Mysuru, 31 July (H.S.)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Mysuru, Karnataka, on August 1 to inaugurate the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Youth Centre – Viveka Memorial, constructed at a cost of approximately ₹45 crore. The memorial has been built at the historic Niranjana Math premises on Narayana Shastri Road to commemorate Swami Vivekananda's historic visit to Mysuru in November 1892.

During his stay in Mysuru, Swami Vivekananda delivered several lectures and interacted with scholars and devotees. He also received the support of the then Maharaja of Mysore, Sri Chamarajendra Wadiyar, which enabled him to participate in the World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. The memorial, spread over nearly 81,000 square feet, has been developed to preserve and showcase this historic legacy.

The Cultural Youth Centre features a state-of-the-art 4D Experience Centre, an exhibition hall, a 700-seat amphitheatre, classrooms, conference halls, a library, reading room, meditation and yoga hall, a book store, and dedicated study facilities for students preparing for competitive examinations.

After inaugurating the memorial, the Prime Minister will visit the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama in Mysuru and pay floral tributes to the statue of Swami Vivekananda. He will then participate in a special programme at the Ashrama auditorium for about 30 minutes. Around 6,000 people, including college students and members of the public, are expected to attend the event. Entry will be restricted to pass holders.

On the occasion, a statue of Swami Vivekananda sculpted by renowned sculptor Arun Yogiraj will be presented to the Prime Minister as a commemorative memento. A special gift reflecting Mysuru's rich cultural heritage will also be presented. The details were shared by Swami Muktidananda, President of the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama Trust.

The centre is dedicated to promoting the life, teachings, and ideals of Swami Vivekananda. It aims to serve as a hub for value-based education, leadership development, personality building, lectures, workshops, short-term courses, and capacity-building programmes. The initiative is expected to benefit more than 10,000 students and young people from both urban and rural areas.

Tight Security Arrangements

Extensive security arrangements have been put in place across Mysuru ahead of the Prime Minister's visit. A high-level security review meeting was held at the City Police Commissioner's Office under the chairpersonship of City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar.

Police officers from Mysuru city and neighbouring districts attended the meeting. Detailed instructions were issued regarding security protocols, traffic management, crowd control, VIP security, and emergency response measures. Tight security has been deployed at all event venues, along the Prime Minister's route, and at other key locations. The Police Commissioner has appealed to the public to cooperate with the police and follow all official advisories during the visit.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Rakesh Mahadevappa