Latest happenings at the Alumni Association

• Reunion 2022

  The 27^th Reunion of the ex-students of Vidyamandira, an autonomous residential college (with P.G. section) under Calcutta University, was held on Sunday, 27^th March, 2022. The Programme started with Puja at Sree Bhavan Prayer Hall at 7-00 am in the morning. Flag hoisting was done jointly by Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, President of the Association, Swami Devarajananda, Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math and Swami Shastrajnananda, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira and other monks and ex-students at 8-00 am, followed by breakfast and a friendly volleyball match between the present and past students of the college at 9-30 am. 17 ex-students and 3 present students participated in the cultural performances held in the spacious Vivekananda Sabhagriha between 10.15 am to 12.30 pm followed by lunch where approximately 1972 present and past students and their families, present and past staff members and monks partook of a sumptuous lunch served at the Vidyamandira hostel dinning halls. Since the institution is fully residential, the noon lunch brought back memories of the college days. A total of 708 ex-students, 297 family members of the alumni and 167 invited guests registered themselves for this Reunion organized by the Vidyamandira Alumni Association.

  The Reunion meeting was held between 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm which was attended by approximately 900 people. A few ex-students remembered their youthful days and expressed reverence and gratitude for the education and values that they had come to learn during their stay in Vidyamandira. A few elderly retired teachers also remembered their long time association with Vidyamandira. Elderly people, mingled with the recently passed-out ones and shared their experiences with them. Nine retired hostel staffs of the college and one retired teaching staff who dedicatedly served the college were felicitated by the Alumni Association. Felicitation was also given to the alumni admitted to Vidyamandira between 1986-90.

  The last programme of the day was Ranapa nritya along with a juggling show performed by a group of performers from Birbhum district. The performance was hugely applauded by the audience.

  The Reunion helped the ex-students of the college trace back their roots and the great spiritual heritage left behind by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Vidyamandira has gradually grown over the years and such a get-together helped all in taking stock of the strides that the college has taken, thanks to the efforts of monastic members, teachers, college and hostel staff members and the accomplished ex-students of the college.

  Click here to see photographs of Reunion 2019

• Community Outreach Programme : 2021

  A resolution for a new project entitled “Community Outreach Programme” was taken by the Executive Committee of Alumni Association in the year 2017. The main objective of this project is to help the actually needy people of remote villages keeping in mind “Service to man is service to God”. Accordingly on 19 December, 2021, Sunday, a team comprising of a few alumni along with Swami Shantesanandaji Maharaj, Joint Controller of Examination, Vidyamandira set out for Dhansole Adibasi High School in Gopiballavpur area under Jhargram district, a remote village inhabited mainly by adibasi people. The initiative was taken by Dr. Anup Kumar Das, Joint Secretary of Vidyamandira Alumni Association and Sri Shakti Bhusan Ganguly, District Inspector of Schools, Jhargram District, also an alumnus. A total of 250 poor adibasi students (106 male & 144 female) of the school were given Winter Shawls to combat the severe cold. Adibasi dance was performed by the female students of the school. Brief speech was given by Swami Shantesanandaji and a few Executive members of Alumni Association on the purpose of our programme at this village. In the year 2019 Alumni Association executed their Outreach Programme at Bundwan village under Purulia district where 125 Blankets were distributed among the poor adibasi village people.

  Click here to see photographs of Community Outreach Programme 2019 Click here to see photographs of Community Outreach Programme 2018

Date of programme	Place	Item distributed	No. of beneficiaries
19-12-2021	Dhansole, Jhargram	Winter Shawl	250
25-01-2019	Bundwan, Purulia	Blanket	125
11-02-2018	Beliaberah, Jhargram	Mosquito Net	55

• YASH RELIEF : 2021

  Alumni Association in collaboration with Vidyamandira conducted relief work at Nadabhanga village under Namkhana block situated at a distance of 3 kms from Kakdwip in the district of 24 Pgs(S) on 27 June, 2021. A team comprising 2 students from Vidyamandira and 3 Alumni members led by Principal Swami Ekachittanandaji Maharaj took part in this relief work. A total of 220 beneficiaries were served with 15 types of essential commodities, like Dal, Cooking oil, Soap, Detergent powder, Mosquito repellents etc. The team came back to Vidyamandira at about 5 pm.

• Swami Tejasananda Memorial Cricket Tournament : 2019

  This Cricket tournament was being organised by Vidyamandira every year. In the year 2019, Graduates of 1971 students of Vidyamandira created a new fund and handed over the amount to Alumni Association to organise the tournament. The first and opening tournament was being played between the Outgoing students of Vidyamandira and the Rest on 16 March, 2019. A few alumni of Graduates of 1971, some Executive Members of Alumni Association, teachers, monks and other staff of Vidyamandira were present to witness the Cricket Match. It was enjoyed by all. The Rest students were the Champion. The Trophies of both the Winners and Runners including individual Cups were awarded to the players by the Graduates of 1971 students, Monks and Executive Members. Tiffin packets were also given to all the players and the organisers. At last one of the Graduates of 1971 students inspired the players by delivering a brief speech on the values they learnt from Vidyamandira.

• Vivekananda Sammelan 2019 held in Paschim Barddhaman district

  Vivekananda Sammelan has already been held in almost all the districts of West Bengal except Kolkata. This year we decided to organize the Sammelan in Paschim Barddhaman district (after bifurcation of Burdwan district). To organize this Sammelan a preparatory meeting was held at Asansol Ramakrishna Mission. The district was divided into three zones, namely - Asansol, Durgapur and Raniganj. This year the format of the Sammelan was different. Youth and Teachers Convensions were held in the zones as given in the table below:

  Date of convension	Zone	No. of participanting youth	No. of participating teachers
  17-02-2019	Durgapur	850	450
  31-03-2019	Raniganj	150	25
  07-04-2019	Asansol	700	400
  TOTAL		1700	875

  The topics of discussion in Youth and Teachers Convensions were respectively "Swami Vivekanander Adarshe Jiban Gathan" and "Swami Vivekanander Shikshadarsha O Mulyobodher Shiksha". Essay and Elocution Competitions were also held at Durgapur on 03-04-2019 among college and university level students. Government of West Bengal provided some financial help to organize this Sammelan.