Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati organized various programmes on 12 Jan and 19-21 Jan 2020 in commemoration of the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s Addresses.
On 12 January 2020: A Grand Procession was organized in which students, youths, devotees and admirers of Swami Vivekananda participated in large numbers. About 600 people took part in the procession. Sri Hrishikesh Goswami, Media Advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam, inaugurated the Concluding Celebration and flagged off the procession.
On 19 January 2020: A Public Meeting was organized at Rabindra Bhawan Auditorium where people from various religions and cultural backgrounds attended. Swami Atmashuddhananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati presented his welcome address. Swami Balabhadrananda ji, Asst. General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, presided over the meeting. Swami Nikhileshwarananda ji , Adhyaksha, Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot and Guest of Honour of the meeting described the significance of Historic Chicago Addresses. Sri Diganta Biswa Sarma, an admirer of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda and Aurobindo and a translator, in his address, inspired the youth by his thought-provoking and powerful speeches on Swami Vivekananda’s Life and Messages. Dr. Mridul Hazarika, former Vice-Chancellor, Gauhati University and Principal Advisor, USTM University, stressed upon disseminating Swami Vivekananda’s messages among the masses, specifically among the youth. Swami Balabhadrananda ji in his Presidential address said that the universal message of Vedanta was practised and authenticated by Sri Ramakrishna and spread all over the world through the World’s Parliament of Religions. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Bhabesh Kumar Das. The Closing Song was rendered by Sri Mahesh Ch. Baroowa, Asst. Secretary of the Managing Committee of the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Guwahati.
A Special Issue of Assamese quarterly journal Vivek Bhaskar was released by Swami Balabhadrananda ji and the Assamese Book Mor Bhaarat Amar Bhaarat was released by Swam Nikhileshwarananda ji.
After the Public Meeting, a Puppet Show on “Swami Vivekananda” was performed by the “MEHER” The Troupe, Ahmadabad. About 600 people attended the public meeting and the puppet show.
20 January 2020: In the afternoon, a youth-oriented lecture cum interactive programme was conducted by Swami Nikhileshwarananda ji in the College of Education, Christian Basti, Guwahati and in the evening a lecture programme on Swami Vivekananda’s message for the youth was conducted in IIT, Guwahati. The programmes were attended by 140 and 120 students respectively.
21 January 2020: In the afternoon, Swami Nikhileshwarananda ji conducted a lecture cum interactive session on Teachers: the torchbearer of society at Pandu College, Guwahati, which were attended by about 100 students and teacher. Chicago Addresses, Personality Development and Swami Vivekanandar Jivani Aru Vani (Assamese) books were distributed free among all present. In the evening, a discourse on Happiness and Peace in Everyday Life was conducted in the Ashrama premises by Swami Nikhileshwarananda ji which was attended by 90 devotees.