150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

18-January-2013 13:22 IST
The President of India inaugurated Ramakrishna Math
They are relevant now-Shri Pranab Mukherjee 

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee addressing at the inauguration of 150th Birth Anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, organised by Ramakrishna Mission, in Kolkata on January 18, 2013. (PIB photo)

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission’s celebration of the at Swamiji’s own birthplace at Kolkata today (January 18, 2013). 

Speaking on the occasion, the President said Swami Vivekananda’s messages and teachings were relevant then, they are relevant now and they will continue to be relevant as long as human civilization exits. He described Swamiji a great son of Bengal and a great visionary. He said famous historian AL Basham described Vivekananda as someone who appears only once in centuries. 

The President said it was amazing within a short span of life he could transform society which has lost self confidence. His philosophy shook up every one vigorously and brought back confidence in a shaken nation. He said at a time when the self-esteem of our people was low and many Indians looked to the West for ideals and role models, Swami Vivekananda infused self confidence and pride in them. 

The President quoted the first Prime Minister of India, Late Shri Jawaharlal Nehru and said “Rooted in the past and full of pride in India’s prestige, Vivekananda was yet modern in his approach to life’s problems, and was a kind of bridge between the past of India and her present.” (PIB)***  SC/SM                         150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

Inauguration of Indian Science Congress

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Governor of West Bengal, Shri M.K. Narayanan, the Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri S. Jaipal Reddy and the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Kumari Mamata Banerjee at the inauguration of the 100th Session of Indian Science Congress, in Kolkata on January 03, 2013.   (PIB)                                          03-January-2013

President of India to Visit West Bengal

Four Day tour Starting tomorrow

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will be travelling to West Bengal on a four-day visit beginning tomorrow i.e. September 14, 2012. 
This will be the President’s first visit to West Bengal after assumption of office. The President would reach the State capital, Kolkata tomorrow i.e. September 14, 2012 and would be accorded a civic reception in the evening at Netaji Indoor Stadium. He would be felicitated by the Governor and Chief Minister of West Bengal. The Mayor of Kolkata, Shri Sovan Chatterjee and Vice-Chancellor, Kolkata University would also speak on the occasion. The President would also be felicitated by five cultural personalities (Eminent artists : Supriya Debi, Sandhya Mukherjee, Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, Kalyani Kazi and Jogen Chowdhury), three representatives of Chamber of Commerce(CIL/FICCI/ASSOCHAM), and by the Mohan Bagan Sporting Club, East Bengal Club, Mohamedan Sporting Club and CAB. 

The next day, on September 15, the President will attend the culmination of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur where Shri Shiv Nader, Chairman , Board of Governors, IIT Karagpur will declare the 58th Annual Convocation open. Four books will also be released by the Governor of West Bengal. The President would present the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa), Distinguished Alumnus Awards and Gold Medals. Among the dignitaries present on the occasion would be the Governor and Chief Minister of West Bengal, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ajit Singh and Union Minister of Railways, Shri Mukul Roy. 

Thereafter, the President would go to the Netaji Research Bureau and visit Netaji’s Sitting Room and the Museum. In the evening, the President would be honoured in a felicitation ceremony by All Chambers of Commerce i.e. jointly by Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Oriental Chamber of Commerce. At night, a banquet will be hosted in honour of the President by the Governor of West Bengal. 

On September 16, the President will inaugurate the Sanjiban Hospital at Fuleswar, Howrah. Union Minister of State for Tourism, Shri Sultan Ahmed would also be present on the occasion. 

The President will return to New Delhi on September 17, 2012. (PIB)  13-September-2012 18:56 IST 

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