A special lecture under the purview of the Vivekananda Study Circle was organized by Ramakrishna Kutir, Almora, at Vivekananda Balika Inter College, Jeevandham, Almora, on Monday, 4 August 2025, at 10:00 a.m. for the students of Classes IX–XII. More than 250 students participated in the programme.
The lecture on “Swami Vivekananda and the Holistic Development of Students” was delivered by Swami Yogatmananda ji, In-charge, Vedanta Society, Providence, USA, who was also the Chief Guest of the occasion.
The programme began with Saraswati Vandana and patriotic songs presented by the students, followed by lighting of the lamp and floral offerings. All the guests were felicitated with badges and mementos.
Other distinguished guests present were:
- Swami Mayadhishananda ji & Brahmachari Arpan – Ramakrishna Kutir, Almora
- Dr. Ajit Ranade – Eminent Economist & Political Analyst; Former Vice-Chancellor, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
- Dr. Sucheta Ghule – Professor, Biochemistry Department, Indira Gandhi Government Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur
- Dr. Srikant Srigiriraju – Ph.D. (Mechanics of Solids and Structures), Brown University, USA; Academic Administrator, Chinmaya International Foundation, Kalady, Kerala
- Mrs. Sarika Ingole – Former IT Professional, Nagpur
In his address, Swami Yogatmananda ji spoke on:
- What is holistic development and how to achieve it
- Swami Vivekananda’s idea of true development
- The ultimate goal of education
Students interacted enthusiastically, asking questions to which Swamiji responded with clarity and warmth. He explained the importance of meditation, discovering one’s goal in life, and adopting practices that help students excel.
The session concluded with a Vote of Thanks by Principal Smt. Godavari Chaturvedi, who expressed gratitude to Swamiji for his inspiring words and emphasized the need for more such lectures for students.
The event was a great success and left a lasting impression on all participants.ted their transformative experiences. The entire retreat radiated the uplifting spirit of devotion, reflection, and inner awakening.
