NIHAR
Be free and work for the freedom of the universe
After returning to India in 1902, Nivedita stayed at 17 Bosepara Lane on rent and reopened the school there. As students increased, the school was shifted 16 Bosepara Lane in 1904 where it continued till 1914. The original building of no. 17 exists no more, but the site No. 17 Bosepara Lane was declared a heritage site in 2017 by the Government of West Bengal. Ramakrishna Sarada Mission has acquired one-third portion of the present building at No. 1 7and the adjacent property no. 19, Bosepara Lane with the financial support of TCS Foundation.
Objective:
“I would like much to make No. 17 a real University Settlement….”
(Letters of Sister Nivedita, Vol. I, January 20, 1903)
Keeping the above dream of Sister Nivedita in mind, RKSM wants to implement her vision of a university, by establishing Nivedita Institute for Human Advancement and Research (NIHAR) at 19, Bosepara Lane (present Ma Saradmoni Sarani), the premises adjacent to No. 17, Bosepara Lane where sister lived from 1902 - 1911.
The key contributions of Sister Nivedita to Indian Society can be summarized as follows:
- Her support to the cause of women's education
- Her work among women
- Her contribution in the field of national awakening
- Her service to the poor and the needy
Following Sister's footsteps RKSM NIHAR has identified five major areas of intervention, which are as follows:
- Education
- Service & Care
- Leadership
- Empowerment
- National Awakening
RKSM NIHAR has already started the groundwork to implement courses for women in line with the above-mentioned areas of intervention.
PREPARATORY ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN
1. Related to Education : Training in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
Since April 2021 NIHAR has started online interactive training program involving 45 teachers from different schools throughout India on Social-Emotional-Learning in collaboration with Labhya Foundation of New Delhi as part of their training for Happiness Facilitators at the school level. The introductory online training of 30 hours duration was followed by a 4-day onsite Workshop on designing grade-specific SEL curricular content. The video of this workshop has been made available on Youtube.
2. Related to Service & Care : Geriatric Facilitator Course
By keeping in mind Sister Nivedita’s respectful care-giving to Gopaler Ma in the terminal phase of her life, a 4-months course (including one-month internship) on Geriatric Facilitator has been conducted as a Pilot Project with 15 graduate women students as a CSR Initiative of eJunction.
3. Related to Academic Research
- Analysis of Footfalls in Museum
- Webinars to celebrate Sister’s Birthday on October 28
- Celebration of Sister’s 125th year of arrival in Calcutta
- The Architecture Department of different universities are conducting research work on the restoration & conservation of this Heritage MuseumArt historians are coming down to collect information & artefacts on Sister Nivedita’s contribution in revival of Indian Art and establishment of Bengal School of Art
- Professors of Museology are selecting this unique personalia museum as one of their chosen centre to carry out comparative studies
- Students of different colleges & universities are carrying out projects on the organization, display and ambience of the museum
- On the contribution of Sister Nivedita
4. Related to Social Welfare
- Relief work for 221 victims of YAAS Cyclone in two remote villages of West Bengal
- Free Covid Vaccination Camp for 1056 beneficiaries
- Financial Support for the Mothers of the families of Migrant Workers and local people during pandemic etc.
An overarching view of a conceptual framework summarizing the foundational pillars or driving forces, consequent needs, and associated mission derived thereof, is shown below in the following table:
THE ACTIVITY MATRIX OF NIHAR : A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Driving Forces
(Based on key contributions of Sister Nivedita)
|
Need analysis
(Based on the contemporary context)
|
Defining a mission
for NIHAR
|
Courses Designed
|
Her service to the poor and needy
|
Means of livelihood
|
Vocational training
|
Training for Happiness Facilitators at the school level
|
Her work among women
|
Specialized services for women
Support for the aged
|
Specialized service for the “Aging in Place”
|
Training for Geriatric Companionship
|
Her support to the course of National education
|
Integrating values to
Life-skill Development
|
Train the Trainers program
(Teachers’ Training)
|
Training for Leadership in Nivedita’s way
|
Her contributions to the field of National Awakening
|
Identifying and implementing solutions
|
Research & innovation
|
On-going
|