Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha Puttur (R), with centuries of history, has made its mark in the education domain. It currently has 69 educational institutions and a student population of over nineteen thousand. Through all its institutions, the Vidyavardhaka sangha provides value-based qualitative education to the society, which promotes patriotism and character-building required for the development of the nation. In addition to education, the sangha strives to maintain social responsibility through various activities.
In the pre-independence days, the British government that had taken over the entire education system in India, isolated primary and secondary education. As a result, locals were denied the opportunity of an education in English at primary school. Attending the district- centered secondary school was also curtailed down. It was in this backdrop that the noble gentlemen of Puttur, who had assembled on 14th of November 1915 and decided to establish a high school in Puttur. Two weeks later, the passionate lovers of education, who met again in the town hall, approved the forms and regulations of the Vidyavardhaka Sangha which were prepared by Advocate Mollahalli Sivaraya with appropriate amendments. As a result, the Puttur Vidyavardhaka Sangha (formerly known as Puttur Education Society) came into existence and was registered on 23rd of December 1915.
On 1st of June 1916 ‘Puttur Secondary School’, the proudest institution of the Vidyavardhaka Sangha, was set up and in 1920–21 it became a fully accredited government school. In 1919 the Taluk Board resurrected and took over the administration of the school. The student body remained passive for many years after the district board took over the administration of the high school.
A Significant Milestone – Establishment of Vivekananda College
By 1960, there built a pressure to establish a good college in Puttur. In consultation to this matter, a meeting was convened on September 29, 1964. In the later days, the office-bearers and the dignitaries of the association, with the support of public and fundraisers, commenced Vivekananda College in Padnoor in Puttur. The then Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri Nijalingappa laid the foundation stone of the college building. This was a significant milestone in the history of the Sangha. This move became the root cause for the establishment and development of tens of thousands of educational institutions run by the present-day Vivekananda Vidyavardhak Sangha Puttur. It also motivated the establishment of many new educational institutions in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district.
The Ideals of Vivekananda
There was a lofty motive behind the opening of an educational institution in the name of Vivekananda. This college was set up with the motive to implement Swami Vivekananda’s ideas, dreams and ideals in rural areas. Swami Vivekananda says “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already present in man.” Education should help the evolution of life; make people pure and strong as lions. The educational institution is not just the sum of well-equipped buildings, laboratories and infrastructure, but it is a place of holistic personality development, with the evolution of the student’s physical, intellectual and spiritual powers. It should also enrich the skills and values among the students’ while helping them to expand the consciousness of nationalism.
The objectives of the Vivekananda Vidyavardhak Sangha Puttur (R) are
1. Providing a clean, simple, modern education with Indian Culture and Spiritual Heritage.
2. Fostering the spirit of Selflessness, Sincere, National Service in the student body.
3. Enhancing excellent conduct in youths.
4. Guiding the development of good student behaviour.
5. Motivating the students to be self-disciplined.
6. Encouraging young people to develop a positive outlook, not just book pests, but to face the real-life problems courageously.
Growth of the Society
The Institutions working under Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha have emerged as the best educational centres since its inception. Over the last five decades, many new organizations have come into being. At present, 69 educational institutions are governed under the Union Administration. On 12th of January 2009 the Puttur Vidyavardhaka Sangha was renamed to ‘Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha Puttur (R).’
Model Governance System
The Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha Puttur (R) consists of 11 directors and its Board of Directors are elected for 5 years at the general committee meeting. The President, the Vice President, the Secretary, together with the Secretary and the Treasurer are elected by the General Directors. The term of Office Bearers of this Governing Body is maximum of ten years (two terms). An important point to be noted is that all the members of the Governing Council, who have worked with and functioned under the Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangh have engaged themselves socially without desiring for any personal benefits. As a result, our institutions have gained a reputation across the globe.
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