PM Modi inaugurates Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru, commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Smaraka in Mysuru, commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to the city during his journey across the country. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Swami Gautamananda, President of the Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Muktidananda, President of Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysuru, and Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra. Located at the historic Niranjana Mutt, also known as the Old Anathalaya on N.S. Road, Viveka Smaraka has been developed by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysuru, to preserve and celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s association with the city. Following the inauguration, Mr. Modi offered obeisance before the portraits of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda as monks performed aarati. He spent a few moments in silent meditation before Swami Vivekananda’s portrait and later bowed before his statue. The Prime Minister then toured the memorial, visiting an exhibition showcasing Swami Vivekananda’s life and teachings.
He offered prayers at the Shiva temple within the complex and visited the 700-seat amphitheatre, where invited guests and dignitaries had assembled for the inaugural programme. Mr. Modi also planted a sapling on the premises in the presence of monks. Swami Vivekananda stayed at Niranjana Mutt during his visit to Mysuru in 1892. During his stay, he delivered discourses, interacted with scholars and devotees, and received the patronage of Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar X, whose support enabled him to travel to the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago. Spread across 81,000 sq. ft., Viveka Smaraka comprises a main building and an annex block. The centre houses a 4D experience theatre, exhibition hall, amphitheatre, classrooms, conference halls, a library, reading room, meditation and yoga hall, book store and facilities for students preparing for competitive examinations. Dedicated to Swami Vivekananda’s life, message and ideals, the cultural youth centre aims to serve as a hub for value-based education, leadership training and personality development.
It will organise lectures, workshops, short-term courses and capacity-building programmes inspired by Vivekananda’s vision of nation-building and character development. The centre is expected to benefit more than 10,000 students from nearby educational institutions, besides youth from urban and rural areas, a note from PIB said. Later, speaking at the stage programme held at Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Swami Muktidananda said the memorial would benefit countless young people in the years to come through programmes on behavioural excellence, capacity building, the Indian knowledge system, yoga and character development. Swami Gautamananda recounted the challenges faced by the monks in establishing the memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekananda and highlighted the long journey undertaken by the Ashram to make the project a reality. He said alumni of Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala had contributed nearly ₹30 crore towards the construction of the memorial and expressed gratitude to all donors and well-wishers and followers of the Ashram who supported the project.
The BriefWire