Second General Report - 1919

THE SECOND GENERAL REPORT OF

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

(1913—1916)

With which is incorporated some up-to-date information.

May, 1919.

ISSUEE BY THE GOVERNING BODY, FROM: BELUR MATH, HOWRAH.

CONTENTS.

The origin of the Ramakrishna Mission... ... i

Present Stage . ... ... ... 5

Section A.

The Maths and Ashramas—Permanent Institutions' for Missionary Work:—

1. The Ramakrishna Math, Belur... ... 5
2. The Ramakrishna Math, Calcutta ..'. ... 6
3. The Ramakrishna Adwaita Ashrama, Benares..: 7

(4) The Adwaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Himalayas ... '(5) Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras ...... 9

6. Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore—The Rama­
   krishna Kerala Mission, Bangalore ... ... 11
7. The Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamala Tal, Himalayas... 12

(8) to (12) Other Indian Ashramas and Maths... 12(1.3) The Foreign Centres in America:—

1. The Vedanta Society of New York ..... 13
2. The Vedanta Centre of Boston ...... 13
3. The Vedanta Society of San Francisco, California ' 14
4. The Shanti Ashrama, California ...... 15
5. The Vedanta Society of Washington • ...... 15

Sri Ramkrishna and Vivekananda Birthday Celebrations 15

Section B. The Mission proper :—

A. Charitable Institutions :—

At the Headquarters

1. The Belur Math Charitable Dispensary... 16
2. Temporary Relief Works organised from .the

Headquarters ... ... ... 17

(3) Other Charitable Works from the Headquarters .... 18Permanent Charitable Institutions affiliated to the Mission :—

(i) The Ramakrishna Mission Home of service, Benares 18

THE GENERAL REPORT

OF

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION.

( 1913-1916) The origin of the Ramakrishna Mission.

It was on the ist of May 1897, that a representative gathering of the monastic and lay disciples and followers of Sri Ramakrishna took, place in the house of late Babu Balaram Bose, at 57, Ramkanta Bose's Street, Baghbazar, Calcutta, in response to Swami Viveka-nanda's invitation to them,.intimating his desire of holding a meeting for:the purpose of founding an Association in fulfilment of his long-cherished desire of bringing about a close co-operation between the monastic and the lay disciples and followers of Sri Ramakrishna, and of organising in a systematic way the various spontaneous activities, both spiritual and philanthropic, carried on by or 'under the: guidance of his " gurubhais". When all had assembled, Swamiji opened the meeting by speaking in Bengalee to the follow­ing effect:—

"From my travels in various countries I have come to the con­clusion, tha.t without organisation nothing -great and permanent can be done: But in a country like India, at our present stage of deve­lopment, it does not seem to me well-advised to start an>organisation upon the republican system in which every member should have equal voice, and in which its deliberations: should be. deckledj by the majority of the votes of the community;;' With the. West the case is

different .... Amongst us also, with the: spread ofiiEducation when

we shall learn to sacrifice, or to:stand atiove our; individual interests and concerns for theigood of the community, or the nation at large, then the working of our: Association \viU be conducted'on republi­can principles. Taking these into consideration; we should have for our organisation at present a Dictator whose orders every one should

obey. Then, in the fulness of time, it will oe guided by the opinion and consent of the members.

" This Association will bear the name of; Him in whose name we have become Sannyasins, taking Whom as your jdeal you are leading the life of the householders in the field of activity of this Samara, and Whose holy name and the influence of; Whose unique life and teachings have within twelve years of His passing away, spread in such an unthought-of way both in the East and the West. Let t\i\s Sangha or organisation be therefore named as the Ramakrishna Mission. We are only the servants of. the Master. May you all help us in this work". „

The proposal being enthusiastically supported by all the house­holder disciples, the future method of work was discussed and some resolutions were passed- embodying in the main the' principles and the aims and objects by which the movement is now guided. As originally drawn up they were to the following effect :— : This Association (Sangha) will be known as the Ramakrishna

Mission.

The Aim of the Sangha is to preach those truths which Sri Ramakrishna has, for the good of humanity, given out and demons­trated ,by practical application in His own life, and to help those truths being made practical in the lives of others for their temporal, mental and spiritual advancement.

The' Duty of the Mission is to conduct in the right spirit the activities of the movement inaugurated, by Sri Ramakrishna for -the establishment of fellowship among, the followers of different reJi-gions, knowing them to be, so many forms only of one undying Eternal, Religion.

Its Methods of action are :— - '

(a) To train men so as to, make them competent to teach such knowledge or sciences as i are conducive to the material and spiritual welfare, .of all persons. (M To promote and encourage arts and industries^ (f): To- introduce and' spread among the people in general Vedantic and'other religious ideas in; the way in which they were elucidated in tfie'life-of Sri Ramakrishna.

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Indian Work Department.—The activities of the Mission should be directed to the establishment of Maths and Ashramas in different places of India .for the training of Sannyasins and such householders as may be willing to devote their lives to the teaching of others, and to the finding of the means by which they would be enabled to educate the people, by going about from one province to another.

Its work in the Foreign Department should be to send trained members of the order to countries outside .India, to start centres therefor the preaching of the Dharma and for creating a close relationship and a spirit of mutual help and sympathy between the foreign and the Indian centres.

The Aims and Ideals of the Mission being purely spiritual and humanitarian, it should have no connection with politics.

Any one who believes in the Mission of Sri RamakrisHna or who sj'mpathise's or is willing to co-operate with the above-mentioned aims and objects of the Association, is eligible for membership.

When the Ramakrishna Mission was registered as'a legally incorporated body on the 4th of May 1909, some additions and alter­ations as well as modifications in its body of Rules and Regulations, (vide Appendices A & B) were deemed necessary under the changed circumstances to meet the exigencies of the Law, mostly in its executive functions, though its principles and objects remained the same a's originally laid down by the Swami, Thus, the Ramakqshna Mission, which is composed of monastic and lay members, is guided by the Governing Body composed of the Trustees of the Ramakrishna Math at Belur, its .members have: the power to vote for certain purposes and it has jurisdiction over and controls the working of all its own branches .of a philanthropic and charitable character and temporary and other occasional measures of the relief of public distress and works of public utility started in co-operation with the interested people of the localities concerned, or with the funds raised from the general public. This body is now recognised as the Ramakrishna Mission in contradistinction to the Ramakrishna Math, which is purely a religious and monastic body with its branch Maths and Ashramas, where Brahmacharins are trained to lead trie, life of practical spirituality and from which they are sent out either as

[• 4 ]

teachers or workers to conduct the management of its centres or as.workers to help in the organisation and management of philanthro­pic and charitable work started under the auspices of the Rama^krishna Mission.

Thus, to explain further, as was done in " the First GeneralReportSf the Ramakrishna Missiqji", the. Ramakrishna Math and theRamakrishna Mission are the twin institutions embodying respective­ly the ideals of Renunciation and Service.
The Ramakrishna Math is a monastic institution formed with theobject of properly fulfilling the , Divine trust imposed upon it bySri Ramakrishna, as pointed out ty the Swami . Vivekananda, for
perpetuating the ideal and the revelation of, the One UniversalReligion, re-establishing the , truths , of the. Vedas and all the otherscjiptures of the world for modern humanity. , To this monasticinstitution a legal status, was assured by the Swami through a Deedof Trust executed by him in 1899. It now administers its affairs,
so far as necessary in a legal form, through a. Board, of Trusteeswith a President at its head and preserves at the._; same time all thetraditional character and polity of a monastic order with its ownmethods of spiritual discipline, training and culture.. In this respect
the " Math " with its various ramifications in different places is aseparate institution from the "Mission." , But when, this monasticorder steps out of the isolation of individual spiritual pursuits and
associates with, the public in the sphere of service to humanity, it
becomes the. " Ramakrishna Mission." It is then that the .Trusteesof the Math become the Governing Body of the. Mission, and .thepublic are invited to co-operate with the monastic, order as members
and associates of the Mission/ in. all the _; missionary, . educational,benev.olent, charitable or organising, activities of 'the 'Mission. TheMissionJs therefore u collateral and dependent development, of theMath itself,'calculated to supply to the.latter thatJurther. scope^ andpublic aspect which it requires; for realising its ideal of service.Thus the Mission, except in the constitution of its Governing Body,is an entirely benevolent and public, institution,with its own body ofrules and regulations andjts.various centres in the different partsof India.

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PRESENT STAGE.

