The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjeeinaugurated the new building of Sarada Ma Girls’ College run by Barrackpore Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission today (April 2, 2015) at Barasat,North 24 Parganas in West Bengal.
Speaking on the occasion,the President said the new building of the Sarada Ma Girls’ College is a fitting tribute to the immortal ideas of Shri Ramakrishna and Ma Sarada Devi who tried to educate people throughout their lives. Shri Ramakrishna and his great disciple Swami Vivekananda continue to inspire us even today. Ma Sarada Devi played an important role in the growth of the Ramakrishna Movement. Her words,"Learn to make the whole world your own”, are so simple, yet so profound as they show the way to address the many problems and challenges that we face in today’s world.
The Presidentoffered his profound respects to Swami Nityananda Maharaj, the founder of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, who left for his heavenly abode on 5thJanuary, 2014. The President said Swami Nityananda dedicated his life to the welfare of weaker sections, especially underprivileged children. With the passing away of Swami Nityananda Maharaj, not only has the Mission lost its Founding Father – not only have the Members of the Organisation lost a great mentor and guide, but he, too, lost a valued friend.
The President extended his best wishes to the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission and through it, to all its Members and staff for the success of their efforts in service to society and all their future endeavours. He lauded the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission, with its large network of branches in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, for providing primary education to almost fifteen thousand boys and girls in schools across the country. He pointed out that numerous Welfare Homes run by the Mission are providing shelter and hope to orphans and destitute children, differently-abled girls and distressed women.