WE: THE VSM

Vivekanand Seva Mandal is an apolitical youth organization inspired by the "Seva" (service) philosophy propagated by the great warrior monk Swami Vivekanand (1863-1902). We are primarily engaged in the areas of youth education and empowerment and development of underprivileged sections of the population.

As a corollary to the principle of "service to poor is service to god," we at Mandal engage students in welfare activities of tribal -- the most neglected section of our society. The service to poor and to their fellow students develops character and personality in youth and is harnessed for personal, social and the spiritual welfare of the society.

Mandal has its own functional premises in Dombivli, but it caters to students living in other northern suburbs of Mumbai-Thane region through a 7,000-book-strong library that has been serving professional students of engineering, management and other streams since 1991. We also serve students community with a spacious study center accommodating up to 95 students at a time. The functioning of the library as well as the study center is managed and overseen by a team of student-karyakarte (volunteers) who get hands on training in management of social institutions.

As an earnest effort to abide by the principle of service, we embarked upon a rural development support initiative at Village Vihigaon, Taluk Shahapur, Maharashtra in 1995. We successfully managed to bring in some social change in the lives of inhabitants of this village by engaging them in the areas of education, agriculture development, thrift, women issues, health and hygiene. We have also been working to improve quality of life of villagers in Khodade,Taluk Wada. Through our annual outreach programs to tribal villages such as Runamochan Bhet (Thanksgiving Visit) and Diwali Faral Snehabhoj (Diwali Feast), we have been extensively building bridges between city dwellers and villagers. However, the most important achievement through these initiatives is sensitization of city-based students to the issues and problems of the tribal societies.

We ensure overall development of -- individual, professional, social and spiritual -- personality of students by exposing them to real life problem solving, guiding them in studies, in career moves, in entrepreneurial endeavours, initiating them in to great Indian art, culture and philosophy. Elder karyakarte (volunteers), who had received such training from the founder members, are friend, philosopher and guides to many young students who are trying to further the same cause and work of Vivekanand Seva Mandal.

"Swami Vivekananda": Our Inspiration"

"The remedy of weakness is not to brood over the weakness, but, to think of strength. Teach men the strength which is there within themselves."

"Really, what is impossible for us, when we ourselves are the source of unending strength ? What is required is the strong desire and then everything else follows."

With this confidence and inspiration of Swami Vivekananda, a group of spirited and altruist youths joined to form Vivekanand Seva Mandal to work for the greater cause of national interest including social awareness, spiritual consciousness and environmental concern.

"A hundred thousand men and women fired with zeal of holiness, fortified with eternal faith in the Lord, and nerved to lion’s courage, by their sympathy for the poor and the fallen and the down-trodden will go over the length and breadth of the land, preaching the gospel of salvation, the gospel of help, the gospel of social rising up, the gospel of equality."

It was the dream of Swamiji which is an inspiration to all of us, an inspiration to come out of self centered circle of life, an inspiration to practice the principles of Tyaga (Renunciation)and Seva (Service) and an inspiration to work for the betterment of humanity.

His first exhortation to man in general and to Indians, in particular, was to....

"Wake up from the tamasic slumber of ages, to realize the strength and divinity within us which is our rightful heritage; and out of this profound knowledge and experience, to evolve a philosophy of life which combines intense mental activity meant for self enfoldment and realization with incessant physical activity, totally de-linked from one's own self motivations, resulting in the benefit and welfare of the Society."

This message of Swami Vivekananda is an inspiration for the Vivekanand Seva Mandal.

Our Mission Statement

दिवाळीच्या पहाटे उटणे लावल्याशिवाय अभ्यंगस्नान होऊच शकत नाही. दिवाळी जवळ आली की सर्वत्र उटण्याची पाकिटे विक्रीसाठी दिसू लागतात. सर्वत्र अगदी स्वस्तात उपलब्ध असलेल्या या उटण्याने ठाणे जिल्ह्यातील खोडदे आणि विहीगाव या गावांतील ४५ आदिवासी महिलांच्या संसाराला हातभार लावला आहे. उटण्यातून मिळणाऱ्या उत्पनाने या गावांमध्ये बंद पडलेल्या बचतगटांना संजीवनी मिळाली आहे. यंदाच्या दिवाळीत या उटण्याची ५ लाखांची उलाढाल होणार आहे. डोंबिवलीतील विवेकानंद सेवा मंडळाने या उटण्याच्या विक्रीसाठी पुढाकार घेतला आहे. विवेकानंद सेवा मंडळाने जिल्ह्यातील खोडदे (वाडा) आणि विहिगाव (शहापूर) ही दोन गावे दत्तक घेतली आहेत. जून ते सप्टेंबरपर्यंत शेतीच्या कामात व्यस्त असणाऱ्या या गावातील महिलांना पुढील काही महिने रोजगार नसतो. त्यामुळे फावल्या वेळेत त्यांच्या हाताला काम मिळावे आणि त्यांच्या संसाराला हातभार लागावा या उद्देशाने मंडळाच्या वतीने अनघा सहस्त्रबुध्दे यांनी उटणे तयार करण्याचे प्रशिक्षण दिले.... Read More

What started as a library offering engineering and management books in 1991 has developed into an organisation devoted to services for the youth and the underprivileged. Located at Dombivli (a distant Mumbai suburb), the founding members of Vivekanand Seva Mandal started an academy to provide free educational assistance to engineering students.The Mandal gradually grew into its present-day avatar which undertakes a variety of social, educational and upliftment activities. .... Read More

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