Last Friday Medalis and I traveled to Mysore, a neighboring city in Karnataka which is approximately three hours from Bangalore. SVYM is centered in Saragur, a small village about an hour outside of Mysore. The organization has several facilities in Mysore, including the youth hostel we stayed at, where many master’s students and international students of the Vivekananda Institute of India Studies live for the duration of their studies.
We arrived in the evening and visited St. Philomena’s Church and the stunning, illuminated Mysore Palace. Early on Saturday morning, we drove to Saragur and were joined at the central SVYM hospital for breakfast by Dr. R. Balasubramaniam (Balu). After touring the hospital, we visited the nearby Viveka School of Excellence. Medalis and I were both amazed at the comprehensive variety of services offered at SVYM’s extensive facilities in Saragur.
In the afternoon we traveled to the Vivekananda Memorial Hospital at Kenchanahalli, about twenty minutes from Saragur. The hospital provides a combination of western and ayurvedic medicine, catering primarily to the surrounding tribal population. The final stop on our excursion was the Viveka Tribal Center for Learning at Hosahalli, where approximately 400 tribal children live and learn. The tribal school bridges India’s most traditional populations with modern education. One section of the school features a cluster of open-sided hexagonal buildings, somewhat resembling huts. Students can literally climb in and out of the classroom, returning to their villages when necessary and attending school whenever possible.
On Sunday, Medalis and I toured the inside of Mysore Palace and visited the Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hill. On Sunday night, Dr. Balu and three other visiting Cornellians joined us for dinner at the hostel. We returned to Bangalore very early on Monday morning.
Our trip to Mysore exposed us to the enormity of SVYM’s endeavors. Witnessing the scope of their projects was awe-inspiring. Dr. Balu is a remarkable man whose vibrancy and humility have withstood his 25-year journey building SVYM, and whose vision has served millions. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to play a role in this extraordinary organization.
Cheers,
Eva
Namaskāra! Join Cornell students from the ILR School taking part in a Global Engaged-Learning Program at the community development org Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM.org) in Mysore, India. Students take courses in culture, labor, gender and public health and engage in service projects related to their studies. 2020 marked Cornell & SVYM 10th Anniversary!! For past years see archives. This opportunity is managed by International Programs in the ILR School.
