1

SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA SAMITHIWB 3-292/1, RAMAKRISHNA COMPLEX ROAD

VIJAYALAKSHMI PURAM

BAPATLA – 522 101e-mail: rksamithibapatla@gmail.com

For more details visit our web-site: www.unworldliness.orgAn affiliate of Sri Ramakrishna Vivekananda Bhava Prachara Parishat, Andhra Pradesh

ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015

Our organisation founded in the year 1970 as a registered society with the in-spiration of monks of the Ramakrishna Order, continues to work upholding theideal given by Swami Vivekananda - ‘Atmano mokshartham jagaddhitayacha.’

We present hereunder the various activities undertaken on several fronts dur-ing the financial year 2014-2015 : 1. Spiritual activities; 2. Regular Lectures 3.Narayana Seva 4. Children’s ac-tivities; 5. Youth Activities; 6.Annual Competitions; 7. Pub-lication of Books, 8. Ruralworks.

1) SPIRITUAL ACTIVI-TIES

Daily Prayer meetingwas held on all days through-out the year. On Ekadasi DaysRamanama Sankirtanam wasconducted in the evenings.

VijayakaChavithi

2

Kalpataru Day was celebrated on 1st January withPuja in the morning and lighting of incence sticks andmeditation in the evening. All the important celebrationslike Tithi Pujas of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, HolyMother Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda were heldwith Special Puja in the morning and with Arati and adiscourses in the evening.

Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti was celebrated on 20February, 2015. Puja was performed in the morning.Sankirtan and lecture were conducted in the evening.The Birthday of Sri Sarada Devi was celebrated on 13December, 2014 with Puja in the morning and by light-

ing of candles and lecture meeting in the evening. The birthday celebrations ofSwami Vivekananda were celebrated 12 January, 2014.

On 29 August, 2014, Vinayaka Chaturthi was celebrated. The youth mem-bers made an idol of Ganesh with clay which was worshipped. In the evening‘Nimajjanam’ was performed with sankirtan. On 23 October, 2014, Deepavaliday Lakshmi puja was conducted in the evening. An effigy of ‘Narakasura’ wasprepared by the children and the same was burnt in the evening. Later sweetsand crackers were distributed among children. All the other important celebra-tions like Krishna Ashtami (17 August, 2014), Shiva Ratri (17 February, 2015)Christmas eve (24 December, 2014) were celebrated in the Samithi with specialPuja in the morning and special Bhajan in the evening.

SPIRITUAL RETREATSTwo spiritual retreats were conducted during this financial year.First spiritual retreat was conducted under the guidance of Revered Swami

Swasamvedyanandaji Maharaj (Ramakrishna Mission, Vijayawada) on 24 Au-gust, 2014.

Second spiritual retreat wasconducted by Revered SwamiParijneyanandaji Maharaj,Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabadon 21 September, 2013.

2) REGULAR LECTURESThroughout the year, Lectures on Geeta were con-

ducted by Sri A. Naresh on Thursdays and lectures on Kathamrita were con-ducted by Sri A. Natarajan, Secretary of our Samithi, Dr.G.Ravindra Babu, mem-ber, on Sundays. Dr.N.Ramagopal, Treasurer, conducted talks on the life of HolyMother Sri Sarada Devi on Fridays. Smt.BPNV Ramani, member, spoke on thebirthdays of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna on their life and message.

3

3) NARAYANA SEVAANNADANAM (FEEDING THE POOR)

On 02 March, 2014, Narayana Seva was con-ducted on the occasion of the birth anniversarySri Sri Guru Maharaj. 500 people were sumptu-ously fed.HOMEO-DISPENSARY (MONTHLY)

A monthly Homeo dispensary is being con-ducted by the Samithi. Dr.N.Aruna Kumari,DHMS, a renowned homeo-physician is treatingthe patients. All the medicines are being providedfree of cost. The activity has received good response from the citizens of the local-ity and nearly 100 patients are attending each camp and are availing the ser-vices.

4) CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIESThe activity of children ‘BALA VIHAR’ continued as a very important ac-

tivity of the Samithi. About 70 children from the nearby lo-cality irrespective of caste and religion attend Samithi regu-larly and are actively involved in all kinds of activities.

1. Every evening a yoga class is conducted.2. A singing class is being conducted. Children are learn-

ing to sing bhajans and patriotic songs.3. Moral classes were conducted for the children which

include narration of moral stories from Indian culture, lifeand teachings of Swami Vivekananda by using a computerfor displaying various items. ‘Academic assistance’ was givento the children by the volunteers of the samithi.

4. Every evening the children are provided with supple-mentary food. A commonkitchen run by the volunteersis being maintained in theSamithi. Everyday 6 kgs offood is cooked and the chil-dren are fed.

5. Computer based teach-ing and computer learningclasses were conducted for thechildren of Balavihar.

4

HINDI EXAMINATIONThe children of Balavihar are encouraged to attend the Dakshina Bharata Hindi

Prachara Sabha examinations. Eight students were sent for various level in Febru-ary, 2015.TAILORING

Four children of Balavihar are learning tailoring. They are 1. P.Durga Rani, 2.K.Saranu priya, 3. Ch. Rajya lakshmi, 4. K. Satyavathi. During the year as manyas 50 dresses were stiched by these girls while undergoing the training classes. Allthe dresses were distributed to the girls of attending Balavihar activity. These chil-dren are taken to local commercial tailors to learn the professional ideas of tailoringto stand on their own legs.

5) YOUTH ACTIVITIESSTUDY CIRCLE

Study circle is being conducted regularly. Teachings of Swami Vivekanandaare the topic of discussion along with learning English and general knowledge,through reading, discussing, and watching documentaries on the computer. Theyouth are encouraged to practice yogasanas.

FINANCIAL AID / SCHOLARSHIPS:1. Mr. John Augustine, a member of Balavihar, who joined in the College of

Temple architecture run by TTD at Tirupati finished his course and started work-ing.

2. Mr. B.Venkata Rao, B.Sc.Ag., who was a beneficiary also secured a job inBank of Baroda and joined in Gujarat.

EARN WHILE YOU LEARN PROGRAMMESwami Vivekananda exhorted the youth of India to stand on their own feet.

Samithi is making efforts to impart various skills to the youth attending the Samithi.1. The youth were also encouraged to learn skills by plumbing, electric wir-

ing, gardening, tailoring and other maintenance works in the samithi on a volun-tary basis.

2. The youth are encouraged to conduct book-stalls to spread the message ofSwami Vivekananda by selling the low-priced books of Ramakrishna Math andthe Samithi.

TRAINING PROGRAMME IN AGRI-BUSINESSExtending the various training programmes to youth, we have constructed a

small room and a hut in the nearby site owned by the Samithi. The room would beuseful as a tool-room and the hut is being used to raise chicken etc. Along withworking with incubators, chicken and turkeys are being incubated and reared.

5

Youth members are encouraged to take part in the activity and they arebeing trained in various methods of feeding, watering, medication and other care.Homeo-medicines are being used. Encouragement is being given to evolve newmethods of producing larvae from kitchen waste, and vegetable/fruit marketwaste to be used as feed for the chicken.

AFFORESTATION PROGRAMMEThe pongamia and other plants which were planted in the road-sides of

Vijayalakshmipuram are being watered by the volunteers of the samithi.

CARNATIC MUSIC PROGRAMME ‘SANGEETA JHARI’With a view to encourage young learner’s of Carnatic Music, monthly

programmes are arranged where young talent is showcased. The programme isentitled “Sangeetha Jhari”. Every month young singers would sing to accompa-niment of drums and other instruments.

The anniversary celebration of this particular programme was conducted on25 January, 2014. On this occasion a special lecture on carnatic music was con-

ducted by Sri Suri Kumara Swami garu, Retd. Lecturer, JKCCollege, Guntur and Smt. V.S.D. Syamasundari Devi, Retd.Principal, Bandlamudi Hanumayamma College, Guntur.Smt. G. Lakshmi, Music Teacher, Kendriya Vidyalaya,Bapatla also participated. The participants of this yearsprogrammes gave a special music programme and weregiven away participation certificates and mememtoes.

6) ANNUAL COMPETITIONS FOR YOUTH:28TH VIVEKANANDA CULTURAL AWARDS PROGRAMME

Annual Competitions were conducted for students of School and college un-der the name Vivekananda Cultural Awards Programme. During this year, the29th year of the competitions, they were conducted for school and college studentsseparately.

SCHOOL LEVELFrom 07.08.2014 to 20.08.2014 competitions for

school children were conducted from L.Kg to 10th classat 6 levels. Various events like Essay writing, Elocu-tion in English and Telugu, Quiz, Recitation of Poems,Slokams and quotations of Swami Vivekananda, Spotpainting, Singing devotional songs, patriotic songs,model making and vocabulary tests, group discussionwere conducted. For several of the competitions theSamithi publication Pushpanjali was used as a sourcebook. A total of 2200 children from 21 schools partici-

6

pated in the event.On 24.08.2014 at 4 p.m. the school level VCAP

prize distribution ceremony was conducted. ReveredSwami Swasamvedyanandaji Maharaj, RamakrishnaMission, Vijayawada graced the occasion, blessed thechildren and gave away the prizes and mementoes.

COLLEGE LEVELFrom 11.09.2014 to 14.09.2014 competitions for

college students were conducted for intermedite and degree students seperately.A Youth Seminar was conducted on 21.09.2014 on the topic, ‘Excellence in

Student Life and Character-building’ in which Revered Swami ParijneyanandajiMaharaj, Editor, Sri Ramakrishna Prabha, of Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabadspoke, answered questions of students and later gave away the prizes to winnersof the competitions. Prof. Pannala Syamasundara Murthy, our president, pre-sided over the meeting.

7) PUBLICATION OF BOOKSDuring this year all of the publications were re-printed and all of them contin-

ued to receive good response from public.

8) RURAL WORKSSaradapuri: During the year, Samithi provided financial assistance for con-

ducting the Annual Event of “Poleramma Tirunallu”, which was organised by

the villagers of the Saradapuricolony.

DESK DISTRIBUTIONTO MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS:

A total of 100 desks andbenches were provided to two

schools with the financial assistance of Ramakrishna Math, Hyderabad. The desksand benches were fabricated at a cost of 2.2 lakhsand were given away to the schools viz., Sri SitaramaPrimary Municipal school, Bapatla and Azad up-per primary Municipal school, Bapatla. ReveredSwami Anupamanandaji Maharaj fromRamakrishna Math, Hyderabad graced the occa-sion and gave away the items on 28 November, 2014.

A total number of 70 old benches were repairedin the local Municipal High School, Bapatla.

7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe are grateful to the monks of the Ramakrishna order for their continued

guidance and patronage.We thank our auditor Sri Karumanchi Krishna Murthy garu, Chartered Ac-

countant for auditing the accounts of theSamithi.

We also thank the numerous friends,well-wishers and donors for their continuedpatronize the Samithi. May Sri Sri GuruMaharaj bless them all is our constant prayer.

Since the year of its inception in 1970there are no paid servants in the Samithi. Allthe maintenance work like sweeping, dusting,cooking food for children, cleaning the ves-sels, maintaining the accounts etc., in thesamithi are done by the volunteers. We prayto the Holy Trio to shower their blessings onall the volunteers for their tireless efforts.

OM TAT SATSARVAM SRI RAMAKRISHNARPANAMASTU

Date: 01.07.2015 (Amirapu Natarajan)Place: Bapatla. Secretary

8