Venkataramanan Ramasethu

https://snesokolkata.org/mr-venkataramanan-ramasethu.html

With devotion and reverence, we invite you to join us for Saraswati Puja, a sacred observance honouring Maa Saraswati, the eternal source of knowledge, wisdom, and learning. Deeply rooted in India’s academic and spiritual tradition, this puja reminds us that true education is guided by humility, discipline, and higher purpose. At Sankara Nethralaya – Elite School of Optometry, Kolkata, the Saraswati Puja reflects our enduring legacy of academic excellence, ethical practice, and commitment to nurturing enlightened eye care professionals. We seek divine blessings as we continue our journey of learning and service. Day & Date: Friday, 23rd January 2026 Time: 9:00 AM onwards Venue: Sankara Nethralaya – Elite School of Optometry (SNESO), Kolkata DJ/16, Action Area 1D, New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata – 700156

Pongal is more than a harvest festival—it is a living expression of Tamil civilisation rooted in gratitude. At its heart lies thanksgiving to Surya, nature, farm animals, and the people whose labour sustains agriculture. Its antiquity is well attested: Pongal is celebrated in Tiruvempavai by Manikkavacakar and recorded in Chola and Vijayanagara temple inscriptions. A notable record at the Veeraraghava Swamy Temple, attributed to Chola king Kulottunga I, speaks of land grants specifically made for Pongal celebrations, affirming its significance over a millennium ago. Culturally, Pongal embodies the Tamil vision of harmony between humanity, nature, and the divine. The overflowing pongal—rice, milk, and jaggery—symbolises abundance and shared prosperity. The four days—Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal—honour renewal, agriculture, cattle, and community. Celebrated as Tamizhar Thirunal, Pongal transcends religion and geography, uniting Tamils through memory, ri...

Swami Vivekananda is rightly revered as the architect of India’s spiritual renaissance, yet his seminal role in the nation’s scientific awakening is often overlooked. He envisioned an India where science and spirituality worked in harmony, a vision that shaped his discussions with Jamsetji Tata and ultimately led to the founding of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. His ideas influenced global thinkers like Nikola Tesla and inspired Indian scientific pioneers such as Satyendra Nath Bose. May the legacy of this great visionary continue to guide scientists in their pursuit of knowledge with courage, clarity, and purpose. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 14 January 2026

Makar Sankranti: A Festival of Light, Renewal, and Gratitude Makar Sankranti is a sacred solar festival celebrated each year on 14 January (15 January in leap years), marking the Sun’s transition into the zodiac sign of Capricorn (Makara) and the beginning of its northward journey, Uttarayana. Dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, this auspicious day symbolises new beginnings, spiritual awakening, and gratitude for life and prosperity. Observed across India and beyond under many names—Pongal, Magh Bihu, Uttarayana, Khichdi, Poush Sankranti, and more—the festival unites diverse cultures through shared traditions of harvest celebrations, holy river baths, charity, bonfires, kite flying, fairs, and community feasts. The exchange of sesame and jaggery sweets reflects harmony, warmth, and togetherness. Rooted in ancient Vedic wisdom and aligned with the solar calendar, Makar Sankranti reminds us of humanity’s deep connection with nature, the cosmic rhythm, and the timeless message of...

Ramanee – The Soul of Dakshin in the Heart of Kolkata Step into Ramanee and let your senses travel straight to Tamil Nadu. From the aroma of freshly ground spices to dishes prepared with time-honoured tradition, every plate narrates a story of authentic South Indian heritage. Pure ingredients, honest flavours, and soulful cooking—this is comfort food at its finest. For lovers of true Dakshin cuisine, Ramanee is not just a restaurant; it is an experience to be savoured. Contact & Location P 569, Golpark, Hemanta Mukherjee Sarani, Lake Terrace, Kolkata, West Bengal, India Phone: 9073340499, 6292291110 Venkataramanan Ramasethu 13 January 2026