The objects of the Ramakrishna Mission having been clearly defined in the Memorandum of the Association, every Report is expected to'make out the amount of progress, made in furtherance of those objects from the data of yearly reports submitted by all the branch centres., In addition to this, it has to record aU active measures, temporary, or permanent, taken in pursuance of these objects from the head-quarters of the Mission.

The works of the Mission fall under three-classes :—

1. Missionarywork .(preaching, organising and publishing ofliterature).
2. Charitable'work.
3. Educatipnal work.

As indicated.above, the various Maths and Ashramas though not strictly coming under the jurisdiction of the Ramakrishna Mission as legally registered, are the chief centres of the missionary work and publishing activities and are known to the public loosely as part of .the Mission. It is. from these centres, moreover, that the religious impulse for the various philanthropic and educational works of the Mission proceeds and the workers mainly secured. So in the first section of the Report we go on briefly to describe their various activities, following the method adopted in the first General Report.

SECTION A.

The. Maths and Ashramas.

Permanent Institutions for Missionary works.

(I) The Ramakrishna Math, Belur.

The Monasteries established in the name of Sri Ranukrishna, in several parts of India, properly constitute the permanent missionary institutions for the spread of the message and ideals of the Divine Master and his'inspired disciple, Swami Vivekananda. Of these

[ 6. ]

monasteries the first and the foremost is the Ramakrishna Math atBelur in the district of Howrah, where the head-quarters .of theMission are located. " .

During the period under review, religious classes were held here,, under the guidance of Swamis Brahmananda, Premananda, Shivananda and Turyiananda followed by discourses on various topics which had the effect of imparting to the monastic members as well as to the public, ideas of purity, renunciation and a deep religious, fervour. The Swamis make occasional tours in Bengal and different parts of India to preach the catholic doctrines of Sri Ramakrishna Deva. During the period under review Swami Brahmananda, the President of the mission on his pilgrimage to Kamakhya in Assam in 1913 laid the foundation stone of the Dacca Ramakrishna Math and also in the next year during his sojourn in the Mysore Province laid the foundation stone of the Math at Trivendrum in Travancore. .

A free distribution was made of a nice little .edition of" Ramanam Sankirtan " brought from Madras by Swami Brahma­nanda. , •£'

In the year 1916 a 'Tol' was opened and a paid Pundit was engaged for the promotion and imparting of Sanskrit learning to the Brahmacharins of the Math with funds initially-supplied by Srijut Jadupati Chatterjee of Bhowanipur to commemorate the memory of hrs father Pundit Rammoy Tarkaratna. \Vith further help-it is contemplated to extend its sphere by admitting students from outside and by expanding its.teaching to develop it into a regular institution. for the advancement of Sanskrit culture.

(2) The Ramakrishna Math, Calcutta.

The literary portion of the Mission , work . in Bengal, comprising the publication of a Bengali monthly named "Udbodhan" and of the works of Swami Vivekananda and their Bengali translations, as well as that'of the works of the other disciples of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and the publication of similar works is done from i, Mukherjee's.Lane, Baghbazar, Calcutta under the supervision of Swami Saradananda, the Secretary of the Mission.

The " Udbodhan " is purely religious,in character, and is in its

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21 st year since its publication. We give a list of. ;books published up Jo 1916 :—

1. Almost _;all the works of .Swami Vivekananda (in Bengali andalso in English).
2. All the works of Swami Saradananda .(in Bengali).
3. Ramanuj-Charita (in Bengali by Swam: Ramakrishnananda).
4. The Words of the Master (in English and Bengali by SwamiBrahmananda).

. . 5. Almost all the works of the Sister Nivedita. . . •'•

6. Ramakrishna Paramahansa by Pratap Chandra Majumdar.. 7. All the works of Sarat Chandra Chakravarty, a. disciple ofSwami Vivekananda. - •. '

8. Nivedita (in Bengali) by Srimaty Saralabala Dasi and other booklets.

(3) The Ramakrishna Adwalta Ashrama, Benares.

By dint of perseyerance, the Ramakrishna Adwaita Ashrama hassteadily risen to importance and now possesses a beautiful home whichhas proved a very good retreat for meditation of the monastic mem­
bers.. To propagate the .catholic teachings of Sri Ramakrishna andSwami Vivekananda amongst the Hindi-speaking people of U. P., theAshrama is making some efforts to translate and publish in Hindi
the publications of the Order and though it has not been able to domuch in this direction, its small -efforts have been appreciated by the
people for whom they were intended as is shown by their increasingdemand. The list.of Hindi books that can be had .from theAshrama is given below :— • ^ • ......

• (i) Ramanama Sankirtan. . ' ,

(2) Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa Devaka Samkshipta J.ivan our Upadesha.. ".. .

. (3) Guru Shishya Satsanga Part i. , (Hindi translation of Swami-Shishya-Sambada in Bengali by Sarat Chandra Chakravarty).

(4) Svvamiji's Chicago Vaktrita. "

Brahamacharins are trained here and religious discourses and classes ,are held. Public lectures also are arranged from the Ashrama occasionally.

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(4) The Adwaita Ashrama, Mayavati, Himalayas.

A monastery in the forest seclusion of the Himalayan regions at a high altitude was planned and established by the Swami Vivekananda with the help, of Captain Sevier and Mrs. Sevier -with Swami Swarupananda as the first President. Started in the year 1899 at a height of 6,800 ft, its special aim and object was to study the highest flower of philosophic thought viz. the Adwaita Vedanta amidst the calm and sublime atmosphere of the Himalayan scenery. Dis­carding all ceremonial and external worship and all religious creeds which teach dependence, the Ashrama is dedicated to Adwaita alone where by hearing, meditating, believing and ultimately realising oneself as identified with the one, universal Self, strong, self-reliant characters will be built, which will act as a mighty leaven in the world of modern thought. Another object of the Ashrama is that its cool and salubrious climate suitable to the health of Europeans will provide a place for those European students of Vedanta who come to India to study and practise it in the native place of its origin.

In furtherance of the objects of the Ashrama the members of the Ashrama are trained as workers and teachers. Classes are held in the Ashrama to study Vedanta sutras, Upanishads, &c. Swami Pragnananda succeeded Swami Virajananda as the President of the Ashrama in the middle of December 1913. A constant correspond­ence was conducted by the Swami with many enquirers to solve doubts about religion and spirituality. In his tour in 1915, through Allahabad and Lucknow, the Brahmavadin Club in the former town and the Ramakrishna Sevashrama in the latter invited him to meet the public of those places in conversational meetings, which" were well attended and successful.

The success which has attended the publication work of the Ashrama, is very satisfactory. The progress of the 'Prabuddha Bharata' has been steady and it has established a permanent place in the field of journalistic literature, discussing the question of the realisation of Indian ideal through religion. The following is the list of books published by the Adwaita Ashrama known as the Himalayan series from 1011 to 1916 :—

.-. '. [ 9 ]. . . ' •

1. The Life of the Swami Vivekananda, Vols. II, III.
2. Minor Upanishads, Part I.
3. In the hours of Meditation By a disciple.
4. The complete works of the Swami Vivekananda, Second
   Edition, Vols. I, II.. -'' '
5. Vairagya Satakam (English Translation).

6; Epistles of Swami Vivekananda, 3rd series.

7. Sri Ramakrishna's Teachings.
8. Raja Yoga.

Swami Prajnananda has passed away in April 1918 and Swami Madhavananda has succeeded him as President, Adwaita Ashrama.

There is a Charitable Dispensary here which has long been doinguseful.work and has now developed into a useful institution supply-Ing a much-needed want among the poor hill-people. This isproved by the number of patients treated as sKown in the followingtable :—- -,'-'"

In the year 1913 724 .

,, 1914 1,046

" ••'"„ ' i9^J5 J.I73

1916 1,415

-A new building for the Dispensary and Hospital work was com­pleted at the beginning of 1914 and this added greatly to the use­fulness and scope of the work.

The members of the Ashrama have been trying to spread educa­tion in the villages among the ignorant hill-people and have done some work in the direction. Lately a school with a few hill-boys has been started provisionally at Mayavati, the members themselves doing the teaching work.

(5) Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras.

During the period under consideration the work of the Math has extended in more than one direction. The ideals of the order have been vigourously pursued and its activities have" spread throughout the Presidency.; Swami Ramakrishnananda who was in charge, passed away in November 1911 and was succeeded by Swami Sarvananda who took charge of the work from August 1912.

