Institutional Distinctiveness
Founded on 9th August, 1968 by Swami Viswanathanandaji Maharaj of Vivekananda Mission Ashrama, and originally run by the monks and brahmacharis of the Mission, Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya is steeped in the values of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, and it continually strives to instill those values in the students for their comprehensive development, echoing Swamiji’s saying, “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man”. The inscription of his words “Esho, Manush Hao” (Be Man and Make Man) in the main gate highlights the institution’s focus on nurturing the spiritual core. The college aspires for “life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas” by teaching the principles of devotion, self-sustenance, strength of character and spirit of philanthropy.
Psychological Well-being and Inculcation of Inner Strength
The college ensures specific measures for fostering mental strength and calmness among the students. Swami Vivekananda said, “The highest manifestation of strength is to keep ourselves calm and on our own feet”.
- The College has conducted certificate courses on Value Education and Ethics for all the students.
- Before the beginning of classes at 11 o’clock, a 5 min meditation is mandatory for all students. Meditation largely helps in calming the mind and enriching the output.
- Devotional songs and messages are played through the public address system at regular intervals for creating an ambience of calm fruitfulness.
- Motivational quotes and inspirational thoughts for the day are written on the blackboard for inspiring the students into these values.
- The birthdays of Swami Vivekananda, Thakur Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Devi are ceremoniously observed in the college to remind the students about the significance of the divine triumvirate and their contributions towards humanity and culture.
- The institution ceremoniously inaugurates all its programmes, curricular and extra-curricular, after observing the ‘Mangaliki’, i.e. by offering flowers and paying obeisance at the feet of the statues of the holy triumvirate, placed at the main building entrance.
- A booklet containing the songs and hymns pertaining to the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna are distributed among the newly admitted students during the Induction programme at the beginning of each Academic session.
- The college nurtures a fruitful interactive relationship with Vivekananda Mission Ashrama, its founding organization. Students and teachers regularly participate in the diverse activities of the ashrama like free eye camp, ceremonial gatherings etc.
- The college has sent a proposal for construction of a spacious prayer hall so that everyday academic activity can begin with a note of spirituality.
Helping the Masses:
When Thakur Sri Ramakrishna said, “Jatra jiv, tatra Shiv” (wherever there is a living being, there is Shiva), it inspired Swami Vivekananda into versatile humanitarian activities like opening schools, training centres, dispensaries, orphanages, arranging famine relief etc. With this ideological responsibility, Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya strives to amalgamate modern education with eternal humanism. The diverse activities undertaken by the institution are
- During times of natural disaster like cyclones (Amphan and Yash) the NSS volunteers of the college and teachers went to the affected places and distributed clothes, provisions, medicines and necessary aids.
- The college regularly arranges various community service activities through its NSS units like blood donation camp, adult literacy programmes etc.
- There is a bastrabhander and book bank in the college which helps the underprivileged.
Physical Well-being and Holistic Development:
Swami Vivekananda adhered to the principle that “The self cannot be realized by the physically weak”. Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya highlights this part of education by various activities.
- The college has Department of Physical Education which scouts for and nurtures the sporting potentials of students.
- The college NCC unit observes Yoga Day every year where both the students and faculty members regularly participate.
- Yoga classes are included in the routine and a trained yoga instructor conducts regular yoga classes for both boys and girls.
- The college has conducted a self-defense programme for the students.
- NCC is emphasized as an integral part of academics and NCC cadets take part in various camps throughout the year.
- NCC cadets also participate in observation of Republic Day and Independence Day.
- There is well-equipped state-of-the-art gymnasium in the college for both boys and girls.
- The college is proud to have a full-size playground in front of the main building where students play football, cricket etc.
Women Empowerment:
Swami Vivekananda said, “There is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is not possible for a bird to fly on one wing”.
- The majority of the students being girls, the college focusses upon gender-specific learning outcomes with special emphasis on various gender-based courses in the curriculum.
- Tech Mahindra runs a certificate course of Soft Skills exclusively for girls.
- Aksharekha Foundation, an NGO, conducts beautician courses in the college as well.
- The NSS units undertook a project in a remote village of Sunderban named Chargheri, where the poor women of the village were provided financial assistance for buying sewing machines, thereby encouraging financial independence of women.
Research and Academic activities on Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna
Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya encourages research and extension activities on the writings and teachings of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna.
- In the observation of the birthdays of the divine triumvirate, revered monks and nuns of the Ramakrishna order are invited for delivering lectures on their lives and lessons. This also helps students in acquiring knowledge on these great personalities.
- Dr. Ajay Kumar Das, Department of Bengali and Dr. Sunita Barman has extensively worked on Swamiji’s works and have a number of articles published in various national and international journals.
- Dr. Sunita Barman did her PhD on Swami Vivekananda himself. Her thesis is titled Vimsatisatabdyah Samskritasahitye Swami Vivekanandah—Ekamadhyayanam (The Contribution of Swami Vivekananda in Sanskrit Literature in 20th Century—A Dedicated Discourse).
To conclude Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya aspires to impart an education that forms character, increases strength of mind, expands the intellect and teaches self-sustenance, the principles laid down by Swami Vivekananda himself. It recognizes the interconnectedness of academic enrichment, personal growth and professional prosperity along with social responsibility. In a world ridden by conflicts of petty selfishness, the college tries to teach the virtues of love and selflessness.