National Youth Day | Vivekananda Jayanti On 12 January, India celebrates National Youth Day, commemorating the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda—a timeless torchbearer of courage, character, and clarity of purpose. Declared in 1984 and observed annually since 1985, this day reminds the youth of India that Swamiji’s philosophy and ideals are not mere history, but living inspiration—calling upon young minds to rise with strength, service, and self-belief. “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 12 January 2026

Learning is not a phase, it’s a journey. Each day in class shapes who we become. Small efforts today create big futures tomorrow. We learn, we grow, we rise—together. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 12 January 2026

Mahaperiyava – The Silent Light of Liberation January 8, 1994. The sacred day when Mahaperiyava left the body and merged into the eternal, indivisible Truth. Liberation is not disappearance; it is expansion into all. Though Periyava departed, his silence, compassion, and peace continue to shine within us. He did not preach— he was. That very being was the teaching. To that silent light, we bow in reverence. Venkataramanan Ramasethu  08.01.2026

Kanchi Mahaperiyava O silent ocean of compassion, You walked clothed in light—time and stillness obeyed Your will. No throne did You desire; truth itself was Your sovereignty, Your speech flowed like Vedic rivers, dissolving the arrogance of the ego. In Your silence, the universe stood awakened to itself, Each step You took became a prayer, melting fear away. You revealed that where the “I” disappears lies the doorway where God dwells, Teaching the world that humility is the path and service is grace. O Lamp of Dharma, eternally abiding in the heart, You remain the silent guide within. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 7 January 2026

📢📢 Sankara Nethralaya Elite School of Optometry is pleased to announce the Inter-College Optometry Quiz Competition, organized as part of the 2nd Dr. S. S. Badrinath Memorial Optometry Scientific Session! This quiz aims to provide an engaging academic platform for undergraduate optometry students to test their knowledge, sharpen clinical reasoning, and compete with peers from institutions across the country. The competition emphasizes teamwork, subject understanding, and application-based learning in optometry and vision science. 📅 Date: 8th February 2026 (Sunday) 👥 Eligibility: Undergraduate Optometry Students 👨‍👩‍👧 Team Composition: Max. 3 participants per team ✨ Battle the brightest minds and stand a chance to win exciting prizes while being part of a prestigious scientific event. 🔔 Important: Participation in the quiz requires prior registration. Interested students must visit the Quiz section of the official website: 👉 https://snesokolkata.org/drssbm-2026/inde...

As we enter 2026, may we carry with us the gentle courage to start anew, the steady discipline to stay the course, and the unwavering faith to reach our destination. This journey is not about perfection — but about growth, expansion, and becoming who we are meant to be. This year, may we rise with intention and purpose. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 01 January 2026

May 2026 stand as the doorway to a new dawn in our lives. May we have a heart that releases the past with gratitude, the courage to face the present with clarity, and a spirit that welcomes the future with faith in the Divine. Grace is hidden in every single day. May we receive the eyes to see it, and the inner awareness to feel it. Happy New Year 2026. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 01 January 2026

Cross Over, Learn — Deep Reflections The greatest secret of life is this: the journey where we must learn to save ourselves. No one outside can hold us up forever. Every person carries their own battles, their own wounds, their own long nights, and their own silent tears. That is why this illusory world teaches us a lesson it never speaks aloud: life may hurt us, but it becomes a failure only when we refuse to learn from that hurt. “To cross over” is not a race; it is a cleansing of the mind. Those who hold on to the past without forgiveness, without release, keeping yesterday’s wounds alive in their hearts, will never find peace. Pain knots the mind; only the act of moving forward can untie it. Expecting new peace while holding on to old wounds is like searching for light without stepping out of the darkness. “To learn” is not a cure for pain; every wound carries a message: – It teaches us whom to trust and whom to walk away from. – It reveals how fragile the heart can be,...

