June 2011 Session-Admissions

Admission Spoken English, German, French, Japanese, Sanskrit and Hindi was conducted on 26 and 27 May 2011.  With this the admission process for June 2011 session comes to an end.  
Classes will commence from 1 and 2 June 2011.

Convocation 2011

29^th Convocation of Vivekananda Institute of Languages was conducted on 12 January 2011, the National Youth Day and birthday of Swami Vivekananda.  Sri Umapathy, IPS, Addl. Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, was the chief Guest of the function and handed over the Diploma Certificates to the successful candidates.  In his Convocation Address Sri Umapathy emphasised the need of the message of Swami Vivekananda to the youth of the country.


The programme began with garlanding of the statue of Swami Vivekananda at the Hussain Sagar tankbund.  Swamijis and the devotees paid their homage to Swami Vivekananda.  The Convacation programme began at 10.30 a.m. with prayer by the students of Sanskrit language.

Swami Bodhamayanandaji, in his welcome address, told about the programmes in connection with the 150^th Birthday Celebrations of Swami Vivekananda.  Swami Anupamanandaji presented the annual report and explained how the Institute not only teaches languages but also imparts character building education as envisioned by Swami Vivekananda.  Revered Swami Jnanadanandaji in his presidential address told the youth to imbibe the qualities like manliness, courage, strength etc. which will help the concerned individual and country at large.

There was a symposium where the students of the Institute presented Swami Vivekananda’s inspiring message in different languages.  There was a drama “Roaring Lions of India” reflecting the importance of the message of Swami Vivekananda to the youth, enacted the students of the Institute and written and directed by Sri Balakrishna J., senior faculty of the Institute.  225 students received diploma certificates in different languages on the occasion.  1200 students and alumni participated in the programme.

Beginning of the Session January 2011

The session has begun with right earnest.

Orientation Ceremony was held on the first class on 3rd and 4th January in 6 batches.  The students of the Institute, Faculties, Director Swami Anupamananda, Swami Bodhamayanandaji, Director, VIHE addressed the students.  Rev. Swami Jnanadanandaji Maharaj, President of Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad delivered benedictory addresses.

There are more than 6,400 students in this session spread over six batches.

29th Convocation will be held on 12th January, the National Youth Day.  Sri Umapathy, IPS, Addl. Commissioner of Police will be the Chief Guest and deliver convocation Address.  More than 200 students will receive Diploma Certificates in different languages.

Few photos.

Chair at the University of Chicago to spread the ideals of Swami Vivekananda

Chicago honour for Swami

BASANT KUMAR MOHANTY

New Delhi, Nov. 20: The Indian government hopes to set up a Chair at the University of Chicago to spread the ideals of Swami Vivekananda, 117 years after the monk delivered his landmark address in the US city. The consulate-general of India in Chicago is in touch with the university to set up the Chair, which would focus on inter-faith dialogues. Vivekananda had delivered his speech at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago on September 11, 1893, where he introduced Hinduism as a faith that had taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. “Sisters and Brothers of America, it fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us,” Vivekananda had begun his speech. “I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.” A senior official in the ministry of culture told The Telegraph: “Our consul-general is in dialogue with the University of Chicago on how to set up the Chair…. India may give funds through endowment for an annual Vivekananda lecture at the university also.” The proposed Chair is part of the government’s plan to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Vivekananda. Ministry sources said value education programmes across the country had been planned apart from a special film on the saint who was born in 1863 and died young in 1902 at the age of 39. A national committee chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and an implementation panel headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee will guide the execution of the programmes that would culminate in 2013-14. The programmes, set to start within a few months, will be held across the country and abroad. Belur Math, the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission on the banks of the Hooghly, will organise the value education programmes across the country, like seminars and youth conventions, the ministry official said. Sourse: The Telegraph, Kolkata,  India, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 http://www.telegraphindia.com//1101121/jsp/nation/story_13202229.jsp#

Journey Continues......

The final examination for the June to August session is over yesterday.  We could complete the session without holidays.  The result will be declared on 31 August by 4.00 p.m.  Admission for continuing students will take place on September 1.   The new session will commence from 13 September.   Almost 7,000 students took admission in the session.  When we went through the feedback we were satisfied that we were able to do justice to this large number of students. 

