This is the Chancellor’s Address delivered on 4 July 2018 on the occasion of the 13th Convocation Ceremony at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Belur Math, by Swami Suvirananda, Chancellor of the Institute, and General Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math.
Today is 4th of July. Swamiji Maharaj [Swami Vivekananda] chose this day for his Mahasamadhi, perhaps because it is the day of American Independence. Swamiji himself said that, ‘Freedom is the song of my soul.’ But Swamiji was not a Shelleyan Skylark – a skylark which ‘soars higher and higher till it is lost in the clouds of the heaven’ with absolutely no promise to come back again. Rather, Swamiji was a Wordsworthian Skylark which soars higher but it has its eyes fixed on the ground‘ true to the kindred points of heaven and home’ – a robust promise to be with you and me.
Swamiji resurrected on 4th of July 1902 itself and the fruition was Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Varanasi. Again Swamiji Maharaj resurrected on 4th July 2005 in the form of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute – a deemed to be University at Belur Math. Swamiji prophesied that there shall be a University at Belur Math – ‘I see it, I do not imagine’, he had said. I therefore firmly believe that this University’s onward progress cannot be hindered. The fiat of the Lord is on. Those who want to be blessed, Come! Pull this chariot and be blessed! Do not try to stand on the way. You will be crushed. Stand aside!
When I glance at the higher education scenario of our country today, I feel the need for those who are associated with the administration and dissemination of higher education in our country to put their hands on their heart and find out, where we stand and whither we go.
The emphasis on higher education in India can be understood by the number of universities currently present in India and the quality of education they provide. According to the statistics available in February 2017, there are 789 Universities, 37,204 colleges and 11,443 stand-alone institutions in India. These numbers may have increased by now.
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