National Youth Day

J.J Goodwin is remembered and honoured as a disciple of Swami Vivekananda to whom are owed most of the lectures of the Swami which are written down accurately. Vivekananda had said on Goodwin, “He is chosen for my work. What would I do without him! If I have a mission, he is indeed a part of it.”

Sri J.J Goodwin (stenographer of Swami Vivekananda) breathed his last at Ooty in the year 1898. On the 127th year of the passing away ceremony of Sri J.J. Goodwin respects were paid at the memorial by Swami Satyayuktanandaji Maharaj with devotees and students from the Vivekananda Memorial Matric School, M Palada with Rev C Jeri Rajkumar M.A.B.D, Presbyter & Chairman (CSI, St Thomas Church) and S Christoper M.A.B.D, Asst. Presbyter (CSI, St Thomas Church). 

All the dignitaries spoke about Mr J.J Goodwin and his relationship with Swami Vivekananda and why his work is so important in the life of Swami Vivekananda. The speeches gave an insight into how the stenographer helped the ex tempore speeches of Swamiji to be recorded and delivered in writing and how without his help most of Swamiji’s Speeches would have been lost. 

To commemorate Swami Vivekananda’s. birthday, Ramakrishna Math, Ooty conducted Inter-School Literary Competitions and Inter-School Sports Meet for which the prize distribution ceremony was conducted on 12 January 2025 at 11.00 AM. 

The Ceremony started with the Recitation of the Swami Vivekananda’s Chicago address, followed by Cultural events conducted by Vivekananda Memorial Matric School., M Palada Students.

First there were couple of Speeches on Youth and the Nation and Swami Vivekananda’s Life History followed by a Skit depicting Swami Vivekananda’s ideology continued by few Scenes enacted on the View of Swami Vivekananda by 

- Mahatma Gandhi 

- Netaji Subash Chandra Bose and 

- Mahakavi Bharathiar. 

At 11.45 An Introductory speech on the Signicance of National Youth Day continued by a Classical dance was conducted. A report on the competitions conducted on account of the National youth day was read out and a Cultural event depicting the Dasavathar of Lord Sri Vishnu was depicted.

At 12.15 The Prize distribution ceremony was started with the Lighting of the Lamp continued by Invocation song and the Welcome Address. Srimat Swami Raghaveshanandaji Maharaj gave the benedictory address which was followed by the Honouring of the Chief Guest. 

The Chief Guest Mr Atul Jain, Director, Cosmic Ray Laboratory, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (National Centre of the Govt. of India for Nuclear Physics) Addressed the gathering by his motivational speech by giving examples from his life and experiences.

The Prizes were distributed by Mr Atul Jain, the Chief Guest in the presence of Srimat Swami Raghaveshananda and Swami Satyayuktananda. 

Totally 140 prizes consisting of a memento and a book each were presented for the Inter-School Literary competition 48 prizes consisting of Mementos, Cups and books were presented for the InterSchool Sports Meet. 

The programme ended with the Vote of thanks and the singing of the National Anthem. Everyone was provided with a sumptuous Lunch Prasad at the end of the event. 

Totally 600 people participated in the programme out of which 350 were students from different schools and 250 parents and devotees attended. 

The Inter-School Literary Competitions was held on 30 November 2024 at the Vivekananda Memorial Matric School, M Palada. The following competitions like Elocution, Essay writing, Recitation, Pick and Speak, Drawing, Fancy Dress Competition and Quiz Competition were held. 850 Students and 150 Teachers participated in the various competitions from 37 different schools. 34 Judges from various schools judged the competitions. The Inaugural Ceremony was held between 10.30 A.M and 11.30 AM. Dr. Priyank Hanuman Matre, Head CPRS was the chief guest and opened the competitions in the presence of Swami Satyayuktanandaji Maharaj. All the competitions started at 11.40 AM and ended at 2.30 PM. All the participants were provided with Lunch. 

These competitions were held in both English and Tamil and conducted in multiple groups differentiated by the classes the students studied.

The Inter-School Sports Meet was held on 04 January 2025. Volley Ball for Boys and girls were conducted as competitions at the Vivekananda Memorial Matric School. 

400 students and 23 staff members from 15 schools participated in the competition. 8 Umpires adjudicated the matches. The Matches started at 10.30 AM in the presence of Srimat Swami Raghaveshananda and Swami Satyayuktananda. 

The Boys volley ball competition consisted of 12 teams out of which SSVM School, Gudalur were the winners and Government Hr Sec School, Kil-Kotagiri were the runners up.

The Girls volley ball competition consisted of 9 teams out of which Viswashanthi Matric Hr Sec School, Kotagiri were the winners and Vivekananda Memorial Matric School, M Palada were the runners up. 

Few Photographs of the programme are uploaded to the album which can be seen at. https://photos.app.goo.gl/stViPMvhZdA3E8W8A