Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira is a degree college under the affiliation of Calcutta University, which is proud to have the A+ grade by the assessment of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It proceeds with the ideology of Swami Vivekananda that `Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man.`
Swami Vivekanada wanted to rehabilitate the past glories of our motherland through the education, which would not only be the mere combination of the best things of Eastern and Western culture but also holds the Indian ideals of devotion, wisdom and morality so that students learn to meet the national temperament at every point of life. According to him, real education was that which enabled a person to support himself and helped him to manifest the perfection already in him by a harmonious development of his head and heart. Swami Vivekanada opined that a balanced combination of the secular and the spiritual training constituted the true dimensions of education.
The authority of Ramakrishna Mission established the college Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira in the year 1941 with an objective to give a shape to Swamiji`s comprehensive idea. The college started under Saradapitha, a branch of Ramakrishna Mission. The College started as an Intermediate Arts College. In the year 1945, the college got affiliation in some commerce subjects and also got affiliation for some science subjects in the year 1946. In Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira the teacher-student relationship is very intimate. The college maintains an atmosphere of absolute peace and serenity as well as strict discipline to develop moral purity in the students and make the students worthy citizens of the country with a sense of pride for their enriched cultural traditions.
The Vidyamandira was upgraded into a three-year degree college, which was effected from July 1960. The higher secondary section was added in September 1978. In the year 1994 two new courses commenced under UGC scheme of vocalization of degree education, the B.Sc courses in Computer Applications and Industrial Chemistry. Currently these courses are termed as Major courses.
After the notification of the State Government, the H.S. section was deactivated from the academic session 2006-2007. At the same session two subjects were introduced for the Post Graduate study, viz. Mathematics and Sanskrit.
The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira located close to the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission at Belur, amidst the tranquil surroundings away from the din and bustle of the city life. The college is totally residential, which means all students are compulsorily required to stay in the hostel. The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira College is located on the Grand Trunk Road, ten kilometers away from Calcutta and nearly seven kilometers away from the Howrah Station and is linked up with both by regular bus and launch services over Ganges. The college has a huge campus and comprises of four college buildings, including the library block, five hostels, two large playgrounds, two dining halls, a guest-house cum generator block and a spacious auditorium (the Vivekananda Sabhagriha). The seating capacity of Auditorium is eight hundred and thirty five. Various cultural programs in different occasion, annual prize distribution function, seminars and symposia are arranged in the beautiful auditorium throughout the academic year.
Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira offers B.A. and B.Sc courses in as many as eleven subjects. B,Sc Honours is offered in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics and Microbiology. B.A. honours course comprises of the subjects like English, Political Science, History, Philosophy, Sanskrit and Bengali. Besides, there are two B.Sc Major courses in Computer Applications and Industrial Chemistry. Post Graduate teachings in Mathematics and Sanskrit are introduced in this college. M.Sc. course in Mathematics is conducted in the semester basis and the evaluation is done accordingly. In M.A. course in Sanskrit the evaluation is done annually. All students of Vidyamandira must study the subject `Spiritual Heritage`, along with their curriculum courses. All the degree students should compulsorily take part either in NCC (National Cadet Corps) or the NSS (National Social Service).
There is a well-stocked library in the college, which is divided into reference section, lending section and reading room. In addition to this, each department of the college has its own separate departmental library, which is for the teachers` use mainly. The library is partially computerized. Computerized catalog search facility based on title/author/ keyword/ subject is available for the users of this library.
The administration of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira is divided into two sections viz the college administration and the hostel administration for the ease of administrative task and also to maintain healthy atmosphere in the institute. The two administrative departments never interfere with each other.
There are five hostels for the students, named as Vinay Bhavan-the house of humility, Vidya Bhavan-the house of learning, Vivek Bhavan-the house of wisdom, Sree Bhavan-the house of prosperity and Shraddha Bhavan-the house of devoutness.
The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira has traveled more than six decades in the path of higher education with a brilliant academic record. The Vidyamandira was established following the ideology of swami Vivekananda, who considered education as the panacea of all social evils. The scenario of the academic field is ever changing but Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira was able to manage and maintain its lofty standard of education as well as its aim of `man making and character-building`. The success of this educational institution is proved by the galaxy of its illustrious alumni. The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Alumni Association was formed in 1986, It acts as the bridge between the past and the present of the college. In the year 1987, the association was registered under the West Bengal Societies Registration Act. The alumnae association is located in a small office in the corner of the college library and has been membered by more than thousands of ex-students spread all over the world. This association is a non-political organization. The various activities of the alumnae association is to arrange reunion, scholarships and awards to poor and meritorious students of Vidyamandira, financial assistance to former office staff of the college, charitable health care project, water purification project (eight water purifying machine has been installed in the college and hostel premises and in dining halls), two memorial lectures etc. The alumni association publishes a Reunion Souvenir on the occasion of reunion ceremonies every year. Since 1993, the association has started conducting `Swamiji Divas` to inspire the young students of West Bengal with the positive and powerful ideology of Swami Vivekananda. Interschool competitions are arranged in cultural, sports and yoga. Now the program is titled as `Vivekanada Sammelan and National Youth Day celebration` and jointly conducted by Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, the alumni association and some local voluntary organizations with the patronage of ministry of Humnan Resource, Government of India and the Ramakrishna Mission Headquarters, Belur Math. The program is organized in selected twelve districts in Kolkata. To make aware of the college and university level students with the striking ideas of Swami Vivekananda, the alumnae association of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira started organizing Swami Tejasananda Memorial Quiz Competition, which solely occurs on Swamiji`s life and message.
The alumni association is making a sincere effort through these activities to memorize the life and work of Swami Vivekananda as well as repay and acknowledge the alma mater and help the society as much as possible.