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Shortly after taking charge he made a tour in the several districts of Madras to preach the gospel of Vedanta in the light shed on it by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. He visited Parlakemedi, Cocanada, Cuddappah, • Negapatam, Vanayambadi, Netranpalli, Kumbakonam, Podukotah, Trichinopoly and North Malabar. Besides this, he held classes in different parts of the town of Madras. His valuable lectures were much appreciated and the trustees of the Pachaiyappa's charities requested him in 1915 to fill the chair of the Honorary Religious Professor for all the classes of the Pachaiy­appa's College which he accepted, and tried to instil the highest teachings of the Vedanta Philosophy into the minds of the students to the best of his abilities. In July 1913 he visited Kuala Lampur in Malaya Peninsula for opening the new building of the Vivekananda Ashrama which has now developed into a great institution. . Invited by the Vivekananda Society of Colombo, he went over ta Ceylon in December, 1915 and delivered religious lectures in Colombo, Kandi, Anuradhapuram and in different educational centres at Jaffna. He alsd went over to Rangoon in May 1916 and did propaganda work and through his efforts the two societies that were independently working there under the holy name of Sri Ramakrishna, were amalgamated into one compact body known as " The Sri Ramakrishna Society ".

In May 1914, a high-class religious and philosophical monthly-magazine named the " Vedanta Kesari " was started by the Math with the object of propagating the higher ideals of life in .the light of the Vedanta. It is satisfactory to note that the magazine has kept up to its ideal and is gaining ground. . The- centre also under­took publishing work and succeeded in bringing out the following books during the period under review:—

1. Isha Upanishad }

1 with English commentary by

2. Kena „ }• . ..

I Swami Sarvananda.

3. Katha .., J
4. Sayings of Sri Ramakrishna.
5. Tamil translation of Swami Vivekananda's Bhakti Yoga.The centre collected a large sum of money for the Bankura

Famine Relief Work of the year 1916.

•[ II. ]

; _;.The building which was erected by the public of Madras and presented to the Mission was torn by cracks and fissures due to the sinking ,of .the underlying basement. It was lying in a dilapidated cqndition:and eventually became very threatening.: So the members had to remove to different rented houses, until in the year 19163 beautiful and imposing Math building was constructed in Mylapur on an adjacent plot of land bought for the purpose with the help of the kind contributions of the friends and sympathisers of the Mission in the Madras Presidency.

This centre was honoured by the inspiring presence of SwamiBrahmananda, the President of the Mission, during his sojourn inthe Southern Presidency in 1916. .

(6) Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore.

The work of this Ashrama is conducted br Swami Nirmalananda with the assistance I or 2 other Sannyasins of the order. He holds religious classes regularly and undertakes lecturing tours in various parts of Southern India and through his ardent activities new centres are springing up in many places in Mysore province and in the West Coast, a detailed account of which is given below. Swami Somananda who is still living in Bangalore and who knows the dialect of the District imparts.religious instructions every, Sunday to the convicts of the/local jail of the Mysore State and his work is much appreciated-by the State.- . .< •

_x The Ramakrishna Kerala Mission, Bangalore.

The work of the Sri Ramakrishna Mission in' Kerala (Malavar and Travancore) from 1911 to 1916 is a pleasing record of progress. Much has been done during this period, thanks, to the indefatigable energy and indomitable zeal of Swami Nirmalananda, the President of the Ramakrishna Ashrama of Bangalore, who has been sojourn­ing these parts year after year and disseminating the teachings, of Sri Ramakrishna and as a result many societies have been called into existence throughout Malabar.

In October 1912 the foundation stone of the first permanent

centre in Travancore was laid at Thiruyella and in August 1913 the Ashrama work at Haripad was started. In April 1914 both the Ashramas were opened and May 1915 saw the opening of the Ashrama at Quilandy in Malabar. In-October 1915 a Malayalam monthly named " Prabuddha Kerala " on the lines of the Prabuddha Bharata was started at Quillon to diffuse knowledge among the masses in vernacular. The success which has attended this enter­prise is highly gratifying.

The province of Kerala was visited by the inspiring presence of Swami Brahmananda the President of the Mission, in December 1916 when he laid the foundation stone of the Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama at Trivandrum on his pilgrimage to Cape Comorin. The building work of the Ashrama is fast progressing.

(7) The Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamala Tal,Himalayas.

This new Ashrama was started in the Himalayas by the Swami Virajananda on the i8tb*of May 1915. It is situated at" a height of 4,944 ft. above sea-level commanding one of the finest sceneries and only 12 miles from the nearest Railway station of Tanakpur. Though the Ashrama is intended to be a centre devoted purely to meditation and other religious practices the- Swami has ever been busy with doing some important work" in the furtherance of'the Swami Vivekananda's cause. The need of a charitable dispensary was keenly felt by the Swami, and with the pecuniary help of some of his friends," the work has been conducted with great usefulness and much success since November 1914.

Other Indian Ashramas and Maths.

8. The Ramakrislina Math at Muthigunj, Allahabad under thePresidentship of Swami Vijnanananda.
9. The Ramakrishna Kutir at Chilkapeta, Almora, U. P. openedfor the- purpose of forming a retreat for the monastic members of theMission, who want to live the life of meditation and solitude.
10. The Dacca Ramakrishna Math—attached to the Ramakrishna

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Mission Branch at that place.. Regular Puja and Bhajanas areperformed here., . , ,

; (n) _v The Ashraraa at Kishenpur, Dehradun,, opened in 1916 under the supervision of Swami Karunananda.

(12) A Goshala at Tanakpur in the district of Nainital under thesupervision of Swami Paramananda No. 2. ''• . ;

(13) The Foreign Centres in America. *

About the origin of the foreign centres readers will please referto the First General Report of the Ramakrishna Mission published inthe year 1914..- We are*glad to inform the public that -

(a) The Vedanta Society of New .Fork, under Swami

Bodhananda has extended its activities and removed to new premises in the year 1915. The general feeling is that its present work is more successful than in previous years.. The attendance ^ higher:and the interest is more-and more extending. A public hall has been secured ' i-for. the . Sunday lectures and is. always well • attended. Bi-weekly classes are also held in the Society rooms.

(b) The Vedanta centre of Boston removed to its new and

permanent home in the year 1914. Regular classesare held by Swami Paramananda and in his absence by
Sister Devamata. In response .to repeated and urgent
invitations from the.students of Los Angeles the Swarrri
left Boston and made a. -journey to the.; Pacific Coaststopping only for a few days at Grand (Tavyon. Regularseries of class lectures followed his arrival. Duringhis stay here heldeveloped the class into a permanentcentre; in the year 1916. The publication department/ has been made a, prominent feature of the work here

and during the period under review 12,000 copies of books and pamphlets have been published including translations of the Bhagavat Gita and some of the Upani-shads, and some hitherto unpublished lectures of Swami Vivekananda and Swami.Ramakrishnananda. A monthly . . periodical, styled -''The Message of the .East"

was

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started in the year 1912; for the purpose of propagating the'teachings of the Vedanta and, bringing¹ about a mutual understanding and interchange of Eastern and Western thoughts. "We are glad to report that the magazine is being ably conducted by the Swami.

In 1915 a considerable sum •••was- raised by this, centre from amongst its sympathisers and students and sent to India for the relief of the famine-stricken people of East Bengal and Bankura.

Swami Paramananda. in^; course of his 'continental tour in Europe visited Geneva and by his lectures and classes interested some in the religion and Philosophy of the Vedanta. These earnest students have banded themselves, into a Society for the study of Vedanta and are still continuing their earnest study.

{<-) Swami Trigunatita with the assistance of Swami Prakash-ananda was conducting the Vedanta¹ Society of San Francisco in California and holding'regular classes and lectures. Towards the end of 1914 > Swami. Prakash-ananda made a successful lecturing'tour of six weeks • through Oregon and the State of Washington and deli­vered 16 lectures before appreciative and learned audien­ces.' After returning to San Francisco, he established another centre there, named -Pacific Vedanta Centre',and ably conducted it for, some time. After the tragic death of Swami Trigunatita on loth January 1915 the centre' was conducted .by some of his students. Swami Prakashananda took charge of it in the beginning of 1916, and has since amalgamated both these centres. The monthly Magazine " Voice of Freedom " which had been so long conducted from here was continued up to March 1916, when for some unavoidable reasons it stopped publication. Towards the end of 1915, Swami Prakashanarida was an important speaker at the Congress -of Religious Philosophies held in connection with the Panama Exposition. He also delivered 2 lectures on

. • • • • [ 15. ]

Buddhism in his capacity &$' the Vice-President of the International Buddhistic Congress.

