History and Philosophy
Based on the tripartite agreement executed amongst the Government of India and that of the State of Tripura and the Tripura National Volunteer (TNV), an endeavor of providing true education and maintenance of amity between the children of indigenous and that of the general and other categories was very much felt for the all-round development of the State. It is indeed a matter of pride that the Ramakrishna Mission was thus, invited to undertake the responsibility of implementing this noble project which ought to be nurtured with an attitude of care and affection, no less than that of a loving mother.
In 1989, Government of Tripura acquired a sprawlingcampus of 62 acres for implementing one of the conditions of T.N.V Accord and planned for an educational institution wherein the children of both the tribal and non-tribal communities would obtain value-based education and lessons of sharing the common national heritage of brotherhood under the loving guidance of dedicated preceptors.
The twelfth President of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Revered Srimat Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj laid the foundation stone of this Educational Complex on 29th May, 1989 at Viveknagar under West Tripura District to foster amity and co-operation between the tribal and non-tribal people of Tripura. On 11th September 1990, Revered Srimat Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, the then General Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission inaugurated and declared commencement of the journey of this unique Educational Complex in presence of the then Governor and the Chief Minister of Tripura, Sri K.V. Raghunath Reddy and Sri Sudhir Ranjan Majumder respectively. The Foundation Day i.e. 11th September is very significant as on the very day in 1893 Swami Vivekananda delivered the Historic Address in the World’s Parliament of Religions at Chicago.
Eventually on addition to the Math complex (comprising 12 Acres of Land) as well the present Educational Complex offers a panoramic view spanning over 74 Acres, of which 90% is wrapped with greeneries and located just 1½ km away from the Agartala Main Railway Station.
Initially under the stewardship and guidance of Revered Swami Shantidanandaji and Shukadevanandaji Maharaj, the then Secretary and the Principal respectively, this very School, viz. Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, a young centre had its first flight with 100 students, 4 enthusiastic teachers and 4 office-staff. The innovative and dynamic guidance of dedicated monastic members as well as a group of teaching and non-teaching staff have contributed in the balanced and gradual growth of the Institution. The travelogue of the Vidyalaya transpires successful completion of more than three decades of its purposeful existence in the dedicated service of the populace of the State. Presently the team comprises, 911 students in 26 different sections of Classes III to XII, 50 committed teaching staff including the team of dedicated monastic members and 14 non-teaching staff. It is worth mentioning that not a single stone is left unturned in the matter of all-round development of its students in the spirit of Man-making and Character building education as taught by Swami Vivekananda.
Philosophy:
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are worldwide, non-political, non-sectarian spiritual organizations which have been engaged in various forms of humanitarian, social service activities for more than 125 Years. Inspired by the ideals of renunciation and service, the monks and lay devotees of the Math and Mission serve millions of men, women and children, without any distinction of caste, religion or race, because they see the living God in them. These twin organizations have set in motion a non-sectarian, universal spiritual movement which has been silently working for more than a hundred years to catalyze the spiritual regeneration of humanity.
Emblem of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission
“The wavy waters in the picture are symbolic of Karma, the lotus of Bhakti, and the rising-sun of Jnana. The encircling serpent is indicative of Yoga and awakened Kundalini Shakti, while the swan in the picture stands for Paramatman. The Emblem was designed by Swami Vivekananda himself.
MOTTO: The motto of the twin organizations is : आत्मनो मोक्षार्थं जगद्धिताय च, (For one’s own salvation and for the welfare of the world). It was formulated by Swami Vivekananda.
IDEALS: Work as worship, potential divinity of the soul, and harmony of religions are three of the noteworthy ideals on which these two organizations are based. It is this ideal of ‘Service to man as Service to God’ that sustains the large number of Hospitals, Dispensaries, Mobile Medical Units, Schools, Colleges, Rural Development Centres and many other Social Service Institutions, runs the twin organizations.
Headquarters: The Headquarters of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are situated at an area named Belur in the district of Howrah, West Bengal, India. The entire campus of the headquarters is popularly known as ‘Belur Math’. Sprawling over forty acres of land on the western bank of the river Hooghly (Ganga), the place is an hour’s drive from Kolkata. A total no of 310 branch centres and various satellite centres of the Order situated in 24 countries all over the Globe are guided and administrated from this Headquarters.
Viveknagar Centre (with its sub Centre/City Centre located on the Gangail Road, Agartala) is a branch centre of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal. The following service activities are rendered through the Viveknagar Centre.