1 | P a g e

Short Report on the Lecture on Ideals of Sarada Ma in Modern Age

The Departments of Hindi & Philosophy in collaboration with NSS Unit of P.G.Govt. College

for Girls, Sector-11, Chandigarh organized a lecture on Ideals of Sarada Ma in Modern Age

on 9th September, 2014. Smt. Soma Sinha (President, All India Sarada Sangh) was the chief-

guest of this program. The details of the programme is given below:

Dr. Anita Khosla (Head, Department of Hindi, PGGCG-11, Chandigarh) coordinated the

function and introduced Chief-Guest with a detail account of her spiritual career. Dr. Anita

Kausal (Dean, PGGCG-11, Chandigarh) welcomed the guests by presenting them a bunch of

flowers.

The programme was stated with the prayers and bhajans sung by the members of

Ramakrishna Ashram, Chandigarh i.e. Dr. Saroj Jindal and Mrs. Purnima Chanda. Mrs.

Shubra Chattopadhyaya (Secretary, All India Sarada Sangh, Chandigarh Branch) discussed

about the various activities of the Sangha related to education, women empowerment and

spiritual offerings. Mrs. Manju Mukherjee (Secretary, All India Sarada Sangh) gave a

2 | P a g e

detailed account of the activities done by the Sangh and she beautifully discussed the

activities held under the presidentship of Smt. Soma Sinha.

Smt. Soma Sinha discussed in her lecture about the personality of Sri Ma Sarada Devi and

her holy presence in the work for the upliftment of women and children. Sarada Devi did

not write any books; her utterances and reminiscences have been recorded by her disciples

including Swami Nikhilananda, Swami Tapasyananda. Though her spiritual insight and

utterances are highly regarded by scholars like Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, who writes,

We have bits and pieces of her exquisite remarks as testimony. She said that Ma Sarada

was the embodiment of all wisdom, as Sri Ramakrishna used to say, and this wisdom, both

worldly and spiritual, was the guiding force behind the establishment of the Ramakrishna

Mission in 1897. Hers was a universal motherhood, characterized by unconditional love,

unruffled spirituality, extreme simplicity blended with dignity and a loving temperament

that accepted all irrespective of nationality, religious affiliation or social position. Even

after she left her mortal coil in 1920, she remains the soothing solace for millions of

afflicted hearts longing for her nonpareil, eternal bliss. Devi played an important role as the

advisory head of a nascent organization that became a monastic order devoted to social

workthe Ramakrishna Mission.

3 | P a g e

She also used quotations of Ma Sarada like, Learn to make the whole world Our own. No

one is a stranger, my child; the whole world is Our own. When one realizes God, He

grants knowledge and illumination from within; one knows it oneself., In the fullness of

ones spiritual realization one will find that He who resides in ones heart, resides in the

hearts of others as well the oppressed, the persecuted, the untouchable, and the outcast.

Smt Soma Sinha also interacted with students and asked questions about the life of Swami

Vivekananda, Sri Ma Sarada Devi and Sri Ramakrishna Dev.

A book entitled, Personality Development by Swami Vivekananda distributed among 300

students free of cost. A feedback from students also made the event successful. Several

students shared their views after the lecture. Viveka-Vahini also arranged for this

occasion and several students read and purchase books .

4 | P a g e

In the end of the programme, Dr. Beenu Dogra (Vice-Principal, PGGCG-11, Chandigarh)

presented a thanking note. She beautifully presented her words of wisdom. Several faculty

members from various departments of the college and about 300 students participated in

this event and enjoyed the programme peacefully and thoughtfully.

Dr. Desh Raj Sirswal

17th September, 2014.