President Pranab Mukherjee to visit Maharashtra from May 31 - June 1 /Imbibe Swami Vivekananda’s ideals to build a strong India – Pranab Mukherjee

President Pranab Mukherjee to visit Maharashtra from May 31 - June 1 

 

President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in Mumbai tomorrow (May 31, 2013) on a two day visit to Maharashtra.

In Mumbai, President Mukherjee will be the chief guest at a commemorative function to mark the historic voyage of Swami Vivekanada to Chicago from the Bombay (Mumbai) port to attend the Parliament of World Religions. On May 31, 1893 Swamiji had set sail aboard S S Peninsular, from the place, where Gateway of India was later built in 1924. It was at this congregation that Swami Vivekananda had delivered his famous address ‘sisters and brothers of America’ that took the western world by storm. The commemorative event has been organized by the Ramakrishna Mission, Mumbai.

Later, in the afternoon, the President will travel to Pune and attend the Convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, DIAT at Girinagar and deliver the key-note address. DIAT is a deemed university, funded by the Defence Research &  Development Organization, DRDO, for offering defence related studies and research projects. A total of 91 students, scientists and services officers will be awarded M.Tech, Ph.D and M.S. research degrees at the ceremony.

On Saturday, June 1, the President will attend the Valedictory function of the Golden Jubilee of Dayanand Education Society at Latur. He will also visit Shree Sai Baba Mandir at Shirdi on the same day. 

Imbibe Swami Vivekananda’s ideals to build a strong India – Pranab Mukherjee

 

President Pranab Mukherjee today called upon fellow citizens to draw inspiration from the vision and life of Swami Vivekananda to build a strong India. Speaking at a commemorative function to mark the 120^th anniversary of historic voyage of Swami Vivekanada to Chicago from the Bombay (Mumbai) port, Shri Mukherjee said “to remember Vivekanada is to remember his call for rebuilding India’s national character.”  He said our foremost goal should be the revival of our proud traditions in morality, ethics and social conduct. “Our nation’s progress should not be hampered by the tarnishing of our national character or a weakening of the moral fibre of our society” the President added.

 

Shri Mukherjee said Swami Vivekananda’s vision should remind us of things that we need to do urgently and in a sustained manner.  He said, social reform constituted a key component of Swami Vivekananda’s vision for modern India. “Swamiji was uncompromisingly opposed to discrimination, deprivation and injustice on the grounds of caste, class and gender. According to him, the mismatch between the lofty ideals of Vedanta and the disgraceful apathy for the human condition in our society were simply unacceptable”. President said Swamiji’s 150^th birth anniversary celebrations should be an occasion for a constructive debate and cooperative action among the various sections striving for social reform.

 

The President also said that there is an urgent imperative to both improve and expand our education systems, by upgrading curriculum and adopting result oriented methods. Shri Mukherjee also called upon the corporate sector to commit more resources for social welfare activities, supplementing the efforts made by the Government.

 

Swami Sarvalokananda of Ramakrishna Mission in his introductory remark described the voyage of Swami Vivekananda to Chicago as historic and said Swamiji’s speeches there, rectified and improved the understanding of the Hindu faith and philosophy in the Western world.

 

On this occasion two commemorative books brought out by the Observer Research Foundation, viz. ‘Swami Vivekananda in Mumbai and Maharashtra’ and ‘A Monk from Bombay : Swami Vivekananda’s historic voyage from Mumbai to Chicago’ were released by the Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan.

 

On May 31, 1893 Swami Vivekananda had set sail for Chicago aboard S S Peninsular, from the place, where Gateway of India stands today. It was at this congregation of Parliament of World Religions that Swami Vivekananda had delivered his famous address ‘sisters and brothers of America’ that took the western world by storm.  The commemorative function in Mumbai was organized by the Ramakrishna Mission and the Observer Research Foundation.

 

PIB Mum/MD

 

Text of President’s address at www.pibmumbai.gov.in

 

Photo Captions

 

1.  President Pranab Mukherjee with former Deputy Prime Minister of India, L K Advani at the Commemorative function to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic voyage to Chicago from the Bombay Port. Mumbai, May 31, 2013

 

 

 

2.  Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan released two books commemorating Swami Vivekananda's connection with Mumbai and his historic voyage to Chicago from the Bombay Port. President Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest. Mumbai, May 31, 2013

 

 

 

3.  President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the gathering at the  Commemorative function to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic voyage to Chicago from the Bombay Port. Mumbai, May 31, 2013

 

 

 

4.  President Pranab Mukherjee with former Deputy Prime Minister of India, L K Advani, Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayanan and others at the  Commemorative function to mark the 120th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's historic voyage to Chicago from the Bombay Port. Mumbai, May 31, 2013