(</) The Shanti Ashrama—located in the San Antone Valley, inthe midst of the beautiful coast ranges', about onehnndred miles from San Francisco, has been a sourceof great practical benefit to the Vedanta students asfurnishing a 'retreat where they resort some monthsduring the year and live the life of seclusion and quiet
meditation. - •

(e) About the Vedanta Society- of. Washington, under the supervision of Sister Devamata, sufficient interest has been aroused in the public assuring the possibility of the growth of a permanent centre and in view of the conservative and political atmosphere of the place, the rise and steady progress of the Vedanta centre bear. high testimony to thei intrinsic power of the Vedanta Message in the West.

Sri Ramakrishna and Vivekananda Birthday
Celebrations. ,

We have not mentioned one important function of all theMaths and Ashramas. It is the anniversary celebrations onthe birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Duringthese occasions large gatherings take place in the various Ashramas.Bhajans are held, lectures about the life and teachings of thesegreat men are delivered, large numbers of poor people are fed a,nd
Bhaktas partake of the holy prasada. •

The great concourse of people on these occasions furnishes a ready opportunity for the spread and preaching of the message and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Large numbers of people who assemble drawn by the names of the great Masters come to know of their teachings, life-work and message and these fructify in the lives of many as dedication to the ideals of Service and Renunciation.

[ 16 ]

SECTION B.

Mission Proper.

After thus briefly describing the various Rarnakrishna Maths and Ashramas, we pass on to the Mission proper, i.e., the various charitable and philanthropic and educational Institutions, started by or. affiliated with the Ramakrishna Mission, as well as to activities in the form of temporary relief measures on occasions of public distress undertaken by the Mission in co-operation with the public.

A. Charitable Institutions.

(At the Head-quarters).

(i) Belur Math Charitable Dispensary :—

The Charitable Dispensary at .the Belur Math 'is doing great good among the neighbouring villagers. The patients are served with medicine and diet without distinction of caste and creed and those who cannot come to the Dispensary are attended to in their own houses. It is noteworthy to state • that the Dispensary is attracting people from distant villages and patients come occasionally from the other side of the river even. Owing to the considerable increase in the number of patients we were obliged to remove the Dispensary from the Math premises to a. separate building in the Math compound. This, building cost about Rs, 2,000 and was, constructed in 1916 with funds supplied by Srijut Krishna Chandra, Bose of Shambazar and Messrs. Sinclair, Murray & Co.. of Calcutta and the deficit was provided. by the Belur Math and Ramakrishna Mission general funds. We give below a_: brief account of the

expenses for constructing it:— . . .

Rs. a', p.

Bricks & tiles ..... ... 54O ^{2 6}

Cement, lime, sand & mortar • ... 227: 15. 9Doors, windows & other wooden

requisites ... ... 168 5 3

Iron joists, T. rods &c. ... 401- i 6

Labour ._:. -..: ... 59^{8 Ir} 3

Contingencies _- ... ... ,12 84

1.948 12 7

[ 17 ]

Further development of this charitable work depends upon the Sympathetic response of the liberal public. A table is given below showing the number of patients treated from 1913 to 1916 :—

	Patients	Patients treated at the
Years.	treated at their	Dispensary.		Total.
	own lodging.	New cases.	Repeated No
1913	35	203	762 ;	IOOO
1914	41	901	'2OOO	2942
1915	59'	2041	5214	7314
1916	87.'..	2900	- - 74831	10470

Total. 222 ,6045 ^I5459' 21726

The Mission authorities offer their heartfelt thanks to Messrs. B. K. Paul & Co. of Calcutta for their constant acts of charitr in the shape of free gifts of medicines especially towards this Dispensary. • They also express their heart-felt thanks to the Bally Municipality for granting Rs.' 120 from April, 1917 to March, 1918 and another instalment of Rs. 120 from April, 1918. to March

(2) Temporary Relief Works organised from the Headquarters : _ (a} Temporary Relief Work was opened on the I2th of August 1913 and was carried on up to 30* April, 1914 i_n the Districts of Hiighly, Howrah¹, Baukura and Midnapur to relieve the sufferings caused by the great flood of the River Damodar, full details of which will be found in a separate report of the relief 'work of the Ramakris'hna Mission, Belur, during the flood in the Burdwan Division (published in 1914).

' s *~ '~

(b) Relief works of multifarious character were also conducted

from the 3rd of June, 1915 to the 19* 'of December, 1916 in the Districts of (i) Tipperah (2) Noakhali (3) Cachar (4) Mymensingh (5) Balasore (6) Bankura (7) Midnapur (8) Burdwan (9) Benares (10) Balia and also relief aid was giveii in the Districts of (u) Dacca (12) Fandpur (13) Sylhet (14) Puri and (15) 24 Purganas. For-

particulars vide the Report of the Relief Work of the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur, during the flood, famine and other distress in Bengal, Assam, Orissa, and the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh.

(c) A relief work was opened to help the sufferers from a big

fire in the village of Kapileshwar near Bhubaneshwar in the. month of May 1915.

(d) In every year a relief party was sent to the Gangasagar

Mela held on the Pous-Sankranti day to help thousandsof pilgrims who resort to that place during the Mela.
The total sum spent in these relief works during the period underreview was Rs. 1,10,542-3-3. ,

.•••.. (3) Other Charitable Works from the headquarters.

From the Poor fund of the Mission many students are" helpedwith books, school arid college" fees and many invalids and infirmpeople get monthly allowances. Occasional pecuniary help is alsogiven to the poor in case of emergency. We beg to inform thereader that the demands from this fund are heavy but as it is tooinadequate to cope with all of them, we are obliged to disappointmany deserving persons. So we appeal to the generous-heartedpublic to supply us with funds so that we can help at least the mostdeserving of them. _ -

Permanent Charitable Institutions affiliated to the Mission.

(I) The Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Benares.

The Home of Service has by the grace of Providence reached at present a stage where there can be no question of its indispensable usefulness. By steady progress and by gradual expansion in response to opening out of opportunities of service it has by dint of sterling work and sincere self-sacrificing¹ spirit achieved a wonderful record of work and attained to its present reputation. The institution proving itself indispensable to the relief of suffering, the , beneficent activities of the Home has rapidly expanded and so it had to

[ 19 J

iundertake a considerable extension of its buildings in answer to the rapidly growing demand. Accordingly a big plot of land measuring •8'22 acres was acquired on its behalf by the Government under the Land Acquisition AcJ: in 1913 contiguous to its former site. The foundation stone of the buildings in the new plot was laid by Mr. C. A. C. Sreatfield, i.c.s., Magistrate and Collector, Benares, on the 29th April, 1914. • Since then the construction proceeded and by 1916 the following buildings were completed and opened for patients Tjy Mr. G. B. Lambert, i.c.s., Magistrate and Collector, Benares, -on the 15th November, 1916 and are now in full use.

A detailed description of the constructed buildings is givenbelow:— . , . ;'•;..

Five Segregation Wards in all, i for women and 4 for men providing altogether seats for 35 patients alloted as follows:—

1. -One Cholera Ward with one latrine, 4 seats, 2 isolated rooms,-with a slop-sink, nurse's room and store attached.

2. One Pox Ward constituted as above.
3. One Plague Ward constituted as .above.
4. One Pthisis Ward constituted as above.

5. One Segregation Ward for females constituted as above..We are glad "to report that during the interval after the period

under review and the publication of the present report, the construction of several other urgently needed extension of buildings was undertaken of which some were completed and some are: still under construction. We detail them .below :— .• ._

1. A two-storied Workers' Quarters containing 12 seats.
2. Quarters providing for the residence of two Medical Officerswith families.
3. Refuge for males (still under construction).
4. Sweepers'and Servants' Quarters, with four latrines and

baths; •-.';•

5. .Operation Room (stiU under construction).

We are glad to report that a Widows' Home accommodating large numbers of helpless widows and other females once in good circumstances and now in utter destitution and living on precarious charity has /ecently been opened. A house has been bought and

[ 20 ]

flie iriffiates placed uride'r the charge of a lady Superintendent,, who' was a teacher of the Nivedita Girls' School, Calcutta, to teach them some useful art for livelihood.

Besides the above, the Home requires sorrie more urgent extensions in the near future to meet immediate and insistent calls-for relief, for which the Home has strongly appealed to the public for financial help. These comprise the following :—

1. Cholera Ward for females -witri two latrines, 4 seats, 2r.isolated rooms, one nurse's room with store attached.
2. Two Dysentery Wards for males each with 16 seats, with;
   latrine, store and nurse's room attached.

