RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

January -
VIVEKANANDA UNIVERSITY NEWS
Annual Newsletter of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Vidyalaya Campus, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
December 2010 Faculties of Disability Management and Special Education, and General & Adapted Physical Education and Yoga

GENERAL EVENTS
As in the previous years, this year too began on
an auspicious note with the customary celebration
of the holy Kalpataru Day on 1 January 2010. It
included the morning Arati, bhajans and a talk by
Swami Sarvasahananda on the significance of the
Kalpataru Day. Staff and students of both the
faculties, viz. Disability Management and Special
Education (FDMSE), and General and Adapted
Physical Education and Yoga (FGAPEdY) attended
the event.
The jayanti celebrations of the Holy Trio were
held with the usual devotion this year also. Bhajans
by students and monastic members, followed by
Homa was held in the traditional way.
Gurupuja was held, as usual, on the first Sunday
of the year, 3 January 2010. Swami
Kapalishananda of Ramakrishna Mission,
Rajamundry, presided over the flag hoisting
function in the morning and delivered the
Presidential Address on the topic, 'Sri
Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda', at the
public meeting held in the evening. Dr. M.
Anandakrishnan, former Vice Chancellor, Anna
University, Chennai, inaugurated the Educational
Exhibition. Prof. Tmt. V. Insuvai, renowned orator,
spoke on the topic, 'Lessons from the lives of the
Holy Trio for today's society'. Tmt. Lavanya
Shankar staged a Bharatanatyam performance and Tmt. Gayathri Venkataraghavan and party, Chennai,
CONTENTS rendered a classical music concert. A drama entitled, 'Bharathiyar', and some traditional dances were
General Events ............................................. 1 performed by the students of the various institutions of the Vidyalaya. A list of the titles of the exhibits put
Sports ........................................................... 4
up in the exhibition hall by the two faculties are:
Placement Activities .................................... 4 Institution Theme
New Appointments ...................................... 4 Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University - Faculty of Upliftment of Physically Challenged
Extension / Outreach Activities .................. 4 Disability Management and Special Education
Visitors ......................................................... 5 Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University - Faculty of Fitness for the Differently Abled
Department / Association Meetings, General and Adapted Physical Education and Yoga
Training, Seminars, Workshops, Visits,
and Student Activities ................................. 5 This year, around 48,000 people were fed with cooked food during the Annadanam.
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Students of both the faculties participated in the w Physiotherapy by Mrs. Jayanti Narayana,
National Youth Day rally held in commemoration of Consultant, RCBR, ZDRID
the 148th birthday of Swami Vivekananda. Around
w Music therapy by Sri Ali Kazim, National
1600 students from 12 institutions participated in
Director, Special Olympics Bharat
the rally. The event was organized by Maruthi
College of Physical Education on 10 January 2010. w Sports skill tests by Dr. G. Suresh, M.D (Hom.),
Swami Atmaramananda presided over the function. Homoeopath, Coimbatore
Swami Tatprabhananda delivered the Youth Day w Art and kolam therapy by Swami
Address, and Sri N. Srinivasan, Inspector of Police,
Atmaramananda, Secretary and Administrative
Periyanaickenpalayam, flagged off the rally.
Head, FDMSE, Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya
The Vidyalaya Foundation Day was celebrated The event was as successful as in the last years. It
on 3 February 2010 at the GKD auditorium. As in
was yet another social occasion for the parents of
the last year, the function integrated three events -
the disabled children to meet, learn, and share their
felicitation of chosen alumni, Dr T. S. Avinashilingam
Memorial Endowment Lecture, and distribution of experiences.
prizes to winning students of the Vivekananda Quiz The 14th and 15th Spiritual Retreats for the benefit
Competition. Sri V. K. Lakshmanan, M.Sc., Ex-
of the staff of Vidyalaya including those of the
M.L.A., Coimbatore, delivered the Dr T. S.
faculties of RKMVU, their family members, hostel
Avinashilingam Memorial Endowment Lecture
students (higher secondary and above), and
delivered by. The Presidential and Benedictory
monastics were held on 7 March and 22 August
Address was delivered by Swami Atmaramananda,
Secretary and Administrative Head, Ramakrishna 2010 at the GKD auditorium. The half-day
Mission Vidyalaya. A cultural programme presented programmes included prayer, bhajans, meditation,
by the students of the Vidyalaya High School and discourses.
followed, and the function concluded with some
The 64th Independence Day was observed on
bhajans by Swami Amulyananda.
15 August 2010 at the Ramakrishna Mission
Vidyalaya's Maruthi College grounds. Around 1000
students from the various institutions of the
Vidyalaya took part in the Independence Day
Parade. Swami Atmaramananda hoisted the
national flag and delivered the Independence Day
Address. Inspector (GD) Manoj Chimbat and
Inspector (GD) Ravi participated and acted as
judges to select the best marching contingent. At
FDMSE, Swami Vishwamayanandaji, Asst.
This year, the Unified Play Day (UPD) was held
Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama,
at our Venkatakrishnan Indoor stadium on 10
Narendrapur, Kolkata, hoisted the National flag.
February 2010. Sri Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu,
Following Swami Anuragananda's address to the
Director, LMW, Coimbatore, was the Chief Guest
for the function. The event commenced with a students, cultural programmes were presented by
march-past and prayer song sung by the disabled the students of the faculty and by the children of
children studying in the Vidyalaya. This was followed the therapy units.
by yoga and dances presented by the children of along with their normal partners (both boys and
TAT Kalanilayam Middle School and Aashirwad girls), from 89 schools belonging to 10 blocks of
Special School. Later, intellectually disabled children, Coimbatore district, demonstrated free hand
exercises, pyramid formations, social behaviour,
rangoli-drawing, and handkerchief drills. The
demonstration was carried out in a unified mode.
Later on the following stalls were inaugurated:
w Nutrition stall by Dr. G. Krishnabai, Dean,
Faculty of Home Science, Avinashilingam
University, Coimbatore
w Psychotherapy by Sri Sanjay Jayavarthanavelu,
Director, LMW , Coimbatore Around 650 first-year students (freshers) from the
Vidyalaya's Gandhi Teacher Training Institute,

RKMVU News January - December 2009

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prizes in the English category, and Sowmya

Chandra and Nazli won the special prizes in the
Hindi category.
The Fifth Convocation of the Faculty of Disability
Management and Special Education and the Third
Convocation of the Faculty of General and Adapted
Physical Education and Yoga was held at the
Venkatakrishnan Indoor Stadium on 25 September
2010. Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, Asst.
Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development, Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna
Industrial Training Institute, Polytechnic, and the Mission, and Ramakrishna Mission's Nominee on
faculties of Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda the University's Board of Management, presided
University participated in the Vidyarthi Homa over the function and awarded the degrees and
conducted on 15 August 2010 at the indoor stadium. diplomas to the graduating students. Dr Mylswamy
Annadurai, Project Director, Chandrayaan-1&2,
Kalaimagal Vizha was celebrated from 5 to 7 ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, the Chief Guest
October 2010 at the indoor stadium. As in every for the function, delivered the Convocation Address.
year, the programmes on the three days focused Swami Atmapriyananda, Vice Chancellor, RKMVU,
on literature, music, and drama, in that order.
Renowned speaker, Thirukkural Selvi Desa Director, Arsha Yoga Vidyapeetam, also participated and Swami Atmaramananda, Administrative Head
and Secretary, participated in the function. In all,
Mangaiyarkarasi inspired the audience with her in the function. To mark the commencement, the
95 students from FDMSE and 312 students from
speech on 5 October. Selvi B. Suchitra, along with students were introduced to some basic steps
FGAPEdY from were awarded the degrees from
her music troupe from Chennai, gave a music through a demonstration.
our faculty.
performance on the following day. On 7 October,
‘Swamiji's Chicago Address Recitation
students from various institutions of the Vidyalaya
Competition', an annual event that was
enthralled the audience with an exciting cultural
commenced last year, was held for students of all
performance depicting Indian culture, tradition, and
folk arts. Students of the faculties presented a drana the institutions of the Vidyalaya and the faculties of
titled ‘Mahishasuramardini’ during the three-hour the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University
presentation which included many traditional dances on 15 September 2010 this year. Six abridged
and dramas by students of various institutions of addresses of Swami Vivekananda from his lectures,
the Vidyalaya. Swamis Samahitananda, Colombo to Almora, were selected for the recitation,
Harivratananda, and Nirmaleshananda addressed
the audience on the three days, respectively.

