The Vivekananda Kendra Institute of Culture [VKIC] is forging to serve the cause of preservation of indigenous faith and culture. During the year 2006-07 VKIC successfully undertook milestone programmes – the more important ones of which are noted here for the benefit of our well wishers.
A total of seven talks were organized under the Sankriti Anveshshak forum, all of which carried a common theme Culture Commonalties among different Communities of Northeast India. During the same period, Smt Madhuri Santanam Sondhi, a scholar of repute from Delhi, delivered a talk on the topic: Thought for the Modern Woman Inspired by the Life of the Holy Mother, Sri Sarada Devi. Smt Sondhi also spoke on Conversion and Human Rights at Shillong in a programme organised by VKIC in collaboration with H.O. Mawrie Study Center, Shillong.
The 5th Radhanath Phukan Memorial Biennial Lecture was organised in July, 2006 in the VKIC premises in which Poojya Swami Mitranandaji, director, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra spoke on the relevance of Living Harmony.
On 31 January 2007, VKIC celebrate the 12th Foundation Day with his Excellency Lt Gen[Retd], Shri S.K. Shinha, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir as the Chief Guest. The VKIC Sanmaan was posthumously awarded to Golgi Bote Talom Rukbo for his visionary work in nurturing the indigenous faith and culture of Arunachal Pradesh.
During March 2007, the Field Investigation Team of VKIC visited several Buddhist monasteries of Assam and documented them through compass survey and videography.
The milestone event of the year was the 2-day programme Sattra Darshan – Celebrating the Sattra Institute of Assam Organised in November 2006 in New Delhi that saw the participation of 15 pujya Sattradhikars from various sattras [monasteries] of Assam as also scholars, activists, institutions of repute. It also marked the grand finale to the VKIC Decennial Celebrations.
The VKIC Arunachal Pradesh Chapter saw the deepening and spread of the work during this period. During Swami Mitranandaji's visit, a series of lectures as well as interactive sessions were organised at itanagar. The VKIC-APC indigenous Study Circle touched new heights. A seminar on the topic Traditional Faith and Culture of the Nyishi: Change and Continuity was also organised jointly with the Nyishi traditional trapping and hunting methods, numbering system, exhibition of utensils, metal crafts, ornaments and garments.
VKIC is going ahead with its avowed object of serving Motherland. We hope to receive increased encouragement and support from our well-wishers in materialising Dictum of Man-making – Nation - building.
Dr. Pradip Sarma
Director, VKIC Research Council