5 Two Dysentery Wards for females each with 12 seats, 4. isolated rooms, latrines, stores and nurse's rooms attached. '

4. -Four Cholera, Plague and Pthisis, Small-pox, Segregation-Wards for females each with 4 seats, 2 isolated rooms, 2 latrines-with nurse's rooms and stores attached. . .

A Surgical Ward with four seats, 2 isolated ropms_r latrines, nurse's room and stores attached.

6. .A Refuge for females.

It was started sometime ago and is now located in the house of the late Babu .Nibaran Chandra Das at Dashashwamedh Ghat: Here the inmates require no further help than housing and food arrangements. But the increasing number of helpless females invalidated by disease or old age and requiring attendance, service and medical help,' seeking for relief has brought the question of separately housing and looking after them before the attention of the workers,of the Home. Now they are being housed promiscuously along with the other, patients. Therefore a female-refuge with so seats, 5 baths, 5 latrines, and stores attached for these helpless and 'invalid women is an urgent desideratum. _:.

The construction of quarters for the workers (besides the one constructed) comes next in importance and urgency and this has also to be immediately taken up. .-;.'.

From the.above statement we find that the proposed extension of. wards and buildings of the Home involves an expenditure of more thanaUac of rupees. ^: The Home has-still to take steps for the

[ 21 ]

construction of such wards, buildings and out-houses to be raised on the acquired land which will complete the entire scheme of work with which the the Home proposes to meet adequately the demands of the helpless and aflicted it wants to serve. Such items of construction-work admit of being taken up leisurely in future and as funds are available. For the infor­mation of the public we give a list below:—

i. An Orphanage, 2. Chief Supervisor's quarters, 3. t\yo Morgues, 4. Office for Infectious Wards, 5. Five store-rooms, 6. Five bath-rooms, 7. Five latrines having 22 seats in all, and .7. Disinfectant Shed.

The increasing roll of new ,buildings and new requirements is, a sign of the indispensability of the. Home to relief on account of the fact that as year after year its needs are being supplied new forms of beneficent activity are developing.

The attached Table No. i will give the reader an idea of the •work done by the Home during the period under review.

Besides it, the workers of the Home re-inforced' by help from Headquarters, took a prominent part in the relief *of distress and suffering, caused in the Benares and Ballia Districts by exceptional floods in August 1916.

Taking a bird's eye view of the Home's active relief of suffering and of the means and resources at its disposal on_N which.it draws, we find that at present it maintains about 100 seats for patients of all descriptions entailing a monthly outlay of an average of Rupees 1,000, The interest from the fund of permanent, endowr ment of beds comes to the tune of Rupees 80 per mensem and the rest of its heavy monthly expenditure is met by subscriptions-and -casual donations which are received in response to appeals during the course of the year. Manifestly then the Home depends, on trje; uncertain and fluctuating resources of subscriptions and donations for the major portion of its expenditure;. The Home has by its invaluable service of maximum efficiency with minimum of cost rendered possible by its band of selfless honorary workers proved its indispensability and it is without doubt up to the public to provide it with a permanent endowment fund and establish on a

[23 j

firm and secure basis the institution for the service and worship of suffering humanity.

(2) The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal.

Through the grace! of the Lord, this Ashrama has successfully maintained its bright traditions of serving God in the poor, the distressed and the diseased. From its humble beginning in June, 1901 it has steadily grown in utility and importance, which is mani­fest from its increasing activity in indoor and out-door relief. The Ashrama not only gave admittance to people from every part of India'and even from far away Afghanistan and Beluchistan but it served them in that spirit of worship in God in the poor and the diseased, irrespective of race, religion, and creed, which has always been its ideal of work.

It is indeed pleasing to report that the muchrneeded Cholera Ward was completed, in April, 1915 on a plot of land newly-acquired and we were able to utilise it fully during the Kumbha Mela of the year 1915 and this greatly contributed'to the saving of a considerable number of lives from the ravages of the terrible epidemic which then broke out.

The Ashrama from the beginning has provided for the indoor treatment of Sadhus only: But now it is considered needful to extend this relief and admit for indoor treatment lay patients. Hardwar, being an important place of pilgrimage for Hindus, is visited all the year round by a large number, of pilgrims; also villagers from neighbouring villages appreciating its usefulness and desiring to take advantage of it, resort for relief to the institution in good numbers. A General Ward to accommodate these lay patients is contemplated to be built. Much of the help towards its construction has been received and a deficit of Rs. isod/-is. standing for the construction to be undertaken.

Among its other needs mention has to be made of the following :—

Owing to the increase oi the volume of work the present Out­door Dispensary has become incommodious and suffers much from •want of a proper surgical room though many surgical cases come for

[ 24 ]

treatment. The Ashrama, therefore, has proposed the building of an .Out-door Dispensary in a prominent place on the road-side on the newly-acquired land with spacious dispensing rooms and a Surgical Ward and for which it has appealed to the public for funds. A Rest House to accommodate the relatives of patients who insist on staying with them is also a desideratum. A permanent endowment fund is also necessary for placing the finance of the institution on a firm footing and 'securing the permanency of the work.

We are glad to report that with funds mostly supplied from theheadquarters of the Mission a well has been sunk in the Ashramaprecincts which provide the water supply for the local Chamar.^c andother low-caste people, •>

The attached Table No. 2 will give the reader a summary of theSeva work that was conducted in the Ashrama during the periodunder review. , ,

(3) The Ramakrishna Mission Scvashrama. Brindabaa.

Brindaban is another centre of Seva activity of the Ramakrishna Mission. It is needless to say that Brindaban, the sacred Jerusalem of the children of India, has been the centre of attraction to thousands of pious pilgrims from every quarter of Hindusthan. We think, we need hardly detail at length the necessity and /justification for founding a Sevashrama at Brindaban. Since its foundation in the year 1908, the reports from'this centre had to tell the same story of struggle for meeting increasing demands for Seya in every direction.

Since its inception, the Sevashrama was located in, the out-houses of the temple buildings of, Sri jut Ramakrishna Bpse, Zemindar of Kothar, Orissa, known as " Kala Babu's Kunja " where it continued working; As the work developed and there was a rapid increase in the number of indoor and outdoor patients, insufficient accommoda­tion and other difficulties in the work of service in its provisional quarters pressed upon the workers and they had to look for permanent, commodious quarters and other accessories necessary to their increased opportunity of service. In 1915, through the kind help of some donors, and sympathisers, the Sevashrama has come into possession pf 8:32 acres of land on, the banks of the Jumna for a

[ 26 ]

permanent hospital and dispensary with all its accessories. The Sevashrama was then removed to its new quarters where one ward for male patients and another for female patients have been already constructed and another male ward is in the course of construction To make it a useful institution so as to complete its whole scheme for meeting all its demands, further improvements are necessary such as infectious wards, a well-equipped out-door dispensary and operation room &c. &c.

The attached table No. 3 will give the reader on idea of the Seva work done by the Ashrama during the period under review :—

(4) The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Allahabad.

The reader is aware from the previous report that this Sevashrama was started on the 6th October 1910 in response to the call for relieving the suffering of the sick and poor of the surrounding locality. As the centre of the Government of the United Provinces, Allahaba'd is not only a populous town, where indigent people from the neighbouring districts flock to gain a livelihood- either through work or charity, but from the earliest times it has been one of the most sacred places of pilgrimage in India on account of the confluence of the Ganges and the Jumna—the Tirtharaj—where people from the remotest corners of Hindusthan gather in the Kumbha Mela—the greatest religious gathering in the world. During these periods of religious gatherings when epidemics generally break out and the sufferings of the poor pilgrims are \ indescribable, the object of the Sevashrama, from its very inception has been to serve not only the poor of the surrounding locality but also the poor pilgrims who-resort to the place, and when ill, become perfectly helpless, away from the care and comforts of their homes. To provide such people with shelter, proper nursing and treatment has always been the object of the Ashrama. The work of the Ashrama at present, is confined only to giving in the shape of outdoor relief, medicines allopathic and hpmcepathic, to the sick, poor and needy and for this purpose there is an outdoor dispensary with a good stock of medicines under the management of a Brahmacharin. The urgency of such a charitable organisation is amply evident from the last four years' work carried on by the Sevashrama undei: the most trying circumstances.

[ 28 ]

To extend the scope of its activities, the Mission appeals to all in the name of the sick and homeless poor of Allahabad to provide for them a shelter where they might be accommodated and treated. An indoor hospital of six beds with a small surgical room attached and a separate room for infectious cases as also quarters for its workers will serve for the present requirements.

