"Dream, Dream, Dream! Conduct these dreams into thoughts, and then transform them into action."

- Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

#Vivek

Positive Reads

Ramakrishna Mission: Empowering Communities through Philanthropy

In Hyderabad, the Ramakrishna Mission stands as a beacon of hope, providing a wide range of services to uplift communities and promote human excellence. With a vision inspired by Swami Vivekananda, the mission aims to create a world free from apathy and filled with individuals striving for excellence.   What sets the Ramakrishna Mission apart from other NGOs? Instead of offering mere charity, the mission focuses on empowering individuals to help themselves and others. Through their various initiatives, they aim to bring about sustainable change.    Their Personality Development course, with over 500 enrolled students, goes beyond conventional teachings. It instills a value system that emphasizes sensitivity towards others and the environment. Volunteers like Sarvi Ramwani testify to the positive impact this course has had on their lives, fostering self-reliance and empathy.   The Ramakrishna Mission's Primary Healthcare Centre serves nearly 300 patients, offering consultations at an affordable fee. From general health issues to specialized care in oncology, the center plays a vital role in providing accessible healthcare to the community.   Furthermore, the mission actively engages in the GRAMASRI program, which involves visiting nearby villages and conducting medical and youth camps. Their efforts include establishing 100 reverse osmosis (RO) plants across 100 villages, ensuring clean and affordable drinking water for the underprivileged.   The Ramakrishna Mission's commitment to their cause stems from the foundational work of their inspiration, Swami Vivekananda. With a goal to alleviate human misery worldwide, they strive to make a lasting impact in society.  

11 Nov 2023
Positive Reads

Kanyakumari: The Southernmost Tip of Mainland India

Kanyakumari, located in the southernmost tip of India, is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning natural beauty, cultural significance, and rich history. With its mix of breathtaking beaches, pristine backwaters, and towering hills, Kanyakumari offers something for everyone.   One of the most famous landmarks in Kanyakumari is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a tribute to the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda. The memorial stands on a massive rock in the sea, and offers panoramic views of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. Visitors can reach the memorial by ferry and take a guided tour to learn about its history and significance.   Another popular attraction in Kanyakumari is the Our Lady of Ransom Church, which is one of the oldest churches in India. With its Gothic architecture and peaceful surroundings, the church is a peaceful haven for visitors and a popular place for meditation and prayer.   In addition to its religious and cultural significance, Kanyakumari is also known for its stunning natural beauty. Visitors can take a leisurely walk along the beach or go for a swim in the clear waters. The Kanyakumari beach is also a popular spot for sunrise and sunset viewing, as the sun appears to rise and set over the ocean.   For those looking to explore the local culture, Kanyakumari offers a range of traditional arts and crafts, including bronze sculptures, pottery, and hand-woven textiles. Visitors can also take a cooking class to learn about the local cuisine and savor the flavors of South India.   With its mix of natural beauty, cultural significance, and rich history, this charming town is sure to leave a lasting impression on its visitors.  

2 Feb 2023
Positive Reads

Why 12 January Is Celebrated As National Youth Day

Today is the 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest social reformers, thinkers, and philosophers of India. His teachings are timeless and relevant and it is for this reason that January 12 is celebrated as National Youth Day in India.  The ideals and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda inspire the youth to tread on the right path and work towards the development and progress of oneself as well as the country. The government had declared 12 January as The National Youth Day in 1984 as it felt that the ideals and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda were worthy of being emulated and they could act as a great source of inspiration for the youth of India. It was expected that the words of this great thinker would arouse the latent energy among the youth of the country and inspire them to make all the efforts that they could for the upliftment of the country. Since then, this day is celebrated annually with great enthusiasm and Swami Vivekananda’s teachings are remembered and followed. Swami Vivekananda was born to an aristocratic family in 1863. He was originally known as Narendra Nath Datta.  He chose the road less traveled and was curious about religion and philosophy. He started meditating at a young age. His quest for God led him to the great guru, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Swami Vivekananda is known all over the world for the historic speech that he delivered on 11 September 1893 at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago. He addressed the audience as brothers and sisters spreading the spirit of oneness and brotherhood. He asserted that every religion is important in its own way and emphasized the need for tolerance and universal acceptance. He was a key figure in the introduction of the Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and is credited with raising interfaith awareness, bringing Hinduism to the status of a major world religion during the late 19th century. He was a compassionate man looking after the poor and sick as he believed that serving them meant serving the Lord. Here are some quotes of Swami Vivekananda that makes a strong impact: “Choose the highest ideal and live your life up to that. Look at the “ocean” and not at the wave”. “A few heart-whole, sincere, and energetic men and women can do more in a year than a mob in a century”. “Religion is the manifestation of the Divinity already in man”.   The National Youth Day is celebrated throughout the country, especially in schools and colleges by organizing speeches, seminars,  yoga sessions, competitions and youth conventions. A number of NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in India observe the festival as well. The philosophy, ideas, and teachings of Swami Vivekananda can justifiably be called national assets from traditional and cultural points of view.  He was a torchbearer in his time and his teachings still continue to inspire and motivate the youth who are the future of our country.  

12 Jan 2018
Positive Reads

Sister Nivedita - Saga of sacrifice

Sister Nivedita, whose real name was Margaret Nobel had come to India to serve the country even when it was a British colony. She was born to Samuel Nobel a priest and Mary Hamilton on October 28, 1867 in Ireland. Margaret and her sister went to Halifax College where she stayed in the college hostel. Her favorite subject was biology and she was also fond of music and art. Since a very early age she carried the desire to serve others. Her life changed when she met Swami Vivekanand at a friend's place in 1895. She was so influenced by his talks that she decided to leave her homeland and serve the people in India. In 1898, she came to Kolkata and quickly got familiarised with the place and its people. She put in efforts to learn Bengali and studied Bengali literature. On March 25, that year, Swami Vivekananda dedicated her to God and to the service of India. She was also given the name - Nivedita. As part of her mission to serve people, Nivedita started a small school, but found it difficult to get pupils.  It was very difficult to convince parents to send their girls to school in those days, but her persistence changed a few minds and finally she was able to teach a few girl students to read and write. She also guided them in drawing. Soon people began to accept her and they started calling her ' Sister Nivedita'.  When a devastating plague broke out in Kolkata in March 1899, Nivedita worked ceaselessly to free the city from this dangerous menace. She herself took the initiative to clean the roads and drains without any help. Soon the local people joined her and a committee of social workers was formed. Although her tireless work affected her health, she and her team were successful in controlling the spread of the disease. When Nivedita found it difficult to run her school due to lack of funds, she decided to go to the West to collect money. Later she returned and was joined by Christine Greenstidel from Germany in her mission. With her assistance, Nivedita's school started running again and both the ladies continued on their endeavour to educate girls and women. Nivedita's purpose of life was the liberation of India. She became a household name in Bengal and started addressing meetings all over the country exhorting people to join the freedom struggle. Her school was the centre of nationalism and Vande Mataram became the prayer song in her school. She started wearing khadi and spinning charkha became a way of life which was followed by her pupils as well. As Nivedita was artistically inclined, she brought about a revolution in Bengali art. While Indian painters were emulating the West, she goaded them to retain their Indianness and made them aware of their rich cultural heritage and the need to preserve it. Nivedita's life was one of sacrifice for India. She wore herself out through her unbroken, unending toil. Even today, there are many schools in India that are named after her. Let us not forget her supreme sacrifice for India.

5 May 2017
Positive Reads

Ramakrishna Paramahansa - The Apostle of India

The Ramakrishna Mission is well known all over the world as organizations that are run very efficiently and cater to people belonging to all religions, castes and faiths. However, large segments of Indian society do not know much about its founder, Ramakrishna Paramahansa. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, the story of Ramakrishna's life is a story of religion in practice. He was the living embodiment of Godliness and his life was an object lesson in ahimsa ( Non Violence). His love knew no limits, geographical or otherwise. Ramakrishna was born in a Brahmin family in Calcutta on February 17, 1836. It is said that when he was born, an astrologer had predicted that 'the child would reside in a temple, be revered by people, would found and be the head of a new religious order and would have numerous disciples'. The impressions and influence that he imbibed since childhood persisted for a long time, but during the course of his spiritual practice, he shed all inhibitions. He would partake of food served to beggars and freely mix with the lowest people including prostitutes. As Gandhiji did later, Ramakrishna Paramahansa often visited the homes of dalits and untouchables, cleaned their house and ate with them. His teachings came in the wake of a new spiritual awakening - an Indian renaissance. In those times, India had come under the influence of materialistic forces that questioned the existence of 'dharma' (religion) and India's spiritual heritage. It was Ramakrishna's broad outlook and metaphoric discourses that saved India from a major materialistic onslaught. His teachings could be comprehended by every person as it was not restricted to any religion, sect or nation. He believed in the religion of humanity and cut across all geographical, religious and racial barriers and boundaries. He stressed that only genuine mutual respect can help us realise the golden principle of 'Live and let live'. He always cautioned that the world belonged to God and not to human beings.  Through his teachings, seekers of all religions can find courage and faith, hope and illumination. One comes to know that man's sincere prayer is always answered and everyone becomes perfect through the grace of God. His words convey conviction about the inner divinity of man and the spiritual foundation of the universe. Knowledge, and not ritualistic religion was the cornerstone of Ramakrishna's philosophy. He inspired, among many others, German philosopher Max Muller and Nobel Prize winner French dramatist Romain Rolland. It was through such western scholars and later through his most beloved disciple, Swami Vivekananda, that the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramahansa spread throughout the world and drew many westerners to India.  

4 May 2017
Positive Reads

Good News

Indian Student Showered With Praise and Award for His Plogging Missions in UK

  Vivek Gurav never imagined that what started as a mission to clean his city of litter would eventually win him an award in the UK. He founded the "Pune Ploggers" plogging Community in India in 2018, and it already has over 10,000 members who have gathered over 1 million kg of trash.  Plogging which combines “jogga” (jogging) with “plocka upp” (a pick-up) is a Swedish concept. In simple terms, it means picking up litter while jogging. When Gurav accepted his scholarship position at Bristol University in September of last year, he made the decision to carry on the tradition. Since then, according to his university, he has driven to 30 UK locations and logged over 420 miles on 120 plogging "missions" with volunteers from 180 different nations. In a telephonic interview from London, Gurav told the Times of India that picking up litter was a simple and easy thing but it also helps to demonstrate that individual actions can be the solution to protecting the environment and that people themselves can go beyond government policy. It's interesting to note that, in comparison to Indian cities, he does not believe that streets in western cities are litter-free. Western cities exhibit a strong consumerism culture, and there is a lot of litter on the streets. Speaking with people about it has helped in bringing attention to it and other more significant environmental issues. His actions earned him the Points of Light Award from 10 Downing Street earlier this year, which recognizes individuals making a difference in their communities. Gurav was honored for organizing more than 140 volunteers to clear more than 3,750 kg of rubbish through his 250 running challenges throughout Bristol.

30 Dec 2022
Good News

Actor Vivek Oberoi donated 25 flats to CRPF martyrs

Actor Vivek Oberoi has done proud to not only Bollywood but also all Indians. He has donated 25 flats to the families of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) martyrs who had laid down their lives for country in the line of duty. Everyone thinks of doing their bit for the Jawans, but Vivek has gone ahead and has set a rare example of what giving can mean. While the loss of the families is irreparable, they will at least have a shelter of their own for their secure future.  Vivek Oberoi’s donated flats are located in the residential project owned by  him in Thane, Maharashtra, near Mumbai. These flats are housed in two buildings, Karrm Residency and Karrm Panchtatva, accorrding to the Economic Times report. Elaborating on this, a senior CRPF officer said that  four flats have already been allotted to the families of the martyrs. These  include three jawans killed in a Naxal attack in Sukma, Chhattisgarh on March 11. The remaining 21 flats also will be handed over to the central paramilitary force soon. The officer further added that preference will be given to families of martyrs from Maharashtra as the flats are located in the state. The officer informed that the names of 21 more martyrs from Maharashtra will be forwarded to Oberoi's real estate company for allotment of the flats. The CRPF thanked Vivek Oberoi for his noble gesture on its official Twitter handle.  

13 May 2017
Good News

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