Pranaams to most revered Mother Mata Amritananda Mayi Devi, her huge retinue of highly devoted and dedicated disciples, sevikas and sevakas, most respected dignitaries on the stage, and brothers and sisters who have assembled here to partake the Prasad which Amma distributes on her birthday everywhere.

All of us have heard the story of the squirrel who helped Sree Rama during the construction of the Great Ramasethu, how, picking up sand grains and putting up in the Sethu he made himself immortal receiving the grace of Sree Rama. Amma’s contributions to the welfare of humanity and preservation of Hindu Dharma cannot be described even by thousand tongued Anantha. What wonders me is how in this mammoth service programmes she could recognize this small squirrel and confer her blessings on it. I humbly accept the award, taking it to be recognition by the Divine Mother Herself executed through our beloved Mother.

Such an occasion demands that I express my gratitude to all those who were responsible for making me what I am today. First in the line is my adorable father who put up the strikingly attractive picture of Swami Vivekananda in Chicago posture in our home and opened up the spring of guru-bhakti when I was just 12 or 13 years old. It was he who lighted up the Vivekadeep in my heart. Later my mother saw to it that this Vivekadeepa doesn’t get extinguished and when the call came permitted me to offer my life at the feet of my master at Vivekananda Kendra. It was Swargeeya Agamananda Swami who awakened in me the very first waves of spiritual yearnings. Those were further nourished by the two great teachers of modern India, Swami Ranganathanandaji and Swami Chinmayanandaji. It is through them that I tasted the practical Vedanta of Swami Vivekananda.

Even with such a treasure chest in my possession, the attractions of materialistic life kept their grip on me like an octopus. It was none other than Swargeeya Eknathji Ranade, the Master Builder of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Founder of the spiritually oriented service mission Vivekananda Kendra, who pulled me out of that mire and handed over the responsibility of looking after Vivekananda Kendra as its Mother. Thus was fulfilled my dream of surrendering my life for the service of Swami Vivekananda. This award reminds me of the magnificent gift which Eknathji gave me by which I rediscovered myself. The cumulative effect of all the love and respect with which the well-wishers of Vivekananda Kendra all over India received me have now become consolidated in Mata Amritananda Mayi’s choice of me to receive the Amrita Keerthi Puraskar.  This will definitely add a special glow to the evening of my life. To mother, I offer my shathakodi pranaams.  My thanks also to the selection committee for choosing me. Last but not the least, once again I assert ‘Apara Mahima Guru Mahima’.