Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Sciences

Swami Vivekananda Single Girl Child Scholarship for Research in Social Sciences INTRODUCTION Swami Vivekananda was one of the great social thinker and pioneer in social reforms in India. He was chief disciple of Saint Ramakrishna Paramhansa. In a short life span of just 39 years, he introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the western world. Swamiji stressed on different aspects of religion, education character building and social issues pertaining to India. Swami Vivekananda believed that “Education is manifestation of perfection already in men”. To him education was not mere collection of information, but is more meaningful. He stressed that education should be man-making, life giving and Character building. Education is assimilation of noble ideas. He stressed to combine dynamic and scientific attitude of west with spirituality of our country. In women education he emphasizes on fearlessness. Swami Vivekananda considered women to be incarnation of power and asked men to respect them in every way. He believed that the nation can move forward only when the women of the country secure a respectable place. He considered men and women to be equal. He was of the view that women just like men should be allowed to enjoy freedom, independence and responsibility. Swamiji stressed upon the importance of women education and believed that the main reason behind various problems of women in our country was lack of proper education. He firmly believed that if women get proper education then they will solve their problems in their own ways. The main objective in his scheme of women education was to make them strong, fearless, and conscious of their dignity. In our country like many other developing countries of the world, girl child is discriminated against from her birth, throughout her childhood and into her adulthood. It is very much evident from the skewed sex ratio in favor of men to women (men outnumber women) as sons are preferred over daughters. In many states the sex ratio is ala