SVD Vidyabhavan Bhopal

Vision:

To reflect, to remain in and to radiate Christ’s love.

Mission:

We the members of the SVD Vidya Bhavan, aspire to dispel the darkness of ignorance through wisdom and true knowledge. Illumined by the Word, inspired by our founder’s spirituality, interiorizing the values of Jesus in our lives through intellectual, pastoral and communitarian activities and imbibing an inter-cultural living, we reach out to people of all cultural and religious traditions in order to bring peace, love and justice.

How it all started:

With seventeen students the new SVD Scholasticate ‘Janssen Vidyapeeth’ at Bhopal began on June 25, 1983. Till the appointment of the Rector, Fr. Anto Poruthur SVD was to take care of the schoalasticate. The seventeen students went to Khrist Premalaya Regional Seminary for their philosophy studies and at the same time will attend the graduation course at the school of School science in which Fr. Cletus Colaco SVD was the vice principal.  The SVD Vidya Bhavan is the only Philosophate of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in India. The Society’s Inter- Provincial Education Assembly held at Vidya Niketan, Mysore on 12^th – 14^th February, 1981 decided to start its own Philosophate where students could combine philosophical studies with graduation in the secular universities. Therefore the SVDs started its own Philosophate in Bhopal, detaching itself from the then Pontifical Athenaeum in Pune. The SVD Vidya Bhavan was established on July 18, 1983 in the St. Joseph’s co-ed school premises, Bhopal and moved into the present campus in 1985. The year 2008 was the silver jubilee year of the Institute.

The Students of the SVD Vidya Bhavan attended their Undergraduate classes at the Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS) – A College owned by the archdiocese of Bhopal. Along with their collegiate education the students also followed the philosophy courses at the Khrist Premalaya Regional Philosophate (KPRP). KPRP is the M.P. & Chhattisgarh regional seminary for philosophical training.

In 1991, the SVD Formation Board of India decided to hold an evaluation of the philosophy cum graduation Programme. A committee was constituted for executing the evaluation. Consequent on the recommendations of the committee an extended consultation among all members of the SVD in India was held with a view to ascertain their opinion on this matter.

The overall impression gathered from such an extended consultation was that philosophical studies should be pursued separately for better training of our students. Accordingly, a decision was made by the formation board in its meeting at Ishvani Kendra, Pune in December 1996 to delink philosophy from collegiate education. And the first group of students after completion graduation and Novitiate began their studies at SVD Vidya Bhavan, Bhopal on 15^th 1999.

From among the various possible locations for setting up of the proposed SVD Philosophate, Bhopal was found to be most conducive for more reasons than one. For one thing, geographically, Bhopal is centrally located and the presence and activities of the SVDs in India are within easy access. Secondly, the presence of the Regional Philosophate in the vicinity facilitates the academic exchange and excellence. Thirdly, the culture tapestry of Bhopal – a harmonious blend of Hinduism, Islam and other religions provides a unique opportunity for students to acquaint themselves with the religious plurality and cultural diversity of India.

 SVD Vidya Bhavan is an Institute of Philosophy and Religion that has its own well- defined visions and Programmes keeping in mind the contemporary that go with the formation of personnel for the church modern world. The society of the Divine word is a worldwide organization carrying out ht e mission mandate of the church. The society reaches out to any part to the world that calls for assistance (SVD Constitution 102 .1). In all its apostolic endeavours, however, the society, to the best of its possibility, maintains its international character, with a hope to provide a beacon of light to a world that is being torn apart by several divisive forces.

The philosophical Curriculum is so designed that the students are introduced to the rich intellectual traditions of both the East and the West. Care has been taken so as to avoid any over emphasis on any one system of thought at the expense of other. Along with a survey of the History of the western Philosophy there is also a survey of a History of the Asian Philosophies. Such comprehensive survey of the History of Eastern and Western Philosophies, we hope, will help students to gain a global vision of the human heritage.

Religious Pluralism is a reality. And there is a growing recognition of its legitimate place and role in shaping today, s world. Familiarity with the major religious traditions of the world, therefore, is an essential requirement in the formation Programmed. Accordingly, we have incorporated courses on major religions that purport to impart not just theoretical knowledge but some lived experience as well. Hence, exposure to some religious practices of non- Christians is always encouraged and promoted.  Social Sciences have brought to the fore many aspects of human life that were hitherto inadequately exposed or even totally unknown. Sociological, anthropological and psychological studies have also been incorporated into the syllabus with a view to impart an integral view of human life. Thus the whole curriculum of the institute is geared towards enhancing various dimensions that constitute human life in its entirety.

SVD Vidya Bhavan primarily purports to impart philosophical training to the students of the society with a special forces on the Indian context. The Institute offers a two year course in philosophy and allied branches of wisdom. It introduces the students to the methods of scientific research and to the problems and methods of philosophy. A systematic exposition to the various systems of philosophies of God. Man and the World are also done.

The Institute follows the semester pattern. There are two semesters per year and 90 class days per semester. The first and third June and end in the fourth week of October, and the second and fourth semesters commence in the first week of November and end in the last week of March.

The courses offered at the Institute are divided into two categories. The Basic courses form the essential framework of the syllabus. The Auxiliary Courses deal with a variety of topics of current interest and importance and they bear certain interdisciplinary relevance and formative significance. The syllabus is subjected to periodic evaluation and updating depending on the needs of formation Programmed.

Keeping in mind the need of the society of the Divine Word and its requirement, the students are offered two credit courses on Spanish Language, besides Hindi and Sanskrit and Latin languages. Other than these courses, philosophical seminars and workshops are conducted as per the academic curriculum. These are aimed at augmenting collective reflection on issues of global importance and to foster scientific approach and teamwork. A student has to complete a total of 120 credits of which 70 are for the Basic Courses and 10 for the first year seminar and 10 for the second year Dissertation, and 20 for the Auxiliary courses and 10 credits for the mission exposure. Each credit comprises 15 class hours of work.  The students also pursue M.A. degree in philosophy from Barkatullah University, Bhopal. Formees are exposed to regular pastoral activities in the different parishes and this gives an opportunity to develop their pastoral sensititty as well as their psycho spiritual growth. They also involve in social service ministries through SAMMAN and other NGOs.

Miles stones:

14/02/1981      Inter- Provincial Education Assembly held at Vidya Niketan, Mysore decided to start its own Philosophate

18/07/1983      SVD Vidya Bhavan was established in the St. Joseph’s co-ed school premises

02/10/1983      Fr. Joseph Veluthadath SVD hit the headlines of the MP Chronicle when he was felicitated by the Wareham Pracharak Smiti for his efforts in the promotion of Hindi. Janssen Vidyapeeth though in its infancy made news on the College Sports Day. Benedict Lakra, one of the students of the institution stole the show, winning the individual championship and four others were selected to the inter-collegiate Athletics Meet.

02/12/1984      Bhopal Tragedy: at 11 pm the messenger of death taking the form of Methyl-iso-cyanate (MIC) started moving up from the Union Carbide Factor situated among the slums of Bhopal. As per the report more than 2500 people died. Our own SVD men and other church personnel were saved by eh Divine Providence. But they together with other selfless people volunteered to bring relief measures to the almost two hundred thousand. However, our own philosophy students were later evacuated to Palda, Indore before the factory began neutralization process of remaining MIC on December 16.

1985                Moved to present campus.

01/12/1985      SVD Vidya Bhavan Bhopal reading the signs of the times of our Society and outside felt the need to specialize and go for PJPHD: Programme for Justice, Peace and Human Development in a small way. The whole community was divided into groups of two members who were supposed to give care, understanding love, respect and educational help to one poor child each from nearby locality which helped them to get in touch with a poor family each and its problems.

In 1991            SVD Formation Board of India decided to hold an evaluation of the philosophy cum graduation Programme. A committee was constituted for executing the evaluation.

1996                Accordingly, a decision was made by the formation board in its meeting at Ishvani Kendra, Pune to delink philosophy from collegiate education.

1999                The first group of students after completion graduation and Novitiate began their studies at SVD Vidya Bhavan, Bhopal

• Silver Jubilee of SVD Vidya Bhavan, Bhopal.

2013                SVD Formation Board of India decided to withhold the Post graduation course.

Confreres who worked so far: