RAMAKRISHNA MISSION VIVEKANANDA COLLEGE (EVENING)

The Evening College started in 1974 with 140 students with a view to meeting the demand for certain courses of study such as Mathematics, Commerce, and Economics.

During the academic year 2005-2006, two new courses were added under the faculty of Commerce and Management Studies.  They are, one, Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, and two, Bachelor of Commerce in Bank Mangement.  With these additions, the Evening College offers eight graduate programmes and two post-graduate programmes, viz., Bachelor of Commerce (General) with three sections, Bachelor of Commerce in Corporate Secretaryship, Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance, Bachelor of Commerce in Bank Management, Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Commerce – all under the faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, then, Bachelor of Computer Applications, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Master of Science in Information Technology, under the faculty of Computer Science, and Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry under the faculty of Biochemistry.   In addition to Tamil, Sanskrit, and Hindi, French was added to language options available to First year UG students.

The total strength of the Evening College is 1069 students in the academic year 2005-2006.  It has a strength of 75 teaching staff, and 18 non-teaching staff. 

 

STAFF WELFARE MEASURES:

As a part of the staff welfare measures, Accident Insurance Coverage was provided for all the staff and the students of the evening college for which a sum of Rs. 67,118 was spent this year.  Further, a sum of Rs. 12,20,642 was invested in 2005-2006 to provide group gratuity benefit to the regular staff members of the college, both teaching and non-teaching.  Provision of a comprehensive medical insurance facility covering the employees and their family members is on the anvil.

 

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

Religious instruction is considered to be one of the most important aspects of students’ training in this College. Religion classes were conducted in the evening college on every Friday between 5.45 p.m. and 6.45 p.m. After the offer of worship to Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, and Sashi Maharaj, a group of students chant Vedic mantras, Purusha Suktam, Narayana Suktam, Bhriguvalli, and Sannyasa yoga. This is followed by  devotional songs by staff and students, and meditation. Lectures on the lives and teaching of the Holy Trinity were given by our learned teachers, On some days students also participate in the talks.

This year, the religion classes were formally inaugurated by Srimat Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, President, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai, on 8th August 2005 – the day on which the Jayanthi of Sri Ramakrishnanandaji Mahraj, fondly known as Sasi Maharaj, was celebrated.  Weekly lectures were given by Dr. S. Sundaram, Dr. A. Rangadurai, Dr. K. M. Bapuji, Prof. K. Sankar and Prof. K. Ravichandran.  Students Krishnaprasad of II B.Com. and Arun of I B.C.A. also talked on Swami Vivekananda.  A team of student-singers sang devotional songs on these occasions.

 

JAYANTHIS OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA, HOLY MOTHER SRI SARADA DEVI AND SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

The Jayanthi days of the Holy Trinity, Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda are regularly celebrated in the evening college.  This year, the Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi Jayanthi was celebrated by performing special puja on 30th December 2005.  Swami Satya-priyananda, Secretary, delivered a lecture on the life and teachings of the Holy Mother.  Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi was celebrated on 27th January 2006 and Sri Ramakrishna Jayanthi was celebrated on 10th March 2006.  On these occasions, Swami Satyapriynanda presented a summary of the life and teachings of Swamiji and Guru Maharaj.  Prasadam was distributed during all the Jayanthis to all those who were present. During Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi Celebrations, which is held over several weeks, a number of our students of the College took part in the inter college competitions.

 

DURGA-LAKSHMI-SARASWATI CELEBRATIONS

Like the yesteryears, during Navarathiri on the Sapthami Day, the Durga-Lakshmi-Saraswathi Puja was performed in the traditional manner, by chanting the Ashtothrams of the Tri-Sakthis.   Nine students of the evening college showed their talent in music which was well received by the audience.

 

NATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS

During the National Youth Day celebration conducted at Vivekananda Illam, our students rendered the Vedic Chanting that was highly appreciated by one and all.

 

VIVEKA STUDY CIRCLE:

Swami Vivekananda is the role model for the youth of modern India.  Yesterday, today or tomorrow, it is Swamiji’s words, when uttered and understood in full measure, will make a coward a brave man, and will make men and women strive to enlighten themselves.  With the intention of motivating the young students of the college, Viveka Study Circle organised talks, lectures, group discussions, and other activities.  This year, the Viveka Study Circle was inaugurated on 17th August 2005.  Twenty meetings were conducted before the Valediction on 31st March 2006.  Prof. M. Balakrishnan, Dr. Abiramasundaram, Prof. K. P. Nandakumar, Dr. K. M. Bapuji, Prof. K. Sankar, Prof. K. Ravichandran, Dr. R. S. Sundaram, and 16 student-participants gave lectures on various aspects of the life and teachings of Swami Vivekananda. 

 

MERIT SCHOLARSHIP:

Merit Scholarship is offered to the students who performed well in higher secondary and university examinations by scoring more than 80 per cent marks.  It ensures a healthy competitive spirit among the students and positively motivates the students to perform well in the examinations.  393 students, which accounts for more than a-third of the total strength of the evening college, were benefited by the merit scholarship to the tune of Rs. 17,50,300, which incidentally was more than last year figures by 60%.

 

DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS FREE-OF-COST:

Quality text books of the value of Rs. 9,40,970.50 were distributed free-of-cost to all the students of the Evening College this year.

 

DIAMOND JUBILEE SPECIAL ESSAY COMPETITION:

With the intention of spreading the message of Swami Vivekananda, a Diamond Jubilee Special Essay Competition on five different aspects of the Life and Teachings of Swami Vivekananda was held.  For the students of the Evening College, the topics selected were:

 

1)      What impresses me in Swami Vivekananda,

2)      Relevance of Swami Vivekananda for Modern India,

3)      Swamiji on meditation and its methods,

4)      Swamiji’s Philosophy — An inspiration for the modern youth, and,

5)      Swami Vivekananda, the visionary.

 

A number of evening college students enthusiastically participated in the competition, and the following three students emerged the winners:

 

 

These students were given a Cash Prize of Rs. 2,000 each and a set of Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, a rich treasure for them to possess and read.  All these three prize-winning essays and  two other essays by V.R.S. Madan of I B.Com. C and Rakesh of I B.B.A. respectively were selected for publication in our College magazine – Vidya 2006.

 

A similar essay competition was held for the staff of the Evening College on the following topics:

 

1)      Swami Vivekananda and Nation Building,

2)      Swami Vivekananda on the Efficacy of Prayer,

3)      Swami Vivekananda on Practical Vedanta,

4)      Swami Vivekananda on the Harmony of Yogas, and,

5)      Swami Vivekananda as the Inspirer of Indian Freedom Movement.

 

 

Prof. T. Chandramouli, who taught both in the Day and Evening Colleges, wrote the best essay

 

CONVOCATION

The Annual Convocation was held on 3rd March 2006 at our College Prayer Hall.  Srimat Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, President, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, delivered the Convocation Address on that day and distributed the degree certificates. Srimat Swami Satyapriyanandaji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Chennai, conferred the degrees upon 268 graduates of 2002-2005 batch and 16 post-graduates of 2003-2005 batch.

 

GOLD MEDAL TO RANK-HOLDERS:

Rs. 3,745 worth pure gold medal was presented to S. Vikram of B.Com. who secured the University of Madras Second Rank in April 2005 examinations, during the Convocation day held on 3rd March 2006.

 

ACCREDITATION BY ICWAI:

The Southern India Regional Council of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India granted accreditation to our College for conducting the Foundation course of the ICWA examinations.

 

VALUE ADDITION PROGRAMME

Coaching classes were conducted for the students who would appear for Chartered Accountancy – Professional Examination-I (C.A.-P.E.I) and for ICWA Foundation Examination.  The cost of running the programme was entirely borne by the management.  These students were given books appropriate to their syllabi free of cost.  Prof. A. S. Kannan, Prof. V. P. Palanichamy, Prof. R. Sriram, Prof. H. Balakrishnan, Prof. S. L. Venkataraman, Prof. B. Ramaraj, Prof. V. Renganathan, and Prof. V. Shankararaman handled various subjects and trained the students.