Merry Christmas 2025 May the light of Christ fill our hearts and homes with peace, mercy, and hope. On this sacred day, may Emmanuel — God with us — lead our steps, watch over our lives, and grant us grace for the year ahead. “For unto you is born this day a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11 Wishing you a blessed and holy Christmas. May Christ remain with us, within us, and before us, always. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 25 December 2025

A treasured memory from my 3rd-year BOptom days at the Elite School of Optometry, Chennai, captured at an Optometry conference in Dehradun, 1998. Seated from the left is my close friend and batchmate Krishna Shanmugasundarom; standing beside him is me. Seated next is Late Rajeswari Mahadevan, with my immediate senior Jayarajini Vasanth standing behind her. Beside Raji sits my batchmate Late Jaikishan Jaikumar. Years have passed, yet the friendships, laughter, and bonds of those college days remain timeless—forever etched in the heart. Venkataramanan Ramasethu 23 December 2025

“Majhe Majhe Tobo Dekha Pai” is one of those rare Rabindra Sangeet compositions where Rabindranath Tagore allows the soul to speak in a whisper. The Beloved appears only in fleeting moments—like sunlight breaking through clouds—leaving the heart yearning for permanence. This is not a song of worldly romance, yet it feels romantic. Tagore uses the language of love—yearning, separation, and the fear of loss—not for a human lover, but for the Divine. The clouds rise from within us: ego, attachment, and illusion, momentarily veiling what is always present. Romantic in emotion, spiritual in essence, the song lives in a sacred in-between space where prayer sounds like love—and love becomes prayer. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 22 December 2025

Cinema Paradiso (1988) — a love letter to cinema itself. Giuseppe Tornatore distils memory, longing, and the ache of growing up into a final reel that feels like a personal confession. Ennio Morricone, with Andrea Morricone, composes not just music but remembrance—each note carrying the weight of lost theatres and first loves. Philippe Noiret’s Alfredo stands eternal as the mentor every dreamer needs, while Salvatore Cascio and Jacques Perrin embody innocence and nostalgia across time. Trivia worth cherishing: the iconic final montage was built from censored kisses—once forbidden, now immortal—turning repression into poetry. A film that reminds us: cinema doesn’t just show life, it preserves it. — Venkataramanan Ramasethu 18 December 2025

If Bharathi’s writing was fire, that fire was not meant merely to burn the political chains that bound a nation; it was also a ray of light that entered the darkest chambers of the human soul. His creative force did not remain within what we today call “poetry”; it moved freely across the vast expanse of “the philosophy of liberation.” When India of that era was being crushed under foreign oppression, Bharathi, with the vision of his inner eye, perceived the Russian people in a distant corner of the world rising in their own struggle for freedom. He transformed that same human longing into flashes of lightning through the gentle, musical cadence of Tamil. His words, travelling beyond all boundaries of thought, became a rare bridge linking the soul of Tamil with the universal spirit of humanity. And that is what we realise— Bharathi’s writing was not a storm that rose for India alone; it was a thundering cry for the liberation of humankind itself. When Russia’s empire was tr...

Reflections on Bharathiyar’s Birth Anniversary — December 11 (Birth: 11 December 1882 — Death: 11 September 1921) The name Subramania Bharathiyar does not merely denote a poet in the history of Tamil; it signifies an awakening, a resurgence, a spark of fire. He stood as a lighthouse for the human spirit. Within the brief span between his birth and death, he left behind a radiance of thought that continues to guide us across centuries. In Bharathiyar’s mind lived a vastness—an unshakeable conviction about the inalienable truth of human freedom. When he declared, “We must destroy the demon called fear,” it was not an ordinary statement; it was an intellectual thunderclap against every chain that binds our inner selves. His poetry, his speeches, his unwavering resolve—each of these were voices that forged the spiritual strength of humanity. For him, equality was not a mere ideology; it was the fundamental justice of human existence. Bharathi’s vision that placed wo...