Shashwata Bharat Experience

[Blood Donation Camp of 16th March, 2013 : Registration Link and necessary information in our previous post.]

Though the mid-sem. exam. is going on, NSS, IIT Kharagpur students and faculty had an window of opportunity to participate in the institute organized “Shashwata Bharat” program in the campus on 23rd February, 2013 evening. The program was attended by people of our neighbourhood too. Invitations were sent to schools and various organizations.

We had a great participation from Tata Bearings family. They came a bus full, chanting hymns. Their children wing performed a nice arati after the garlanding of Vivekananda idol by Prof. Ajit Pal, a senior Professor of IIT Kharagpur. This was followed by traditional tribal dance by students of Balarampur High School. The video of these are available in these links (Link1 and Link2) and also in the video player at the end of this post.

Then the Parikrama of “Shashwata Bharat” started in the campus (Video link). It ended in Kalidas Auditorium where the IIT Kharagpur campus community first presented a beautiful cultural program  in which both seniors and juniors participated. The program ended with the address of Swami Shivapremananda and a short 20 minute of the film “Vivekananda on Vivekananda”. There was a book stall on Vivekananda in the terrace of the auditorium which was flocked by one and all. The following are the key points of Swami Shivapremananda’s talk (Video Link).

Maharaj first thanked organizers at IIT Kharagpur. This was the fourth district covered by the chariot “Shashwata Bharat”. Often people ask them why it is not named after Vivekananda. Vivekananda loved Bharat, India the most. Rabindranath did not prescribe many literatures to Romain Rolland when he was asked how to know India. He said, “If you want to know India, study Vivekananda. In him, everything is positive, nothing negative.” 

The positivity comes from what Vivekanada mentioned as man-making and character-building education. Maharaj's experience is that the students do ask for good things but are not provided with the same. Students keep asking about mind – how to concentrate, how to reduce tension. Vivekananda said the difference between one man and the other is in degree of concentration. Without practising gun-firing ever, Vivekananda could shot egg-shells floating in a river to the bewilderment of all. 

Maharaj reminded Vivekananda saying, Education is the manifestation of perfection of already in us. Schools and colleges help to unveil it. One student of NIFT nicely said that Vivekananda is a great interior designer. Students also ask how to become successful. Vivekananda said, “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” We try too many things at a time and get diverted. After doing one thing let us take up another.

On this program on 150^th birth anniversary, Maharaj said that Vivekananda did not want such functions, flower, procession. This is to get enthused. He will be happy if we take up his idea. What is his idea? To build a great nation. He was meditating on India sitting in the rock of Kanyakumari and not on God even being a Sanyasin. Why? India is a source, treasure house of all good things. When his American disciple asks how he can serve the master. Vivekananda said, “Love India.” If we really respect Vivekananda, let us take oath that we follow his ideal, we love our country and contribute to nation-building. He reminded that Vivekananda talked about, "Be and Make." We often emphasize on "Make" and neglect the "Be" part or the other other way. 

Maharaj continued. Service and renunciation are twin ideals of India. It is applicable to everybody including scientists. Bill Gates said that he came to know something of real India by studying Vivekananda. Gates further said that before that money was the first thing for him and after that the last. The life has a meaning. It is not anything ordinary. Citing an example of IT executive Maharaj said how he is serving through an organization TFLO (Think, Feel, Live for Others). Let today's function not be just another function. Program, idol are to attract people, to derive inspiration but after that one has to implement the ideals in life. 

Maharaj ended the speech seeking blessings of Vivekananda for all including himself.

Arati by kids from Tata Bearings Family:

Tribal Dance by students of Balarampur High School:

The Parikrama:

Concluding speech (in Bengali - summary in English in above report) by Swami Shivapremananda: