-'Knowledge on Wheels'
THE MARCH OF
JNANAVAHINI - KNOWLEDGE ON WHEELS
Inspiration
“If
the mountain does not come to Mohammad, Mohammad must go to the
mountain. If the poor cannot come to education, education must reach
them at the plough, in the factory, everywhere. How? You have seen my
brethern. Now can I get hundreds of such, all over India, unselfish,
good and educated? Let these men go from village to village bringing
not only religion to the door of everyone but also education.”
-Swami
Vivekananda
The continuous
struggle for excellence
“Life is
a continuous struggle, ever striving for excellence”,
said Swami Vivekananda. The path to achieve any great goal, secular
or spiritual, is long and arduous. An aspirant should acquire
competence and qualification in the beginning. Education in
its true spirit is the key word. To attain true education one has to
develop a refined and trained mind that has strong abilities like
concentration and character. All these are ingredients of an
integrated and wholesome personality.
India’s ancient
tradition
India’s ancient
tradition of spirituality and its equally illustrious historical
record of secular knowledge have been a great guiding forces through
millennia. Ancient seats of knowledge, like Nalanda attracted
students from all over the globe. Every epoch has seen the emergence
of men of spiritual wisdom, giants of personality, who have carried
this tradition along and redefined them suiting to the needs of the
age. However, for historical reasons this civilization underwent a
progressive decay and reached its nadir in the 19th
century A D after millennia of slavery and colonialism. True to the
message of the Gita, whenever such a complete downfall of character
occurs, an Avatara arises to redeem the human beings. This
happened in the 19th century also, which saw the emergence
of two mighty personalities, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and
his chief disciple Swami Vivekananda.
Sri
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and Swami Vivekananda.
Sri Ramakrishna was a
mighty spiritual current that uplifted and reoriented the direction
of Indian race in regression. His penetrative life was an unending
stream of spiritual practices and direct experiences of the Supreme
from different angles in accordance with various systems of religion.
His life was an embodiment of religious harmony. He taught even the
most abstract and complex ideas of our scriptures in the simplest of
the languages.
Swami
Vivekananda was the messiah who was born to teach the world and his
master Sri Ramakrishna ordained him to do so. He interpreted the
life and message of Sri Ramakrishna to the modern world. Swami
Vivekananda imbibed the quintessential knowledge of the West and the
East and redefined the very meaning of religion and true education
without in accordance with the profound truths revealed by Upanishads
and other scriptures. He wanted the blending of Western technology
and Eastern Spirituality in a harmonious manner in order to uplift
the lowest of the low.
Man-Making Education –
the goal of comprehensive system of Education
It is the comprehensive
system of man-making education as defined by Swami Vivekananda, that
forms the backbone of a major spiritual and educational movement
undertaken by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore called “
JNANAVAHINI”- knowledge on wheels. The noble ideas of
Man making Education, Integral Personality and Spirituality
that uplifts every individual are spread everywhere through this
innovative movement. There is a wide gulf of opportunities and level
of education between the urban and rural masses of India. The urban
population has opportunities to fulfill their needs of knowledge and
progress. Are rural folk fortunate enough to get such opportunities?
If not, should they be deprived? When we ponder over these questions,
we get the answer to our question from swami Vivekananda’s
clarion call “. If the poor cannot come to education,
education must reach them at the plough, in the factory,
everywhere.....”. We must take these life-giving
ideas to the very doors of the remotest of the remote, and the most
deprived of the unprivileged.” Sri Ramakrishna
Ashrama, Mysore is committed to carry the message of Swami
Vivekananda to the very doors of our brothers and sisters in the
countryside and with this very purpose, it has launched this unique
programme.
The
Practical tool: Knowledge on Wheels- the Jnanavahini
In order to achieve
this, we need to devise a practical and efficient tool to reach out
to people in rural areas, who are normally unreachable. Therefore,
Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore has literally put the great education
of man-making and character building as envisaged by Swami
Vivekananda on wheels. This innovative project called “Jnana
Vahini” was launched on Vijaya Dashami day of 2003.
The scope of this project in simple terms is to instill, faith in
oneself, an idea of our great heritage, sensitivity about moral
values, concern for others, spirit of service and sacrifice and also
need of simple and healthy life style in the minds of adults and
children alike.
What
are the basic requirements to put thease ideas in the practical
field?
A
dedicated band of volunteers to travel along with and assist a monk,
who will co-ordinate the different aspects of Jnanavahni.
Volunteer
coordinators located in various parts of the state to identify the
aspiring groups, plan and organize the Jnana Vahini programs
in coordination with Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore
Books,
audio-video presentations, and films which are not only educative
but also also entertaining to the adults and children.
Modern
gadgets like DVD players, projectors, speakers, and the electric
power to activate them.
Jnanavahini
has all of them except more number of local coordinators who will
come forward to conduct the programme in their locality. We have
designed an exclusive and completely self-reliant vehicle- a van
(TATA 407) with solar power panels well equipped with all the
materials and gadgets needed for the campaign. This JNANA VAHINI
VEHICLE is also fitted with Swami Vivekananda’s life size
idol made of fiberglass that may be fixed on its front.
Special
instructions are issued in advance to the organizers about the prior
and ready arrangements required to run every programme efficiently
and as per a definite schedule. They are also informed to seek the
cooperation and active participation of all locally important
persons.
The
Jnana Vahini program
We
begin our journey to a destination recalling Swamiji’s “Song
of the Sanyasin”, entreating a sanyasin to move on regardless
of all adversities.
The
procession.
As
the Jnanavahini vehicle arrives at the village right on time
as scheduled, the local leaders of the village accord a warm welcome
to the team by garlanding the image of Swami Vivekananda. One can
notice in their eyes an expression of joy that Swami Vivekananda
himself has come to their village to uplift them from all forms of
poverty physical, mental and spiritual. The procession
commences after waving lamp to the image. This procession is
scheduled to last about 30 minutes and not more. The local
people including schoolchildren participate in it with joy and
excitement. The girls holding ‘Kalasas’ in their
hands march in front. The school band is heard from the distance. The
brave call by Swami Vivekananda to the people interspersed by songs
is heard loudly and continuously from the loud speaker. The entire
atmosphere is charged with an unprecedented divine vibration and
festivity.
Orientation
in personality development
The next item after the
procession is a session on ‘Orientation in personality
development’ for students. We are aware that in this age of
utilitarian and materialistic ideas and its unmitigated impact on
cultural values, there is a trend of value erosion especially among
the youth. The Jnana vahini team has already prepared the course of
the daily program and is ready with the requisite arrangements. The
students, in batches, receive this orientation and training. The
objective behind this training program is to instill in the mind of
every child the idea that a concentrated mind with perfect
character is the key to success and when it is accomplished, one
attains self-confidence. For such a person, success is
certain. The entire scope of this program is to introduce children to
this great idea and by doing this, also introduce them to our great
culture and its heritage. The measure of our success in this program
is to see the glow of happiness and satisfaction with which children
emerge after every session. The schedule is as follows:
Prayer
and Bhajans 15 minutes
Guided
meditation-- 15 minutes
Personality
Development workshop 60 minutes
Film-show
containing educative stories, parables and
such ennobling subjects. 60 minutes
The
Evening Program
The
Jnanavahini programs also include a public meeting in the
evenings at a prominent place of the village and include a short
speech on the life and messages of the holy trio, messages on the
cultivation of positive and healthy mental attitudes and good human
relationship. These evening meetings conclude with a film show
depicting various aspects of the holy trio.
The
Ramakrishna – Vivekananda Vedanta literature
In
the training of the mind, especially of the youth and children, the
inculcation of a healthy reading habit occupies a very important
place, which has to be introduced right from their childhood. It is
important to convince them that besides curricular subjects they also
should gradually cultivate the habit of reading ennobling, enriching
and life giving literature, such as lives of great souls, stories
from epics, simple illustrations of our great heritage etc, that
introduces them to wonderful value systems. However the choice of the
reading matter is extremely important. There is so much of diversity
in available literature that it is important for parents and
guardians to guide their children to select and read good literature.
Secondly, the choice of literature depends on the age and level of
maturity of children.
The
Ramakrishna – Vivekananda Vedanta literature has earned a
unique place in the world of noble and distinguished texts. In
bringing this great literature to the Kannada language, Sri
Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore has played a significant role. There is a
wide variety of literature from the most profound philosophical and
spiritual levels to simple stories and lives of great souls from our
tradition rendered in the simple language.
The
Jnanavahini medium serves a unique role in rendering easy
access of such literature readily at the doorstep of villagers. Every
visit of the Jnavahini team to every village or town is accompanied
by a wide selection of such literature carried by the Jnanavahini
vehicle. These books are displayed at the venue so that everyone can
see, chose and buy their choice. The most important fact is that a
large selection of wonderful literature especially prepared for
children and youth is available at prices as low as Paise 50, Rs
2/-, Rs 3/-, Rs 5/- etc. so that they are easily affordable to one
and all.
Hence,
parents and organizers are requested specifically to bring their
children and encourage them to browse the available literature and
buy whatever they need and most importantly pursue them to cultivate
the reading habit of such ennobling literature.
THE
MARCH OF JNANAVAHINI
Jnanavahini
has now completed nearly 4 years of its illustrious journey and has
visited the remotest comers of the state. So many villages have
benefited and all of then seek the return of the Jnanavahini. We give
a brief idea of the programs
|
Year
|
Number
of Districts covered
|
Number
of villages covered
|
Number
of students participated in Personality Development camps
|
Number
of students participated in Personality Development camps
|
Book
Sales
|
|
I
Phase
Oct
2003 to Dec 2004
|
15
|
278
|
1,11,407
|
1,12,652
|
Rupees
6,15,000
|
|
II
Phase
Dec
2004 to March 2007
|
17
|
195
|
76,684
|
36,
225
|
Rupees
4,32,730
|
|
Total
|
32
|
473
|
1,88,091
|
1,48,877
|
10,47,730
|
One
can easily imagine the magnitude of the task involved in planning and
execution of a very vast and complex movement like the Jnanavahini.
The success of the program depends upon quality, punctuality and
meticulousness with which Jnanavahini programs have been
conducted. To achieve this, we need willing and dedicated band of
workers and volunteers who will put their heart and soul into the
success of this great idea. The spirit and power of Swami
Vivekananda has visited, invigorated and positively charged the whole
environment wherever this program is conducted.
Sarada
Jnana Sudha
Sarada Jnana Sudha is a
written quiz competition held by Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama , Mysore
once in a year for students of all schools all over Karnataka. The
first competition in 2004 was based on a small book on Holy Mother
Sri Sarada Devi to commemorate her 150th birthday. The
second year, 2005 the competition was held on the theme of Swami
Vivekananda and in the year 2006, the theme was on Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa. This wonderful program has enthused large number of
teachers and students and also, more importantly, most of the parents
to become a household word among the student community. In all these
three years, the total number of students who have participated
amount to nearly 200,000 from about 900 schools covering practically
all the districts of Karnataka. Besides top prizes to the top three
winners each in three categories, the best 5% of competitors from
every school get special prizes. This competition will continue in
2008 also. The Jnana Vahini program, its coordinators and
participants have been a major source of inspiration to spread
information about Sarada Jnana Sudha.
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