Table giving comparative view of the work done from 1913 to 1916.

Number of outdoor patients yearly relieved with medical aid onlyYear. New cases. Repeated number. Total.

1914 1915 1916

Total ...

5,060	5,253	10,313
6,478	4,965	11,443
6,809	6,929	13,738
5,564	6,279	H,843
23,911	23,426	47,337

(5) The Ramakrishna Mission, Branch centre, Dacca.

This branch of the Ramakrishna Mission was started as early as 1 899,, when Swamis Virajananda and Prakashananda, deputed by the Swami Vivekananda, visited these parts and by lectures and religious discourses created an interest in the message of , Sri Ramakrishna and sowed the first seeds of the work. Under their auspices a Society was started in which religious sittings were regularly held. After their departure, Swami Abhayananda, an American disciple of Swamiji, came to the town and under the auspices of the newly-started Dacca Ramakrishna Mission spoke in five public meetings on the message of Vedanta in the West and roused much interest in the study of Vedanta to which she was a convert through the influence of Swami Vivekananda. Later during the same year- at the invitation of the local Ramakrishna Mission, Swami Saradananda visited Dacca and staying for about a month •delivered lectures on Hindu religion. and philosophy, held classes on Bhagavat Gita and met the local people in religious conversaziones.

[ 29 I • .

All these sporadic visits were crowned by the visit; of the Swami Vivekananda himself accompanied by a party of disciples in the year 1901, whose prese'nce created a great stir .and roused much enthusiasm. -Though in failing health, he: delivered two impressive lectures on the Hindu religion and philosophy to vast audiences and also held conversaziones with many local people. The great personality of the Swami caught the imagination of the people and gave a great impetus to'the cause. In the year 1904 from this branch a short life of the Swami Vivekananda was published which was the pioneer attempt' in the direction. After this and before 1908 the main work of the Mission here consisted of regular Saturday religious^ittings and did its work of preaching and propagating the gospel of Sri Ramakrishna as best as it could at the house of Babu Mbhini Mohan Das at Subjemahal, Dacca. In 1908, a Seva Department^ was organised in: connection with the Mission which treated ariB nursed sick and diseased persons according to its capacity. The visit of the Swamu Paramananda in charge of the Boston centre of the Mission, America in 191^, was the occasion of renewed activity and the beginning of the nucleus of a library of religious and other, useful books. The chief work of this branch now consisted in holding regular religious sittings with readings and Shajans and the birthday anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and as told above, in rendering medical help and relief by its workers. By the end of 1913 the activities of the Mission took a new development when Hon'ble Nawab Khwajeh Salimulla Bahadur helped the institution. with a house free of rent and also with monthly donations. This was utilised for the housing of an indoor hospital started at Sachipandaripa, The visit of Swami Premananda was the occasion for the infusion of new enthusiasm in the workers who now set to work to place all the different activities on an organised basis, housed in a permanent building and place it under direct control of the headquarters at Belur. Accordingly at the end of 1914, monastic members we're sent from the headquarters who set themselves to reorganize the work on a systematic basis co-ordinating its different activities

[ 30 ]

and vigorously pushing on the work and as a result many forms of activity developed as will be detailed later.

In 1016 the Dacca Mission applied for affiliation with the Central Body of, the Ramakrishna Mission and the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission issued a stamped charter on March ,_I8t 1016 nominating the Local Committee of the Dacca Branch Ifter the affiliation the partnership of the newly-started Sevashrama with the Mission work was dissolved as they could not agree on salient points which necessitated the secess.on of the former, its conductors preferring to work separately under the designation of the Dacca Sevashrama.

From October ,914 this branch was located ,n three rented

houses in Wan and South Maishandi. In .'1915 a gift of 5 b.ghas of

Lnd was made by Sj. Ramesh Chandra Das and _S] Jogesh

C_handra Das-three bighas to the Dacca Sri Ramaknshna Math and

Tbighas to the'Mission. On .these, grounds the "on

tones of the Math building and of the Sourindra Prasad Ward were

a^din I₉i6by Swamis-Brahmananda and Premananda. During

heir visit which was the occasion of much propaganda work, the

Ik here received a great impetus. The •• Sourindra Prasad

Ward " which was to be a hospital for indoor patients consisting of

₂₀ beds was completed and it was formally opened on the 24*

August* z_9I6 by His Excellency the Right Hon'ble Thomas Dav^d

Baron Carmichael of Skirling o, c. x. ,., k. c.«. o., the Governor of

Bengal Another building styled the « Kiran Co«ag₉ intended to be

fhe quarters for the resident workers of the Dacca Miss.on was also

constructed with the help of Babu Mohini Mohon Roy m ,916 ; and

a temple erected on the land purchased for the Math.

Latterly, in 1916 another plot of land measuring ₅t b.ghas was acquired, and the necessary funds forthcoming, it is intended to erect the following buildings thereon :— i. A Library building. 2 An Infectious Ward.

,' A building for the Outdoor Dispensary and office, It is also intended to finish the temple, if- sufficient funds are forthcoming. We are glad to note that in -,917 a School House

t 3' 3

•was constructed accommodating 150 boys with the chief financial help of Babu Mohini Mohan Das, contractor.

The works done by this branch is detailed below :—

A. Missionary Work :•—

(Consisting of Puja, Scriptural classes, weekly religious sittings, occasional' lectures * and publication ^of religious books).

B. Educational Work :—

Consisting of conducting of a free school (of whichseparate description is given elsewhere), helping poo'rstudents with books, regular stipends &c., a publiclibrary and free reading room. '•'•'••..•

C. Charitable Work consisting of the following descriptions :—

1. Indoor Hospital (Sevashrama) :— - '

The treatment consists both of allopathic & homeopathic systems. The number admitted into the indoor hospital during the 3'ear 1916 amounted to the small total of 19, as it was the opening year, of which 13 were cured, 2 left hospital and 4 died.

2. Outdoor Charitable Dispensary :—

• Started on ist June 1916. The total number of new patients up to December, 1916 was 692, and the repeated number was 1160. The average daily attendance was 9.

3. House-to-House Relief :—

Patients, who were unable to go to the Hospital for treatment, were treated and nursed at their own houses by the Mission workers. The total number of cases attended to during the whole period from the start of the Seva Department in 1908 upto 1915 was 300 ; in 1916, 101.

4. Cremation of the Dead :—

Workers of the Mission cremated 70 dead bodies from 1909 to 1915; and buried the-dead bodies of 2 Mahomedans in 1915; in 1016, 21 dead bodies were cremated.

[ 32 ] 5- Moffussil Relief Works :—

1. Burdwan Flood Relief Work in 1913.
2. Dighirpar Cholera Relief Work in 1914.
3. Bajrayogini Cholera Relief Work in 1914.
4. Tangi Dattapara Cholera Relief Work in 1915..
5. Narayangung Small-pox Relief Work in 1915.
6. Janmastami Procession Relief Work in 1915.
7. Chandpur Famine Relief Work in 1916.
8. Bikrampur Cholera Relief Work in. 1916.
9. Pubail Cholera Relief Work in 1916.

10.. Langalbandh Mela Relief Work in 1915 & 1916. ii. Janmastami Procession Relief Work in 1916. 12., Mymensingh Small-pox Relief Work in 1916.

6. Relief of helpless and poor families'-;—

In 1915, 9 families were helped with monthly stipends;jin 1916, 15. Besides, in 1915, 16 families and in 1916, 28 families were helped/with monthly doles of rice.

7. Miscellaneous Charitable Works :—

In 1915, 167 cases were helped by charity of various descriptions ; in 1916, 44cases.

We may also mention here that a' First-aid class for the training of the workers was opened in 1916 with the help of the services of Dr. Bhupendra Nath Banerjee and continued for some time. It greatly helped to increase the usefulness and efficiency-of the workers.

(6) The Ramakrishna Mission, Branch centre, Barisal.

The Barisal Mission has proved to be a great help to the distres­sed, to which the work of the centre gives ample evidence. , This small and modest, group, associated together with the object of enriching the minds of its members by the study of Vedanta in the light of the lives and teachings of Sir Ramakrishna Deva arid Swami Vivekananda, is becoming more and more popular and useful. Besides this, pecuniary and medical help is offered to the poor arid

[ 33 ]

by its members in a purely non-sectarian spirit in the fpllpwjng forms -.-^

1. The distressed patients are picked up by the workers ofthis Mission from road sides or other out-of-the-way places andcarried to the local Hospital.
2. Cases of helpless patients, suffering from Cholera and other
   diseases are carefully attended to in their own homes, and medicinesand diet supplied to them where necessary.
3. Pecuniary relief both permanent and temporary is given asfar as possible to distressed families and individual persons;especially to students, according to their circumstances.