and the competitions were conducted in English,

A Kalari centre was inaugurated on 9 September Tamil, and Hindi. Preliminary rounds were held at
2010 by Swami Atmaramananda. Kalari expert Sri the respective institutions during August and the
Sankaranarayana Menon, Vallabhatta Kalari, first week of September. At the institutional-level,
Chavakkad, and Kalari Master Sri Krishna Das three prizes amounting to Rs. 1,000, Rs. 750, and
performed the traditional puja. Dr. V. Vasudevan, Rs. 500 were awarded to the top three students of
each institution in each language category. The first
prize winners from each institution again competed
for a special prize at Matric, Post-Matric, and
College-level competition and the best reciting-
student from among them were awarded Rs. 2,000
each. Swami Atmaramananda presided over the The second annual 3-day residential All Tamil Nadu
function, and Sri Marabin Maindan Muthaiah, noted Youth Convention entitled ‘Young India, Arise'
speaker, delivered the Chief Guest's Address. was held from 3 to 5 December 2010 this year.
K. S. Shilpa and Sister Teresa Rani won the special The Convention was commenced last year as a
January - December 2009 RKMVU News
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self-sacrificing role-models and heroes as Swami Sri N. Kaliappan, Asst. Project Officer, SSA,
Vivekananda and others, present and past, to Coimbatore, and Sri K. Lakshmanan, Asst. Project
replace the current mass of corrupt politicians, Officer, SSA, Nilgiris, spoke on the occasion. Swami
greedy corporate heads and cine stars who are Nirmaleshananda delivered the benedictory
occupying the minds of our youth, and destroying address. Appointment letters were distributed to
the sacred responsibility of inspiring leadership. 78 candidates.
Around 1200 delegates - boys and girls, studying
plus one and above, and men and women upto 50 NEW APPOINTMENTS
years of age, attended the camp. The camp routine Faculty of Disability Management and Special
for the three days included rising at 5.00 a.m., Education
bathing, singing devotional bhajans, meditation, Dr. (Ms.) A. T. Thressiakutty was appointed as
yoga, etc. followed by breakfast; talks on value-
Professor; Sri Gujja Shivaraju and Sri Abhishek
oriented topics by special invitees (listed below),
Kumar Srivatsava as Lecturers (HI); Sri T. V. Sunish
paper-presentation and debates by students; CD
shows on topics of social issues, and dinner followed and Sri Rajiv Ranjan as Lecturers (MR); and Mrs.
by cultural programmes in the evening. Some talks S. Parweena as Lecturer (VI); and Ms. Archana
were in Tamil and others in English. A nominal fee Mariam Varghese as Audiologist.
of Rs.400/- which included accommodation, food,
Faculty of General and Adapted Physical
and books, besides other events, was charged from
Education and Yoga
each delegate for the three-day event. This year
again, the entire proceedings of the Convention Sri C. Kumaresan joined as Assistant Professor.
went on with immense success in all respects. The
precursor to Swami Vivekananda's 150th Birth event was held in our indoor stadium and the
Anniversary in 2013, and with the purpose to bring proceedings were also relayed on LCD screens for
back to the center of national consciousness such good visibility.
SPEAKER TOPIC
Tamizharuvi Manian, Chennai Swami Vivekananda's Message To The Youth on
Patriotism Dr. (Ms.) A.T. Sri Gujja Sri Abhishek
Thressiakutty Shivaraju Kumar Srivatsava
Sri T. Rajaram, Nagerkoil Human Excellence - The Indian Way (Tamil)
Sri N. Krishnamoorti, Vivekananda Kendra, (1) A Socially Responsible Personality
Kanyakumari Development As Envisaged by Swami
Vivekananda and
(2) Professional Ethics
Sri Pazha Karuppiah, Chennai As we think …
Sri Rajiv Mehrotra, New Delhi Celebrating Diversity for National Integration -
Sri T.V. Sunish Sri Rajiv Ranjan Mrs. S. Parween
The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Tradition
Swami Nikhileshwarananda, National Reconstruction Through Character
Ramakrishna Math, Vadodara Building
Dr. V. V. Subramainan, Chennai Youth Power ! Lead India !
Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, Chennai Relevance of Ramayana To The Youth
Smt. L. Vasuki Manoharan, Tuticorin Women Empowerment
Topics: Education for Life; Youth, Mental and Ms. Archana Mariam Sri C. Kumaresan
Paper Presentation by Youth delegates Physical Health and National development; Varghese FGAPEdY
Role of Youth in Protecting Environmental Health;
Women Empowerment EXTENSION / OUTREACH ACTIVITIES
Debate for Youth delegates Topic: Is Westernization good or bad for India? Faculty of Disability Management and Special
Education
SPORTS May 2010. On the concluding day, Swami Nearly, 640 beneficiaries benefited from the
Faculty of General and Adapted Physical Atmaramananda, Secretary, distributed the prizes physiotherapy, speech, ortho and play therapies,
Education and Yoga to the winners. care-giver’s training, remedial teaching and
counseling units of the faculty this year.
In commemoration of the 175th Birth Anniversary PLACEMENT ACTIVITIES
A training programme on autism was held for
of Sri Ramakrishna, and the 150th Birth Anniversary
FDMSE and SSA jointly organized a placement parents and teachers on 20 and 21 February 2010.
of Swami Vivekananda, a state-level tournament
ceremony on 24 July. Sri P. Murugan, Chief Dr. Sethupathi, Child Specialist, Coimbatore,
for school students was held from 29 April to 2
Educational Officer, SSA, Nilgiris District, presided. inaugurated the training programme, and
RKMVU News January - December 2009
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Sri Venkatesh, Maintenance Engineer, and Sri Inaugural Address. Dr. N. Muthaiah, Principal,
Samar Sinha, Lecturer, Central Institute of Indian SRKV College of Education, delivered a guest
Languages, Mysore, visited the faculty on 13 March lecture. Sri Dhathathreyan, Teacher, T.A.T.
2010 to discuss about developing a codification of Kalanilayam Middle School, Sri D. Rathnakumar,,
Indian Sign Language. Lecturer, Sri Rajeswari College of Education, Trichy,
and Mrs. P. S. Jameela, Principal, KVM College of
Faculty of General and Adapted Physical
Special Education, acted as the Resource Person.
Education and Yoga
Dr. Mrs. Nayana Nimkar, Head, Dept. of Physical A team comprising three members deputed by RCI
Education, Pune University, Pune, visited the faculty visited the faculty on 5 and 6 February 2010 in
Dr. N. Muthaiah, Principal, Ramakrishna Mission
in August, and guided the staff members about connection with the extension of approval for the
Vidyalaya College of Education, delivered the
preparation and submission of Research Projects Diploma, BEd, and MEd courses. Prof. S. R. Mittal,
Valedictory Address. Forty-six participants to UGC. (VI expert), Dr. Varsha Gatoo (HI expert), and Dr.
underwent this training programme.
P. Jayachandran (MR expert) were the members
DEPARTMENT / ASSOCIATION MEETINGS,
In connection with the 201st birth anniversary of of the team.
TRAINING, SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS, VISITS
Louis Braille, a Braille Literacy Competition for
AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES A training on Multiple Disabilities for field
visually impaired children was organized on
9 January 2010. Fifteen children participated in the Faculty of Disability Management and Special workers of Vazhndhu Kaatuvom Project was
competitions that were held for students of primary, Education organized from 11 to 27 February 2010. Twenty-
middle, high, and higher secondary school-levels. On 27 January 2010, Dr. Bhakthavatsalam, five field workers underwent the training.
Sri Srinivasan, Retd. Professor, Dept. of English, Chairman, K. G. Hospital, Coimbatore, inaugurated Thirtyeight students and two teachers from PSG
Dr. V. Sukumaran, Retd. Professor, Dept. of History, the CRE programme on ‘Individualized Training College of Technology attended a one-day
Sri Ashok Kumar, Teacher, Govt. School for the Programme for Children with Hearing orientation programme on disability.
Blind, Uliyampalam, and Sri Jagadish Chauhan, Impairment'. Swami Atmaramananda presided.
spoke on the occasion. Sri R. Sankaranarayanan and Sri N. Sankar
attended a meeting on ‘Early Intervention for
Children with Disabilities' organized by CBM's
South Asia Regional Office at Trichy.

