SHILLONG, April 27, 2026 — Marking 125 years since Swami Vivekananda first walked Shillong’s pines, the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Cultural Centre’s Foundation Day at its Quinton Road campus on Monday honoured local custodians of tradition and youthful achievement, drawing about 1,800 students. The ceremony sought to link Vivekananda’s century-old spiritual ideas with contemporary Khasi resilience and community service.
The programme felicitated three Meghalaya natives for their contributions to the state. Hally War was recognised for more than 50 years of work preserving the region’s living root bridges. Rifiness Warjri, noted as the youngest person from Meghalaya to scale Mount Everest, and Risingbor Kurkalang, honoured for his work in traditional arts and crafts, were also felicitated.
In addition, Saurabh Kumar Thapa received the Vivekananda Award of Excellence for his service to the institution. Speakers highlighted the Centre’s role in youth development and cultural education: High Court of Meghalaya Judge Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew praised the Centre for guiding young people through educational and cultural initiatives, while Ramakrishna Mission Shillong secretary Swami Hitakamananda spoke on Vivekananda’s idea of Universal Religion and the importance of respecting all faiths as valid paths to spiritual goals.
The celebration included the launch of a tri‑lingual magazine, Ka Jingshai — The Light — Jyoti, featuring content in Khasi, English and Hindi. Former Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang urged students to practise self‑discipline, and ICAR‑ATARI Director Amulya Kumar Mohanty addressed the gathering on the role of youth in national progress.
The event concluded with cultural performances representing the Northeast and other regions of India, underlining the Centre’s emphasis on cultural exchange and local heritage preservation while commemorating a landmark anniversary tied to Vivekananda’s legacy.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/04/28/rkm-felicitates-local-heroes-to-mark-125-yrs-of-vivekanandas-shillong-visit/
Category: MEGHALAYA
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Publish Date: 2026-04-28 02:08:00
