Mysuru: “Students pursuing engineering and medical courses are today facing more moral, and ethical dilemmas than those studying courses such as BA, BSc and BCom,” said Swami Veereshananda of the Ramakrishna Mission here on Monday.Veereshenanda, who inaugurated the two-day seminar on ‘A Comprehensive Look at Swami Vivekananda as a Humanist’ organised by the Swami Vivekananda Chair of the philosophy department of University of Mysore (UoM) at the EMRC Auditorium here on Monday, opined that the capabilities of the present generation of engineering students paled in comparison to Industrial Training Institute (ITI) holders in the past. “Around 30 years ago, ITI students who cleared only SSLC, had more knowledge than engineers do today. When such is the case, how can we hope to think of an India led by youngsters? There are engineering colleges at every nook and corner of the country. I have visited 86 engineering colleges in Karnataka, and addressed the students. I feel they are struggling both ethically, and morally,” he added.Sekking to debunk the commonly held perception that the poet laureate Kuvempu was an atheist, Veereshananda said, “Kuvempu was ordained at the Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Mission. He would also bring a number of farmers, and their families to the Ramakrishna Math here in Mysuru. While serving as the vice-chancellor of UoM, he visited the mutt along with fellow writers such as GS Shivarudrappa and Prabhushankar, who presided over literary sessions there. Kuvempu’s contribution to Ramakrishna Mission, and Swami Vivekananda is greater than those of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.”‘Vivekananda introduced true religion to the world’Highlighting the unique approach that philosopher and spiritualist Swami Vivekananda had towards God and religion, Veereshananda said, “It was Vivekananda who introduced the world to true religion. He neither pointed to the presence of God in the sky, nor did he frighten them with the vision of hell below. He epitomised humanism. When he was in the United States of America, he told a layman he met that he was for the brotherhood of all humanity 0 Blacks, Whites, Europeans, Americans or Indians. Vivekananda also emphasisied the study of Sanskrit, and called on students to learn the Upanishads, and at the same time told them to learn science.”On the other hand, Veereshananda expressed concerned over the downward trajectory of the varsity’s graph. “This varsity boasted the likes of Kuvempu. Its graph should always be in the upward direction. Over the years, UoM has also produced 1520 monks, most of whom have been associated with the Ramakrishna Math,” he added.In his presidential address, UoM registrar (evaluation) R Rajanna recalled the contribution of eminent philosopher and former Indian President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to the varsity’s philosophy department.UoM in-charge VC Prof. TK Umesh, Prof. VN Sheshagiri Rao and S Venkatesh were among those present on the occasion.

Stay updated with all the Latest Mysore headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.