T. Sita Rama Raju of advanced level told us that he could not speak in English.  Then he joined the VIOL.  With in a year he is able to communicate in English confidently.  Apart from language he inculcated self discipline which helped him a lot.

Pavan Mani Kumar said “I was not good at studies up to graduation.  I improved my language and communication skills with the support of VIOL.  In Vivekananda Institute of Human Excellence I attended different courses which helped me to improve my confidence.  When I applied for GEPACT, they selected 5 candidates out of 5000 application.  I was one of them.  I was selected because of my “ATTITUDE” which I developed in Ramakrishna Math.”

G. Sai Ram, who completed his diploma in German and attended classes for two years, said “I liked everything here.  VIOL taught me language, communication skills, self discipline.  Swami Vivekananda’s message has instilled confidence in me.  I meditated in the temple, participated in the Bhajans conducted by Revered President Maharaj.  Now I am in a position to motivate and guide others also. 

D. Shravan Kumar, a German language student completed his diploma with 100% attendance in all the six levels.  Earlier he had completed the spoken English course with 100% attendance.  He attended all the classes for 3 years without missing a single one.  Tremendous commitment!!

Never give up!!!

“Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvellous work. The moment you fear, you are nobody. It is fear that is the great cause of misery in the world. It is fear that is the greatest of all superstitions. It is fear that is the cause of our woes, and it is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment. Therefore, 'Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached'” says Swami Vivekananda. 

There is a story. One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, hat the well needed to be covered anyway and that it just wasn't worth retrieving the donkey. So he invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he became quiet.  A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!

            This life is full of problems and challenges.  If we think that we are week and helpless we, we remain so.  When we search for an opportunity to come out of the situation, new doors open up for us and we will have a chance to come out of the situation.  That instills confidence in us and makes us stronger.  That is why we should not give up.  The end of the road that we see could be a bend to give a new turn to our life.

Swami Vivekananda’s Message on Service

A rich man had a garden and two gardeners. One of these gardeners was very lazy and did not work; but when the owner came to the garden, the lazy man would get up and fold his arms and say, "How beautiful is the face of my master", and dance before him. The other gardener would not talk much, but would work hard, and produce all sorts of fruits and vegetables which he would carry on his head to his master who lived a long way off. Of these two gardeners, which would be the more beloved of his master? Shiva is that master, and this world is His garden, and there are two sorts of gardeners here; the one who is lazy, hypocritical, and does nothing, only talking about Shiva's beautiful eyes and nose and other features; and the other, who is taking care of Shiva's children, all those that are poor and weak, all animals, and all His creation. Which of these would be the more beloved of Shiva? Certainly he that serves His children. He who wants to serve the father must serve the children first. He who wants to serve Shiva must serve His children — must serve all creatures in this world first. It is said in the Shâstra that those who serve the servants of God are His greatest servants. So you will bear this in mind.

Let me tell you again that you must be pure and help any one who comes to you, as much as lies in your power. And this is good Karma. By the power of this, the heart becomes pure (Chitta-shuddhi), and then Shiva who is residing in every one will become manifest. He is always in the heart of every one. If there is dirt and dust on a mirror, we cannot see our image. So ignorance and wickedness are the dirt and dust that are on the mirror of our hearts. Selfishness is the chief sin, thinking of ourselves first. He who thinks, "I will eat first, I will have more money than others, and I will possess everything", he who thinks, "I will get to heaven before others I will get Mukti before others" is the selfish man. The unselfish man says, "I will be last, I do not care to go to heaven, I will even go to hell if by doing so I can help my brothers." This unselfishness is the test of religion. He who has more of this unselfishness is more spiritual and nearer to Shiva. Whether he is learned or ignorant, he is nearer to Shiva than anybody else, whether he knows it or not. And if a man is selfish, even though he has visited all the temples, seen all the places of pilgrimage, and painted himself like a leopard, he is still further off from Shiva.

Ref: Lectures from Colombo to Almora - Address at Rameswaram - January 1897


Read Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda online