AN ANALTICAL NOTE on VIVEKANANDA YUVA MAHAMANDAL MOVEMENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

 

AN ANALTICAL NOTE 

on 

VIVEKANANDA YUVA MAHAMANDAL MOVEMENT

 IN 

ANDHRA PRADESH 

 

 (A Note given by Sri K.P.Subbaraya Sastry, 

First State Coordinator of AP for ABVYM)

 

 Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal is an All India Organization started (after the Agrarian Movement) in Kolkata in 1967  with blessings of Murthi thrayam and Swamijis of Ramakrishna Order by late Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay who was Founder Secretary. It has been felt at that time to have an organization with non-monastic members to take the message of Swami Vivekananda to youth of India besides Swamijis of Ramakrishna order. The main objective of ABVYM is to make men of character for Nation building as per ideals of Swami Vivekananda. The method of   ABVYM is to organize weekly study circle on Vivekananda for youth especially students and teachers and also to organize training camps for youth periodically.

 

    ABVYM slowly started spreading throughout India and came to Andhra Pradesh in 1971 and has completed 50 years of its existence hence this note has been prepared to keep on record the spread of Yuva Mahamandal Movement in Andhra Pradesh State in these fifty years.

 

    The first unit of Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal in Andhra Pradeshhas been officially declared and inaugurated on 24th January 1971 at Bapatla of Guntur District. Yuva Mahamandal movement in Andhra Pradesh will be completing fifty years by January 2021. Starting from first unit started in Bapatla the formation of units in different places and its activities including local camps, state camps and organizers meetings held at different places has been discussed unit wise for information of readers (Annexure - I). 

          Total units formed in Andhra Pradesh are nearly 27 but the units functioning as on1st September 2020 are five only. Sri K.P.Subbaraya Sastry (First Coordinator for AP State) of Darsi, Sri Turlapati Lakshminarayana Rao (Second Coordinator for AP State) of Nellore, Sri A.Durga Prasad of Vijayawada and Sri N.Lakshminarayana of Visakhapatnam are instrumental in spreading Yuva Mahamandal Movement in Andhra Pradesh who got inspired and guided by late Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay from time to time. Late Sri B.S.R. Anjaneyulu and Dr P. Shyamasundara Moorthy  (Retired Professor, ANGRAU) have supported the Movement in all ways and who are chief guiding forces in conducting various activities of Yuva Mahamandal in Andhra Pradesh. They both have translated many English booklets of Mahamandal into Telugu and which are released by the units in Andhra Pradesh in important functions and also during Bhava Prachara Parishad Bhakta Sammelan meetings. 

(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years. Page 1 of 7 )

      Active participation of Dr  P. Shyamasundara Moorthy in organizing youth camps as moderator at different places conducted by Yuva Mahamandal units in Andhra Pradesh is also to be kept on record in this connection.

     Visits of Swamijis of Ramakrishna Order especially Poojya Swami Smaranandaji (present President, Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission,Belur),  Poojya Swami Ranganadhanandaji (13th President of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission) and many other Swamijis who are having association with ABVYM to Seva Samithi centers in Andhra Pradesh has encouraged Yuva Mahamandal Movement in Andhra Pradesh. 

     The support given by Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samithi center at that place is also important for formation of any unit in Andhra Pradesh. Hence mostly Samithi premises have been utilized for all activities of the unit including moral and financial assistance from them. 

         Visakhapatnam unit is fortunate enough to have good support from Sri Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Visakhapatnam since the unit is situated at the same place but the premise of their activities is not the same. However Visakhapatnam unit has developed on its own under dynamic leadership of Sri N. Lakshminarayana supported by dedicated and trained members of the unit. 

         The journey of Yuva Mahamandal movement in Andhra Pradesh State which has been commenced in 1971 if analyzed in spite of many ups and downs continued in these fifty years and still continuing means the Aims andactivities of Yuva Mahamandal are accepted by the youth in the State.

         At every unit the main activity is conducting weekly study circle to discuss ideas of Swami Vivekananda and Mahamandal Movement as given in Vivek -Jivan and booklets of Mahamandal. Other activities include youth camps, Blood donation camps, Free coaching classes, Relief activities to victims of natural calamities, medical camps, sale of Vivekananda and Mahamandal literature etc., some units published monthly journal like Viveka Margamu, Viveka Bharathi, Viveka Jyothi etc., besides printing of Mahamandal booklets in Telugu. Viveka Margamu, a cyclostyled magazine in Telugu of Bapatla unit started in 1971 has helped in spreading the Movement to other places till 1976. 

        Yuva Mahamandal Movement has been initiated in Andhra Pradesh with visit of late Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay, to Bapatla on 9th September 1970 on his trip to Kanyakumari. He visited Bapatla at the request of late Sri B.S.R. Anjaneyulu, Founder of Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samithi in Bapatla.