Help under the headings (a) & (b) was rendered to 41, 34, 106 & 55 patients in the years 1913, '14, '15 & '16 respectively.

Help given to the distressed persons and students is shown in the folknving; table : —

Year.	Monthly Help to Distressed Persons &			Temporary •Help to Distressed Persons &			Monthly Help to Students.			Temporary Help to Students.
Families.				Families.
	Rs.	As	P	Rs	As	P	Rs	As	P	Rs	As. P.
1913	450	6	3	44	7	9	39	o	o	34	0.0.
1914	502	2	3	173	2	0	*39	o	o	. 130	9 o
I9.1 5	445	12	6	207	7	o	119	o	o	74	6 6^
1916	•386	. 3	0	219	J3	9	286	6	o	294	8 o"

Tptal 1784 8 o 644 14 6 583 o ,o , 533 7 6 Besides these, this cent-re collected considerable sums, of money during the famines^ and sent the sums, either to the headquarters, of the Mission or to, other persons so that the help, might; reach the reajly afflicted. The centre has got also a small library and holds weekly religious sittings. It also celebrates the birthday anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna. and Swami Vivekananda on a .small scale.

This centre, is now located in a small house which is too

inadeqioate for all its requirements. Its conductors are now trying

to locate it in a spacious habitation of its own and for this purpose

it is appealing to the public for funds. We hope, its appeal will

3

[ 34 ] .

not be in vain, and it will be able soon to remove to better permanent quarters with funds supplied from the public together with savings from its subscriptions, which have now come up to a little more than six thousand rupees, and we are sure, that the-institution will thus be able to fulfil all its objects perfectly with the help of its small band of enthusiastic workers.

B. Educational Institutions.

We append below a few quotations made promiscuously from the writings and speeches of the Swami Vivekananda representing roughly the general trend of his ideas on education in relation to (i) the education of the masses (if) higher education and (iif) female education, which, we hope, will form interesting reading :—

1. "A nation advances in proportion as education andintelligence spread among the masses.. The chief cause of India'sruin has been the monopolising of the whole education andintelligence of the land by a handful of men. If we are to riseagain, we shall have to do it in the same way, i.e., by spreadingeducation among the masses."
2. " The great national sin is the neglect of the masses, that isone of the causes of national downfall. No amount of politicswould be of any avail until the masses in India are once more welleducated, well fed, and well cared for. They work for our food,
   .they pay for our education, they build our temples, but in returnthey get little from us. If we want to regenerate India, we mustwork" for them by starting educational institutions and trainingyoung men as teachers and preachers." — • - .'.
3. "If the poor boy can not come to education,"education mustgo to him. There are thousands of single-minded, self-sacrificing
   Sannyasins in India, going from village to village teachingreligion. If some of them can be organised as teachers of secularthings also, they will go from place to place, from door to door,not only preaching but teaching also. Suppose two of these mengo to a village in the evening with a camera, a globe, some maps &c.,they can teach a great deal of Astronomy and Geography to the

[ 35 J

Ignorant. By telling stories about different nations, they can givethe poor a hundred times more information through the ear thanthey can be got in a lifetime through books." • -..•'<'•

4. " The only service to be done for our lower classes is, • to-give them education, to develop their lost individuality. Up to now

nothing has been done in that direction. Priest-power and foreign•conquest have trodden them down for centuries and at last the poor•of India have forgotten that they are human beings. They are tobe given ideas; their eyes are to be opened to what is going on in
the world around them, and then they will work out their ownsalyatiofc., Give them ideas—that is the only help they require,, andthe rest must, follow as the effect. Ours is to put the chemicalstogether, the crystallisation comes in the law of nature. Our dutyis to put ideas into their heads, they will do the rest. This is what-is to be done in India," „

5. "Education is not the amount of information that is put intoyour brain and running riot there, undigested, all our life. Wemust have life-building, man-making, character-making assimilationof ideas. If you have assimilated five ideas and made them your
   life and character, you have more education than any man who canget by heart a whole library. ' ' The ass carrying its load of sandal-wood knows only the weight, and not the value of the sandal-wood.The ideal, therefore, is that we fnust have the whole education ofour country, spiritual and secular, in our own hands, and it must beon national lines, through national methods, as far-as practicable."
6. " We shall bring to the-need of India great fearless women—•women, worthy to continue the traditions 'of Sanghamitta, Lila,
   Ahalya Bai and Mira Bai—women fit to be mothers of heroes becausethey are; pure and selfless and strong, with the" strength that comes
   of touching the feet of God,"
7. " To the women of this country, I would say exactly whatI say to the ,men. Believe in India, and in our Indian faith. Be
   strong and hopeful and unashamed, and remember that withsomething to take, Hindus have, immeasurably more to give than

;any other people in the world."

, .- [ 36 3. .-"'.'

'(11 Sister Nivedita Girls' School.

„ Since the publication of the last report, the' school has grown-' a good deal, as evidenced by the increase in the number of students •and development of new activity and promises in future to be a really beneficent institution, original in conception, solving the-problem of women's education and fitting them to fulfil their more onerous and extensive requirements in the present conditions of modern Indian life. Entrusted to the late Sister Nivedita by Swami Vivekananda as a sacred trust to which she dedicated her life, the-women's work fructified into the school as a practical institution for tackling the problem of befitting the Indian women to face and fulfil their' present responsibilities. . Convinced- as the Swami Vivekananda was of¹ strengthening them in the line of their development, the ideal has' always been, while keeping them true and staunch to their ancient religious ideals, to equip . them with the' knowledge of modern conditions and learning. Religion has been made the basis, and the fullest acquaintance with the ancient cultural traditions and lore has been^s emphasised in order to preserve and strengthen the individuality of Indian women ; on the other hand, modern methods, modern science and literature; have been incorporated and are sought to be imparted. Attempt is also-made by teaching some useful art to confer economic independence in cases of helplessness and dire distress.

There are altogether five classes in the school having twosections each"-.' , -•-.;-

The modern methods of teaching are fully employed in teaching in the lower classes; by the Kindergarten method and; oral teaching the lower classes are taught. Counting-the numbers, addition and substractibn with the; help of beads, .sticks, dolls, shells and: black­board, . object-lessons, clay-modelling, card-sewing, brush_:work, drill, all of a simple nature are added to/the curriculum.

The curricula of study of the other classes include a variety of subjects combining the ancient Hindu culture and modern knowledge which'may 4)6 mentioned generally as (i) Bengali literature and Essay Writing (2); Sanskrit Grammar (3)- Sanskrit literature (4) . Arithmetic, Elements of Algebra and Geometry-(5) English Reader

I 37..3 • •

and Translation (6) Geography (7) Indian History (8) Ramayana* Mahabharata and Purana (9) Sewing and -cutting of articles of everyday wear and fine needle-wort {10) Brush-work.

The ways and niearis of the school have been derived principally from helps received from American friends, .local collection,: profit from thei sale of Sister Nivedita's books and donations.

Another important development of the Women's wtork is the" Matri-Mandir" started in 1914 provisionally, to provide forcases of difficulty and distress. It has formed 'itself into aneducational home for women, affording shelter and opportunities ofservice and useful openings for beneficent activity for ,orthodoxHindu women. Left to develop itself, it has gathered together a bandof self-sacrificing female teachers and it has shaped itself atpresent into ..• • "

(1) a Home for Hindu girls who would devote their lives

exclusively to me cause of education and service.

(2) a place where such Hindu girls, will hold to andl ive their

ideals in life and obtain facility for learning the b'est method'of teaching.

(3) a place where opportunities are offered to poor purdah-

women to help themselves by earning as much as they

can by sewing, making condiments and other works of

art, and by doing tuition work in private families.

It is to be hoped that this band of female teachers self-dedicated

to the cause of female education, •'will constitute an efficient arid

proper agency for solving the problem of .education among, th'e

wofnen of the'orthodox Hindu section. The Home in the year

1915 had eleven members and the expenses were, met partly

by the earning of the inmates of the Home by sewing arid by tuition in

private families and partly by members paying their expenses. Out

of its small income the' Home helped a piirdafr woman with Rs. 2

morithly arid bore thfe schooling expenses of two poor boys in 1915:

The Baride Mataram Sairipradaya has made a generous deflation of Rs. 8,006 towards the Building¹ Futid of tBe Women's Work. To ensure the permanency of the work a suitable plot of'laftd nieasuririg about 16 cottahs has been: purchased ih 1917 at 5.

