Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: Swami Vivekananda birth anniversary was celebrated by Swami Vivekananda Chair, Central University of Jammu (CUJ), on its main campus at Rahya-Suchani (Bagla).
Eminent educationists and thinkers participated in the event as guests and delivered their views and opinions about the relevance of the thoughts of Swami Vivekanad in the present global context.
The guest of honour, Ashwani Charangoo, president of Pannu Kashmir, said that according to Swami Vivekananda “Hindu is not a religion but it is a way of life” which was further endorsed by the Supreme Court of India. He further clarified that the word “Hindutava” which is the most misunderstood concept in the current socio-political context, was coined by Swami Vivekananda only, not by Savarkar.
The key-speaker of the event, Prof Kuldeep Chand Agnihotri, Vice-Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, referred to the relevance of Swami Vivekananda thoughts in the present global context. He further referred to the book in which Dr B R Ambedkhar vividly praised the ideas of Swami Vivekanad for re-establishing equity as well as equality in the diversified Indian society.
Prof Ashok Aima, Vice-Chancellor CUJ, said that self-realization is the guiding principle to life. He also apprised that more than 200 countries are practising the Yoga which shows the acceptance of Indian ways of life globally. He specifically appealed the students not to mediate but meditate and respect dignity.
In his presidential address, the special guest of the programme, Prof Harmohinder Singh Bedi, Chancellor, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, mentioned that the slogan of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” was actually proposed by Swami Vivekanad during his visit to Ganga Arti at Banaras. He also stated that Swami Vivekanand wrote almost one thousand letters, out of which seventy-seven letters were published and fifty-one letters were written to sister Nivedita in which he used to conclude with Wahe Guru. He disclosed that Swami Vivekanand stayed in Lahore for 21 days and also at Jammu during his visit to Kashmir.
Prof Vivek Kumar, Chairperson, Swami Vivekanand Chair, proposed the vote of thanks. Earlier, a drama was staged by the artists of the KALAKAAR Academy of Jammu which was awarded with a cash prize of five thousand rupees.
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