VIVEKANANDA STUDY CIRCLE

 

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY - MADRAS

Annual Report for the academic year 2000-2001

               Revered Swami Gautamanadaji, Swami Baneshanandaji, Respected Sri Parameswaranji, Prof. Gokhale, distinguished invitees and faculty among the audience, and my dear friends.

                "Many times have I been told that looking into the past only degenerates, and leads to nothing, and that we should look to the future. That is true. But out of the past is built the future. Look back, therefore, as far as you can, drink deep, of the eternal fountains that are behind, and after that, look forward, march forward".

                Though removed from us by an obscure gap of over a hundred years, these words of Swami Vivekananda set the ideal tone to this annual report. We hope it gives you a comprehensive view of our activities. Since its very inception in September '97, the study circle, has been driven, by an adventures spirit, a dynamic outlook to life, and a spirit of service. Over the years our scope and relevance at IIT Madras has only broadened.

                Each year, we initiate our activities, with the inaugural function. This is an occasion, to assess our achievements, set targets, and to extend a welcome to the freshers. Last year, our activities were Inaugurated by Dr. Lakshmi Kumari Ji, Chairperson, Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation. Her talk on "Swami Vivekananda and the Flavour of India" unraveled a unique aspect of Swamiji to us. Dr. M.S. Ananth, the then Dean of Academic courses presided over the function. Strength being the key message of Swamiji as pointed out by Dr. Ananth, was thoughtful, and relevant.

                From our early days, the weekly Sunday classes have been the source of our sustenance. Held in the spacious HSB333 between 9:30 and 11:00 am, these typically consist of Shanti Mantras, brief guided meditation, reading of Swami Vivekanandas' letters, and a talk. The intellectual ferment generated by the discussions that follow is to be experienced, in what a force it forms to rejuvenate and guide us.

                Considering the potent force that meditation is, in how it helps us gain an inner poise towards the challenges of life, we begin our weekly activities with sessions dedicated exclusively to it. Last year, Swami Brahmeshananda, delivered two preparatory talks on the theory and steps of meditation, which culminated in the session on Guided meditation. These set aside many of our doubts and misgivings. After the guided meditation session, we take up a series of talks. "Introduction to Yoga" was the title of the series for the last odd semester, and the first talk, of same head, delivered by Swami Brahmeshananda, dealt with the fundamentals. The three part Guest lecture series that followed, by Swami Tattwajnanananda, principal, Sri Ramakrishna Mission Shilpa Mandir, Belur, gave a brilliant insight into the relevance of Yoga in the context of engineering and technology and human excellence. The next five talks, given by Swami Brahmeshananda, offered a beautiful brief summary of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. That there was a higher state to the human mind was the gist of the talk "Nature of mind and Samadhi". "The means to Samadhi" analyzed the possible methods to reach this higher state. Are there ways to quicken this process, was the question answered by the talk on "The Special means to Samadhi" and pointed some effective techniques to do so. The final talk, "The conscious, the subconscious and the superconscious" gave us a glimpse of the profound dimensions of human consciousness. If this series inspired in us a tidal urge to immediately practice and verify these forcefully logical claims, the last talk for the semester, "Yoga & Character Building" broke the barriers between the spiritual and secular life, and showed us how we could lead an Integrated and balanced life, of which 'success' would be a natural side effect.

                The ideals imbibed in these sessions, have found a practical outlet at the tuition centre at Velachery. Run with the help of our volunteers and NSS first year students, it aims at providing free, value oriented education to poor school going children. Saturdays are kept aside for extra curricula. Last odd semester, we distributed sweets and books to them on occasions like the Independence Day.
The odd semester also saw us organizing a 'book sales' as part of the 'Bharath Utsav' festival at IIT Madras. With books on varied topics from meditation to social issues, it was well appreciated.

                The first session for the even semester, a guest lecture by Sri J. Jayaraman, an ex IITian associated with Ramanasharma, on relevance of Sri Ramana Maharishis message to today's youth set the mood for the programmes in the following week in connection with Swami Vivekanandas' birthday celebrated as the "Natural Youth Day". First, we distributed sweets and books to students at Velachery. The next morning, we had a special talk on "Swami Vivekananda's message to the youth" by revered Swami Gantamanandaji. The talk given by an American lady whose enigmatic traversal of entire North America several times on foot. drew many and who called herself "Peace pilgrim", to students at California State University was screened the same afternoon. Her realizations, which are remarkably similar to Vedantic teachings, showed us the truth of "Exam sat Vipra Bahuda Vadanti".
We organized a trip to Vivekananda cultural heritage of India exhibition at Vivekananda House, Marina and the following day, had a simple dedication of our new Library. The library now contains over 300 books and 90 cassettes.

                In the last even semester, we had to content with the sad parting with Swami Brahmeshananda, the guide and instructor of VSC since its very inception. Swami Baneshananda, the present editor of Vedanta kesari, monthly English journal of the Ramakrishna Order, has since, kindly assumed that role. In this last talk at IIT Madras, Swami Brahmeshananda spoke on the challenges before the youth, cautioned us against pitfalls in our path and pointed out to us the power of character. In his very first talk at IIT Madras, Swami Baneshananda explained to us the famous cryptic words of Swami Vivekananda - "Expansion is life, contraction is death". We understood that the irreconcilable paths of work and knowledge are infact complementary in all ways from his next talk "Karma vs Jnana". In his last two talks on 'Ramayana' and the "Unknown facets of Mahabharatha" Swami Baneshananda enthralled us with rare stories and events in these grand epics and the noble ideas conveyed in them. We had two special lectures in the even semester. "India Ever aging but never Old" was the topic spoken on by the famous thinker and writer, Dr. Dravid Frawley, Director, American Institute for Vedic studies, Santa Fe, New Mexico.  In his brief address that followed Dr. DwarakNath Reddy author of "Physics of karma" told us of his thrilling turn from entrepreneurial success to spiritual quest.

                The other special talk, by Dr. EV SriShankar a nuclear chemist, titled "Science in Sanskrit" which brought to light some astounding achievements in Science, in ancient Sanskrit works., was well received by the audience. This talk was part of what may be termed, along with the National youth Day celebrations, as an important milestone in the brief history of the study circle - the ten day spoken Sanskrit camp. Conduccted with the help of Samskrita Bharathi Chennai, it aimed at learning to speak Sanskrit quickly by effective hearing.
The overwhelming response to it from students and campsites, the inimitable interactive style of teaching of Prof. Ramachandran, and the sustained attendance even after the ten day duration, forcing us to hold special sequel classes, will ever remain with us as cherished memories.
One more important event that marked the even semester was the successful launching of our own Web site. Called  www.oocities.org/vsc_iitm, it contains all details about us.

                We held "Rama Nama Sankirtan" twice in that semester, the second time on the occasion of Sri Ramanavami, with the help of Dr. Varagunan, a devotee of Ramakrishna Math. We concluded our activities for the year with a discussion on "Stress Management from a Vedantic perspective".
In retrospect now, the response, encouragement and participation in our activities by both the faculty and students has been growing over the years. We extend a heartfelt thanks to all who have helped us become what we are. With the same trend, we'll surely scale new heights and fulfil Swami Vivekananda's dream, when he said  "My faith is in the younger generation, out of them will come my workers. They will work out the whole problem, like lions".