A meeting of key officials of the Human Resource

Departments of leading private industries such as
Pricol. LMW, Texmo, Salzar, etc. was held on 13
March 2010 to discuss about identification and
creation of job opportunities for the disabled
In January 2010, Mrs. Shanthi Badrinarayan, persons.
An orientation programme on Braille for general delivered a lecture on ‘Sociological Determinants
teachers, parents, and volunteers was organized of Integration -Teacher's Role in Strengthening Fifteen police officers attended a five-day training
from 1 to 5 March 2010. Thirty persons participated Integrative and Cohesive Forces'. programme that was organized in March for the
in the programme sponsored by NIVH, Dehradun. Special Task Force Police, Sathyamangalam.
Sri M. Gopalakrishnan, Training Officer, NIVH A training programme for teachers of hearing
(Regional Office), Chennai, and lecturers of the impaired children was conducted from 1 to 3 The second-phase training on Multiple Disabilities
faculty acted as the resource persons. February 2010. The event was held in collaboration for field workers of Vazhndhu Kaatuvom Project
with Ann Foundation, New York, and Cheran Region was organized from 5 to 19 March 2010. Twenty-
A training programme on autism was conducted Christian Society for Disabled Children, Coimbatore. five field workers participated.
from 3 to 7 May 2010 for the benefit of parents Thirty-five teachers participated. A total of 921 persons including regular teachers,
and teachers.
A CRE programme on ‘Integrated and Inclusive block resource teachers, parents, and village
VISITORS Education for Children with Mental education committee members in various blocks of
Faculty of Disability Management and Special Retardation' was conducted from 3 to 5 February Coimbatore and Nilgiris Districts were given training
Education 2010. Thirtyone teachers participated. Dr. R. on disability and special education from 15 to 18
Balasubramanian, CEO, SSA, delivered the March 2010.
Visitors to the faculty included: Ms. Jessica Schroder,
a social worker from Germany; staff and students A national seminar entitled ‘Curriculum
from PSG College of Nursing Coimbatore; Adaptation for Children with Learning
Avinashilingam University Coimbatore; PPG Disabilities' was conducted from 17 to 19 March
Educational Institute, Coimbatore; Sri Sarada 2010. Nearly hundred teachers from various parts
College of Education, Salem; K. R. School of of Tamil Nadu participated.
Nursing, Coimbatore; Sree Narayana Guru College
of Arts and Science, Sree Krishna Engineering On 27 March 2010, Swami Sahanananda and Sri
College, KG College of Nursing, and Hindusthan A. Dorai Raj, Lecturer in Special Education, had a
College of Arts and Science. meeting with Dr. Uma Maheswari, IAS, District
January - December 2009 RKMVU News
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Collector, Karur, regarding various rehabilitation Chennai; Sri Amit Mukerji, Director, Marketing and Ms. M. Annakodi delivered a special address on
programmes for the disabled persons in Karur Sales, Otto Bock, Mumbai; Dr. Anita Hegde, the topic ‘Empowerment of Persons with
District. They also had discussions with Sri S. S. Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist, Mumbai; Disabilities' to the students with special needs in
Sivakumar, Librarian, District Central Library, Karur, Ms. Arthy, Clinical Psychologist, Doctrine Oriented the Vidyalaya campus. This lecture served as
regarding the feasibility of starting a braille library Art of Symbiotic Treatment (DOAST), Integrated counseling component of the UGC-funded project.
for the benefit of visually impaired persons. Therapy Centre for Autism, Chennai; Dr. Gajananan The lecture was organized by the Dept. of Social
Bhalerao, Senior Lecturer, Sancheti Hospital, Pune; Work, Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science, on
During his visit to Chennai in April 2010, Swami 16 July.
Smt. Gayatri Hattiangudi, Lecturer, Department of
Sahanananda had a meeting with Dr. P.
Audiology and Speech Therapy, B.Y.L. Nair She, along with Sri Wasim attended a meeting of
Perumalsamy, Director of School Education,
Charitable Hospital, Mumbai; Smt. Geetha Lakshmi the Programme Coordinators at IGNOU Regional
regarding implementation of schemes for the
Raja, Special Educator, Shivesh Autism Centre, Centre, Madurai, on 26 July. The meeting was
disabled - Inclusive Education for Disabled Children
Coimbatore; Dr. Karthikeyan, DOAST, Integrated convened to discuss about the activities of the
(IEDC), and Inclusive Education of the Disabled
Therapy Centre for Autism, Dadar West, Mumbai; Special Study Centre to implement various disability
Children at the Secondary stage (IEDC-SS) in the
Dr. Maya Shahani, Physiotherapy Rehabilitation related programmes through IGNOU.
Vidyalaya campus. A proposal to facilitate the
Centre for Children, Dadar West, Mumbai; Dr.
appointment of seven special teachers at the middle A training programme for CP children was
school-level and one special teacher at the conducted on 21 July in coordination with Vidya
secondary-level was submitted. Sagar, a Chennai-based organization. Around 52
parents participated. Sessions were handled by
The Annual Day of the faculty was celebrated experts in the field of special education from Vidya
jointly with Maruthi College of Physical Education Sagar and the faculty members of FDMSE.
and the Faculty of General and Adapted Physical
Education and Yoga at the indoor stadium on 2
April 2010. Swami Anuragananda presided over
the function. The Chief Guest Sri P. Govindarajan,
Deputy Inspector General of Prison, Coimbatore,
delivered the Annual Day Address. The students
and staff performed yogasanas, aerobics, silambam,
yak dance, pyramid formation, gymnastics, tableau,
and cultural dances as part of the celebrations.

A training programme on Inclusive Education was

organized for teachers on 22 July, also in
coordination with Vidya Sagar, Chennai. Around
41 Middle School teachers from 7 blocks of
Coimbatore district participated. The sessions were
Manivasakan, Senior Consultant Paediatric handled by Ms. Dipti Bhatia, Vidya Sagar, Chennai,
Neurologist, Balaji Neuro Psychiatric Centre, and Ms. M. Annakodi and Mrs. C. Renuga Devi,
Coimbatore; Ms. Merry Barua, Director, Action for FDMSE.
Autism, New Delhi; Dr. Prem Sheth, Consultant
Dr. S. Ramaa, Professor and Head, Dept. of
Neurologist and Head, Department of Paediatrics,
Special Education, Regional Institute of Education,
Mumbai; Dr. Puratchi Nambi, DOAST, Integrated
Mysore, delivered a guest-lecture on the topic,
Therapy Centre for Autism, Chennai; Sri Sankara
‘Learning Disability and Autism' on 28 July.
Raman, Secretary, Amar Seva Sangam, Aykkudi,
Tirunelveli; Dr. Selva Ganapathy, Dept. of This year, on the occasion of the Independence
A National Seminar on ‘Multi-disciplinary
Neurology, NIMANS, Bangalore; Dr. Subba Rao Day, Swami Vishwamayanandaji, Asst. Secretary,
Approach to the Management of Paediatric
T.A., Professor and Principal, Dr. M. V. Chetty Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur,
Disabilities' was organized from 17 to 21 June
College of Speech and Hearing, Mangalore; Dr. Kolkata, hoisted the National flag. Following Swami
2010. The seminar brought together around 300
Sudhakar Williams, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Anuragananda's address to the students, cultural
professionals including general practitioners,
Sundaram Medical Foundation, Chennai; Ms Sujata programmes were presented by the students of
physiotherapists, occupational therapists,
Missal, Principal, KMCH College of Occupational the faculty and by the children of the therapy units.
neurologists, orthopaedic and neuro surgeons,
Therapy, Coimbatore; Ms. Swarna Bhavani, Speech
paediatricians, psychologists, rehabilitation Therapist, KG Hospital, Coimbatore; Ms. Trupti G
specialists, speech therapists, special educators, and Nikharge, BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai;
persons involved in the service of the disabled. Dr. S. Venkatesan, Professor, Dept. of Clinical
Parents of some disabled children also attended Psychology, All India Institute of Speech and
the seminar. The Resource Persons were: Dr. Asha Hearing, Mysore; and Ms. Usha Dalvi, AYJNIHH,
Chitnis, Physiotherapist, Rehabilitation Centre for Mumbai. Dr. Ali Irani, President, Indian Association
Children, Dadar West, Mumbai; Dr. Ambika of Physiotherapists, delivered the Valedictory
Kameshwar, Director, Ramana Sunritya Aalaya, Address.
RKMVU News January - December 2009
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A three-day ‘Sensitization Programme for Air A state-level training programme on ‘Personality

Force Officers on Foundations in Special Development for Special Needs Children' was
Education' was organized from 18 to 20 August conducted for the benefit of SSA's Block Resource
2010. The programme was inaugurated by Air Teachers and Special Educators from various
Commodore SV Mutalik VSM, Chief Technical districts of Tamil Nadu. The event was organized
Training Officer, Head Quarter Training Command, in collaboration with SSA from 16 to 18 September.
Bangalore. Around 45 officers participated in the The participants, around 60 in number, were
programme. Air Commodore Ajay Masson VSM, imparted practical training on areas such as
Air Force Administrative College, Coimbatore, improving mental health through effective
delivered the Valedictory Address on 20 August. communication, socialization, conducting adapted
The faculty, on behalf of the state unit of SSA,
games, and improving memory through sensory
Tamil Nadu, organized a ten-day training
training. The children were taken to places such as
programme on 'Multi-category' for the benefit of
temple, park, bank, and the post office. Mrs. Latha,
special educators. Sri N. Kaliappan, ADPC, SSA,
Joint Director, SSA, Chennai, and Sri K. Kaliappan,
Coimbatore, inaugurated the programme on 18
ADPC, SSA, Coimbatore District, addressed the
November. Fifty-four special educators attended the
participants. programme.
A ten-day block level training on IED for regular
teachers was conducted in all the blocks of
Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts from 25 October.
The programme was held in 3 batches. The
Eight staff members of the Centre for Tribal and sessions were handled by special educators and
Rural Development (CTRD) Trust, Ooty, attended physiotherapists.
a training programme on Visual Impairment held
The faculty, in collaboration with Central Institute of
from 16 to 30 August.
Indian Languages, Mysore, organized an Expert
An expert committee meeting to review the syllabus An expert committee meeting on the finalization of Committee meeting to bring out a ‘Linguistic
of Diploma in Sign Language Interpretation was syllabus for the proposed Diploma course on Consortium for Indian Sign Language
held on 21 and 22 August 2010. The following Theatre Arts for Holistic Development was held on Corpora’. The event was held on 18 December
experts participated in the meeting: Sri V. 2 November. Dr. Ambika Kameshwar, Founder 2010. The faculty was nominated to carry out the
Gopalakrishnan, Sign Language Teacher, AYJNIHH, Director, Ramana Sunritya Aalaya (RASA) Centre pilot project for South India. The participants were:
SRC, Secunderabad; Sri G. Amaresh, Special for Theatre Arts, Chennai; Mrs. Lalitha, Deputy Swami Anuragananda; Ms. G. Poongothai, Sri
Educator, Maldives; Mrs. Lalitha, Sign Language Director, RASA, Dr. Sarada Natarajan, President, Abhishek Kumar Srivastava, Sri Shivaaju Gujja, Mrs.
Interpreter, Coimbatore; and Sri Sujit Ramana Maharishi Centre for Theatre Arts, Lalitha, and Ms. Archana Varghese, staff members
Sahasrabudhe, Sign Language Teacher, AYJNIHH, Bangalore; Dr. Rajaram, Chairman, Karnataka of the faculty; Dr. N. Muthaiah, Principal, SRKV
Mumbai. Natya Academy, Bangalore; and Mrs. Kanchan College of Education; Dr. L. Ramamoorthy , Head,
Sontakke, Founder and Director, Natayashala, LDCIL, CIIL, Mysore; Sri Venkadesan, Engineer,
Swami Atmaramananda, Administrative Head and Mumbai, attended the meeting as experts.
CIIL, Mysore; Mrs. Mona Parakh, CIIL, Mysore;
Secretary, delivered lectures on the topics 'Eternal,
Mr. Shamar Sinha, CIIL, Mysore; Mr.
Cultural Values of Ancient India - Spirituality, On 14 November, the faculty organized a one-day
Gopalakrishnan, NIHH, SRC, Secunderabad; Sri
Simplicity, Purity, Truth, Tolerance, Catholicism etc.'; awareness programme in collaboration with
'Cultural Problems of Post-independent India'; and Neurogen Brain and Spine Institute, Mumbai, on
'Factors That Foster National Integration - Ways the topic, 'Stem Cell Therapy For Patients With
of Strengthening Them', as a part of the faculty's Muscular Dystrophy'. Dr. Alok Sharma, MS, MCh,
value education programme. Neuro Surgeon; Dr. Nandhini Gokulchandran, MD,
Microbiologist; and Dr. Mamta Lohia,
Physiotherapist, presented papers during the
event. The experts also interacted with the parents
that afternoon. Nearly 350 persons including
parents, special educators, physiotherapists, and
children, besides staff and students of the faculty,
attended the programme. G. Amaresh , Special Educator, Maldives; Sri Sujit
A meeting of the alumni of the faculty was Shahastrabudhe, NIHH, Mumbai; and Sri Arun Rao,
conducted on 24 September. Quiz, games, and a Sign Language Interpreter and Director, DSLI.
poster competition were organized on the occasion. Faculty of General and Adapted Physical
The students also presented a cultural programme. Education and Yoga
A meeting was organized on 2 September to review Nearly 60 students of 2009-10 batch participated.
A meeting to frame the syllabus for training in kalari
and revise the syllabus for BEd (Tamil
was held on 8 February 2010. Dr. S. Alagesan,
Methodology). Mrs. P. Kanmani, Assistant Professor, The library of the faculty, now shifted to the
Principal, Maruthi College of Physical Education,
Dept. of Tamil, Government College of Education academic block, was inaugurated on 30 November
Dr. Saikumar, Reader, Maruthi College of Physical
for Women, Coimbatore, acted as the external 2010.
Education, Dr. Narayanan Namboodhri, Kerala, Sri
expert.
January - December 2009 RKMVU News
 8

