SWAMI VIVEKANANDA SAARDH SHATI

SAMAROHA SAMITI, PUNJAB

Organizes

National Seminar

on

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S VISION FOR

21stCENTURY INDIA

ON MAY 19 (SUNDAY), 2013, AT 10.00 A.M.,

AT LAW BHAWAN, CHANDIGARH

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA’S VISION FOR 21st CENTURY INDIA

Nineteenth century witnessed radical changes in almost every sphere of Indian life whether

political, social, religious, cultural, scientific or economic. India was undergoing

transformation from medieval to modern age. Being a cluster of innumerable castes, creeds,

cultures, customs, traditions and languages it was presenting a very dark and dismal picture

of not only political slavery but also of social and cultural degeneration with many retrograde

and abhorrent practices. There was the crushing burden of economic exploitation of the

people by the English and the people were gasping under its strangle hold in a state of

helpless, mute suffering. These currents and cross currents were leading to the emergence

of a tidal wave which was to ultimately swallow all the lesser waves. This wave must have an

extraordinary foresight to see a new dawn rising in the East and capable of laying the

foundation of a new India in anticipation of greater ideas destined to prevail in the future.

Swami Vivekananda, the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhansa emerged as the symbol

of this wave of new consciousness. Born in a Bengali family in 1863, Swami Vivekananda

used Vedanta to restore the glory of Indian heritage. In a life-span of only 39 years,

Swami Vivekananda spread the message of India's spiritual heritage across the world.

Vivekananda unified the different currents. Expressing his own wonderful concept

‘Universal Religion’ he says, “I accept all religions that were in the past and worship

with them all, I worship God with every one of them, in whatever form they worship

him… The Bible, the Vedas, the Quran, all other sacred books are but so many pages,

and an infinite number of pages remain yet to be unfolded. I would leave it open for all

of them. We stand in the present, but open ourselves to infinite future. We take all that

has been in the past; enjoy the light of the present, and open every window of the heart

for all that are yet to come in the future.”

Today in the twenty first century, when India is emerging as a power, it is griped with

problems more intense and deadly. Mental slavery, wide economic gaps, social hatred,

religious fanaticism and cultural degradation are the major concerns keeping pace with

post modern science and technology. Against this backdrop the ideas of Swami

Vivekananda become more relevant and can certainly provide road map as well as a

vision for India 2020. To commemorate the 150 th birth anniversary of Swami

Vivekananda, the national ideal of Indian youth, Swami Vivekananda Saardh Shati

Samaroha Samiti is going to organize this National Level Seminar. The objective of

this seminar is to deliberate on the different ideas of Swami Vivekananda and their

relevance within different perspectives.

SUB-THEMES OF THE SEMINAR:

1. Swami Vivekananda’s Vision of World Peace2. Indian Culture and Religion as viewed by Swami Vivekananda3. Swami Vivekananda’s concept of Cosmopolitan Nationalism4. Swami Vivekananda and Women Empowerment5. Swami Vivekananda’s Views on Rural Development in India6. Swami Vivekananda: Education Panacea of All Evils7. Swami Vivekananda’s Views on Western Civilization8. Swami Vivekananda Messiaha of Poor and Downtrodden

GUIDELINES FOR PAPERS:

• Paper may be presented on any of the topics mentioned above or any other topic

related to Swami Vivekananda’s Ideas.

• Paper can be presented in English, Hindi or Punjabi

• Paper must reach by 30th April, 2013, either in CD or by E. Mail at

v_sofat@yahoo.com along with font if presented in Hindi or Punjabi.

Note: Papers will be peer reviewed and only selected papers will be presented in the seminar. Other papers will be considered for publication after the seminar.

Organizing CommitteePatrons: Baljinder Singh Thakur, Hon’ble Member, Punjab State Human Rights Commission,

Chandigarh

Professor (Dr.) Harjinder Singh Walia, Director, IAS and Allied Services Training Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala

Professor (Dr.) Vinay Kapoor, Dept. of Law, GNDU, Amritsar

Dr. Dinesh Sharma, Principal, A.B. College, Pathankot

Advisor: Professor (Dr.) R.K. Mahajan, Punjabi University Regional Centre, Bathinda

Chairman: Dr. Vinay Sofat, Associate Professor of History, R.K. Arya College, Navanshahar, Phone: 98554 25660

Vice-Chairman: Vipan Pal Singh, Assist. Professor of English, Govt Brijindra College, Faridkot, Phone: 98155 77944 email: vipanpal@ymail.com

Organizing Secretary: Dr. Sanjiv Chauhan, PAU, Ludhiana, Phone: 98729 70335

Members: Dr. Rajinder Kumar, Dept. of Human Genetics, Punjabi University, Patiala

Dr. Sukesh Sharma, Dept of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh