Man is the basic thing and man-making is the fundamental work. Every kind of works from personal life to society depends on the quality of the concerned people, which is ruled by their character. Again character can also be built through practice. So we should not lose hope and try to do practice for improvement of our life.
An individual may, of course, attempt at man-making with himself or others. But, to make a serious attempt everywhere and not to leave it as casual endeavors of a few, an organized effort that will cover all parts of the country is essential. And that is the idea behind the Mahamandal.
Swami Vivekananda laid great emphasis on the spread of education. By education Swamiji did not mean gathering facts or putting information into one’s brain. He wanted to spread man-making education, which is absent in the present system of conventional education. Thus Swamiji said “The present system of educa- tion is all wrong.” Though Swamiji laid much more emphasis on man-making, character building education, he did not undermine the need of conventional education also in different subjects and different branches of knowledge. Ideal educational institutions are also necessary for imparting conventional education in various subjects. With this idea in mind, 7 (Seven) Units of the Mahamandal run schools, beginning from Nursery to Secondary levels. There are about 1500 students in these schools. Lowa Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal run three night schools with the children of backward classes namely, santhal, tribals, sabar etc. Total no. of Students is 104.
Besides running schools, about 40 units of the Mahamandal run free coaching centers where 800 students take lessons regularly. In these coaching centers guidance is given to school and college students particularly of needy families. Both in schools and free coaching centers, special attention is given on character building of students. Weekly study circles are also run there.
Many Units of the Mahamandal run Students’ Home as part of the educational activities. Students of schools and colleges stay there as boarders. In these Students’ Homes, the boarders have to live a disciplined life and follow the daily routine in such a manner that they are not confined in career oriented studies, but also able to manifest their physical and mental power and expand their heart to become a complete man. Free services is given to poor students.
Computer training has become an integral part of modern education particularly vocational education. Though many units are interested to introduce this training facility, but due to financial constraints they are not yet successful. At present 2 (two) Mahamandal units run computer training centers, where 107 students receive training. The successful trainees are awarded certificates from the Technical Education Department of Govt. of West Bengal after clearing the examinations.
Many units of the Mahamandal helped poor students by supplying text books and by paying money for purchasing books. More than 2 lakhs rupees are spent by the units for providing educational aid to the needy students.
Most of the units of the Mahamandal maintain libraries even on a small scale. These libraries keep Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature and Mahamandal publications. In addition to that, some of the units also keep the text books for lending to the poor students.
Swami Vivekananda
