In what can be termed a quiet revolution, the Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, has been through its ‘Jnanavahini’ campaign taking the teachings of India’s most revered spiritual trio - Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and Sharada Devi - to the nooks and corners of Karnataka. Education for personality building and all-round development of an individual are the aims of the campaign, inspired by Vivekananda’s own prescription for nation development.
The programme also aims to bridge the urban-rural gulf as far as the quality of life is concerned. It also seeks to address the naked truth that children in villages are deprived of educational facilities their counterparts in towns and villages take for granted. Vivekananda had the dream of taking education to the doorsteps of the poor wherever they are, the tilling fields, the factories they work at and so on. And the Mysore Ashram has taken upon itself the task of realising Vivekananda’s dream.
Though the campaign is not without its challenges, it is carrying on undeterred. The programme, launched on Vijayadashami day in 2003, has already covered nearly 500 villages in 26 of the 29 districts in the State, with visits to six districts more than once. The driving force behind the whole effort is Swami Atmavidanandaji, the then head of the Mysore Ashram.
The Tata 407 vehicle used for the purpose is equipped with all facilities to make the campaign a success. A DVD player, a projector, loudspeakers and solar panels to generate power, besides a statue of Swami Vivekananda that is mounted on the front of the vehicle during processions, form the campaign vehicle. A swamiji as convenor to oversee the yatra and a team of volunteers (two to three assistants and drivers) all form part of the campaign team. Books on Vedanta for display and sale too form part of the campaign paraphernalia.
It is a festive atmosphere whenever ‘Jnanavahini’ enters a village, with people performing poojas to portraits of Vivekananda, children shouting slogans and the bandsets performing. The merits of human values like contentment and compassion that are relevant in an age of avarice, are disseminated through the campaign vehicle.
The significance of physical fitness, concentration, dedication, good character and self-dependence as propounded by Vivekananda are taught to the village folk, during the meetings that usually begin at 9 am.
Bhajans, meditation and screening of films on the lives of the spiritual trio through the vehicle window are part of the educational initiative. Books on messages of the spiritual trio and holy books like Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Bhagavadgeeta are displayed and sold at discount rates, in a bid to develop reading habits both among children and adults. All these activities go on till nightfall.
In 2004, on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Sharada Devi, ‘Sharada Jnanasudha’, a quiz programme on her life, was conducted. In 2005, the quiz was on the life of Vivekananda, and in 2006 it was on the life of Ramakrishna. More than two lakh children from 900 schools took part, with prizes being awarded in different categories, in the form of books. Subscription for the magazine ‘Vivekaprabha’, brought out by the Ramakrishna Mahasangha, is also taken during ‘Jnanavahini’.
The campaign is a continuous one and interested people may contact the Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore to invite it to their places, on phone numbers 0821-2412424/2417444. Arrangements will have to be made by people in the respective villages or towns for boarding and lodging of the ‘Jnanavahini’ team that stays for 10 to 12 days in a particular taluk.