Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science,Tamil Nadu

The Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, Coimbatore, is a major educational centre of the well-known Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal. Located at about 19 kms from the Coimbatore city on the highway to Ooty, the Vidyalaya is situated in a serene environment spread over nearly 300 acres.

The institution was founded by Dr. T S Avinashilingam in 1930, with an investment of Rs. 5.75 and one harijan boy on its roll. Indeed, a small beginning for his great achievement that stands materialized today as a vast educational and spiritual centre with around twenty wings. But then, there was a source for his inspiration to set out on that bold venture. While studying in college, Dr. T S Avinashilingam met Swami Shivananda, a direct disciple of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna whose another well-known disciple was Swami Vivekananda. It was from Swami Vivekananda that Swami Shivananda absorbed the idea of the prime importance of education for the revival of India. The ‘sacred touch’ of Swami Shivananda, as Dr. Avinashilingam later described it, awoke in him the necessary strength and vision for his future mission in the field of education. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, laid the foundation stone of the Vidyalaya in 1934 and wished that the students of the Vidyalaya would be intensely patriotic followers of Truth. The Vidyalaya was affiliated to the Ramakrishna Mission in the same year.

The Vidyalaya strives to infuse the educational and spiritual ideas of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda into the daily lives of its students. Swami Vivekananda emphasized ‘man-making education’ and hence a lot of importance is given for the all-round growth, enrichment and personality development of the students. Universal values such as self-reliance, self-control, patriotism, service and dedication to duty are taught in various practical ways. A band of monks and brahmacharis of the Ramakrishna Order manage the activities of the Vidyalaya assisted by a highly professional and dedicated team of teaching and non-teaching staff.

The most important cultural activity of the Vidyalaya every year is the public celebration of the birthday of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, popularly known as the Guru Puja. The day-long celebration includes bhajans, talks by eminent personalities, drama, educational exhibition, music and cultural programmes. The highlight of the function is the Maheswara Puja, i.e. feeding of around 35,000 people at noon.

Besides the regular curriculum, every academic year passes by with a host of festivities that are unique to the Vidyalaya. For instance, about 3000 students from around 50 primary schools take part and perform physical, yogic and calisthenic exercises to the rhythm of devotional and nationalistic songs during the annual Play Festival. Unified Play Day is another significant event in which special and normal children participate together in a variety of exercises and activities. Kalaimagal Vizha is celebrated as a public function for three days every year signifying our rich traditions and culture. National Youth Day, Vidyalaya Foundation Day and other national and religious celebrations are held in a manner befitting the occasions. In recent years, state-level Youth Conventions are being held to impart values, morals and ethics that are very much needed for today’s youth, besides disseminating the inspiring and enlightening messages of Swami Vivekananda.

The Institutions of the Vidyalaya

Over the years, the Vidyalaya has grown into a comprehensive and reputed complex of educational institutions training around 7000 students, offering them facilities for education ranging from pre-school to doctoral levels.

Stella Maris College Chennai was founded in 1947 by the Society of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Stella Maris College is a Catholic minority college of higher education for women. On August 15th 1947, Stella Maris College was established in a small one storey building with a bunch of students in Santhome, Mylapore. Later in 1960, the college was relocated to its present campus ‘The Cloisters’ on Cathedral Road, Chennai. Stella Maris College is an autonomous college affiliated with the University of Madras. Stella Maris College is recognised as an ‘A’ Grade college by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Stella Maris College aims to promote education and empower women to face the challenges of life with courage. In 2021, Stella Maris College has been ranked 58th in the college category by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) while, in 2020, the college was ranked at 64th in the same category.

Stella Maris College infrastructure is spread across 19.5 acres of land in the heart of Chennai and has modern classrooms available with audiovisual facilities. Stella Maris College offers courses at UG, PG, MPhil and PhD level. Stella Maris College offers postgraduate diploma courses to the students. Stella Maris College campus has taken environmental measures such as energy conservation, use of solar power energy. Stella Maris College facilities include a library that has a vast collection of books, journals and other online resources, well-equipped labs, a wellness centre for the students which provide medical facilities and sports facilities to the students of Stella Maris College.

Stella Maris College Location

Stella Maris College is located at Cathedral Road, Poes Garden, Gopalapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Chennai International Airport is about 14.5 KM away, T.Nagar Railway Station is about 4.5 KM away, AG-DMS and Thousand Light Metro Station are 1 KM away from the campus. Alwarpet Bus Stop is about 1.5 KM away from Stella Maris College.