Venkataramanan Ramasethu

Comprehensive List Of Hindu Sacred Texts  1. Śruti (Divine Revelation) Vedas (4 Main Vedas) 1. Rigveda – Hymns to various deities 2. Samaveda – Melodic chants from Rigveda 3. Yajurveda – Ritual formulas 4. Atharvaveda – Spells, charms, domestic rituals Components of each Veda 5. Samhitas – Hymns 6. Brahmanas – Ritual expositions 7. Aranyakas – Forest treatises 8. Upanishads – Mystical/philosophical teachings Principal Upanishads (11–13 Core) 9. Isha Upanishad 10. Kena Upanishad 11. Katha Upanishad 12. Prashna Upanishad 13. Mundaka Upanishad 14. Mandukya Upanishad 15. Taittiriya Upanishad 16. Aitareya Upanishad 17. Chandogya Upanishad 18. Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 19. Svetasvatara Upanishad 📘 2. Smṛti (Traditional Texts) Itihasas (Epics) 20. Ramayana – by Valmiki 21. Mahabharata – by Vyasa 22. Bhagavad Gita – within the Mahabharata Mahapuranas (18 Major Puranas - Select Few) 23. Bhagavata Purana 24. Vishnu Purana 25. Shiva Purana 26. Devi Bhagavata Purana 27. Skanda Pura...

A landmark moment for Indian literature! Banu Mushtaq’s Heart Lamp, a powerful collection of 12 short stories in Kannada translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, has won the International Booker Prize 2025. This is the first Kannada work and only the second from India to win this global honour. Written over a span of 33 years, the stories explore the personal and social struggles of southern Indian women—especially Muslim women—touching on caste, gender, and religious norms. Mushtaq, a lawyer and staunch women's rights advocate, infuses her lived experiences into each narrative. Translator Deepa Bhasthi, from Kodagu, Karnataka, has been praised for her “radical translation” that preserves the spirit of the original while offering a fresh voice in English. She becomes the first Indian translator and the ninth woman translator to receive the award. Mushtaq and Bhasthi will share the £50,000 prize, highlighting the global re...

Inviting Trenetralaya to EIVOC 2025 – A Heartfelt Visit Today, along with Ms. Ekta Saha (Administrator, SNESO Kolkata) and Ms. Mousumi Patro (Assistant Professor, SNESO Kolkata), I had the privilege of visiting Trenetralaya Eye Hospital to extend a warm invitation to their Optometry team—faculty, fellows, and interns—for the Elite International Vision Science and Optometry Conference (EIVOC 2025). We were touched by the gracious hospitality extended by Dr. Partha Biswas, Medical Director, and deeply thankful to Mr. Prajjwal Ghosh (Head In-charge, Senior Optometrist) and Mr. Kingshuk Bhattacharyya (Senior Optometrist) for their support and time. Sincere gratitude to Monideepa Biswas Ma’am, Administrator, and Dr. Preeyam Biswas, Consultant Ophthalmologist, for their warm welcome. A special thanks to the vibrant Optometry Department, students, interns, and fellows for pausing their clinical duties to join us in this interactive session. Your enthusiasm truly reflec...

Undoubtedly, Satyajit Ray continues to be revered as a master of world cinema. A testament to his enduring legacy was the premiere of the restored version of his 1970 classic Aranyer Din Ratri (Days and Nights in the Forest) at the prestigious 78th Cannes Film Festival, held from May 13 to 24, 2025  . The screening drew a host of celebrated film personalities, including Alejandro G. Iñárritu—Oscar-winning director of acclaimed works like Amores Perros and The Revenant—and the renowned cinematographer Darius Khondji, known for his visual artistry in films such as Evita, Bardo, Amour, and Eddington, the latter currently in competition at Cannes.  Ray’s exploration of human nature and his poetic storytelling continue to captivate audiences and filmmakers alike, reaffirming his place in the pantheon of cinematic greats.  Venkataramanan Ramasethu  20 May 2025

Merit-Based Scholarship Opportunities at SNESO Kolkata – Admissions 2025 Greetings from Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry, Kolkata! We are delighted to announce our Merit Scholarship Program for deserving students aspiring to pursue the Bachelor of Optometry (B.Optom) course at our institution. This initiative aims to support academically bright students who require financial assistance to achieve their career goals in the field of Optometry. Eligibility Criteria: Students must have secured 90% and above in their 10+2 board examinations (Science stream). A minimum of 70% in all subjects, including languages, is mandatory. Selection Process: All eligible candidates will undergo a written eligibility test and a personal interview. Evaluation will focus on academic knowledge, application skills, interest in Optometry, and long-term commitment to the profession. Scholarship Details: Scholarships cover course fees only. Other institutional charges are not included and must be bor...

Warm Mother's Day Wishes The beginning of human life itself starts in the womb of a woman. That womb stands as the symbol of birth, love, and sacrifice. In that sense, the word “Mother” is infused with a flood of emotions. Love, care, embrace, affection, devotion, and sacrifice—all these emotions converge at a single point, making the mother the one true living deity. A child’s first dream takes the form of a cry for “Amma.” The first nourishment, first safety, first fear, first trust, first guide—all come through the touch, voice, and vision of a mother. No matter how high a human may rise, the roots of love and affection always remain soaked in the tears of a mother’s eyes. A mother’s love is not just worthy of reverence—it is the spiritual light that plants the seeds for every stage of life. In every language, every religion, every civilization across the world, the mother is seen as a divine figure beyond comparison. A mother’s love is a great sacrificial fire—within it lies co...

Today, we bow in reverence to the timeless spirit of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his Jayanti — India’s first Nobel laureate, a poet of the soul, and a visionary who redefined Indian nationalism with the ink of universal humanism. His verses were not bound by borders; they resonated across continents, inspiring generations to dream of freedom, dignity, and oneness. Tagore didn’t just write poetry — he sculpted the conscience of a nation and gifted the world a philosophy rooted in harmony. Let us honour his legacy by keeping alive the spirit of creativity, courage, and compassion. “Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high…” – still echoes in every awakened heart. – Venkataramanan Ramasethu May 9, 2025

The Sacrifice: Reflections on Tagore’s Spiritual Rebellion By Venkataramanan Ramasethu May 8, 2025 In Bishorjon (The Sacrifice), Rabindranath Tagore boldly traverses the complex terrain of religion, power, and humanity’s yearning for divine approval. Beneath the surface of a seemingly ritualistic conflict between a king and a priest lies a profound meditation on how mankind, in its misguided zeal to please the divine, has often lost touch with the very essence of compassion and conscience. At the heart of the play is the King’s growing conviction that the goddess Kali, revered in her fierce form, is not to be appeased with blood but with love. This radical stance — especially in a time when animal sacrifice was deeply woven into religious fabric — positions the King as a spiritual revolutionary. In his defiance of ritualistic orthodoxy, he becomes a seeker of a higher moral truth: that God, or the divine, does not crave violence or suffering, but rather a deeper...

Applications are now open for the Optometry Internship 2025–2026 at the Elite School of Optometry, Kolkata. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application form by following the link below. https://forms.gle/3jXj7bmwnL8Ejvwc6 The last date for submission is 31st May 2025.