S. Mancikam, Yoga Instructor, and S. Institute for Yoga, New Delhi, delivered the
Udhayasankar, lecturer of the faculty, participated Presidential Address. The Resource Persons for
in the meeting. the seminar were: Dr. S. Sreedharan, Trustee,
Krishnamachari Yoga Mandhiram, Chennai; Dr.
The faculty organized a one-week programme
Santharam Shetty, Secretary, International Board
entitled ‘Martial Arts and Adventure Sports for
for Yoga; Dr. M. V. Bhole, Retd. JD,
the Visually Impaired' from 15 to 19 February
Kaivalyadhama, Pune, and a Visiting Professor of
2010. The programme was sponsored by National
Morarji Desai National Institute for Yoga, New Delhi;
Institute of Visually Handicapped, Chennai. Sri M.
Ms. Nrithya Jegannathan, Senior Faculty Member,
Raja Mehendran, District Sports Officer (SDAT),
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Chennai; Dr. Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Swami Sivananda
Coimbatore, inaugurated the programme, and
Swami Mangal Theertham, Director, Nutan Hr. Sec. School, and Sri S. Somasundaramoorthy,
delivered a speech. Sri A. Durairaj gave an
Sanjeevini Samasthan, Jharkhand; Ms. Meena International Basketball Referee, spoke about
orientation about the programme. Dr.
Ramanathan, Co-ordinator, Our Reach Program, various techniques related to officiating and
Chandramani, Dean, FDMSE, delivered the
Yoganchali Natyalaya, Pondicherry; Dr. P. N. coaching in the two games.
Presidential Address. Besides guest lectures,
Ravindra, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of
demonstrations of silambam, karate, hiking, A two-day National seminar on 'Software-based
Physiology, Siddhartha Academy for Higher
adapted games, and camp-fire were conducted. Statistical Application in Physical Education' was
Education, Siddhartha Medical College and
Dr. I. Arivanandam delivered the Valedictory organized by the faculty on 17 and 18 December
Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka; Sri Niranjan Varma,
Address on 19 February 2010. Swami 2010. Around 110 delegates (including 56 teachers
Director, Pancha Kavya Research Centre, and Ms.
Anuragananda distributed the certificates to the and 44 students) attended the seminar. The
Rajeswari Prabakaran, Pathanjali Yoga Samithi,
participants. purpose of the seminar was to discuss about the
Tamil Nadu. In all 59 papers were presented in the
various ingredients that were necessary to derive
seminar. Dr. R. Elangovan Head of Dept. of Yoga,
maximum benefits of computer in the use of
TNPES University, Chennai, read the resolution of
statistical analysis. The seminar included practical
the seminar. Dr. B. Anand, Joint Secretary, Ayush,
sessions and lectures by experts in various fields.
Govt of India, delivered the Valedictory Address.
The Resource Persons were: Dr N Muthaiah,
Swami Atmaramananda, Secretary and
Principal, SRKV College of Education; Dr. John
Administrative Head, Ramakrishna Mission
William Felix, Reader and Statistician, Raja Muthaiah
Vidyalaya, delivered the Benedictory Address. Six
Medical College, Annamalai University,
papers were presented by our staff members.
Chidambaram; Dr. S Thirumalaikumar, Associate
A workshop entitled ‘Officiating and Coaching Professor, Department of Physical Education,
A national seminar on ‘Essentials of a Qualified
in Basketball and Volleyball' was conducted for Tamilnadu Physical Education and Sports University;
Teacher in Yoga' was jointly organized by the
the benefit of school teachers in and around Dr. S.. Sethu, Assistant Professor, Department of
faculty and Maruthi College of Physical Education
Coimbatore on 27 and 28 September at GKD Physical Education and Sports, Manonmaniam
on 26 and 27 March 2010. Dr. C. Thangamuthu,
Auditorium. Sri V. C. Ramalingam, International Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli; Dr. Mahesh
Chairman, NCTE (Southern Region), Bangalore,
Volleyball player, inaugurated the workshop. Dr. C. Deshpande, Professor, Chandrasekhar Agashe
delivered the Inaugural Address. Dr. I.
Arumugam, Assistant Professor, Tamil Nadu College of Physical Education, Pune; and Dr.
Basavaraddi, Director, Morarji Desai National
Physical Education and Sports University Deepak Shendkar, Professor, Progressive
(TNPESU), Chennai, Sri V. Arumugam, Technical Educations Modern College, Pune. Swami
Committee Member, Tamil Nadu State Volleyball Anuragananda had an interaction session with the
Association, Sri A. Chandran, Basketball Coach, delegates.
Many students continue to enroll for the weekend
coaching classes on cricket, badminton, and tennis.
The enrolment in our faculty's fitness centre at
Chennai has also been very encouraging.
Papers Presented: Seven papers were
presented by staff members of the Faculty of
General & Adapted Physical Education and Yoga
in National and International seminars conducted
by different institutions.

For further details, please contact:

SWAMI ATMARAMANANDA, ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD,
FACULTY OF DISABILITY MANAGEMENT AND SPECIAL EDUCATION
&
FACULTY OF GENERAL & ADAPTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND YOGA,
RAMAKRISHNA MISSION VIVEKANANDA UNIVERSITY,
RAMAKRISHNA MISSION VIDYALAYA CAMPUS,
Periyanaickenpalayam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu 641 020. Phone: (0422) 2697529, Fax: (0422) 2692582
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Website: www.vihrdc.org, www.srkv.org
RKMVU News January - December 2009