Governor felicitates toppers of SMVD Gurukul

Calls for developing Gurukul as a leading Sanskrit University

JAMMU, FEBRUARY 28: Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, felicitated eight outstanding students of the Gurukul for their excellent performances in academics, at a function held at the Raj Bhavan here today.
Congratulating the students for the laurels won by them the Governor complimented the members and Chairman of the Governing Council of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul, Charan Paduka, Katra for successfully guarding the Gurukul’s functioning and for the high standards achieved by it. Thanking Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Chairman of the Council, for his devotion to the cause, the Governor expressed appreciation of the work put in by the Acharyas and teachers for imparting education of highest standards to the students. He hoped that, with the commitment of all the stakeholders, the Gurukul could be developed as a centre of excellence in the coming years. Governor discussed issues relating to the timely expansion of the infrastructure for meeting the II Phase requirements of the Gurukul and, side by side, starting courses in Vedic Philosophy and Comparative Studies at the University level. Dr. Bloeria informed that a proposal regarding commencement of Post-graduate learning had already been taken up with the Vice Chancellor, SMVD University.
The Governor interacted with the students and congratulated their parents, who had been especially invited, for the outstanding achievements of their wards, adding that their accomplishments will provide inspiration for other students to achieve excellence.
It is pertinent to mention that the students of SMVD Gurukul are winning the Vakratund Shukal Swaran Padak (Gold Medal) for attaining the first position in class 8th examination in whole of the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, continuously since 2012-13. The students have also been winning the First Position and Medals at the national and State level Shastriya competitions.
The award winning students included: Master Gourav Sharma of class 12th of Gurukul who had won Gold Medal in national level Akhil Bhartiya Shastriya Pratisparda consecutively in 2015 and 2016, as also the First Prize in the State level Shastriya Competition in both these years. He had also won the Vakratund Shukal Swaran Padak in 2012-13. Master Shubham Sharma of class 10th had won Vashishath Award in the national level Akhil Bhartiya Shastriya Pratisparda in 2016 and the First Prize in the State level Shastriya Competition in 2015 and 2016; Master Shubham Sharma, class 10, had won the Vakratund Shukal Swaran Padak in 2014-15; Master Anish Sharma, class 9, had won the Vashishath Award in Akhil Bhartiya Shastriya Pratisparda in 2016 and won the First Prize in the State level Shastriya Competition in 2015 and 2016; Master Nand Lal, class 10th and Master Omkar Sharma class 10th had won First Prizes in the State level Shastriya Competitions in 2015, 2016 & 2015 respectively; Master Neeraj Jamwal, class 11 s(2013-14), Master Ranjeet Singh, class 11 (2013-14), and Master Goutam Sharma, class 9 (2015-16), all of whom had won the Vakratund Shukal Swaran Padak, were also awarded by the Governor.
The Governor felicitated all the eight award winning students by presenting them Appreciation Letters, a set each of the Commemorative Coins of Shrine Board and cash prizes. Cash prizes of Rs. 10,000/- and Rs. 7,000/- each were given for securing the first and second prize, respectively, in the national level competitions and Rs. 5000/- for the first prize in State level competitions; cash prizes of Rs. 10,000/- were given to each of the students for winning the Vakratund Shukal Swaran Padak. Cash prizes of Rs. 1.29 lakh were distributed to the outstanding students today.
Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Member of the Shrine Board and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Gurukul, gave a resume of the aims, objectives, history and growth of the Gurukul and highlighted the achievements of the institution in varied fields, since its establishment. He also gave a brief on the future plans of the Gurukul, especially with regard to starting of the Shastri classes in August 2017. He apprised that all the arrangements for starting Shastri classes shall be completed by June this year.
Mr. Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board; Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, Member of the Governing Council of the Gurukul; Mr. O.P. Bhagat, Additional Secretary Raj Bhavan; Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Dy. CEO and Administrator of the Gurukul; Sr. Acharya, Acharyas, award winning students and their parents were present on the occasion.
It is to recall that presently 136 students are studying in 6th – 12th classes in the fully residential Gurukul which was established by the Shrine Board in 2010 and is affiliated with the Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, Varanasi, a leading Sanskrit University in the country. All the students are provided education, boarding, lodging, uniforms, books and other required facilities at the cost of the Board.