KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL — 3 September 2026 — Vidya Bharati Vivekanand Vidya Vikas Parishad successfully organized its Annual Function on 3 September 2026 at the prestigious Vivekananda Hall, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark, Kolkata.
Guided by its foundational philosophy, “Vidya Se Sanskriti, Sanskriti Se Rashtranirman” (From Education to Culture, and Culture to Nation-Building), the organization continues to champion an educational framework deeply rooted in traditional values, character development, profound knowledge, and patriotic devotion. This annual gathering highlighted the shared mission of nurturing individuals dedicated to duty, discipline, and national service—reinforcing the organization’s overarching vision across education, culture, society, and the nation.
Dignitaries Illuminate the Occasion
The program featured an esteemed panel of guests and speakers, graced by Chief Guest, Hon’ble Chief Minister, Govt. of West Bengal Shri Suvendu Adhikari, whose presence underscored strong support for value-based education.
Addressing the audience, the Hon’ble Chief Minister stated, “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan and the many dedicated individuals across the country and state who have steadily built Vidya Bharati into such a magnificent banyan tree. It is my vision that within the next year, Vidya Bharati’s network expands to 1,000 Vidya Mandirs. Every town, panchayat, sub-division, and district headquarters must establish quality Vidya Mandirs offering education up to Class 12, ensuring students receive every attendant benefit.”
He further outlined initiatives to sanction additional Sainik Schools for Bengal and introduce the NCC across all schools and colleges, adding: “Upon taking office, we adopted the National Education Policy (NEP)—a initiative the rest of India embraced from the outset. We made singing Vande Mataram mandatory during school prayers. In Kolkata, we entrusted the management of mid-day meals to ISKCON to ensure students receive pure, sattvic nutrition.”
Expressing deep appreciation, the Chief Minister added, “I express my sincere gratitude to the teachers who, working with immense dedication while accepting modest honorariums, treat teaching not merely as a profession, but as a sacred responsibility in shaping human resources. I salute them and honor their noble service. To our patriotic donors, I extend special gratitude; without their generous support, these Vidya Mandirs would not stand tall today with such robust infrastructure. I firmly believe that Vidya Bharati alone is capable of imparting true education. This government aligns with Swami Vivekananda’s ideals and will actively work to popularize Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s vision for women’s education.”
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ravindra Chamaria, National Committee Member, on behalf of Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan highlighted notable academic milestones: “In 2026, out of the 9,60,000 students across Bengal who appeared for the Madhyamik examinations, 1,225 represented Vidya Bharati. Across the entire state, 13 of the 131 rank-holders belonged to our schools—meaning 10% of all top-ranking students were ours. Furthermore, not a single Vidya Bharati student in Bengal failed.”
Shri Chamaria emphasized the organization’s inclusive reach, stating: “Vidya Bharati’s mission reaches every child without discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, or gender. In 2016, our network included about 3,310 teachers; today, that number has grown to 4,720. A child studying in a remote corner of Bengal can compete with the finest minds in the state and secure top honors—representing the true triumph of Vidya Bharati. Notably, the student who secured the First Rank belongs to our school in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur, while the Second Rank holder is from our school in Paikpara, Birbhum. Through the generous backing of our members and well-wishers, 178 projects were successfully completed between 2016 and 2026.”
Detailing ongoing efforts, Shri Chamaria added, “At present, work is underway on 15 additional projects. Our earnest endeavor is to ensure every urban center and administrative block in Bengal hosts a Vidya Bharati school, guaranteeing every child access to quality education. We have also established an alumni platform connecting former students across 93 nations. To date, 1,084,000 students have registered, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive alumni portals globally.”
Adding intellectual depth to the event, Shri Yatindra Sharma, Akhil Bhartiya Sah Sangathan Mantri of Vidya Bharati, addressed the audience on academic discourse and core values.
The stage was also graced by senior Executive Committee members of Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan, including Shri Rajendra Prasad Khaitan, Shri Bhagawati Prasad Jalan, and Shri Govinda Chandra Mahant.
Rooted in a vision to blend academic excellence with timeless Indian values, Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan stands as a vital pillar of holistic education in India. From its modest origins in 1952, the organization has expanded into one of the country’s largest non-governmental educational networks.
A Journey of Vision and Growth
The movement began in 1952 in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, when dedicated visionaries established the first Saraswati Shishu Mandir—a center of learning designed to nurture young minds through national values and sanskars. This was followed in 1958 by the formation of the state-level Shishu Shiksha Prabandh Samiti to streamline guidance and structured development.
In 1977, the national apex body—Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan—was formally constituted, establishing its registered office in Lucknow and functional headquarters in Delhi. Today, its expansive network comprises 12,068 schools nationwide, educating over 3.333 million (33.33 lakh) students. Over 85% of its secondary schools maintain a 100% pass rate, with a vast majority of students securing First Division honors.
Extracurricular development remains central to the curriculum. Students actively participate in sports, music, dance, debates, and science exhibitions, earning numerous state- and national-level accolades.
Expanding Footprint in West Bengal
Locally, the mission continues to flourish. Under the aegis of Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan, Vidya Bharati Vivekanand Vidya Vikas Parishad currently manages 313 schools in West Bengal, imparting quality, value-based education to approximately 120,000 (1.20 lakh) students statewide.
Looking ahead, Vidya Bharati remains steadfast in its commitment to empowering the younger generation through modern knowledge grounded in rich cultural heritage.
Event Proceedings and Conclusion
The program commenced at 11:00 AM, featuring an enriching morning of keynote addresses, cultural performances, and strategic discussions on expanding educational outreach. Donors and community benefactors interacted directly with school leadership, gaining firsthand insight into how financial contributions directly empower students and upgrade institutional facilities.
The formal proceedings concluded at 1:30 PM, followed by a fellowship lunch for all attendees, fostering warmth and stronger ties among patrons, educators, and guests. The annual function concluded on an inspiring note, reaffirming Vidya Bharati Vivekanand Vidya Vikas Parishad’s commitment to shaping an enlightened, value-driven, and self-reliant generation.
About Vidya Bharati
Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan is one of the largest educational movements in the world, dedicated to providing value-based, quality education rooted in Bharatiya culture and traditions.
The movement originated in 1952 with the establishment of the first Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, led by visionary, patriotic educators who viewed education not merely as information transfer, but as the holistic development of character, culture, and national consciousness.
Grounded in values and sanskaras, Saraswati Shishu Mandirs quickly gained widespread societal recognition. To support systematic growth, the Shishu Shiksha Prabandh Samiti was formed in 1958 at the state level. As the movement expanded across states, regional and state-level committees were established for seamless coordination.
In 1977, Vidya Bharati Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Sansthan was formally constituted as the national apex organization, maintaining its registered office in Lucknow and operational headquarters in Delhi. Today, Vidya Bharati continues to nurture responsible, value-driven citizens dedicated to serving society and the nation.
