Vivekanand holds centre stage in state schools this year

Students learn his teachings and principles as part of his 150th birth anniversary celebrations.

As part of celebrations of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand, his teachings and principles have been integrated in the municipal and state-run schools across Gujarat where students are being involved in activities like making documentaries, writing stories, poems and essays on the leader, besides holding elocution, symposiums and seminars.

"Efforts are being made to instill moral values and Vivekanand's principles in children," Principal Secretary (Education) Hasmukh Adhia said.

During academic year 2011-12, Gujarat Technological University (GTU), in collaboration with Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama, introduced a mandatory subject on the life, principles and teachings of Swami Vivekanand for final-year students of engineering and pharmacy. The subject is offered only in English.

Shri Ramakrishna Ashrama hopes the course will soon be offered to students of humanities and other non-professional courses in colleges and universities.

"We are in the process of translating the content into Gujarati. Hopefully in the future, even schools will offer a mandatory subject on moral values of Swamiji," said Swami Sarvasthananda, the chairman of the ashram in Rajkot.

"Till date, more than one lakh final-year diploma and degree students of professional courses offered by more than 400 affiliated colleges of GTU have been covered under Swami Vivekanand Contributor Personality Programme (SVCPP)," he added.

Bhagyesh Jha, secretary at the Youth and Cultural Activities Department, said attempts were also being made to motivate students through Vivekanand sports kits.

On September 11, a workshop under the banner "Vivekanand Vichar Prasar Yatra" was launched for municipal schools in Ahmedabad. "The programme aims to cover 15,000 Class VIII students of municipal schools in all 43 wards. This includes quiz, essay writing and debate competitions among students on the life and principles of Vivekanand," said Municipal Corporation School Board chairman Jagdish Bhavsar.

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