Samarpanam

Cultural Outreach During Navaratri

As part of Samarpanam, on September 24, 2017, VDS participated in Navaratri cultural events at two major venues. At Puthur Bhagavathi Temple, VDS gifted Malayalam translations of Nivedita as I Saw Her to seventeen young Carnatic musicians, encouraging them to learn about Sister Nivedita’s inspiring life. At Puthussery, during classical dance performances, VDS distributed around one hundred copies of the same book to fifty-nine dancers and members of the audience, spreading Sister Nivedita’s ideals among young artists and the public.

Seminar at Mercy College, Palakkad

VDS conducted a seminar on October 9, 2017, at Mercy College, Palakkad, one of Kerala’s largest women’s colleges, on the theme Nivedita: A Role Model for Indian Girls. Smt. Beena Govind, an acclaimed journalist and author of the award-winning novel Nivedita, led the discussion, sharing deep insights into Sister Nivedita’s relevance in today’s society.
The event also included a photo exhibition on Sister Nivedita’s life, which attracted over two thousand students, making it one of the most impactful programmes of the celebration.

Collaboration with SVYASA University, Bangalore

The Samarpanam celebrations extended to SVYASA University in Bangalore, where VDS organized a commemorative event in partnership with the university. Vice Chancellor Dr. Ramachandra Bhat inaugurated the programme. A blood donation camp was conducted as part of the event, in which 150 students voluntarily participated. This noble service was conducted with the support of Kidwai Memorial Hospital of Oncology, Bangalore.

International Commemoration in Germany

Samarpanam’s influence reached international audiences when Hindu Verein e.V. and HSS Balagokulam Frankfurt organized a special event on June 10, 2017, in Germany, with active support from VDS. The event included talks on Sister Nivedita’s life, cultural skits, and a poster exhibition. VDS contributed by designing the posters and paintings for the exhibition, making a valuable contribution to the global celebration of Sister Nivedita’s legacy.

All India Quiz Competition

VDS conducted an All India Level Quiz Competition on October 22, 2017, at Government Victoria College, Palakkad. The quiz, which attracted wide participation from school and college students, was inaugurated by Hon. MLA Sri Shafi Parambil. The competition served as an engaging platform for students to deepen their knowledge about Sister Nivedita and India’s cultural heritage

The closing ceremony of Samarpanam was held on October 29, 2017, marking the successful completion of the year-long celebrations. Mr. Peter McIvor, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Ireland, graced the occasion as the chief guest. In a symbolic gesture, a commemorative memento was presented to Sister Nivedita’s native Ireland by Hon. Justice K.P. Jyotindranath, who also inaugurated the event.
The gathering was blessed by Parama Poojya Pravrajika Ajayaprana Mataji, Global Vice President of Sri Sarada Math, whose message inspired the audience. The keynote address was delivered by French journalist Mr. Francois Gautier, who eloquently highlighted Sister Nivedita’s global impact. As part of the ceremony, Ms. Uma Preman, Chairperson of Santhi Medical Information Centre, was honoured with the Sister Nivedita Award for Excellence in Social Service. The award was presented by Dr. M. Lakshmikumari, Chairperson of Samarpanam.

Summary

Samarpanam was not just a celebration; it was a heartfelt tribute that spread Sister Nivedita’s life, values, and tireless service to students, women, cultural enthusiasts, educators, social workers, and global Indian communities. Through cultural engagements, seminars, service activities, international collaborations, and educational competitions, Vivekananda Darshanika Samajam successfully rekindled Sister Nivedita’s message of fearless dedication, social service, and national pride. The year-long journey left a lasting impact, inspiring countless individuals to follow in her path of selfless service to humanity