(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 2 of 7) 

          Since then (late ?) Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay visited different places in Andhra Pradesh and his participation in periodical local camps and State level Camps also has gradually enthused the youth to start units in different places over a period of time. Youth from different places in Andhra Pradesh participated in annual camps of ABVYM almost every year has helped in formation of units. Monthly journal of ABVYM “Vivek Jivan” and Mahamandal booklets also helped in promoting Yuva Mahamandal Movement.            

         The following information gives the formation of units and major Youth Camps conducted during these fifty years at a glance. [ Year/ Name of the unit/ Formation of the Unit/Regional or State Youth Camps (for which General secretary/ Executive Committee members of ABVYM attended ]
1970 > Bapatla First visit of Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay on 09-09-70
1971 > Bapatla First Unit formed on 24-01-71
1972 > Bapatla First Regional Youth Camp on 30-01-72
1974 > Vijayawada Second unit formed on 11-09-74. Bapatla Visit of Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay ChiralaThird Unit formed on 11-09-74
1975 > Chirala Second Regional Youth Camp from 10th to 12th January1975
1976 > Markapur Unit formed on 11-07-76 Ananthapur Unit formed in March 76
1978 > Rentachinthala Unit formed on 14-10-78 Vinukonda Unit formed in 1978
1979 > Guntur Unit formed in October 1979. Bapatla, Vijayawada, Guntur Visit of Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay.
1981 > Bapatla, Vijayawada, Vinukonda Visit of Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay
1982  > Darsi  Unit formed on 11-09-82 / Nellore Unit formed on 07-09-82
(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 3 of 7) 

1983 > Guntur First State Camp from 30th October to 1st November1983. / Ramudupalem Unit formed in April 83./ Thundurru Unit formed in December 83.

1984 > Bapatla, Vijayawada, Nellore, Amaravathi, Chilakaluripet, Thirupathi. Visit of Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay.1984/ Amaravathi  Unit formed on 04-03-84. Chilakaluripet Unit formed on 01-07-84. Chinna Ogirala Unit formed in August 84/ Nelakonda palli Unit formed in August 84./ Punuru Unit formed in September 84. Thirupathi Unit formed on 11-09-84. 

1985 > Vijayawada State Camp from 9th to 11th August 1985. Kothagudem Unit formed on 26-03-85. 

1987 > Naidupet Unit formed on 11-09-87.

1988 > Chittoor Unit formed on 11-09-88. Inkollu Unit formed in June 88.

 Visakhapatnam Unit formed on 06-11-88. 

1990 > Pakala Unit formed in January 1990 .
2006 > Visakhapatnam First Regional Youth Camp of the Unit on 10-09-2006.
2013 > Visakhapatnam South India Camp from 29th November to 1st December 2013.
2018 > Visakhapatnam 6th Inter State Youth camp from 7th to 9th September 2018.
2019 > Srikakulam Unit formed on 22-09-2019. Amudalavalasa Unit formed on 25-09-2019.

2020 > Mangavaram Unit formed on 12-01-2020.
(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 4 of 7)  

        Sri K.P. Subbaraya Sastry has shouldered the responsibility of motivating/guiding/coordination of units in Andhra Pradesh since 1976 evenafter leaving Bapatla in 1972. by visiting Bapatla and other places frequently and also by writing letters giving motivation and guidance to them in spite of being employed helped to form units at different places in Andhra Pradesh.

      Yuva Mahamandal Movement in Andhra Pradesh till end of 1978 has been active enabling five units to function with one Regional camp conducted at Bapatla and one Regional camp conducted at Chirala and for these camps (late?) Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay attended.

          There after the movement became sluggish for some time. Then as advised by Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay the responsibility of reviving the movement has been shouldered by Sri K .P. Subbaraya Sastry and Sri T. Lakshminarayana Rao by forming an ABVYM State coordination committee and also making Sri Nabaniharan Mukhopadhyay to visit all places in Andhra Pradesh thrice. This committee has also conducted organizers meeting in every quarter with a local half day camp at every unit in rotation and this fueled enthusiasm again in the units. In the process one handout on Aims and Activities of Akhil Bharat Vivekananda Yuva Mahamandal in Telugu has been printed and distributed to all our units and also Seva Samithi Centers in Andhra Pradesh and which is funded by ABVYM, Kolkata only.Two ABVYM publications are translated into Telugu and published by the coordination committee. These publications are also funded by ABVYM, Kolkata.  

         Since 1988 a quarterly bulletin in Telugu printed in the name of “VIVEKA BHARATHI” got printed by AP State Coordination Committee for ABVYM and this work was looked after by Sri T. Lakshminarayana Rao (Who was then State Coordinator) till 1995. Though there was some gap in between for some period, the coordination work continued till 1997 by Sri T.Lakshminarayana Rao which is evident from news in quarterly bulletin “Viveka Bharathi”.

           In 1983 first state camp has been conducted successfully at Guntur which helped to form some more units and at the same time activating the existing units. In 1985 second state camp has been conducted at Vijayawada which also helped to take the movement further. In 1987 January a Rural Youth training Camp has been conducted at Ongole involving all Yuva Mahamandal active workers in Andhra Pradesh in coordination with Sri Ramakrishna Seva Kendram, Ongole and this has been organized by Sri K.P. Subbaraya Sastry who was President of AP State Coordination Committee for ABVYM and also then Secretary of Sri Ramakrishna Seva Kendram (?) and this made to pump new enthusiasm again for all Yuva Mahamandal units in Andhra Pradesh.

(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 5 of 7)

         Though it was planned to conduct a State Camp at Naidupet in February 1989 as per decision taken in organizers meeting held on 16th October 1988 it could not get materialized for various reasons. Till 2013 no state camps have been conducted as no unit has taken interest in this regard. However one or two local Youth camps for half day or full day have been conducted every year in every unit till 1992 as per information available. 

    Visakhapatnam Unit has conducted a Regional Youth Camp for one day in 2006 and gained strength to conduct a local youth camp or convention every year since then. 

       Members of any Yuva Mahamandal unit are mainly students, teachers and employees who will not stay long at a place the activities of unit have been affected thus many units became defunct in the long run. Another reason for some of the units becoming defunct is because of Sri Ramakrishna Seva Samithi centers preferred activities for youth as a part of Samithi activities and Yuva Mahamandal units could not continue as separate entities. 

     However Yuva Mahamandal movement in Andhra Pradesh has given a fillip to Seva Samithi centers to take up many youth activities whether they mention this in their reports or not and this needs to be noted. 

        At this stage also Sri K.P. Subbaraya Sastry and Sri T.Lakshminarayana Rao tried their best to discuss with youth of Seva Samithi Centers who participated as delegates to Bhaktha (?)Sammelans of Ramakrishna Vivekananda Bhava Prachar Parishad conducted in Andhra Pradesh at various places almost every year even after AP State coordination Committee has been dissolved in 1996. 

      Sri K.P.Subbaraya Sastry or Sri T.Lakshminarayana Rao due to their job and family responsibilities could not concentrate seriously on Yuva Mahamandal work thereafter. However they continued their support and guidance to Visakhapatnam unit which was started in 1988 since the hope of spreading Yuva Mahamandal Movement is on them.  Sri N. Lakshminarayana of Visakhapatnam has shouldered the responsibility of keeping the flag of Yuva Mahamandal march on in Andhra Pradesh.

       This is how journey continued for fifty years Since then Visakhapatnam unit became more active and published allmost all Yuva Mahamandal booklets in Telugu by getting translated English booklets and conducting youth camps frequently including 3 days south India camp in 2013 as part of its Silver Jubilee and hosting of one Inter-State Camp in 2018 for 3 days. These camps have been attended by Sri K.P. Subbaraya Sastry and Sri T.Lakshminarayana Rao to give them necessary guidance.

(A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 6 of 7 ) 

        Sri N.Lakshminarayana is responsible for activating Nellore Unit in 2018 and forming three more new units in 2019 and 2020. All hope is in Sri N.Lakshminarayana and his team to get the old units revived and motivate to start new units in all district Headquarters in Andhra Pradesh. 

        After Nellore unit stopped publishing Telugu quarterly bulletin ` Viveka Bharathi ' in 1994 its responsibility has been taken over by Visakhapatnam unit in January 1995, but it is being published regularly from August 2012 only for various reasons and continued till date though there was some gap for two years from 2018 to September 2020.

        Sri N. Lakshminarayana was chosen as Vice- President of Interstate Monitoring Committee of ABVYM in Dec, 2018 and President of Interstate Monitoring Committee of ABVYM in Dec, 2019. This clearly indicates Visakhapatnam Unit has been given National importance and he is the right person to be designated as State Coordinator for Andhra and Telangana States to take the movement further in these two States. Primarily cooperation of all Seva Samithi centers and Rama Krishna Mission centers in Andhra Pradesh are to be sought and Ramakrishna Vivekananda Bhava Prachara Parishad is also to be requested to give all the support. 

          Visit of any Executive of ABVYM to all important places in Andhra Pradesh along with Sri N.Lakshminarayana, Sri T. Lakshminarayana Rao and Sri K.P. Subbaraya Sastry is also to be planned to bring more vigor to themovement.It is also suggested to plan and organize one State level camp or a Youth Convention for a day at Nellore preferably in January 2021 where our Mahamandal unit is functioning now and Sri T.Lakshminarayana Rao also is there at Nellore to guide the unit. This will help to celebrate fifty years of Yuva Mahamandal movement in Andhra Pradesh and which will also give inspiration to activate defunct units and also form new units. Let the Mahamandal flag march on till the goal is reached with the blessings of Murthitrayam.

---- (A Note on VYM in AP for 50 years Page 7 of 7)