SWAMI VIVEKANANDA SAARDH SHATI SAMAROHA SAMITI, PUNJAB

Organizes

National Seminar on
SWAMI VIVEKANANDAS VISION FOR 21stCENTURY INDIA
ON MAY 19 (SUNDAY), 2013, AT 10.00 A.M., AT LAW BHAWAN, CHANDIGARH

SWAMI VIVEKANANDAS 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. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

Swami Vivekanandas Vision of World Peace Indian Culture and Religion as viewed by Swami Vivekananda Swami Vivekanandas concept of Cosmopolitan Nationalism Swami Vivekananda and Women Empowerment Swami Vivekanandas Views on Rural Development in India Swami Vivekananda: Education Panacea of All Evils Swami Vivekanandas Views on Western Civilization Swami Vivekananda Messiaha of Poor and Downtrodden
Paper may be presented on any of the topics mentioned above or any other topic related to Swami Vivekanandas 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

GUIDELINES FOR PAPERS:

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 Committee
Patrons:
Baljinder Singh Thakur, Honble 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