As part of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary, the Kenya unit of Swami Vivekananda 150th Birth Anniversary Celebration Committee organised a workshop on ‘Ideology of Swami Vivekananda’ at the University of Nairobi (UoN) on December 3. The dignitaries who were present on the occasion included Prof DW Waruta, former head, Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, University of Nairobi; Arya Samaj saint Shri Mwangi Shastri and team of HSS and HRSC, Kenya and staff and students of the UoN University. The chief guest on the occasion was Prof Henry Muturo, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) UoN.
The workshop began with a prayer by Shri Hiren Pankhania and lightening of the traditional lamp. Dr Vasant Dharmadhikary welcomed and introduced the dignitaries. Mr Issac Hussain, who had studied at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh for 4 years, narrated his experience in Bharat, while talking about the cultural values and helping nature of the people of India. Ms Branda, a student from Department of Religious Studies &Philosophy, UoN narrated her experience about the visit of 100 students in various temples of Kenya like, the Swami Narayan Temple at Forest Road, Arya Samaj Temple, Jalaram Temple, etc. Her remarks and her poetic presentation that “We all are One” were very impressive. This group of students were from various religions and they found and appreciated freedom and openness in Hindu philosophy. Shri Kamal Gupta, convener of the Committee, introduced key note speaker Shri Vijay Swami, executive director RIWATCH in Arunachal Pradesh who had come to Nairobi to attend a UN conference on sustainability and development of society. Vijay Swami spoke on Swami Vivekananda’s views on education. He told that Vivekananda’s teachings are applicable even today as before. Prof D N Waruta enlightened all the participants with his speech when he stressed that nobody has monopoly of having truth.
Prof. Henry Muturo called for mutual cooperation between University and the HSS in the field of education, praised Swami Vivekananda on his contribution to the human kind. In an interactive session, doubts of several students who were eager to know more about Swami Vivekananda, India and Hinduism were clarified.
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