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Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar

Introduction

The idea of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar was first conceived by Swami Turiyananda, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who inspired Brahmachari Vidyachaitanya to start a school in order to implement the man-making ideas of Swami Vivekananda. Accordingly, Br. Vidyachaitanya rented a small house at Mihijam in May 1922 and started a school with three day-scholars. Eight months later, in January 1923, he left Mihijam and came to Deoghar with twelve students. Staying initially in a house on Rohini Road for one and a half months, he subsequently shifted to another place on the Kachahari Road. Thereafter, in the middle of 1924, he once again shifted the school to the Khema Villa and the Bama Villa in Deoghar.

Meanwhile, the work of procuring a plot of land for Vidyapith went on in full swing. On its accomplishment, the portion of the school located at Khema Villa was removed in 1925 to a couple of newly constructed houses, keeping the other portion at Bama Villa for a while more. Finally, when Vidyapith was totally shifted in its new premises, Swami ShivanandajiMaharaj, the then President of the Ramakrishna Order paid a visit and inaugurated the school ceremonially on January 19, 1926, the holy Saraswati Puja day. Shivanandaji Maharaj was deeply impressed by Vidyapith’s dedicated services and said:

“I visualize a great future for Vidyapith. I am convinced that great work
will be done through this institution.” His vision has indeed come true.

To shape Vidyapith from scratch, Brahmachari Vidyachaitanya had to struggle hard. Swami Turiyananda appreciated him wholeheartedly for his back-breaking efforts and affectionately called Vidyapith “A Brahmacharya Vidyalaya”. Swami Saradananda, the then General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission and a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, extended all possible support during Vidyapith’s formative years.

Brahmachari Vidyachaitanya became a Sannyasin in due course and received the monastic name of Swami Sadbhavananda. In his first report as the Secretary of Vidyapith, he wrote: “Living in touch with sannyasins, the boys breathe here in an atmosphere of sacrifice and purity. The habit of self-help which strengthens the character of a man and makes him fit for the struggle of life is also carefully cultivated in the boys. By locating the school at a healthy place and by giving boys proper physical training, the institution aims at the improvement in their health. In short, it affords to its boys secular culture based on spirituality.”

Vidyapith has been relentlessly following the principles of Swami Sadbhavananda laid down at the outset. It trains boys academically, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, morally and spiritually. In other words, Vidyapith is committed to implementing Swami Vivekananda’s “Man-making and Character-building Education”.

A Premier Institution :

A small school initially, Vidyapith has now grown into a premier institution of the country with many other activities added to it. This has been possible because of the indefatigable labour and the persistent prayers of the monks, workers and devotees of this centre of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Since a good deal of spade-work by its pioneers had gone into its beginning, Vidyapith stands on a solid foundation and eventually steers past many challenges. It has grown from strength to strength, creating ripples in society.

Centenary :

Vidyapith has now completed one hundred and three years of its existence. It is, therefore, rich in experience and expertise. Witnessing ups and downs within this period, it has had slices of joy and ounces of sorrow during this period. A defining moment, however, arrived when it was conferred the “National Award” for outstanding work in the field of child welfare by the Government of India, in 1986. In recognition of its excellence, there are otherwise, accolades galore, for the exceptional performances in different fields of activity.

Vidyapith Today:

The school was originally affiliated to the West Bengal boards of education. Much later, it was provisionally affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi in 1964. Thereafter, permanent affiliation of the school was sanctioned w.e.f. 1.5.1973 (vide letter no. CBSE/AI/03/8/618 dated 22 December 1973).

Coming down to the present, the school had 522 students on its roll from classes VI to XII during 2024-25. Its residential section is divided into 16 Dhams (houses) named after the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.