Mysuru: Swami Veereshananda Saraswathi, President, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Ashram, Tumakuru,  said that those who correct themselves of their wrongs or shortcomings can probably never see failure in their life.

He was speaking as the chief guest at the 27th Pratibha Puraskar programme organised by city’s Dinesh Coaching Centre at Kalamandira here on Sunday.

Stating that a student who gives scope for his parents and teachers to correct him/her will not see failure in their growth, Swami Veereshananda  bemoaned the addiction of modern day students to social media networks and mobile phone applications (apps).

“Children are losing their natural intelligence and thinking capacity because of their addiction to cellphones which are playing havoc with the natural activities of children. Though online lessons are fast becoming order of the day, they are no match for teachers who educate  and guide students by standing before them,” he pointed out.

Recalling an incident when he was on a trip to Italy 10 years ago, the Swamiji said he learnt that one of the eight terrorists involved in the London Airport car bomb attack was one of the students whom he had felicitated when he was on a trip to a country 20 years ago. Upon coming to know of this, he did not get sleep for days as he was left wondering whether a first rank student in Computer Science can engage in such terror activities.

He further said that his Guru Purushothamanandaji in his book ‘The Secret Behind Success’ has said that Universities only give graduation certificates and not the ablest students. 

More than 100  SSLC  toppers (2023-24) of Dinesh Coaching Centre were presented Pratibha Puraskar.  M.D. Sudeeksha (daughter of N.V. Dinesh and Dr. N. Sowmya of Dinesh Coaching Centre), who came second in the State (State syllabus) and Jahnava Noru, who was the topper of the Centre in the CBSE 10th standard exam (2023-24) were honoured.  Also, the winners of various contests organised by the Coaching Centre were distributed prizes.

Earlier, Swami Veereshananda Saraswathi’s book ‘Vivekadhara’ was released. Former University of Mysore Kannada faculty Dr. K. Anantharamu, Coaching Centre Head N.V. Dinesh and others were present.