It was a great joy for all of us to learn that Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati has been awarded the Pride of Uttaranchal State award on 25th December 2005 by Doon Citizens Council, a prestigious body of intellectuals, educationists, business men, social workers of State Capital Dehradun, for his remarkable and meritorious services in the field of education and Vedic culture. It was a pleasant surprise for us. Whoever learnt of it came to Swamiji and greeted him with great delight that he was the right and deserving person for the award.

Under the auspices of Varshney & Agarwal Education Point, a grand function was organised on New Year's Day, 1st January 2006, at Vyapar Sabha Bhawan, Rishikesh, to greet and honour Swami Vishveshwaranandaji on behalf of the citizens of Rishikesh. Various organisations, clubs of the town - Rotary Club, Lions Club, Vyapar Sabha, Merchants Association, Senior Citizens Organisation, many educationists, professors, teachers, business men, social workers, students, yoga teachers, Sadhakas participated in the function.

The Chief Guest, Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, lighted the sacred lamp amidst Vedic Mantra chanting. The distinguished guests, Dr. Waryam Singh, presiding over the function, Sri Narasimhulu, Trustee of the Ashram, joined him. Kumari Somashekhari, Director of Omkarananda Saraswati Natya Kala Academy of Classical Divine Dance and Music, Revered Usha Mataji, Col. D.L. Sachdeva, Principal, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, graced the dais also.

From left to right: Col. D.L. Sachdeva, Swami Narasimhulu, Usha Mata, Kumari Somashekhari, Swami Vishveshwarananda

Presiding over the function, Sardar Waryam Singh, Chairman, NDS Public School Shyampur, of Nirmal Ashram Rishikesh, well-known for its medical and educational services in the area, also member of Doon Citizens Council, greeted Swamiji, glorifying Swamiji's noble service for education of the masses in whole Garhwal region. In his presidential address he recalled the award-giving ceremony on 25th December at Dehradun, while reading the citation in honour of Swamiji for opening various schools and colleges in Garhwal region.

Shri D.K. Varshney, S.C. Agrawal, Prof. A.K. Singhal, Sri B.D. Pokhriyal, Prof. G.S. Rajwar, I.D. Joshi and many others garlanded the Chief Guest Swami Vishveshwarananda and other dignitaries and presented bouquets to him.
Then there was shower of flowers, garlands, bouquets adding to the delight of all. It was the most joyous moment to see Swami Vishveshwarananda covered with all beautiful flowers, garlands and bouquets all around.

Col. Sachdeva, Principal, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, with his team of teachers, greeted Swamiji. In sweet and melodious voices they sang the welcome song (Swagat Geet) specially composed for the occasion with its sweet notes and refrain 'Welcome to Vishveshwarananda, Glory to Vishveshwarananda, Swagat to Vishveshwarananda'' - the heart touching song moved everyone in the audience. The whole atmosphere was surcharged with great joy and jubilations.

Shri I.D. Joshi, Ex-Principal, read out the citations both in Hindi and English, highlighting Swamiji's contribution and meritorious service for Vedic Culture, education and environmental awareness. Shri D.K. Varshney presented the citation and shawl as well as memento to Swamiji.

Then Shri Kamal Narayan Mishra, President, Senior Citizens Organisation Rishikesh, presented the citation and bouquet to Swamiji, who was joined by Former President C.S. Sharma and other members as Mr. Saxena, Mr. Dhobhal, etc. He glorified Swamiji's tremendous contribution for education of this area.

Prof. A.K. Singhal, Principal, Govt. P.G. College, Rishikesh, greeted Swamiji with garland and then Dr. G. S. Rajwar, Prof. and Head, P.G. College, greeted Swamiji and recalled his past experience of Omkarananda Ashram Switzerland and his meeting with Swami Omkarananda Saraswati, while he was on academic tour of Europe. He was deeply impressed with the spiritual activities of the Ashram and the Vedic rituals, worship, Yajna, chanting of Vedic mantras, worship of Gods and Goddesses of Sanatana Dharma in Omkarananda Ashram Switzerland and Austria. He further related his meeting with Swami Omkarananda and his message to carry out his mission of imparting education to the masses of this area - Garhwal.

Shri Naval Kapoor, President, Lions Club, and Shri Gopal Narang presented colourful citations glorifying the achievements of Swamiji for the cause of education. He was followed and joined by other members of the club.

Yogacharya Laxmi Narayan Joshi, Director, Jai Ram Ashram Yoga and Arogya Kendra, Rishikesh, greeted Swamiji, presented the citation to him and glorified his remarkable contributions in the areas of Vedic culture and Yoga and spiritual sciences. He was joined by his colleagues and disciples too.

Shri Madan Mohan Sharma from Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Swargashram, garlanded Swamiji and honoured him while Shri Madan Nagpal presented to Swamiji a beautiful colourful bouquet on behalf of the Motor Parts Dealers Association, Rishikesh.

Major M.C. Tyagi, Principal, SBM Inter College, along with Shri Ashok Manchanda and P.D. Agrawal and Shri R.P. Singh, Principal, Govt. Inter College, Shyampur and many others expressed their great joy for honouring Swamiji.

Professor Subrahmanyam, Dr. Chaube, Shri Manchanda and others of Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology too attended the function and greeted him.
Shri Narasimhuluji, Trustee of the Ashram, recalled his past association with Swami Omkaranandaji from early 50s and glorified his spiritual movement in Europe and his Ashrams and also how he deputed his disciple Swami Vishveshwaranandaji to carry out his mission of dissemination of Vedic culture and education in India, especially in Uttrakhand.

Shri I.D. Joshi, Ex-Principal, on behalf of Yoga and Welfare Society (Regd.) Rishikesh, presented the citation to honourable Swamiji in recognition of his meritorious services for the cause of Vedic culture and education in general. As an electronic engineer and pilot, Swamiji from his very youth got initiated into spiritual life and became a devoted disciple of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati and carried out his mission in Europe and then has undertaken the gigantic task of education of the State setting up various ideal centres of excellence for primary, secondary, higher and professional education in this area and Garhwal. His purity, simplicity, love for nature, awareness for clean, pollution-free environment is worth emulating. The various temples, Omkarananda-Kamakshi Mandir, Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir, Omkarananda-Dipeshwar Mandir, etc. are the outcome of his gigantic spiritual projects for Vedic culture. He is a great, pure, noble, sincere Saint who follows Sanatana Dharma, who has been regularly honoured by Sadhu Samaj and Mahamandaleshwar as Mahant Vishveshwarananda Saraswati.

Col. D.L. Sachdeva, Principal, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, glorifying the remarkable contribution of Swamiji for quality education said, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam has made tremendous progress under his guidance and leadership within a short span of time, increasing the intake capacity from 1000 to 2000 students at present, with all well-equipped infrastructure and facilities, that it is the best school of this region.
Revered Usha Mataji, too, expressed her joy and happiness, through her eyes, gleaming with great joy and delight, which seem to be speaking more clearly than the words of mouth as goes the saying, 'where words fail, eyes speak'. She was all joy at the recognition of Swamiji's meritorious deeds.

Shri D.K. Varshney, Convenor of the function, greeted and honoured Swamiji with garland, shawl and citation as well as memento on the occasion. In his impassioned speech, he said Swamiji is a real Indian Mahatma of our Sanatana Vedic tradition. He is more than that, because of his purity, simplicity, austerity. It is a sin to call him a foreigner. Though he was born in Switzerland, he, by his inborn Samskaras, is a true Indian Saint, a great Mahatma of India.

Touched by the overwhelming reception and honour of Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, Kumari Somashekhari, direct disciple of Swami Omkarananda and Secretary of Omkarananda Charitable Trust, could not but help narrating her experiences of Swamiji's pure, simple, austere life. She said, that she is eye-witness to Swami Vishveshwarananda's life since more than 20 years. She informed the audience, that in 1996 Gurudev appointed Swami Vishveshwarananda as His Successor. After Swami Omkarananda left His physical body Swami Vishveshwarananda became the President of Omkarananda Ashram, but in spite of his position he never changed his humble and kind attitude to others. Even now he considers himself to be a humble servant of Gurudev and His mission. Everybody, including the many workers in the Ashram, simply love and adore Swami Vishveshwarananda, because he is treating everybody, without any distinction, with extreme kindness and respect. He is a true Saint. He works day and night. He lives for others and does not care for his own comforts. He simply lives in a small room, say, in a cell, while he has provided comforts to others. To illustrate this Somashekhari narrated the fact, that once a prominent Doctor from Rishikesh came to visit Swamiji's room, when Swamiji had high fever. The Doctor was shocked and at the same time also deeply moved, that Swamiji is living in such an extremely small and simple room, though he is the President of such a beautiful and vast Ashram. In the end Somashekhari said that Swami Vishveshwarananda has really deserved the prestigious 'Pride of Uttaranchal' Award and she thanked Varshneyji and everybody in the audience again and again for honouring such a great, noble, pure soul.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, love and affection, Swamiji in the end thanked the audience, organizers, for the honour they have bestowed upon him. However, in a word, Swamiji says: 'Credit goes to my Guru Swami Omkarananda Saraswati.' It is Guru's grace that gives him strength and inspiration to work for his mission. It is a mysterious experience to him, as he was awarded this honour 'Pride of the State' on the auspicious birthday of Swami Omkarananda, i.e. 25th December. So, naturally, award goes to his Guru Swami Omkarananda. There is some mysterious power, which works wonders.

Thus the function concluded. However, it was not an end, but the beginning. Many phone calls started pouring in of many Rishikesh citizens, who missed the chance to greet Swamiji. Thus the joy of the masses continues for days to come.

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* Sammān Samāroh = celebratory function for honouring somebody
* Abhinandan = ceremonious welcome, reception, applause