This is where

"This is the day when it began. This is where it all began." We heard Director, IIT Kharagpur starting his Foundation Day speech this way yesterday. Before proceeding further, let me acknowledge that this post is  going to be a highly 'plagiarized' one :-) with many copy - paste material. The reason - the more I write myself, the more I'll dilute the original. And, hence.

We had Independence Day celebration and Foundation Day celebration in a space of four days. On Independence Day, the unfurling of National Flag was followed by Independence Day speech. Let me quote a part of it.

On this auspicious occasion, we pay our respectful homage to our countrymen who sacrificed their lives and earned this freedom. The freedom thus earned, is the job completely done? Should we then sit complacent with this or look ahead?

I understand that what we have is only physical freedom and what we should be aiming is internal and spiritual freedom as well.  

One may gain political and social independence, but if one is slave to his passions and desires, one cannot feel the pure joy of real freedom. Our aim now should be to move towards this real freedom.

Everything that we perceive around us is struggling towards freedom. When the line of action taken is not proper one, we call it evil; and when the manifestation of its proper and high, we call it good. But the impulse is the same, the struggle towards freedom. The saint is oppressed with the knowledge of his condition of bondage, and he wants to get rid of it; so he worships God. The thief is oppressed with the idea that he does not possess certain things, and he tries to get rid of that want, to obtain freedom from it; so he steals.

The freedom which the saint seeks is very different from that which the robber seeks; the freedom loved by the saint leads him to the enjoyment of infinite, unspeakable bliss, while that on which the robber has set his heart only forges other bonds for his soul. 

A video of this speech is available in the video player below. Full text of the speech can be found here (Link). This reminds me a Vivekananda quote, "Bold words and bolder deeds are what we want. Awake, awake, great ones! The world is burning with misery. Can you sleep? Let us call and call till the sleeping gods awake, till the God within answers to the call. What more is in life? What greater work?"

And don't we take this pledge here every year on 15th August morning (Link)?

In this solemn morning, when our people by their suffering and sacrifice, have secured freedom and become masters of their destiny, we do dedicate ourselves to the service and welfare of India, to the end that this ancient land attain its rightful and honored place in the world, and makes its full and willing contribution to the promotion of world peace and welfare of mankind. May we have the strength to hold high the banner that has been entrusted to us, and the devotion to serve till the last breath, the cause that it represents.

Comes the Foundation Day, 18th August. We hear the announcement, "In a first, IIT Kharagpur, the oldest among all IITs, will have a centre exclusively for promotion of human values through meditation, yoga, lectures on spiritualism and character building. To be named after Swami Vivekanand, the centre will aim to combine modern education with development of the personality."

To be named after Swami Vivekanand, the centre will aim to combine modern education with development of the personality - See more at: http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/soon-iit-kgp-to-boast-of-a-centre-for-promotion-of-human-values/article1-1253591.aspx#sthash.ynBvXP3L.jaN9jFOL.dpuf

Director, IIT Kharagpur's message had been:

Vivekananda is the ideal of the youth. Hence the centre is being named after him to honour him and inculcate his teachings among the youth. There is a need for leadership and human excellence in addition to regular academic curricula,

Dean, Alumni Affairs and Internal Relations, IIT Kharagpur had this to say.

Swami Vivekanand had proposed the right mix of modern education drawn from the best western ideals with the goal of total development of human personality as envisioned by eastern sages. The centre would be a sanctuary for the soul. It will be located in the middle of a lake with a pristine environment. We hope to start construction in a few months and the centre may be complete by the end of next year.

Exciting days ahead! And the other student group (known as TTG here) with whom I have now the privilege to work, are making it even more exciting with the launch of this blog on the Foundation Day (Link).

Through the vision and efforts of its patrons and members, TTG aspires to play its role humbly while IIT Kharagpur reaches greater heights in R & D space and on this auspicious day, TTG dedicates  itself once again at the service of our beloved alma mater.

Happy Independence Day

The daughter told yesterday evening that she would be accompanying me to Independence Day flag-hoisting function. Many of her class-mates would be performing there in a dance program on patriotic theme. It was
not possible for me to take her in earlier years as I had to go quite early and remain engaged with NSS team, food-packet distribution to school children and other responsibilities. With baton passed to next in line there, it was possible to say a big yes this time.

Listened to Prime Minister's address on television and then we two joined the audience of institute function. While my daughter paid a brief visit to her school-mates who were ready for performance and greeted them, I did the same to my NSS, IIT Kharagpur colleagues and student the team. Unfurling the national flag, Director, IIT Kharagpur said the following among other things in his address (Link), 

"Independence gave us the freedom to shape our own destiny. On the altar of sacrifice of our countrymen, our founding fathers handed over to us this Institution to build, where the Indians of the future will be developed, who can transform the country to one where equality and prosperity go hand in hand. We at IIT Kharagpur are privileged and have been empowered by the citizens of India to do so. It is therefore our onerous responsibility to live up to their expectations. The people of this country pay for our sustenance in the hope that we shall change India and usher in a better future for them. We cannot afford to destroy the hopes and faith that they have bestowed on us.

What India shall we build my friends? What sort of Indians shall we become? How shall we ensure

that this gentle giant, as our country is historically known to be, is able to avoid the pitfalls of intolerance, belligerence, falsehood and timidity that challenge us today and help give its citizens, especially the illiterate, poor, oppressed and helpless, the education, empowerment, happiness and quality of life that they deserve?  How shall we become great not only in expertise and experience to make our people and the people of the world prosperous but also display qualities of fearlessness and sacrifice that will sanctify and guard our prosperity and happiness with the fence of virtue?

We, the fortunate, owe our forefathers for whom we are able to celebrate this day, a great debt  - to make the poorest of the poor smile, the oppressed empowered and help our fellow countrymen meet their dreams. Let these be our dreams. Let us strive to do our bit with the courage, devotion and dedication it deserves. Let us build the India that will make people like Swami Vivekananda

happy to see that his beloved people have again arisen and will stop not till the goal is reached." 

In this year's Republic Day function the then Director quoting Vivekananda said (Link1, Link2), "No amount of politics would be of any avail until the masses in India are once more well educated, well fed, and well cared for. ... three things are necessary to make every man great,every nation great. (i) Conviction of the powers of goodness (ii) Absence of jealousy and suspicion (iii) Helping all who are trying to be and do good ... The road to the Good is the roughest and steepest in the universe. It is a wonder that so many succeed, no wonder that so many fall. Character has to be established through a thousand stumbles...Be determined not to curse anything outside, not to lay the blame upon any one outside, but be a man, stand up, lay the blame on yourself. You will find, that is always true. Get hold of yourself."

The goal is clear. The road is cut out. We need to make us move avoiding all sorts of procrastination.

After dropping the daughter at quarter went to a place called Bhowanipur (about 7 KM from campus) where a group of young people from local colleges organize themselves following ideals of Vivekananda. On a holiday like this, they held an extended study-circle. On the way felt proud to see many colours of Independence Day celebration.