Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala, run by the Ramakrishna Mission in Yadavagiri, Mysore, is celebrating its golden jubilee. Elaborate programmes were drawn up for three days from January 9 to mark the occasion.

Ramakrishna Vidyashala is a reputed residential educational institution of Mysore. Initially, it was started as a hostel to accommodate boy students, but later in the year 1953, a school was added. Sponsorship and support enabled the Vidyashala to
start the school. Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wodeyar was among those who supported the school project. With the voluntary support and help, the Ramakrishna Mission, Mysore, acquired a 100-acre land for the residential school. A dream of Swami Shambavananda became a reality with the intake of 120 students. Today, the institution provides accommodation for nearly 400
students, studying in classes from 5th to 12th standards. Karnataka’s poet laureate Kuvempu (Dr.K.V.Puttappa) and present Chief Minister of Karnataka Mr. S.M. Krishna are two of its illustrious students. Since then, it has achieved respect and prominence for its educational standards.

Initially the Vidyashala building had only two floors. It has now been expanded with the additions of dormitories, prayer hall, a new large dining hall, laboratories and other facilities, besides accommodation for increased number of students. Marking the silver jubilee in 1978, a new 500-seating capacity auditorium was added. The hostel is maintained by the monastic members of the Ramakrishna Mission, which helps in inculcating spiritual and moral values among the resident students. The educational programmes have been changed to suit the new advancements in areas of science and technology. All these have made the Ramakrishna Vidyashala a reputed one in Karnataka.

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, declared open the golden jubilee building on January 9. Swami Smarananandaji, General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission, delivered the inaugural address. Karnataka’s Chief
Minister Mr. S.M.Krishna presided over. Dr. Kota Harinarayan, Vice-Chancellor of Hyderabad University, was the chief guest. The celebrations concluded on January 11. During the three days, programmes chalked out included programmes by the
Vidyashala students like torchlight parade, aquatics, dance and music, multi-media show, and a get together of old students.