By Adity Choudhury
SHILLONG:
The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre (RKMVCC) organised a cultural programme to celebrate its Foundation Day within its premises on April 27.
With the event outlined in two shifts, while the morning session commenced at 9:30 am with a floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda at his statue and continued till 12 pm, the second shift started at 2:30 pm and continued till 5:30 pm. Students and faculty of the different vocational courses, including computer training and art courses offered by RKMVCC, gathered at the auditorium and attended the do.
Nalin Mehta, director, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) graced the occasion as the chief guest, while Rev Swami Sukhananda Maharaj from Gujarat was the guest of honour at the morning session.
The formal session began with the singing of the National Anthem and the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries, who were felicitated on the occasion. Students of RKMVCC also sang a Khasi song titled, Ka Sneng Ka Kraw.
Swami Hitakamananda Maharaj, secretary, RKM Shillong, welcomed everyone and in his speech emphasised on unity in diversity as a way of life.
“On this special day let us absorb the ideas of Swami Vivekananda. Just speaking of universal brotherhood makes no sense if we cannot work towards the progress of our country. Let us all live together in peace,” he said.
Following this, the tri-lingual magazine, Ka Jingshai – The Light, published by the Centre was released. Few contributors to the magazine – Sumar Sing Sawian, Bikram Bir Thapa, Raphael Warjri, Tanmoy Dasgupta and Silbi Passah, to name a few – were also felicitated.
Swami Sukhananda, secretary of RKM, Bhuj, addressed the gathering and emphasised on positive mindset and knowledge as the stepping stones towards progress.
Echoing his sentiments, Mehta maintained that introspection is the need of the hour.
Recalling the contributions of RKM, he said, “Their contribution to society goes on to show the importance of ethical conduct, dignity and compassion in any walk of life.”
The highly anticipated Vivekananda Award of Excellence, given every year to a faculty for outstanding contribution to the Centre carries a citation and cash prize. Robertson Thangkhiew, faculty in computer education, won the award, resulting in loud cheering from the audience.
Theilin Phanbuh, vice president, RKM Shillong, gave the vote of thanks and expressed her gratitude to the dignitaries present in the morning session.
The afternoon shift followed a similar itinerary of formal speeches. VK Mishra, director, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was the chief guest. He delivered his speech in Hindi and spoke on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
Br Amalachaitanya, as the guest of honour, stressed on service to society and said, “Love is the law of life, which in turn, shapes strength of character, rooted in selfless service.”
The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Prof Ayon Bhattacharjee, NIT, Shillong.
Cultural programmes followed both the sessions. Keeping the audience entertained were an instrumental version of a Garo song, Khasi traditional songs, Nepali, Khasi and Assamese dances, and Bengali dances, among others.
A Nepali fusion dance, a solo Khasi song composed by Lamborlang Khongru and the cover version of Elvis Presley’s Jailhouse Rock by Marbakordor Syiemlieh were the highlights of the cultural programme itinerary.
Dignitaries present also recalled the contribution of Swami Vivekananda, while monks of the order reminded the audience on how he delivered his last public lecture at the premises of the Centre, then known as Quinton Hall. Notably, he inaugurated the hall on this day in 1901. It was named after James Wallace Quinton, the Chief Commissioner of Assam until murdered during the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891.