Siddhi Day was observed at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre on 24th November (2022). The day is one of the Darshan Days of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. After a short deliberation on the significance of Siddhi Day, a slide show was held on the topic SRI AUROBONDO ASHRAMER ADIKATHA by Shri Anurag Banerjee, member of the board of trustees at Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre and the founder of Overman Foundation. The audience assembled enjoyed the slide show. Tea was served to all assembled at the end. On the occasion, the ground and building of the Centre were decorated with lamps.
On the occasion of Children’s Day (on 14th November 2022), the students of classes Nursery-A and Nursery-B went to the Kolkata Zoological Garden, Alipore, where they spent the morning watching animals with their teachers. Parents were also asked to accompany and a good outdoor session was held at the zoo. At the School, the students of KGI and KGII participated along with their teachers, in a set of activity competitions (moving a bit away from the usual sports competitions) which was a thoroughly enjoyable session for them.
Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre with its wings observed the 75th Independence Day and the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo on 15th August 2022. Hoisting of the National Tricolour took place at 8.00 a.m. by the Principal of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. The students presented the prayer “make of us hero warriors” sung to a tune and a synchronized drill. All students, including those of the Art Section, who were present were given cakes and chocolates. Meditation was held at the Shrine from 10.30 to 10.45 a.m. There was a cultural programme on the occasion, paying tribute to Sri Aurobindo on the occasion with song offerings by Smt. Sucharita Das, empanelled vocal artist in the Ministry of Information and Cultural Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal and a flute recital by Shri Debkumar Dey, empanelled artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan. Accompanying them on the tabla was Shri Sudip Chatterjee, an eminent tabla player, recipient of gold medal from H.E. the Governor of West Bengal. Prasad was distributed to devotees, guests and workers of the Institution in the end.
Two groups of teachers from a rural primary school Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sishutirtha Nursery Vidyamandir of Khejuri (in East Midnapore) and a new school to be established in Chandannagar (Hooghly) participated in a three-day orientation programme at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir. Conducted by the Principal and teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir, the programme covered importance of integral education following the thoughts of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother and incorporation of such aspects in the school curriculum with demonstration of some activities for such practice amongst students, preparation of syllabus from pre-primary stages upto class four and lesson plans. The same was held at Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir from 25th to 27th July (2022) with nine participants.
A two-day orientation programme covering areas like making learning interesting, use of art, drama, in day to day learning, use of digital medium according to their place and situation, etc. was conducted for a small group of teachers from a primary school of Banamalipur village near Lakshmikantapur and a non-formal school in K-plot, an island between the rivers Matla and Thakuraan,approachable from Patharpratima.
The orientation was conducted by teachers of Sri Aurobindo Bal Mandir on 17th and 18th November 2021.
On the occasion of Siddhi Day (24th November) in 2021, a two-day long exhibition of photographs on Sri Aurobindo’s stay in Pondicherry and the early years of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, was held at Sakti Centre. With about seventy graphic plates on display depicting the theme, the exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Biswajit Gangopadhyay, Trustee of Sri Aurobindo Bhavan Kolkata, also a Trustee at Sakti Centre New Alipore. Meditation was held at the Shrine. Like all years, the premises was decorated with lamps for the occasion.
On 5th November 2021 evening, Sri Aurobindo Sakti Centre hosted a gracious event by “Evening of Grace” titled “An evening with Scholars” , presentations and lectures by three internationally renowned erudite persons –
Dr. Probir Roy, eminent scientist, Tripose from Cambrige UK, Ph.D. from Stanford University USA, Post Doctoral Fellow from Cornell University USA, Senior Scientist at the CERN Project Geneva, former Professor of TIFR Mumbai and recipient of the S.S.Bhatnagar Award
Dr. R. P. Banerjee, Chairman and Director of EIILM, a renowned management institute of Kolkata, having vast experience in teaching B-school students over renowned institutions like IIM Kolkata, IISWB, University of Kolkata, IFIM Bangalore and others.
Dr. Soumitra Basu, eminent consultant psychiatrist working with the consciousness paradigm, having conducted workshops in Europe and the USA, editor of journal “Namah”.
The topic of discussion was “The concept of Infinity”.
Also, before the programme, a short commemoration session was held in memory of Shri Subhasis Kanjilal who passed away recently.
The programme was held keeping in mind and conforming to Covid-19 safety protocols.
Shri Manoj Das, a great sadhak, litterateur, story teller, teacher and above all, a perfect gentleman, passed away on 27th April 2021 in Pondicherry. Memories of his affectionate association will be cherished by all associated with the Centre and the School. Born on 27 February 1934 in a remote coastal village of Odisha, Sri Manoj Das exhibited his literary qualities right from an young age. He was a revolutionary youth leader in his college days, General Secretary of the Students Federation. After serving as a lecturer in English at Cuttack for four years, he, along with his wife, Pratijna Devi, joined the Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry in 1963 which became their permanent abode. He was one of the most famous Indian writers writing in English and Odia received a number of awards among which are prestigious awards like the Sahitya Akademi Award, the Odisha Sahitya Akademi Award (twice), the Sarala Award, the Sahitya Bharati Award, Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad (Kolkata) Award, BAPASI (Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India) Award, the Atibadi Jagannath Das Samman, the Saraswati Samman, the Utkal Ratna and D.Litt. from Utkal and Ravenshaw Universites. He had led the Indian Writers’ delegation to China in 2000. The President of India decorated him with the Padma Shri Award in 2001 and then Padma Bhushan in 2019. He shall be recognized as a competent interpreter of India’s literary and spiritual heritage. (Picture of Sri Manoj Das and content courtesy : Overman Foundation, Kolkata)
