A Cyclonic Monk who shattered the bias of America, who revolutionised the world with his spiritual knowledge, practical vedanta and the reason behind India celebrates its Youth Day is Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda, as the name suggests, was a bliss of discerning wisdom and his teachings made the world a better place.

Following his principles and teachings, a parent organisation Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Head Quartered at Belur Math, Howrah, Kolkata, W.B. since its foundation on 1 May 1897 is set to spread last 125 years love and humanity as well as serve people.

“Atmano Mokshaartha Jagat Hitaay Cha”

With the motto formulated by Swami Vivekananda, ‘For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world,’ the non-profit initiatives are driven at Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Gwalior by the lofty spiritual teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sri Maa Sharada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. The organisation works with a vision that has three characteristics: it is modern in the sense that the ancient wisdom has been expressed in the modern idiom; it is universal, that is, it is meant for the whole of humanity; it is practical in the sense that its principles can be applied in day-to-day life to solve the problems of life.

“Serve Man as Serving God”

The man is at centre stage while worship the God. Seeing God everywhere and serving that God through our duties at hand is a new blend of God worship. It not only leads to social elevation but also gains us spiritual upliftment.

A Holy Journey of Inception

Earlier, Ramakrishna Ashram, Gwalior was an NGO registered at Gwalior on 28th September 1961 under Madhya Pradesh Societies Registration Act 1959. On 1st November 2016, Ramakrishna Ashram Gwalior was officially merged into Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math, Howrah, Kolkata, West Bengal, with the new name “Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Gwalior.” The organisation is an official branch centre of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission Worldwide, headquartered at Belur Math, Howrah, Kolkata.

Swami Vivekananda is the master architect of the spiritual-based service-oriented NGO. More importantly, all renouncing monk who have given up their personal comforts and dedicated their lives to serving ‘Mother India’ serve as the backbone of the organisation. As a whole, it has been serving the community for the last 125 years.

Spreading love towards Humanity

Very few organisations in India have such a dedicated legacy. All the brother monks united through love and dedication towards humanity is the USP of the organisation. As of 7th March 2022, the organisation has 265 centres all over the world: 198 in India, 26 in Bangladesh, 14 in the United States, two each in Brazil, Canada, Russia, and South Africa and one each in Argentina, Australia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Netherlands, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, UK, and Zambia.

Apart from that, 44 sub-centres (14 within India, 30 outside India) are under different centres. Also, the Math and Mission run 748 educational institutions (including 12 colleges, 22 higher secondary schools, 41 secondary schools, 135 schools of other grades, four polytechnics, 48 vocational training centres, 118 hostels, seven orphanages, etc.) with a total student population of more than 2,00,000. Moreover, there are thousands of unaffiliated centres, also known as ‘private centres’ all over the world, started by devotees and followers.

Serving the ‘Vedanta Society’

The centres of the Ramakrishna Order outside India fall into two broad categories. In countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Fiji, and Mauritius, the nature of service activities is very much similar to India (which is humanitarianism and spirituality). In other parts of the world, especially in Europe, Canada, the United States, Japan, and Australia, the work is mostly confined to preaching Vedanta, publishing books and journals and providing personal guidance in spiritual matters. Many of the centres outside India are called the ‘Vedanta Society’ or ‘Vedanta Centre.’

Strengthening Education and Medicine

Understanding the importance of education, the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Gwalior concentrates its resources on imparting Man Making Character Building and Leadership Training as envisaged by Swami Vivekananda through the following educational institutions.

• Ramakrishna Mission (CBSE) School (Class Play Group To Class XII).
• Ramakrishna Mission (MPBSE) School (Class Play Group To Class XII).
• Sharada Balgram Student Home, Orphanage for 50 Girls nad 50 Boys (ST,SC,OBC)
• Roshni, (A Rehabilitation centre for specially-abled children.
• Sharada Naad Mandir. (A Traditional India Music College).
• Swami Vivekananda Study Circle Thatipur, Gwalior.
• Swami Vivekananda Youth Forum.
• Swami Vivekananda : Ayush Dispensary and Panchakarma Center

The organisation also works in the field of medicine and spreads awareness and treatment through Ayurveda and Panchakarma. This year, it has treated 7000+ patients. Apart from that, it takes initiatives that include:

• Meditation Centre and Dhyan Kaksha
• Rakhal Gir Gaushala
• Dairy-Based Skill Development Workshop
• Mushroom Production Unit
• Hydroponic Fodder
• Sharada Tailoring Centre
• Charity work

Helming the Non-profit Industry

It is not easy to lead such a vast organisation that has spread its existance around the world, working for humanity and serving the deserved one. Swami Supradiptananda, Secretary-Cum-Principal is at the helm of this branch centre. On Swami Vivekananda’s call to rebuild India, he renounced the world in 1990 and, since then, served in various capacities in various parts of North-East India.

Such a distinguished erudite is equipped with a Master’s in Computer Science Education and always helps to assimilate and implement the new technological trends in school education, social services and social networking. Moreover, he coordinates with the various Corporates and Govt Ministries to implement new initiatives as the main thrust area.

Nurturing Advanced Professional Citizens

There is no doubt that the modern gadgets and technological revolution taking place in India and the globe in the field of school education and others are equipping the education sector to nurture advanced professional citizens. Ramakrishna Mission has also taken some initiatives to apply technology in its education sector.

Each classroom in both schools is equipped with Integrated Flat Panels (IFP) to present it as a digital classroom. Various software like Tata Class Edge, Tinker Learning, Words Worth English, Hindi, Sanskrit Learning Software are involved in day-to-day classroom teachings. NTPC, Tata Trusts, Brahmos Pvt Ltd, RVNL, Infosys Foundation, Coal India Ltd, NHIDCL, Value Labs, SECI, SBI, Niti Ayog, Baidyanath etc play an important role in this for their CSR help to procure the IFP.

Additionally, schools have made available Coexcl E-learning App with a 24×7 helping hand for Students solving queries, Coding, Awaken Citizen Program. Also, the eTech ERP software App is helping the organisation to manage the huge amount of data generated. It also has introduced German Language Teaching for students that will help them to equip themselves with confidence building and a futuristic approach.

Fired by the Zeal and Enthusiasm

Challenges and difficulties are important parts of any journey that make the organisation strong. Ramakrishna Mission also has a fair share of challenges but solves them with love, devotion, patience, perseverance and purity towards the cause and humanity.

These qualities instil new vigour and enthusiasm within the team while adapting to the changing trends. Moreover, the organisation remains constantly being in the forefront and availability for the staff members to assist them with timely suggestions is the key. It holds a goal to excel with perfection in every scenario, fired by the zeal and enthusiasm drawn from the Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda.

Making a Sustainable World

Social evolution is crucial to withstand as a nation among the communities of nations worldwide, and Indian citizens are not behind. While the country is emerging as a lucrative marketplace for all the leading brands of the world, it is the responsibility of residents to preserve and refine traditional advantages and specialities. India has the power to provide a battery of world leaders from almost all walks of life, and its decision-making mechanism must draw the power from history to march ahead.

On this note, Swami Vivekananda’s thought helps to build the future. “Know your past. Out of the past is built the future. Whoever tries to bring the past to the door of everyone is a great benefactor to his nation. Therefore, look back as far as you can, drink deep of the eternal fountains behind, and then, look forward, march forward and make Bharat brighter, much higher than she ever was.”

Marching without Stoppage

The approach to continuously evolve day by and “Work as Worship” led Ramakrishna Organisation to higher and higher levels of perfection. The Ramakrishna Mission aims to improve the quality of all services and focuses on continuous infrastructure upgrades. Replacing old electrical wiring, electrical gadgets, existing old buildings with pre-cast buildings, landscaping, school education, Ayurveda Health Services, Animal Husbandry, Organic Farming, contributing to Rain Water Harvesting, Global Warming issues by plantation drive, acquiring new technological advancements, etc. are on the cards.

Advice to Budding Social Entrepreneurs

Budding social entrepreneurs must understand India’s role in the community of nations. Then instead of just restricting themselves to spirituality and philosophy in a general sense, they must help and guide the world by evolving the Indian community in modern trends of technological development and administration aimed at a better world and not for destructiveness.

Moreover, in the cutthroat competition, a fear of survival always remains. In such cases, entrepreneurs must know that Indian history is evidence of changing the minds of great leaders in the right direction. The modern social entrepreneur should draw energy to sustain.

Some of the Inspiring words of Swami Vivekananda are as follows –

“Mountain-high though the difficulties appear, terrible and gloomy thought all things seem, they are but Maya. Fear not and it is banished. Crush it and it vanishes. Stamp upon it, and it dies. Be not afraid. Think not how many times you fail. Never mind… Go forward: assert yourself again and again, and light must come,” says Swami Vivekananda to instilling the courage and enthusiasm among the new generation.

“This is not the time with us to weep even in joy; we have had weeping enough; no more is this the time for us to become soft. This softness has been with us till we have become like masses of cotton and are dead. What our country now wants are muscles of iron and nerves of steel, gigantic wills which can penetrate into the mysteries and the secrets of the universe, and will accomplish their purpose in any fashion even if it meant going down to the bottom of the ocean and meeting death face to face.” – Swami Vivekananda.

“Education, education, education alone! Travelling through many cities of Europe and observing in them the comforts and education of even the poor people, there was brought to my mind the state of our own poor people, and I used to shed tears. What made the difference? Education was the answer I got. Through education comes faith in one’s own Self, and through faith in one’s own Self the inherent Brahman is waking up in them.” – Swami Vivekananda.

“It is already becoming clear that a chapter which had a western beginning will have to have an Indian ending, if it is not to end in the Self-destruction of the human race. At this supremely dangerous moment in human history, the only way of salvation for mankind is the Indian way.” – Dr. Arnold Joseph Toynbee, British Historian has visualize it more than hundred years ago.

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