156th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda Celebrated at PU

Chandigarh January 12, 2019

Photos and Story by Rakesh Shah

The Interdisciplinary Centre of Vivekananda Studies(ICSVS), Panjab
University, Chandigarh conducted the 5th edition of the Self Development Programme on the 156th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, fondly celebrated as the National Youth Day.

The Chief Guest of the event Prof Shankarji Jha, Dean University Instruction highlighted the need for a concerted effort by intellectuals to disseminate the essential values embedded in Indian philosophy. The value of acceptance and tolerance is what makes the Hindu religion a universal one.

The guest of honour Prof. Kanwaljeet Chopra, Chairperson, University
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), spoke on the symbiosis of Science and spirituality and elaborated that why Swami Vivekananda along with the teachings of other religion focussed on the essence of love and forgiveness. Also that how these feelings result in health, happiness and longevity of human life.

Prof. Devinder Singh, Secretary to Vice Chancellor, .U, reflected that if the Indian Education system was cultivated as per the directions and teachings of Swami Vivekananda it would have been in a better shape. He suggested that the life and teachings of Swami ji and other great leaders should be taught under the subject of Value Education and be mandatory for inclusion in the University curriculum.

Welcoming the guests, coordinator ICSVS,  Prof. Nandita Singh said that Swami Vivekananda is a national hero and  a universal leader, who established the supremacy of Hinduism on the global pedestal by bringing forward its  essential essence of universal brotherhood and acceptance for all.

Prof O.P Katare, from the Department of UIPS conducted the heartfulness meditation session with the audience.

Sh Sudhir Baweja, who invoked youth by quoting Swami Vivekananda and
exhorted them for Nation Building. Vivekananda he said was a versatile
personality who despite being a spiritual leader inspired nationalists like Lala Lajpat Rai, Tagore, Aurobindo, Vipin Chanderpal and Subhash Chander Bose.He ignited the spirit of National freedom movement and invoked the sleeping spirits of Youth of his times. Through his fiery eloquence he could build a direct connect between the young audience and Swami Vivekananda.

 The Celebration had started a day before, where the Centre for Swami
Vivekananda Studies and Centre for Social work collaborated to
commence sustained youth engagement programmes. The students
volunteers from Panjab University under the guidance of Sh. Sudhir
Baweja and Dr. Gaurav Gaur visited various schools of Chandigarh and
engaged with the school students and conducted workshops and contests
on preventive health Awareness and creative excellence. Both the Centres have decided to work in tandem in future and increase the frequency of such students engaged activities aimed at positive self development of youth.