This document provides information about the upcoming three day youth training camp being organized by the Visakhapatnam Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal from November 29th to December 1st, 2013 at the TTD Kalyana Mandapam in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It outlines the schedule of events including speeches from religious leaders and cultural programs on each day. It also lists the names and contact information of the organizing committee members and their roles and responsibilities in managing different aspects of the event such as reception, venue arrangement, food arrangement, souvenirs, publications, press and publicity, competitions and more.

4. 2
VVYM Silver Jubilee
Celebrations : Nov, 2013
Release : 3 day Youth Training Camp
Copies : 1,000
VISAKHAPATNAM VIVEKANANDA
YUVA MAHAMANDAL
Excutive Committee 2013-14
President :
Sri N. Lakshminarayana
Vice-Presidents :
Sri J.V. Ramana
Sri V.Viswanath
Secretary :
Sri Ch. V.S.K.N. Somaraju
Asst. Secretaries :
Sri D. Venkata Rao
Sri P. Ravichandra
Treasurer :
K.V.L.N. Murthy
Committee Members :
Sri M. Govindarao
Sri P. Kishore Kumar
Sri G.V. Ratnam
Sri T. Venkata Rao
Permanent Representative :
B. Sreedhar
Published at :
Sathyam Offset Imprints
Brindavan, # 49-28-5, Madhuranagar,
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
Ph : 0891-2735878, 984 999 6538
For Copies :
Visakhapatnam Vivekananda
Yuva Mahamandal
C/o. Sri Ganapathi Seva Samithi,
Goorka line, Near Rly. Station,
Visakhapatnam - 530 004.
Offering Rs. : 30-00
Editor :
N. Lakshminarayana
Sub-Editor :
P. Ravichandra

5. 3
Reception
Sri KVLN Murthy-9849029321
Sri G.V.Ratnam-8008927268
Sri E.Govinda Raju-9160626751
Sri D.Jaya Sankar Reddy-9989087179
Sri K..Ramakrishna Reddy-9948641915
Sri R.Demudu Naidu-9966987771
Sri P. Muralimohan - 9441944202
Venue Arrangement
Sri Ch.V.S.K.N.Somaraju-9640335115
Sri D.N.Murthy Teacher-9848146441
Sri N.Sunil Kumar-7396832285
Sri T.Nanda Kumar-9866549311
Sri M.Kiran Kumar-9966558061
Sri K.Hruday -9030746712
Food Arrangement
Sri M.Govindarao-9885949538
Sri P.Srinivas-9391139698
Sri NRK Chowdary-9490430475
Sri J.Janardhana Rao-9849259393
Sri P.Chandra Seckhar-9059905095
Souvenir
Sri P.Ravichandra-9490203777
Sri P.Nageswararao-9848192825
Sri Peediraju Srinivas-09940316438
Sri Peela Ravisankar-0773889747
Sri P.V.Yeswanth-7207656481
Mahamandal Telugu Publications
Sri Bachina Sreedhar-9247861548
Sri T.Venkatarao-9490391579
Sri Mallempati Vamsikrishna-09977205218
Sri N.Ch.Nageswararao-9948810690
Sri D.V.B.Acharyulu-9848196595
SUB COMMITTEE PERSONS
Sri Srinivas - 9396544873
Press and Publicity
Sri P.Kishore kumar-9848399334
Sri M.V.Krishna-9912554411
Sri Ch.Uday Kumar-8099114547
Sri G. Vinod Kumar-7799936799
Sri B. Madhav - 9603027703
Competitions and Cultural Programmes
Sri V.Viswanath-9848337474
Sri Ch.Bangaraiah-7569798956
Sri Bandaru Appala Raju-8143153983
Sri Seshagiri - 9493762385
Youth Camp
Sri D.Venkatarao-9490131846
Sri P.Muni Swamy-7842707180
Sri Vinay-9032392516
Sri Vidyadhar Singh-7893812701
Sri M.Shanmuk-7396992631
Fund Mobilisation
Sri J.V.Ramana-9177600891
Sri J.Mohan Kumar-94413227668
Sri Peela Srinivas-09437025336
Sri B.Praveen Kumar
Exhibition and Book Stall
Sri V.Srinivasa Rao-7386194969
Sri B. Krishna Mohan - 9885577041
Sri Ch. Appanna - 9908790610
Over all Co-Ordination
Sri N.Lakshminarayana-9849811940

6. 4
Programme for Campers
Flag Hoisting with Mahamandal Anthem, Mental concentration, Yoga, games,
discussions on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, methods of character building,
leadership, patriotism, room discussions etc.,
Open Programme
29-11-2013 Friday
06:00PM : Camp Inaugral Meeting:
Chief guest – Swami Amritanandaji Maharaj, RK Mission Ashrama, VSP
07:30 PM : Songs by VVYM members
08:00 PM : Cultural Programs
30-11-2013 Saturday
06:30 PM : Talk on “Relevance of Swami Vivekananda to the present day World”
Swami Nityayoganandaji Maharaj, RK Mission Ashrama, VSP
07:00 PM : Burra Katha on Swami Vivekananda by Ramachandrapuram team
08:00 PM : Songs
01-12-2013 Sunday
06:30 PM : “Swami Vivekananda’s message to the Youth” talk by Swami
Guneshanandaji Maharaj, RK Mission Ashrama, VSP
07:00 PM : Songs
07:30 PM : Experience of Campers and distribution of certificates, prizes
08:00 PM : Vote of Thanks
Camp Guest speakers
1. Swami Tanmayanandaji Maharaj, Ambikapur
2. Sri Ravi Bhattacharjee, Kolkata
3. Dr. Pannala Syamasundara Murthy, Guntur
4. Sri K.P.S. Sastry, Hyderabad.
Visakhapatnam
Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal
Silver Jubilee Celebrations -
Three day Youth Training Camp

DATE :
29th Nov. 1st Dec, 2013
Friday, Saturday & Sunday
VENUE :
TTD KALYANAMANDAPAM,
M.V.P. Colony, Visakhapatnam.

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

8. 6
INDEX
MESSAGES :
1. Ramakrishna Math, Howrah 8
2. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai 9
3. Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam 10
4. Ramakrishna Mission, Vijayayada 11
5. Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal, 12
6. S. Krishnan, Former President, VVYM 13
ARTICLES
1. Try Our Own Elixir 15
2. The Need of Organization and Leadership 18
3. Regeneration of India 21
4. By Questioning - Why Vivekananda ? 26
5. Character and its 24 Aspects 28
6. Origin and Development of
Visakhapatnam Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal 31
  
8.  
 
 
  
 DONATIONS 47

9. 7
MESSAGES

10. 8

11. 9
4 November 2013,
My dear Lakshminarayana,
I am glad that the 'Vishakapatnam Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal' which is affiliated to the
'Akhila Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal' is celebrating its Silver Jubilee Celebrations
from 29th Nov to 1st Dec this year, coinciding with the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami
Vivekananda. It is befitting that a three day residential youth training camp for young men is
being organised to mark the occasion and a souvenir will be released. I gladly comply with
your request for a messgge to be published in the said souvenir.
Swami Vivekananda had great hope in the youth and wanted them to be unselfish and of
strong character. It is such young men who can create a better India and fulfill the dreams of
the great Swami. May Swamiji bless you all and inspire you to dedicate yourselves to serve
with the motto, 'Shiva-jnaane Jiva- seva'.
With best wishes to you and all others who will be participating in the camp,
Yours affectionately,
Swami Gautamananda
31 Ramakrishna Math Road,
Mylapore, Chennai - 600 004
Ph: 24621110 (4 Lines); Fax: 24934589
email: mail@chennaimath.org
website : www.chennaimath.org

12. 10

13. 11
7 October, 2013
Dear Sri Lakshminarayana
Namskars. I am glad to know that Visakhapatnam
Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal (VVYM) is celebrating Swami Vivekananda's
150th Birth Anniversary and VVYM Silver Jubilee. Also noted
that a Souvenir is being brought out on this occasion.
I sincerely pray to Swamiji to bless all your endeavors.
With Love and Regards
Yours in the Lord
Swami Sashikantananda
Secretary
Ramakrishna Mission
Vijayawada
Ramakrishna Mission
City Centre : Gandhinagar, Viajayawada - 520 003 Phone : 0866-2570799
Ashrama : Sitanagaram, Gunture Dist., - 522 501 Phone : 08645-272248

14. 12
Message
During last 25 years Visakhapatnam Vivekananda
Yuva Mahamandal as a unit of the Akhil Bharat
Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal is engaged in perform-
ing a substantial work to spread the message of Swamiji
among the people of that area, particularly the youths. I
am glad to know that you are going to celebrate the Sil-
ver Jubilee year of foundation of your centre through
various programmes including the training a camp for
the youths.
On this occasion I convey my best wishes to all mem-
bers of the Visakhapatnam Vivekananda Yuva
Mahamandal and also to all the participating members of
the camp for a successful training in the ideals of Swami
Vivekananda. I hope that the members will intensify their
activities further so that more and more young people
will be helped in character building as well as service to
the nation.
May the holy blessings of Shri Ramakrishna Deva, Shri
Maa Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda shower upon
one and all.
AKHIL BHARAT
VIVEKANANDA YUVA MAHAMANDAL
Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay
President
Akhil Bharat
Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal.
Date : 26 November 2013
Regd. Office :
BHUBAN BHAVAN,
P.O. Balaram Dharma Sopan,
Khardah, North 24-Parganas,
Pin : 700 116.
City Office :
6/1A, Justice Manmatha
Mukherjee Row,
Kolkata – 700 009
Phone : 2350 6898

15. 13
(S. Krishnan)
Former President, VVYM

16. 14
ARTICLES

17. 15
ChakravartiRajagopalacharisaid: 'Swami
Vivekananda saved Hinduism and saved India.
But for him we would have lost our religion
and would not have gained our freedom. We,
therefore, owe everything to Swami
Vivekananda. May his faith, his courage, and
his wisdom ever inspire us, so that we may
keep safe the treasure we have received from
him! The work of the Vivekananda Yuva
Mahamandal is to inspire our young people
with the great ideal of Swami Vivekananda,
the ideas of freedom, so that they can use
the freedom they have got for the good of all,
for raising the weaker sections of the society
and creating a strong progressive nation.
Ideologies have been with us for hundreds
of years, and we have tried all ofthem. Today
we need to understand our own ideology to
face thechallenges thatare before our nation.
We had British influences, American
influences, Marxist influences, specially from
China and Russia, We have tried all these. We
have not tried our own influences yet. That
time has come today. We have to achieve
India's development in the Indian way, and
that education we get in the remarkable
literature of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda.
TRY OUR OWN ELIXIR
[Lecture delivered at Andhra State-level Youth Training of Mahamandal Camp in 1983]
The beauty of this approach is that it
welcomes foreign influences, foreign ideas,
but tells us to assimilate and make them
our own. We shall not be swept away by
these foreign ideologies. As for that the
Chinese and specially the Russians have
praised Swami Vivekananda, and to address
the audience in the University of Moscow I
found tremendous welcome from the
intellectuals of that great country. Slowly
some of our own Marxists are studying
Vivekananda and writing books on Swami
Vivekananda, sometimes distorted,
sometimes with great respect
But this is a good beginning. Let us have a
new India based upon our own culture and
tradition and strengthened by others'
experience and wisdom. In Sri Ramakrishna
and SwamiVivekananda allthatisthere, there
is the intense interest in human development
irrespective of caste, creed, or colour. I
discussed these things in my lecture in the
Moscow University, which was on a subject
that was proposed by the university itself:
'Swami Vivekananda - His humanism',
What we need today in India is a
tremendous humanistic impulse coming from
Swami Ranganathanandji is the 13th
president of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission

18. 16
the heart and touching every aspect of our
national life. We must understand how
Vivekananda brought our attention to this
great subject of man, how to unfold his
potentiality, how to make man realize his true
humanism, human values. In the great
contributionof Ramakrishna and Vivekananda
the central emphasis is on man. They
concentrated on this one subject, how to
make man established in his own dignity, his
freedom, his fullness. That is the great
philosophy they gave us.
The philosophy was there in our
Upanishads - the Divinity of man, i.e. infinite
possibilities in every human being. But that
was not made practical in day-to-day life of
people in his politics, economics, society, and
culture. Sri Ramakrishna said: Every Jiva is
Shiva, worship ofjiva is the worship of Shiva.
Swami Vivekananda wrote in a letter from
America : *No religion on earth preaches the
dignity of humanity in such a lofty Strain as
Hinduism, andno religion on earth treads upon
the necks of the poor and the low in such a
fashion as Hinduism. Therefore, Swamiji
entreated us to apply this great teaching and
create a new society where human dignity,
human equality are realized fully.
We had so long been looking at heavens
in the name of religion neglecting man all the
time.Sectarianquarrels andfights inthe name
of religion and philosophy prevailed, to the
neglect of the actual God in the form of man
in all of us. All over South India and also in
Bengal, there were conferences of pundits
discussing and quarrelling on whether
Shaivism is true or Vaishnavism or Saktaism;
and abusing each other, creating rift for
centuries atthe head of the suffering millions.
Some ofthe sectarianfeuds werecarried over
to the period of Ramakrishna in an acute and
serious form. In the Gospel of Sri
Ramakrishna', you will find a picture of this
feud between two sectarians in the presence
ofRamakrishna and also the latter's scathing
remarks.
The whole national energy was wasted in
these meaningless excesses,and, onthe other
hand, people were being brought down day
by day through social injustice, economic
oppression, etc. The very one who has raised
thenational mindfrom thesefutile discussions
and turned that to feel the problems of men
in society is Ramakrishna. And Vivekananda
remarked: 'Acountry, thebig leadersofwhich
have for the last two thousand years been
only discussing whether to take food with the
right hand or the left, whether to lake water
with the right hand or the left, whether to
take water from the right-hand side or from
the left, ... if such a country does not go to
ruin, what other will?
The young people of India had responded
to the call of Swami Vivekananda and

19. 17
concentrated on the problems of man and
exacted political freedom. We have got that
freedom, but have not worked for the other
requirements to realize the fruits of that
freedom. After independence our only pursuit
has become how to make money. As a result,
our society has become decadent with no
remedy coming to its mind. The society is full
of evils, corruption, and malpractices. Even
teachers of schools and colleges are not free
from that. In fact, this decadence of Indian
society is so obvious that a boy also can point
it out.
At this state we need badly the literature
of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda to get rid of the
predicament. It is a literature of strength, it
is a purifying literature, and it is a humanizing
literature. And our young people need this
inspiration when they are young. Swamiji
addressed this message to the young people
of India while speaking to the young men of
Calcutta, Lahore, etc. He said, 'My faith is in
you. He did not have faith in the rich people
of India. He used to say : My hope lies in you,
in the poor, in the sincere, in the patriot. The
rich are more dead than alive, he believed.
In my sojourn all over India I find many
people with plenty of money, but empty at
heart. I see them and remember the great
message that Swamiji conveyed : '... they
alone live who live for others, the rest are
more dead than alive.' That is why Swamiji
placed great emphasis on the development of
heart, of love, of compassion, or the
humanistic impulse.
With this love, this humanism, if young
men come up, they would become good
teachers in schools. They will be dynamic
teachers working for man-making and
character-building education. From them will
come engineers, doctors, and workers in all
fields. They will work for the upliftment of
people who had no opportunity to come up
for thousands of years. They will give them
the best of knowledge, the best of wisdom
to stand them in good stead.
With this inspiration, this sympathy, this
feeling for the poor, for the oppressed, let the
young men spread all over the country, in all
the departments of service, to purify all, and
help create a healthy nation in our country.


20. 18
The Need of Organization and Leadership
Power lay in mantras in Treta Yuga, in
knowledge or intelligence in Satya Yuga ; war
powerwas paramountin DvaparaYuga, while
in Kali Yuga power lies in organization.
Swami Vivekananda was fascinated with
the idea of organization. He appreciated the
ment of the power of organization, of the
western world. He knew about organizations
of our own country appearing in old times,
their successes and drawbacks. Yet he
favoured the idea of organization for working
among the people - not only for amelioration
oftheirsufferings, butalso foreducating them
in the right line. He found that among the
common people of our country the spirit that
canmake anyorganized effortsuccessfulwas
absent.
He said, The faculty of organization is
entirely absent in our nature, but this has to
be infused.' Aphoristically he adds, The great
secret is, absence of jealousy.' He lamented,
You three hundred millions have a will each
separate from the other.' We may remember
what is mentioned in the Aims and Objects of
the Mahamandal since 1967 : Therefore to
make a great future India, the whole secret
lies in organization, accumulation of power,
coordination of wills' (Vivekananda) . In our
Anthem we have what Vivekananda puts in
the words : 'Already before rny mind rises
one of the marvelous verses of the Atharva
Veda Samhita (also occurring in the Rig Veda)
which says, ''Be thou all of one mind, be thou
all of one thought." Being of one mind is the
secret of society.
Besides this secret what makes
organizations thriveisproperleadership which
is also very very important. But, as it is
commonly held, leaders are born and not
made. What does it indicate ? It emphasises
that the right type of leadership is difficult to
acquire.
If somebody says, I want to be a leader,
he cannotprove hismettle rightaway. Swami
Vivekananda warns, 'And the more you go on
fighting and quarrelling about all trivialities
the further you are offfromthat accumulation
of energy and power which is going to make
the future India.' He continues, 'Every one
wantsto commandand no one wants to obey.
First, learn to obey. The command will come
by itself. Always first learn to be a servant
and then you will be fit to be a master. If
your superior orders you to throw yourself
into a river and catch a crocodile, you must
first obey and then reason with him. Even if
the order be wrong, first obey and then
contradict it. No centralization is possible


(Sri Nabhaniharan Mukhopadyay is the founder,
President of Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal)
A saying attributed to Vyasa goes like this :

21. 19
unless there is obedience to superiors. No
great work can be done without this
centralization of individual forces.'
His words are very clear and need no
elucidation. He puts plainly, 'We are lazy ; we
cannot combine ; we do not love each other ;
we are intensely selfish ; not three of us can
come together without hating each other,
without being jealous of each other.' 'Kill self
first if you want to succeed. Do not try to
lead your brethern, but serve them. Never
attemptto guideor rule others. Be the servant
of all. Do not try to be a ruler. He is the best
ruler who can serve well.'
If we want to work and succeed in our
organization wemusthear,contemplate upon,
and make these thoughts our own and build
our leadership on these ideas so that those
who join the work go the right way. If the
leaders lack in essential qualities, the
following will not be conducive to any real
cons¬tructivework, whichis themain object.
So thosewholeadshould cultivatethese basic
things and also mind the following :
No egoism; no name or fame or any other
interest. Cool head and calm judgement
always keeping the ideals in view. Try to
be a student always. Learn from every
experience.
All must be clean in words, deeds, and
mind.
Make the first sacrifice, then expect
others to follow suit. Work before you ask
others to work.
Remain a follower till others make you
their leader. Each should think he could
be a leader andshould imbibethe qualities
of a leader. Come forward whenever
circumstances demand, but don't rush to
lead. Do not wait on the ground that you
have not already had the office of
responsibility. Keep the conscience clear
that you are doing something for the
furtherance ofthe causeyou stand for and
not for any personal motive.
Become one of those whom you are to
lead. Do notlook upon them from a height.
Do notboast thatwithout you nothing will
move,butgiveyour duequota forthework
you are in.
No compromise with untruth or what is
not moral. Never lie.
Your workorprogrammeisnothingor even
may be injurious, if it is not conducive to
the fulfilmentof theideals setforth before
you.
Always remember, others will do as you
do.
Your thought should guide your action.
Have planning, discrimination, foresight,
and farsight. Dash is good; but no
ostentation,hyprocrisy. Havecontrol over
yourspeech,thought, tndmovement. Build
up the right motivation.
Be clean in money matters. You have to
acquire both character andefficiency. Any
one of them does not make a leader.
Shake off all bias. Be methodical without
becoming a machine.
Talk enough, but do not talk too much.
Do not run to lead if these are lacking.
Know, contemplate, and cultivate these

22. 20
ideas You will also have to lead many in
time. Make yourself worthy for the job.
Remember Swamiji's charge. 'Work, work
the idea, my brave noble, good souls, - to
the wheel, to the wheel put your
shoulders ;stop not to look back for name,
or fame or. any such nonsense.
Last though not least, have conviction
about the main aim and for the purpose
read Vivekananda carefully and regularly
lest you deviate from the path you have
chosen to become a Man.
Read the suggestions again and again. In
your diary note which qualities you have and
to whatdegree. Also note carefullywhich you
do not have. Do not despond. Try to acquire
those which you do not have and develop
those you already have. Make fresh notes
after six months and mark the progress. You
will be loved by all and command respect and
find joy in the work. The result will be you
will develop in character and efficiency and
only then the organization will succeed in
achieveing its object - to organize the youths
and to burn into their hearts energy, strength,
honesty, spirit of sacrifice and service,
courage, love for Motherland and her people
so they they may build a new great India.
(Source : A New youth movement)
RESPOND TO THE CALL
Youth of India, Swami Vivekananda is calling you. Respond to his call. Do
not be distracted by anybody else. Calls from other directions will benefit neither
you nor the nation. Let swamiji’s call enter your hearts. Rouse yourselves out of
stupor, wake up, shun all weakness and slumber. Manifest power and put your
shoulders to the wheel. We must work for the motherland. Remember how intensely
Swamiji felt for the nation. The lion among men used to shed tears for the distressed
of this land. He desired nothing for himself- neither happiness nor wealth, nor yet
fame. He loved men and wanted them to be real men, to stand on their own feet, to
be self confident. caurageous and fearless ready to sacrifice every thing, if needed
be, for common weel.
Please respond to his call. It is our sacred duty to work for all round
development of this nation. This verily is our task. God is not in heaven. Neither
He is confined inside temples nor mosques. He is not to be found in forests and
mountain-caves. He is everywhere. He resides in all beings. Each human body is a
temple of God, ‘the Taj Mahal of temples’. to use the metaphor coined by Swamiji.
He ordained that we should worship Him there. Man is living in so much grief,
with the ignominy of ignorance, in the innumerable bondages of the world! Think
of that.
How to free them, how to awaken them fully to their power? Swamiji gave
a simple yet correct analysis:
Come and join in study circles to know his project of Man-making.
This is the appeal of VISAKHAPATNAM VIVEKANANDA YUVA
MAHAMANDAL to all the youth of Andhrapradesh.

23. 21
That was the time when the
sublimest truth of ‘the equality of man’, nay,
‘the Godlinessofman’reverberated in air. The
underlying principle of the unity of living
beings was expounded. Pray ! What principle
! That which says that we are all infinite in
essence. There the cries of ‘abhih’ (
Fearlessness) rent the skies. There the sages
declared, Tattvamasi (Thou art That), ‘Thou
art Sachchidananda (Existence Absolute,
Knowledge Absolute, Bliss
Absolute)’.Peculiarly, all this was done at a
time when the rest of the world was still in
its infancy. The place of this revelation was
the ‘Punya Bhumi of Bharata’, the sanctified
land of India. This was the India of yore,
where traditions dare not pee, when the rest
of the world was sleeping.
There isa placewhere thedark cloud
of misery, poverty and unhappiness hangs
over head. Its inhabitants have no courage at
their hearts, no brain in their heads and no
strength in their bodies to assert themselves.
There over 50% of the population starve, a
mad fightfor wealth and pleasurehas brought
in jungle law, and millions and millions are
sinking day by day. The Stage is the present
day India.
If one cares to look into history, one
would easily find that what has been said
above is, in short, the conditions of India of
the past and the present as well. It can easily
be observed that ours is not the glorious
conditions of the pas, but a melancholic
situation.Nobody wouldwanttheIndia should
remain in this situation. One should rather
want that India has to be regenerated. She
has to be given back her past glory. To be
precise, what we want now is the harmony
between the glorious aspect of the past
(which is spirituality) and the good aspect of
the present age (science and its fruits). But
how is this to come about?
THE FOUNDATION OF THE NATIONAL
EDIFICE
Every nation has a basis on which it
stands. As soon as that base is touched and
tried to change, the nation starts to crumble
into pieces. The basis of the civilization in
ancient Rome was its military power, its
imperialpower.No sooner had itbeen touched
that it died a sad death. So also was the case
with Greece. There the base was the
intellectual power. India too has its basis
which is Religion, spirituality. Fortunately for
us, that base is not yet touched. The same
religious blood still flows through our veins
silently. The India eats religiously, prays
religiously, and does everything religiously.
That religious fervor pervades the land even
today. The present miserable condition
continues, because our leaders are not
fortifying us in thatdirection. Rather they are
trying to dissuade from that point. Karl Marx,
the great philosopher, rightly observes,”The
loss of his old world, with no gain of a new
one, imparts a peculiar kind of melancholy to
REGENERATION OF INDIA
R. Vishwanathan
THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

24. 22
the present misery of the Hindu (the
Indian)…”Our modern seer, Swami
Vivekananda, observes, “When the life- blood
is spirituality. If it flows clear, if it flows
strong and pure and vigorous, every-thing is
right. Political, social, any other material
defects,even thepoverty oflandwillbe cured,
if that blood is pure. He further says, “India
will be raised, notwith the power ofthe flesh,
but with the power of the spirit; not with the
flag of destruction, but with the flag of peace
and love”. So, “Before flooding India with
socialistic or political ideas, first deluge the
land with spiritual ideas.” “But mark you, if
you give up that spirituality leaving it aside
to go after the materializing civilization of the
west, the result will be that in three
generations you will be an extinct race;
because the backbone of the nation will be
broken, the foundation upon which the
national edifice has been built will be
undermined, and result will be annihilation all
round.”.
This spirituality, of course, does not
mean the present forms of Hinduism, Islam,
Christianity etc. which are creating discord,
erecting great barriersbetween man and man.
Rightly Vivekananda proclaimed, “We want
to lead mankind to the place where there is
neitherthe Vedas,nor theBible, northeKoran;
yet this as to be done by harmonizing the
Vedas, the Bible, and the Koran. Mankind
ought to be taught that religions are but the
varied expressions of THE RELIGION, which
is Oneness, so that each may choose the path
that suits him best”. All the present problems
caused by religions arise actually from the
misunderstanding and misinterpretation of
this true meaning of Religion. The concept of
THE RELIGION is found by delving deep into
ourculturalheritageand hasbeen wonderfully
demonstrated in the life of Sri Ramakrishna,
“ the consummation of two thousand years
of the spiritual life of three hundred million
people”( as described by Romain Rolland).
Again we go back to Vivekananda
who has echoedour culturalheritage in a lucid
way with a modern approach. “Religion is the
manifestation of the Divinity already in man”.
“Try to be pure and unselfish – that is the
whole ofreligion”. Also,“The secretofreligion
lies notin theories, but in practice. To be good
and to do good -- that is the whole of religion.”
India is to be raised with that religion “which
raises the brute unto man and man unto god”.
So, this is a ‘man-making’ religion. This is the
crying need of the day. Having based on this
religion, our motherland will be rejuvenated,
“more glorious than she ever was’.
THE WAY: TRUE EDUCATION
But how is all this to be brought
about? Education is the answer. But what
sort of education? Is it that which is being
fed now, which creates riots in the minds of
the people thereby leading to anarchy and
chaos? Is it that which makes animals out of
men as is being done now?No! ‘We want that
education by which character is formed,
strength of mind is increased, the intellect is
expanded, and by which one can stand on
one’s own feet.’ The basic necessity of the
hour is a ‘man-making, character- building’
education. A nation is great, only if its people
are men of great character. Each individual
being the unit of the nation, the nation will
rise only if its individuals be real ‘men’. Only
he who is brave enough to give his body, mind
and speech to the welfare of the world’ is fit
to be called a ‘man’, the rest are brutes. We

25. 23
can become such men by bringing out the
immensepotentialities hiddenin us.We should
struggle hard consciously and continuously to
be more and more strong, to increase the
goodness contained in us, and thus establish
our characters. The way was laid down by
our great ancestors and has been explained
by Swami Vivekananda in a very much
scientific way. We must take that up to put
into practice, because the glory of India lies
in our being ‘men’ and making others ‘men’.
“BE AND MAKE’ -- this should be our
education-policy. Therefore, the main feature
ofeducation should bethe Religion.That must
be coupled with western science and
technology, no doubt, for the material
upliftment of the country. “But the root is
religion”. “Religion is as the rice, and
everything else, like curries. Taking only
curries causes indigestion, and so is the case
with taking rice alone. “The material
upliftmentunder these conditions willno more
be destructive, as the ‘man-making’ religion
will weed out all destructive elements and
breed in constructive ones to build a rocky
foundation ofthe nation. That is why Swamiji
said, “Man –making is my mission.”
UPLIFTMENT OF THE MASSES
One of the main causes for the
degeneration of India is our neglect of the
masses. “No amount of politics would be of
any avail, until the masses of India are once
more well educated, well fed, and well cared
of. ….Ifwewanttoregenerate India,wemust
work for them.” They were being tyrannized
for ages by the priests, the kings and their
men, the traders and at last, by the foreign
rulers. Now they are being tyrannized by the
so-called educated, therich andthe politicians
whoconsistavery smallsection ofthe people.
We forget that the latter do not constitute
the whole nation. We do not realize that the
condition of the vast masses will ultimately
decide our condition. What we have in India
now, are islands ofaffluence amidstan ocean
of poverty. The masses pay for our education,
our luxuries, and in return, they get kicks and
are deprived of their legitimate rights. They
will have to be raised and united under the
banner of Love. We need now feel for them
from the heart. We are to help them to help
themselves. “The only service to be done for
our lower classes it to give them education,
to develop their lost individuality”. But ‘who
feels there for the two hundred millions of
man women sunken forever in poverty and
ignorance?’ Swami Vivekananda puts the
questions before us, which remains to be
answered, “Do you feel that millions and
millions of the descendants of gods and of
sages have become next door neighbours to
brutes? Do you feel that millions are starving
today, and millions have been starving for
ages? Does it make you restless? Does it
make you sleepless? Has it gone into your
blood, coursing through your veins, becoming
consonants with your heartbeats? Has it
made you almost mad? Are you seized with
that one idea of the misery of ruin, and have
you forgotten all aboutyour name, your fame,
your wives, your children, your property, even
your own bodies? Have you done that?” And,
“That is the first step to become a patriot,
that very first step,” he adds. Such feeling
for others also ‘instills into the hear the
strength of a lion’ which we are lacking
severely. ‘Our country requires heroes. Be
heroes.’ We are also to use our intellect to
understand the things as they are and the

26. 24
great plan, the methods for their betterment,
and also to reduce them into practice.
To work for the masses means to
worship them. In the present day India, we
have a lot ofreligions professingvarious ideas
of God. But it is a fact that we have sadly
failed to grasp the real ideaofworshipto God.
The Shastras declare that all beings are
manifestations of God, ‘Amritasya Putrah’.
‘Tattvamasi’—‘Thou art that’, exhorts the
Upanishad. SwamiVivekananda says, “Ye are
the children of God, the sharers of immortal
bliss, holy and perfect beings”. He also says,
“In one word, the ideal of Vedanta is to know
man as he really is, and this is its message,
that if you cannot worship your brother man,
the manifested God, how can you worship a
God who is unmanistested?”. If we can
understand that all of us are manifestations
of the universal ONE, the rest will come by
itself. So Swamiji says, “The poor, the
illiterate, the ignorant, the afflicted – let these
be your God. Know thatservice to these alone
is the highest religion”. We have to practice
this religion. That alone will do the job.
PROBLEMS OF WOMEN : THEIR SOLUTION
Suppression of women in India is
another important reason for our downfall.
We have forgotten the days of yore when
there were women like Gargi, Maitreyi,
Ubhayabharati and Lilavati etc, who were at
par with men. It was India which evolved the
ideal of the motherhood of women. It was
Indiawhichbroughtforththe ideathatwomen
are the manifestations of the Divine Mother.
In the West, the ideal of the woman means
that of the wife, whereas in India it means
the ideal of the mother. Indian women will
have to be raised having based on the latter.
As in the days of yore, women will have to
observe Brahmacharya (i.e. purity in though,
word and deed) and should be educated in
sciences and other things ‘with religion as its
centre’. SwamiVivekanandasays,“They have
many and grave problems, but none of that
are not to be solved by that magic word
‘education’”. So, ‘educate your women first
and leave them to themselves; then they will
tellyouwhatreformsare necessaryfor them’.
In this way ‘women must be put in a position
to solve theirown problems in theirown way’.
But he reminds us, “O India! Forget not that
the ideal of thy womanhood is Sita, Savitri
and Damayanti”. The easiest way to revive
India is to raise up her women. Letthe women
ofIndiabe raisedup andVivekananda’s saying
– ‘with five hundred men, the conquest of
India might take fifty years; with as many
women,notmore thana fewweeks’ -be made
a reality.
Just as the ‘Satya Yuga’ (Golden
age) has sprung from the very date Sri
Ramakrishna was born, as Swami believed
most sincerely, a great movement for the
upliftment ofthe Indian women has also been
inauguratedas theIndian idealof womanhood
got personified in the life of Sri Sarada Devi,
the Holy Mother. That movement is now to
be spread through the length and breadth of
India as fire to save India from total
annihilation.
THE FUTURE AND THE YOUTH POWER
Till now we have dealt with almost
all the ways necessary for the regeneration
of India. But who is to bell the cat?
Vivekananda has the answer, “My faith is in
the younger generation, the modern
generation, outofthemwillcomemy workers.

27. 25
They will work out the whole problem like
lions. I have formulated the idea and have
given my life to it…..They will spread from,
center to centre, until we have covered the
whole of India”. This is exactly our youths’
work. Inthe worldover, wheneverany change
was brought about, it was done by the youth.
Our political freedom from the yokes of the
British islargely duetotheyouths. Itis always
they who have the tenacity of purpose. In the
Vedas, God has been given the adjective,
‘Yavistha’—the youthful. The modern
intellectualsoftheworld have also recognized
the ‘youth power’ recently, Sri Ramakrishna
and Vivekananda noticed the immense power
in the youth more than a century ago!
YouthsofIndia!Leave outyour crazy
hankering after the West. Weed out that
deadly slavish imitation. It is taking you to
your graves. ‘By imitation others, ideas never
become one’s own. Nothing unless earned is
our own.’ SwamiVivekananda, who lived and
worked in his youth, has given the right
solution. Only it has to be put into practice.
Let us sincerely put ourselves to the wheel,
and then the work will be done by itself. “On
our work depends the coming of the India of
the future. She is there ready waiting”, says
Swamiji “Up, up, the long night is passing,
the day is approaching, the wave has risen,
nothing will be able to resist its tidal fury”.
‘What we want are some young men
who will renounce everything and sacrifice
their lives for their country’s sake. We should
first form their lives and then some real work
canbe expected’.Therefore, theprimary work
which is obviously the first thing to be
done(otherwisethe restcannot follow) for the
regeneration of India is to propagate the life-
building and man-making ideals put forward
by Swami Vivekananda among the Indian
youth and to harness youthful energy in a
disciplined manner for nation-building
activities through settless service to the
country. We are fortunate that with this
object has come into existence the Akhil
Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal. The
Mahamandal has taken up the prime cause
of “Man Making” as its mission. The root
problem being solved, the accessory problems
are bound to be solved.
Come brothers and Sisters! Let us
unite to make a strong India, ‘more
rejuvenated than she ever was’.
(Source : Jailpagiri Vivekananda Yuva Maha Mandal Souvenir)

28. 26
Q. There are so many great savants and seers
and intellectual people. Why should we go to
build our character according to the ideals of
Swami Vivekananda ?
A. First think then, you have to find out
alternatives and judge which to take up. Of
course, sometimes we club together many
names, as you have chummed up savants,
seers, and intellectuals. No doubt there are
many who have exercised their intellect and
savants are intellectuals of a high order. But
seers are not many. SwamiVivekananda was
not only an intellectual or savant, of whom a
peereither in the East or the West should
hardly be found, but also a seer. There were
and are many many intellectuals and savants,
but all are not seers.
The vision ofthe seers penetrates everything,
both without and within. The vision of
intellectuals is limited, both in depth and
expanse, and again limited expanse .in space
as also in time. The seer can sees the remote
past and the distant future as clearly as they
can see the present. They can delve into any
issue or problem or idea up to the bottom.
Intellectuals make useoftheir intellect, which
is always limited in its sway, however great
it may appear to the common man.
With uncommon intelligence, all compassing
erudition, encyclopedic knowledge, vast
objective experience, a heart expanded as
wide as the world, and the vision of a seer
Vivekananda saw man in depth, his essence
and potentialities, also man as he was in the
world, and the image of the future man, more
clearly than anybody else. Nobody else so
deeply loved man as man and weptso bitterly
for his present condition. 'Seeing him one
knew thathe would willingly have offered his
flesh for food and his blood for drink to the
hungry.'Can youfind asecond manwho could
be expected to do that ? 'His heart was a
huge cauldron in which the sufferings of
mankind were made into a healing balm.
His love for Motherland, India, was
unparalleled.Notbecausehis orationsonfndia
were excellent and sublime. While many
discovered India in her political geography,
natural beauty- variety in culture, language,
mores and manners, literature, art,
architecture, schools of philosophy, history,
etc. etc , he discovered the very heartof India
in his own heart and loved her with all his
heart. That is why Mahatma Gandhi
confessed that having read him, his love for
India increased a thousandfold and Subhas
Chandra staked his all for the freedom of
India. To alien people even, when he just
uttered the world 'India', it electrified them
and evoked their reverence. You cannot find
a second man who loved India so well.
His historic perspective was rare. His spiritual
realization could be compared with the sages
By Questioning - Why Vivekananda ?

29. 27
ofyore, andatthesame timehisacquaintance
with the current affairs of the world was
astounding. He was a pastmaster in physical
science and also in philosophy - Eastern as
well as Western. His command over the
scriptures 'of 'all religions of the world'
dumbfounded priests of the Orient as also of
the Occident.
With mastery of the external world of men,
societies, and their interactions coupled with
his hold on the soul, he is uniquely poised lo
cater to the need of the confused
consciousness of man of the present age,
marked by a lack of vision.
Here is a man who had realization, he saw
Truth face to face. Here is a man who was
utterly truthful and knew no fear. Here is a
man whose renunciation is absolute, whose
concentration is superhuman. Here is a man
whose sympathy knew no bounds, he was a
heart-whole man. Here is a man who is as
pure as purity. He was a man who said he
was God and everyone is God. He exemplifies
a life, of which a double cannot he found.
He sacrified his all, including life, for
revivifying man, making him stand on his own
feet. He shook the world and brought about
a change in its thought-current and
regenerated the nation. He diagnosed the
disease man was suffering from and
prescribed the remedy, demonsttaled and laid
bare the methods that could salvage the
drowning man. He was the first man, who
preached singlehanded a universal practical
philosophy of life to the world with
appreciable success, and gradual acceptance
perceptible to ihe discerning eye. He was one
who suggested subordination of personal
salvation to the liberaiion of all.
There have,of course,been greatsavants and
seers and intellectuals, there have been men
of science and ofphilosophy, men of literature
and arts, patriots, political thinkers, and
teacher, altruists, humanitarians, and men of
God, butVivekananda was a 'freak of nature',
if you bare conceive, who was all this in one
and very much a citizen of the world, which
was 'lighted by the torch that Swamiji
carried.' Swami Yogananda said. 'In Naren,
the knowledge of the Vedas possessed by
a Rishi, the renunciation of Sankara, the
heart of Buddha, the freedom from 'maya'
and fullest manifestation of the
knowledge of Brahma of Sukadeva, are
found combined in one person .
So, it would be prudentnot to be leafcounters
of Ramakrishna's slory, but to partake of the
juicy fruit of the life and light of Vivekananda
and to derive the benefit it offers. Who else
would give as he, where building of'life'is
concerned ?For building our character,it need
not to be emphasized, we must take up an
ideal which is the very best.' *

30. 28
What is Character :
Swamiji says in KarmaYoga “Every action
and thought of ours leaves an impression in
our mind (ref 1). The sum total of our
impressions on our mind determines our
character. These impressions determines how
we behave at a given moment, respond to
given situation”. Hence we need to build/shape
our character in advance such a way that we
are equipped with capacity or strength to
respond in correct way when a situation arises
later in our life. Is there a way to know how
is our character? Yes, we can know by
analyzing our daily actions. Swamiji advices
us to “Watch a man doing his most common
action”. That gives needed clues about
character. What is strong character? Swamiji
says “ the tortoise tucks its feet and head inside
the shell, even you may kill it and break it in
pieces, and yet it will not come out, even so
the character of that man who has control over
his motives and organs is unchangeably
established. He controls his own inner forces,
and nothing can draw them out against his will.
By this continuous reflex of good thoughts,
good impressions moving over the surface of
the mind, the tendency for doing good
becomes strong, and as the result we feel able
to control the Indriyas (the sense - organs, the
nerve - centres). Thus alone will character be
established, then alone a man gets to truth.
Such a man is safe for ever; he cannot do any
evil.You may place him in any company, there
will be no danger for him”. Why do we need
strong character? We often think our
difficulties can be overcome with money,
name or fame or leaning”- however the above
will often fail in the long run unless we support
them with character..Thus Swamiji declares
“Neither money pays, nor name, nor fame, nor
CHARACTER AND ITS 24 ASPECTS
learning; it is character that can cleave through
adamant walls of difficulties”.
How to mould Character and its 24
aspects : Now let us study how to build strong
character. Yuva Mahamandal recognizes 24
aspects as essential to build strong character
and encourages all of us to strive to uphold
these values in our lives. Often we can see in
our scriptures, mythology a clear explanation
about these values. Stories rendered by Sri
Ramakrishna and lives of his disciples like
Swamiji teaches us in great deal to understand
significance of these values and how to follow
them.
Cleanliness: It is part of Niyama of
PatanjaliYoga Sutras. We can say it comprises
of external and internal cleanliness where the
later is more important than former. Sri
Ramakrishna tells story of prostitute and a
priest to narrate how the later is more
important than the former. In this story a priest
fail to maintain mental cleanliness as he is busy
scolding and counting the sins of a poor
prostitute who doesn’t know any other
livelihood. In due course death arrives the
priest realizes that it is he who committed sin
more times than the prostitute by
contemplating always on her sins. Whereas the
poor women who repents lifelong about her
all actions accompanied to the sacred worlds
after her death but the priest reaches the hell.
Priest’s physical austerities and cleanliness
doesn’t Rescue against the sins he did with
the mind.
Clear thinking & Common Sense : Sri
Ramakrishna says stories of “Elephant God”
and “farmer and Narada” to explain these
values. Swamiji as a child ignored the
warnings that a Bramhadaitya living on the
Compiled by Sri Peddiraju Srinivas

31. 29
tree under which he used to play. In another
occasion we see how as young boy Swamiji
rescued even elders by calling nearby police.
In another incident Swamiji defends idol
worship in front of a Christian preacher.
Courage : When attacked by brute
monkeys in Varanasi Swamiji was advised to
face them –but not flee. Swamiji derives a
great lesson for all of us from this episode and
asks us to face difficulties of life but not run
away from them. Another great example from
Upanishads is story of Nachiketa and how he
chose to meet Lord of death and waited 3 days
in front of the house of death.
Courtesy : Swamiji message is “Serve
man as God”. Sriramakrishna used to bow
further to return salutation in similar or even
better manner. Gandhi drove freedom
movement peacefully and successfully as he
is courteous to all including British Queen
during that period. Only due to courtesy He
won the hearts of many English people who
rated Indians as uncultured.
Determination : Buddha determines to
meditate till death without rest and achieved
Nirvana. Lives of Ekalavya, Bhishma are great
examples from the epic Maha Bharata.
Diligence (hard working) : Arjuna
targeted only the eye of the bird. Swamiji says
“all the knowledge in the world has been
gained but by the concentration of all the
powers of the mind. The world is ready to give
up its secrets if we only know how to knock,
how to give it the necessary blow. The strength
and force of the blow come through
concentration. There is no limit to human
mind. The more concentrated it is the more
power is brought to bear on one point that is
the secret”
Honesty, Truthfulness & Sincerity :
Once a teacher verifies honest among his
students by asking them to sprout few dead
seeds – all except the honest student could
admit his seeds fail to sprout. “Satyam vada”
says. Taitireyam. Chandogya says story of
SatyaKama to explain this further. SRK says
“Truth is tapasya for this yuga”. “I gave up
everything to my Mother but never the truth”.
Truthfulness of Raja Harichandra life inspired
Gandhiji. Swamiji says” Society has to pay
homage to truth”. On sincerity he says “None
will be able to resist truth ,love and sincerity.
Are you sincere? Unselfish even unto death?
And loving? Then fear not, not even death”.
Initiative : Swamiji is the first monk who
went to abroad and spread the message of
Vedanta and also created bands of people who
helped India though their unselfish deeds. He
asks us “Be and make. “Arise, awake stop not
till the goal is reached”.
Patience : SRK tells a story of two
devotees waiting for Mukti how patience one
would react to the delay.
Poise : Swamiji asks his fellow disciples
to have “deepest mental poise” while carrying
work. Samatvam Yogamuchyate.Gita (5/18)
says about Samadarsini.
Reliability (Trust) : This doesn’t require
explanation. Organizations will crave for
reliability - this quality can be showcased best
by of Kalyan Maharaj and how he lived entire
life in Khanakal obeying Swamiji orders. SRK
says “ A faithful wife stays with husband for
many births.
Resourcefulness : SRK says story of
boatman and Pandit. Swamiji asks students to
prefer playing football over reading Gita.
Swamiji says “ Vedanta coupled with modern
science” and the goal of mankind is
knowledge. Swamiji explained learning is
uncovering because all knowledge is in side.
He explains gravitation law was in Newton’s
mind until he encounters the falling apple.

32. 30
Self-confidence : Shraddha : Swamiji
“What makes the difference between man and
man is the difference in this Shraddha and
nothing else. What makes one man great and
other weak is this Shraddha. Nachiketa says
“I am superior to many, Inferior to few, but
nowhere I am in the last, I can do something”.
It is said that Valmiki was asked to pronounce
mantra in reverse; however became poet
owing Shraddha on chanting the given mantra.
Self-control : Katha Upanishad says” God
created sense -organs with a defect of an
outgoing disposition. But wise man controls
the mind to see inward and realize happiness”.
The example of five horses and chariot.
SriRamakrishna says “Live like tortoise”. Sri
Krishna says control the fickle mind.
Self-reliance : Swamiji says “ He is an
atheist who doesn’t believe in himself. The old
religion says he is an atheist who didn’t not
believe in God. The new religion says that he
is the atheist who does not believe in himself.
Story of Ekalavya and life ofGandhiji and how
he carries his own baggage; life of JRD Tata
gives many examples. Gita 6/5 says” Uddare
aatmanatmaanam” One should save oneself by
one’s self. One should not lower oneself. For,
one’own self is verily one’s own friend; one’s
own self is verily one’s own enemy.
Self-respect (Practical Patriotism) : Gita
emphasizes on Swa dharma. Swamiji says
grow like tree taking water,air etc to become
better tree –without losing individuality.
Sense of discipline : Yama – from Yoga
sutras ( 5 rules) upholds Ahimsa, Satya,
Asteya, Brahmacharya,
Aparigraha; these five clearly call for sense
of dicipline
Spirit of service (Compassion) &
Sympathy : Story of Buddha shows us that
he offers life for saving a sheep. Sri
Ramakrishna says “Sive jnane, Jive seva”.
Swamiji says “ Daridra narayans seva” On
Buddha Swamiji “ the great one, who never
thought and never performed a deed except
for good of others; who had the greatest
intellect and heart, taking in all mankind and
all the animals, all embracing, ready to give
up his life for the highest angels as well as for
the lowest man. Sister Nivedita, is also a great
example of Spirit of service
Tolerance : The examples of entire Life
of Sita, Sri Sarada Devi and Gandhi tells
volumes about this. Swamiji is world famous
Chicago address main theme is about religious
harmony.
Unselfishness : Sri Krishna asks Uddhava
in The Bhagavatam to take TREE as example.
Jesus says “Hands that serve are holier than
lips that pray”. SriRamakrishna asks Swamiji
to grow like a huge banyan tree and give
shelter to others. Swamiji “ They alone live
who live for others, the rest are more dead than
alive”. Nivedita: Margaret Elizabeth born in
Ireland in 1867. Swamiji said to her “Love
India”Foot notes :
Ref 1
What is mind? Google search for word “mind” showed “ The element of a person that enables them to be aware
of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought…”
What is mind comprises of ? From our scriptures we learn Mind comprises of Memory (chitta), deliberation and
conceptualization (manas), Determination and decision-making(Buddhi) and ‘I’ or self consciousness (ahamkara).
What is significance of manas? Katha Upanishad describes Body as chariot, our self as its master, Buddhi as
charioteer, sense organs as horses and manas as reins which control the horses...Thus we can say these reins are most
important – as they are like gears of a car without which driving is impossible in spite of having best driver and vehicle.
*

33. 31
Origin And Development of
Visakhapatnam Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal
I) VVYM at AU Engg. Campus :
VVYM was first started as
‘Vivekananda Study Circle’ on 6-11-1988
at AU Engineering Hostels. The inspira-
tion to this was then Nellore Vivekananda
Yuva Mahamandal. Sri Turlapati
Lakshminarayana Rao of that unit has
guided Mr. Naidu Lakshminarayana(NLN)
of Inkollu who came for Engg Coaching
at Nellore.
First the study circle was started with
two students(Chandra Seckhar,Mech and
NLN,Chem) at Block No:1.Later the study
circle shifted to Block No: 4
The communication of initiating
Vivekananda Study Circle was intimated
to Sri Nabhaniharan Mukhopadyay,
Secretary,Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva
Mahamandal(ABVYM) and he asked us
to attend Annual Camp,1988.
Lt R.Viswanadhan (Working in Indian
Navy, Former Member of Jalpaiguri
Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal) visited
hostels and introduced ‘Vivekananda His
call to the Nation ‘ in the Study Circle and
encouraged us to attend theAnnual Youth
Training Camp in Dec 1988 at Konnagar
for which NLN attended. Some 4 others
from AP also attended it.
II) City Study Circle :
Later NLN got acquaintance of Sri
S. Srinivasa Rao and Sri PSN Raju (Both
are Steel Plant Employees) through a
devotee Srimati Bharathi Madam
(Teacher) at Ramakrishna Mission
Ashrama,Vizag on Swamiji’s Birth Day in
1989 .With the blessings of the Swami
Yathirajanandaji an evening study circle
was started in February 1989 in the old
Ashrama itself (Present Library place).
The Study Circle was held from 4 p.m. – 5
p.m .It continued till new Temple was con-
secrated in Jan ,1991.
Some activities that were carried out
during the initial stage of VVYM(1988-92).
a) Free Coaching Classes : Free
coaching classes were conducted to AU
Engg. hostel Canteen staff children
(mostly muslim boys) at Hostel office
premises in the evenings. Study circle
members spared weekly one hour of their
time. One of the student got Engg. rank
at a later stage. This service activity was
a great inspiration to be members.
b) Food Packets Distribution : On
Guru Maharaj Jayanthi day in 1991 Study
circle members got prepared prasad from
their pocket money and distributed food
packets at various places to the needy
poor people.
c) Participation in Relief work at
Repalle: VSC member NLN had worked
at Ramakrishna Math, Rajhmundry
Rapalle cyclone relief shelter for 14 days
in May,1990 as volunteer under the
guidance of Swami Sashikanatanandaji
Maharaj (Presently Secretary Rama-
krishna Mission,Vijayawada)
d) Yoga Classes: We conducted yoga
classes for few months in 1991 in 5th
Block, followed by mental concentration.
Even Aratrikam too held for few weeks.
P.Hara Gopal and R.S. Prem kumar took
initiative. Study Circle members used to
attend spiritual talks that used to be held
in Bullaya College and used to meet Sri
Gali Pardhasaradhi Garu to clear doubts.
- N. Lashminarayana
Founder - President of VVYM

34. 32
e) Lending library : Sri D.Appala
Naidu (NowAssociate Prof. inAU Ch Engg
Dept) ran ‘Vivekananda Library’ where he
used to lend subject books to students
year after year in his college days.
f) Second Study circle in AU
Engineering Campus on Thursdays
To facilitate the day Scholars, NCC
Students, absentees of Sunday SC and
in place of city Study Circle that was
discontinued after RK Mission started its
own Yuvaka Sanga atAshrama a Second
SC organized on Thursdays evening in the
park opposite to 1st
Block(5pm-6pm). This
Study Circle group (Mr. P Ravi Sankar and
Sri.A. Sanjaya Kumar) also arranged Raja
Yoga classes at Gandhi Bhavan by Sri Gali
Paradha Sardhi Master(Professor,AU
Sankrit Dept).
There was regular correspondence
with Central Organisation. Batch after
Batch, senior SC members would be
interacting with freshers after their settling
down and interested ones were invited to
the study circles. Few of them continued
and the process continues till date.
Mean while Sri. S. Krishnan , DE, Rly,
transferred from Bhilai to Visakhapatnam
.He met us in Study circles and introduced
Executive Committee meetings and
Annual General body meetings to us.
III)VVYM AT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
RAMALAYAM :
Sri S. Krishnan Started a new SC at
104 Industrial Estate Ramalayam in 1993.
Sr. M. Govinda Rao and his friends used
to participate in it. Some of the activities
during this period are :
a) Swamiji’s Chicago Parliament of
Religions Centenary Celebrations: It
was celebrated on 11-09-1993 at the
Estate Ramalayam complex.
b) National Youth Day 1994 : VVYM
organized National Youth Day on
12-01-1994 at Estate Ramalayam.
Competetion on Swami Vivekananda’s life
and teachings(Essay writing, Elocution)
were conducted. Swami Bodamaya-
nandaji of Rk Mission Ashrama gave a
lecture. A procession with Swami
Vivekananda quotes was held from
Temple to Kancharapalem mettu, School
children participated.
IV) VVYM AT VIVEKANANDA STREET,
KANCHARAPALEM :
Between 1994-95, VVYM had its office,
library at Vivekananda Memorial Club,
Reddy Kancharapalem. Activities during
this period are as follows :
a) Weekly Study Circle held.
b) Bala Vihar was started here only.
Over the years Bala Vihar children
became VVYM members. The strength
of VVYM for years together is Bala
Vihar Children. Sri M. Govindarao is
organising till date.
c) VVYM organized free Coaching
classes for school children and Bala Vihar
Students.
d) National Youth Day was held on 12-
01-1995 in the Vivekananda Street itself.
e) VVYM published its first telugu book-
let in Dec 1994. ‘National Integration and
Swami Vivekananda’ which was
translated by Sri Pannala Syama Sundar
Murthy. Relesed at Pathipadu where
world’s highest Statue was unveiled.
f) Vivek-Bharathi (Telugu qurterly of
Mahamandal) was printed in Jan 1995.
g) VVYM started enrolling new
members from different walk’s of life.
There was communication and
participation byAU SC Members with city
office.
h) Vivekananda Book Stall :
Bookstalls were arranged at various
temples during the period 1993-1996 and
several years at Kali Temple during Maha
Sivarathri days. Some members used to
do volunteer work at Rly stn RK Mission

35. 33
stall and Sri Puvvula Krishna Mohan’s
Poorna market stall.
i) Medicines Distribution at KGH :
From 1993-1995, our member Sri
B.Krishna Mohan used to visit KGH
monthly once and used to visit different
wards and medicines were distributed to
needy patients and he used to write letters
to the relatives of patients. Sri J.V.
Ramana used to collect funds for the
above work.
j) Vivekananda Spirit of Success:
These classes were held for 4 years
(1998-2002) in Kancharapalem. Children
from various schools were short listed and
were given special training for ‘4’ hrs on
every Sunday. White uniform was insisted,
Yogasana and Service activities were
introduced to them.
V) VVYM AT GOORKHA LINE :
VVYM shifted its office to Railway
Goorkha line in 1996 with great courtesy
of Sri Ganapathi Seva Samithi (Sri
B.Rudra murthy garu of SGSS is known
to VSC Members since 1989 at RK
Mission.) and since then continuing its
various activities from there. The main
activities being done from here.
a) Organizing National Youth Day on
12th
January (1998 – 2002):National
Youth Day was celebrated as a Day-long
Programme constituting of lectures, rally
in the evening and public meeting in the
evening . National Youth Day held at
Goorkha Line , Seethamadhara, Vemana
Mandiram, N.A.D.(evening).
b) Study Circle at Sathawahana
Hostels : Study circle was conducted by
Sri V.Srinivasarao between 1998-2000
at Satawahana Hostels on Thursdays.Sri
KPS Sastry and Sri T. Lakshminaraya
narao have visited the SC.
c) Participation in Bhava Prachara
Parishat 10th Annual Devotees
Convention : Mahamandal members (11
members) done volunteer work in the 10th
annual devotees convention of Rama-
krishna Vivekananda Bhava Parishad held
in Vizag at L.Bullaya College grounds in
2000. The souvenir was solely prepared,
proof read by VVYM members.
b) Dental and ENT Camp : One
Dental camp was organized in March 1999
at Kancharapalem, Dr N. Siva Lalitha
attended the patients and medicenes were
distributed.
ENT camp was organized on
15-08- 2004 at Kobbarithota Junction, Dr
Prasada Rao, M.D., Dr. Phalguni Srikumar
have seen the patients, Medicines worth
Rs 8000/- were distributed.
C) Sri Sarada Devi Ratha yatra
(2004) : Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi’s
150th
Birth Anniversary Ratha Yatra was
organized in Sept 2004 from RTC
Complex to RK Beach via Jagadamba.
Public meeting was arranged at Kali
Temple Swami Paratparananda
addressed the gathering.
d) 10K/5K Health Run: In 2005 10k/
5k health run was organized at RK Beach,
a good number of runners participated.
Cash awards were given by Sri MSN Raju
Garu and Sri M. Nagaraju (U.S.A.).
e) Blood Donation camps: VVYM
introduced Voluntary Blood donation
Camps in association with A. S. Raja
Voluntary Blood Bank in 2004. Every year
during the month of January (Swamiji’s
birth month) VVYM is organizing blood
donation camps. Around 50 people are
giving Blood (average) Swamiji’s
Literature is being given to Blood donors.
VVYM got good reputation because of
these Blood Camps.
f) One Day Youth Training Camps :
For Character -Building, VVYM organising
one day youth training camps till now 3
camps were held. September 2006
(Gayatri Vidya Parishad), January 2008
(Seethamapeta, Kshatriya
Kalyanamandapam), Septem-ber 2012
(NSTL Community hall).

36. 34
Classes on Character- Building, Mental
Concentration, Leadership, Swami
Vivekananda,Patriotism were taken,
Ramakrishna Mission Swamijis, Senior
Mahamandal Members, Sri Ramakrisha
Devotees Spoke in the training camps.
There were Interactive sessions and
power point presentations.
g) Youth Conventions : Youth
Conventions were held in 2009 and 2011
( half day sessions) with emphasis on “key
to success” and “Goal Setting”. Sri R.S.
Premkumar and Sri Peela Ravi Shankar
(AUSC Former members) spoke.
h) 20 Years Celebrations:VVYM’s 20
years celebrations were organized as a
day long program in Nov, 2008.Swami
Guneshanandaji was the Chief guest.
i) Annual General Body Meeting:It is
conducted regulary as per the guidelines
ofABVYM . From 2008 onwards speakers
who have thoroughly studied Swamiji and
who are well-wishers of Mahamandal
were invited and it is being held as 4 hrs
session followed by lunch.
j) Telugu Publications:VVYM taken
up translation and publishing of
Mahamandal publications into Telugu
since 1994. Till now 10 books were
published and as they were exhausted
all are being reprinted in this silver jubilee
year.
k) Vivek-Bharathi: This telugu
quarterly was started in 1990 by Sri KPS
Sastry Garu. One issue was published
by VVYM in 1995.After a gap of 17 years
VVYM resumed its publications sinceAug
2012.
l) Vivekananda’s 150th
Birth
Anniversary Ratha yatra: As part of
Swami Vivekananda’s 150th
birth
anniversary celebrations,Ramakrishna
Math,Hyderbad is conducting Ratha Yatra
throughout A.P. VVYM took this Ratha
Yatra to different schools ,colleges and
arranged lectures for 8 days in Feb/march
2013.
m) NAD Study Circle : It was started
at Vivekananda Type Institute,
Butchirajupalem on Guru Maharaj
Jayanthi day in 2004 by Sri Ch.V.K.N.
Somaraju. It has produced several
young boys who became a source of
our activities till now.
n) Polytechnic Study Circle/
Muralinagar Study circle : Few
studycircles were conducted at the
Govt.Polytechnic premises in 2009 and
the study circle is shifted to Prasanthi
Park,Muralinagar in 2012 and is going on
well and now we have few members who
are active to accomplish the assigned job.
o) ON LINE STUDY CIRCLE : To cater
the needs of non local members of VVYM,
an ON LINE Study circle was initiated by
our senior member Sri Peddiraju
Srinivas (AU,1990-94) who is presently
in Bangalore through SKYPE on 11th
Sept,2011.It has been continuously
running. It is held on Every Thursdays 9
p.m. To 10 p.m.Around 10 members are
there from different parts of India.Central
organisation appreciated our effort.Skype
ID : Visakhapatnam vym.
p) VVYM Building proposal: After
working for so many years VVYM felt the
need to procure site and build a building
to have office / Library etc. Efforts were
made to search a site .Around 3 lakhs
deposited in a separate Bank Account.
Several Members and Well-wishers worked for the growth of
VVYM over the years. If we miss anyone please excuse us.
Our special thanks to Sri M. Satyanarayana Raju Garu, M.D., SRK Infra
Projects Pvt. Ltd. & former president of VVYM (2004-08) Who supports
every activity we take up.

37. 35
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38. 36
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










  
 

  

   








   















   







  







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





















   







  
  



















40. 38




   

  















 


   















41. 39
 
 







   






   







PA to the Director of Agriculture 
















   












42. 40



   

  





ILTD

















   
   










   


    












43. 41





































 
     








   
Plain-clothed swaml



 

44. 42




  

  










   










   
















45. 43



















   



   


   
   



























46. 44











  




  




  












    

















47. 45

  



  

 



  
   








   






  

  











48. 46
























49. 47
S.L.No. NAME AMOUNT
1 SRI N. LAKSHMI NARAYANA 10,116
2 SRI B. PRAVEEN KUMAR 10,000
3 SRI M. SRI NAGESH BABU 10,000
4 SRI Ch. RAJESH 10,000
5 SRI Ch. VENKATA PHANI 10,000
6 Smt. Shobha & Sri S.K. PATNAIK 10,000
7 SRI D. APPALA RAJU 8,000
8 SRI T. GOKUL CHAND 5,116
9 SRI G. KUMAR RAJU 5,000
10 SRI PEELA SRINIVAS 5,000
11 SRI M.V. APPA RAO 5,000
12 SRI U. SUBHA 5,000
13 SRI J. MOHAN KUMAR 5,000
14 SMT. M. KAMALA KUMARI 3,000
15 SRI SABINENI BOSE 2,000
16 SRI M. GOVINDA RAO 2,000
17 SRI VASIREDDY JAIPAL 2,000
18 SRI G.V. RATNAM 2,000
19 SMT. N.BABY SAROJINI 2,000
20 SRI C.BHASKARA SHARMA 1,116
21 SRI K.SUNIL BABU 1,116
22 SRI V.V.SIVARAMAKRISHNA 1,116
23 SRI D.J.S. REDDY 1,116
24 SRI P.MURALI MOHAN 1,116
25 SRI P.V. KRISHNAM RAJU, VIZIANAGARAM 1,000
26 SRI HEMA SUNDAR 1,000
27 SRI K.PRADEEP 1,000
28 SRI N.CHANDRASEKHAR 1,000
29 SRI B.MADHAV 1,000
30 SRI V. LAKSHMANA RAO 1,000
31 SRI VIVISHNUTEJA 558
32 SRI T.S.S. REDDY 516
33 SRI B.VERRABHADRA RAO 501
34 SRI Y.GANGADHARAM 500
35 SRI T.T. RAO 500
36 SRI M.V.KRISHNA 500
37 SRI T.NAGESWARA RAO 500
38 SRI RAJASEKHAR 500
39 SRI K.SRINIVASA RAO 500
40 SRI CH. VIJESWAR 500
41 SRI R. GANGADHARA RAO 500
42 SRI G.PAULVEDAM 500
43 SRI G.RAJU SATYANARAYANA 500
44 SRI J.V. RAMANA 500
45 SRI M.Ch. KISHORE CHOWDARY 500
DONATIONS

50. 48
   
   
   

   

   

   

   

   

   




With best Compliments from :





With best Compliments from :
R.K. TEXTILES
With best Compliments from :
Main Road, Marripalem,
Visakhapatnam
Phones :
9177600891, 0891- 2527451




51. 49
DONATIONS Contd.....
S.L.No. NAME AMOUNT
46 SRI MANTENA VENKATAPATHI RAJU 50000
47 SRI BVV SATYANARAYANA 15000
48 SRI MADHIRA RAVI (Publications) 10000
49 SRI CH.GOPICHAND (Publications) 10000
50 SRI S.KRISHNAN (Publications) 5016
51 RANI MEMORIAL SCHOOL 5000
52 SRI PEELA RAVI SANKAR (Publications) 5000
53 SRI V.LAKSHMANA RAO (Additional to Sl.No. 30) 5000
54 SRI P. NAGESWARA RAO 5000
55 SRI BACHINA SREEDHAR 2500
56 SRI R.KONDAL RAYUDU (Publications) 2500
57 SRI P.RAVICHANDRA 2500
58 SRI B.KRISHNA MOHAN (Publications) 2000
59 SRI CH.V.S.K.N.SOMA RAJU 2000
60 SRI NRK CHOWDARY 1116
61 SRI VV GOPALA KRISHNA 1000
62 SRI S.KASI VISWESWARARAO 1000
63 SRI B.PRABHAKHARAO 1000
64 SRI PAPPU HANUMANTHARAO 1000
65 SRI M.M.CHAKRABORTY 1000
66 SRI N.ANAND KUMAR 516
67 SRI NRK RAJU 500
68 SRIDEVI SAMAPATH STEELS 500
69 SRI V.VISWANATH 500
70 SRI KVLN MURTHY 500
71 RK TEXTILES 500
72 SRI B.SIVASASHANK 500
73 SRI VIDYA TALENT SCHOOL 500
74 SRI P.CHANDRA SECKHAR 500
75 SRI G.SRI HARI BABU 500
76 SRI G.NAGESH 500
77 SRI K.TRIVIKRAMA RAO (Publications) 500
Note : 1) Donations in Sl. Nos. 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 14 (Pg. No. 47) are for
Publications.
2) Please read G. Kumar Raju as G. Kamaraju
VVYM is thankful to all the above donors
and all the donors whose names are not appeared here.

52. 50

53. 51
VISAKHAPATNAM VIVEKANANDA YUVA MAHAMANDAL (VVYM)
Silver Jubilee Celebrations
29th Nov to 1st Dec, 2013, TTD Kalayanamandapam, MVP
Three day Youth Training Camp Report
Day 1 : 29-11-2013, Friday
Program started with Flag hosting by Swami Amritanandaji Maharaj.
R.K.Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam at 04:50 P.M. Flag down was done later at 5.40
p.m.after snacks arrangement. Camp Inaugural meeting was presided over by
Sri M. Satyanarayana Raju MD, SRK Infra projects Pvt. Ltd. Swami Amritanandaji
Maharaj. has given a brief lecture. Mahamandal Telugu publications were released.
Welcome address is given by Sri N.Lakshminarayana (President of VVYM).
Sri K.P.Subbaraya Sastry (Farm, Finance and Insurance Advisor, Hyderabad and First
State Co-ordinator of ABVYM for A.P.) spoke on “ Be & Make” the Motto of Yuva
Mahamandal. Sri Ravi Bhattacharjee(ABVYM, Kolkata) spoke on “Yuva Mahamandal
Movement in India” followed by a brief lecture by Swami Tanmayanandaji Maharaj,
Ambikapur. Songs were sung by Dr. Pannala Syama Sundara Murthy, Rtd Associate
Director of Research, ANGRAU. Day was closed by room discussions with campers
by senior Mahamandal members and the hear the holy.
Day 2 : 30-11-2013, Saturday
The day's activity was started at 05:30 AM with flag hoisting by President
(VVYM) followed by a class on Mental Concentration by Swami Tanmayanandaji.
Mr. Anil Kumar took Yoga class for the campers before breakfast.
Swami Tanmayanandaji spoke on ‘Jeevana Udheshya Nirdaranam Swamiji
Adarsam’ followed by a group discussion by the Campers on ‘Social work why and
how’ co- ordinated by Swami Tanmayanandaji and Senior Mahamandal Members
Sri K.P.Subbaraya Sastry spoke on ‘Message of Vivekananda in solving
present day problems of the society and practical approach to be adopted by the
youth’.‘Aims and activities of Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal ‘were explained by
Sri P.Muni Swamy. Songs were sung by Pedabramadevam Sri Sarada Ramakrishna
Seva Samithi devotees..
Afternoon session was started with a talk by Dr.Pannala Syama Sundara
Murthy on ‘How to build Character as advised by Swami Vivekananda’ , followed by a
talk by Sri Ravi Bhattacharjee. Games were conducted for the campers. Flag down
was done at 5.30p.m. by Swami Nitya Yoganandaji Maharaj, RK Mission
Ashrama,Visakhapatnam. Aratrikam was sung by Swami Tanmayanandaji and open
program was started at 06:30 PM with a talk by Swami Nityayoganandaji Maharaj on
“Relavance of Swami Vivekananda to the present day youth”. Open Program was
presided by Sri P. Hanumantha Rao, RK devotee and retired teacher another guest
speaker was Smt. U. Subha, Vanitha walkers club. A Burra Katha was performed by
Ramachandrapuram, Ramakrishna Seva Samithi members. Day's program was ended
with room discussions.

54. 52
Day 3 : 01-12-2013, Sunday
The day's activity was started at 05:30AM with flag hoisting by President,VVYM
followed by a class on Mental Concentration by Swami Tanmayanandaji, Mr.Anil Kumar
took Yoga class for the campers before breakfast. After Breakfast Swami
Chinmayanandaji Maharaj, Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankal has released
VVYM Silver Jubilee Souvenir and gave a brief lecture and answered patiently the
questions raised by the campers,followed by a talk on 'Our National Ideals are Service
and Sacrifice' by Swami Tanmayanandaji and a talk by Sri Ravi Bhattacharjee on ' A
New Youth movement'. A class on 'Leadership and Society' was taken by
Dr. P.S.S.Murthy. Mahamandal Character-Building Methods were explained by
Sri N. Lakshminarayana. Songs were sung by VVYM members.
A rally was organized with play cards of Swamiji quotes from MVP circle to
Ushodaya Junction. Flag down was done at 5.30 P.M. Arathrikam was done by Swami
Tanmayanandaji. In the evening public meeting was addressed by Swami
Guneshanandaji Maharaj, R.K.Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam on ‘Swami
Vivekananda's Message to the Youth’ followed by a talk by Dr V.S.R.K. Prasad,
Principal, ANITS College of Engineering who presided the meeting. Later campers
shared their experiences. Prizes were distributed to the winners (Boys & Girls) in the
competitions that were conducted on 'Vivekananda His Call to Nation' in 30 schools
and colleges in and around Visakhapatnam. Parents in large number attended (More
than 600 numbers). Mementos were given to schools. Vote of thanks was given by
secretary of the unit.
Program ended with Ramakrishna Sharanam and Santhi Mantram (Purna
Madam).
Notes :
1. 300 students from various schools and colleges joined the camp. (Students came
from different schools and colleges of Visakhapatnam, Tuni,Anakapalli, Challapalli,
Hyderabad and Bangalore.)
2. All the English Speeches were translated into telugu by Dr. P.S.S.Murthy.
3. Arise-Awake Exhibition on Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda was arranged
4. Book stall on Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda Teachings was arranged
by M/s Himamshu Book depot and Calendar Stall was kept by Mr. Anil.
5. CMR has provided around 25 small flexies and 2 big flexies.
6. Food Catering was done through Akshya Patra, ISKON
7. All the publications and Souvenir were nicely printed at Sathyam Imprints and
SJ brochure and camp application forms were printed at National
Printers,Allipuram.
VVYM is grateful to TTDAuthorities who have alloted the premises at concessional
charges.
VVYM thanks one and all (Schools/colleges management, staff, students,
parents,speakers, devotees, well-wishers, media people) for their co-operation &
participation in the celebrations.
Please visit VVYM blog : www.vvym.blogspot.com
(Blog was created by Sri Chavali Sreeram Kishore in the year 2005)