Annual Report 2006 - 2007
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| annual_report.pdf | 2.37 MB |
Forword page 1
With a sense of fulfillment, I present before your the report of activities of “Arun Jyoti” the service project of Vivekananda Kendra in an idea of the expansion and consolidation of the work in Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal Bandhu Parivar, Gujarat, Invited educated youths of Arunachal to visit Gujarat with the idea to find out the commonalities amongst the people of the west and northeast Bharat.Generally when we go out of our place, we see only differences.Even in universities research works are going on to find out the differences. We wanted to change this negative habit of study. No doubt, differences are there as Bharat is a nation of diversity but it is still one nation. We tried find out that thread of underlying unity, which connects us.
Gujarat welcomed us very cordially. similar was our experience during last year's tour to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Our dresses, our food habits, languages, features may vary but our culture - the attitude toword life - the inner core of all our traditional systems and rituals is the same - “bharateeya Sanskriti”.
The students could learn many things from Gujarat. The story of Somnath Temple touched their hears – how our ancestors suffered, fought and preserved the great cultural heritage. The students were fascinated to experience the capacity of the people of Gujarat to give
Forword page 2
People of Gujarat were eager to know more and more about Arunachal Prades and join their hearts and hands with Arunachal by becoming member of Arunachal Bandhu Parivar. Or elders say 'much as we learn, still more is there to learn and to unlearn!' more our youngsters saw Gujarat and more the Arunachal, they got the same feeling. Now tehy want to learn more and more about Arunachal Pradesh, the underlying current of unity between various communities from Tawang to Tirap and strengthen the unity that Arunachal needs today.
To understand inner core of traditional systems of various communities in Arunachal, Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture - Arunachal Pradesh Chapter is taking initiative by organising frequent seminars. These seminars help to clear many misconceptions created by research scholars from the Western countires and Indians using western spectacles to study our own land and our own people.
The ninth seminar inthe series was organized this year for studying Nyishi Community in association with 'Nyishi Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society'. the seminar was very inspiring. Many things are community came to know about itself. Many misconceptions were removed. The misconception that “Nyishis and Apatanis are traditionally rivals” was cleared in the seminar when a research scholar presented a paper before the august gathering on “Manyiang' – the traditional friendly bonds of Nyishis with Apatanis – the neighboring community. The paper was highly appreciated by the gathering and was also authenticated by the traditional Nyishi priests.
Forword page 3
The exhibition on the life of Nyishi displaying traditional numerical system, garments, ornaments, artifacts and utensils and the models of traps for hunting various wild animals attracted the folk in the capital complex.
We have taken a new task this year by opening two girl's schools - “Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas” for school dropouts. the schools were opened in Seppa, West Kemeng District and Lajo, Tirap District, wheregender gap is very high. A separate syllabus is planned out especially for them so that they would be able to pass class VIII within threee years. It is based on the play way method of education like our Anandalays and Balwadis. Along with it, vocational training is also included in the syllabus to help them to stand on their own feet after three years.
One of the most inspiring events of the year, I would like to communicate here is the “Awaking of youngsters'. Young students in small townships are coming forward to serve our less privileged brothers and sisters living in interior villages. Students from class VI to X devoted one whole month of their summer vacation. Neither for enjyoing comics nore watching T.V. serials nor movies nore roaming aimlessly but, for the pleasure of walking from village to village, sining patriotic songs, conducting one day camps for village children, performing street plays and creating awareness about education, health and hygiene and our culture. Thus their feeling for the masses to reduce their miseries got expressed in such a vibrant and active way.
After this one-month work in the interior area, their confidence has increased. Such careful planning , proper utilization of time and energy, co -coordinated wills and devotion to the cause developed confidence in Swami Vivekananda's words “New India will arise from hills and mountains and jungles....”
As mother India is blessed with the largest young population of the world, the unity of purpose will bring the Hearts, Heads and Hands of such dedicated Hundred thousand Young Men and Women together , which will bring harmony in the life of Bharateeyas and help them to cross any hurdle to give the message of the oldest living culture – the Bharateeya Culture – to the world. The message of “Help and not Fight”. Assimilation and not destruction. Harmony and Peace and Not Dissension.”
Prant Sangathak
Vivekananda Kendra - Arun Jyoti
Arunachal Pradesh.