[ 38 I' ' . .

Nivedita Lane, Baghbazar, at a cost of Rs. 24,645-15-4 of which about two-thirds only. have been paid but of donations raised for the purpose. With the paying off of the whole amount the building-work will be started on the plot, with the sum at present in the Building Fund. It behoves all of our countrymen who are-interested in the cause of female education and desire to advance it, to respond to the appeal for funds on behalf of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Women's Work so as to enable the band of female-workers to discharge their trust which they have inherited, hallowedt by the life-work of their predecessor—the late Sister Nivedita.

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Women's work of which the-school and the Matri-Mandir are branches, was so long working independently. It has been affiliated to the Ramakrishna Mission in, 1918 and a charter has Been issued by the Governing Body.

-2, The Night School at Kaakha!,

A night school was started at the Sevashrama in November, 1913: for the education of the children of, the " Chamar" and other-depressed classes. Owing to their low position^ in the -Hind.u< society and their abject poverty, these children grow up in¹ ignorance, devoid of all education, intellectual or moral. As people: are awakening to their duties by the poor classes, the amelioration-of the condition of these "untouchables " of the Hindu society is. engaging the attention of all philanthropists all over India. Hardwar and its neighbourhood are peopled by a large number of these poor people. The boys have to work during the day to earn their liveli­hood and so are obliged to attend their school during the early hours-of the night. The verandah of the out-door dispensary is now used'' as the school-room and one of the workers of the Ashrama took up the task of teaching: the boys. Latterly, a paid Pundit has been' employed for teaching work. No fee is charged from.the boys-and books, pencils, papers etc., are supplied free. At present there are forty boys on the roll but their number is daily increasing.. Even now it is becoming difficult to accommodate all of them in the small verandah.. Moreover, it becomes' impossible- to hold ,the classes here during the rains or very cold nights. A small school".

[ 39 3

building of two rooms with a verandah in front is very urgently needed. The institution approaches all who feel for the poor and the depressed for.help in raising these poor children of God from ignorance and poverty,

(3) Sri Ramakrishna Free School—Dacca.

This school was started in connection with the R. K. Mission work at Dacca mentioned before, on the 8th November, 1914, for imparting primary education to the boys of poor and neglected classes. The main object of the school is to provide the boys of such people, who either for extreme poverty or other social reasons are debarred from education, with primary knowledge so that they may intelligently manage their own profession by which to earn their livelihood.

The authorities have in view the idea of gradually developing this school into a free High English School conducted under monastic control. The system of giving practical training in gardening, agriculture and some cottage industries to the boys of the school in addition to the general curriculum is contemplated to be introduced.

During the year 1916, the first three classes of a Marticulation school were opened, and the resident Brahmachari workers, who have volunteered their services formed the teaching staff of the school. There were four teachers and the number of new students admitted during the year was 20. The average number of students on the roll throughout the year was 41. It should be mentioned here that no tuition fees were charged from any of the students, and those who were very poor were supplied with books &c.

The students of the school were given moral instructions and oral lessons on various subjects were imparted to improve their general knowledge. Arrangements were also made so that the students might have recreation in the evening by playing at football and country games.

(4) The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama (Orphanage),
Sargachi, Murshidabad.

About the origin and growth and.the aims and objects of this

[ '& 3 . . -. . .

first educational 'work-'started by She Mission, the readers are referred to the First General Report of the Mission, >as well as to the detailed Bertgali Report of this Ashrama for 16 years up to^: the year *9t j. The Ashrama has taken on lease 50 bighas of land and has been appealing to the public for funds for erecting a suitable building on it, but we are sorry to inform the reader that as yet it has received a very indifferent response from the public. Only recently a small pucca building consisting of two rooms and two verandahs has been erected through the kind contributions of Hon'ble Arun Chandra Singh and several other generous donors arid in it the orphan boys are being somehow accommodated and the Free School conducted.

Swami Akhandananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who founded the* Ashrama in 1898 and has been conducting it these; 21 years with unabated zeal, undaunted by failures and with infinite faith in its future possibilities, is now in broken health and though assisted by some of the monastic members of the Mission, cannot do much unless the generous public come forward with liberal donations to help the work. Some extension of the buildings is urgently necessary, so that the technical and other departments, which, were hitherto working with success, can be re-opened soon. The regular expenses of the Ashrama are of course somehow met by subscrip­tions and casual, donations, But there is the heavy item of recurrent annual expenditure amounting to more than Rs. 200, which has to be paid to the lease-holders . of the land and an attempt is being made to keep apart about Rs.- 5000 on some securities so that it can be met out of the interest of the sum and thus the Ashrama may be permanently free of the anxiety "of paying the heavy annual .rent. We are glad to inform the reader that some kind-hearted gentlernen have already promised to contribute to this fund. May we not hope that the whole amount will soon be realised ?

The Ashrama is situated iii the village Sargachi, about 6 miles from Berhampore. Though all thoughtful persons now admit that unless the villages are improved both in sanitation and- education, there is n<j possibility of permanent improvement of the country, very little has been done as yet by; the people.in this direction. Swami Akhandananda has strongly caught hold of the'idea and

. [ 41 ]

•eschewing all allurements of the town and consequent possibility of Tnore:public support^ is going on with his labour of; love; silently firmly believing in Divine help. Will not our generous countrymen •come forward to help this model village institution ?

(5) The Ramakrishna Mission Students¹ Home, Mylapur, Madras :—

The educational work of the Madras branch of the Mission hasnow grown to greater proportions and its utility and indispensabilityhave appealed to and won the admiration of many a charitably
•disposed persons. It was originated in 1905 with the object ofproviding poor and deserving students with free board and lodgingand to secure for them the supervision and religious influence of theSwarhis of the Math. In appreciation of the work, Mr. H. G.Srinivasa Raghavachariar, District; Munsiff, has made a gift of 15grounds of land to the Governing body Of the Ramakrishna Missionfor the purpose of constructing a building for the institution.An adjacent plot of land has also been bought for the purpose.We are glad to inform the reader that the benevolent Governmentof Madras has kindly promised the munificent donation of Rs. 53,500towards the construction of the building provided that we can collectan equal amount from the public. We have already received aboutRs. 30,000 from generous friends in the Madras Presidency and most•part of the remaining sum has also been promised. •

The institution was formally affiliated to the Mission in 1918 and •we are sure that before the next general report is published, the building will be completed and will stand as a great educational -centre of the Ramakrishna Mission, like the Benares Home of Service in the sphere of Seva work.

We have now finished the description of all the activities of the Mission. We have included in this report the description of all the permanent centres which have been, affiliated up to 1916. Besides these, the descriptions of the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home of Madras and the Women's Work started by the Sister Nivedita

[ 42 ]

have formed part of the present report, because though not formally affiliated before 1916, they were included in the first General Report of the Mission as prospective works of great promise and importance. We desire to add also that before this report was printed, the Midnapore Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama and the Koalpara Ramakrishna Mission branch centre have been formally affiliated. The description of their workings will form part of the next General Report. There are several other Societies and Ashramas which are seeking formal affiliation with the Mission. The Mission authorities, however, insist that before granting them a formal charter, they should for sometime submit the reports of their regular workings and accounts to them. As the workings of such institu­tions do not fall under the scope of the present report, they have been left out altogether.

Thanks of the .Mission.

In conclusion,.the Mission desires to express its sincerest thanks to all kind donors, subscribers and sympathisers who by their generous and ready financial assistance have placed the different centres of the Mission on a financially working basis and also to those who by generously responding to appeals for funds on behalf of distressed population during periods of flood and famine etc., have helped to bring the various occasional Relief Works started by the Mission to a successful close. .The Mission's thanks are also due to the organs of the Press of Bengal and other provinces for printing appeals and other matters in connection with its philanthropic work, as also to the local- gentlemen, official and non-official of many different affected areas, where through the help rendered by them the. Mission has been helped materially in opening mofussil centres and conducting efficiently its relief measures during periods of relief activity on different occasions. We hope that the generous public all over India on whom the monastic brotherhood with its face set towards the performance of social service depends for financial means will continue to-cherish the same generous attitude and ready helpfulness so as to enable it to realise the. Swami Vivekananda's " gospel " of worship in serving the suffering millions of India.

C 43 ']

Misinterpretetion and misrepresentation of the Mission's ideals and the steps taken to correct them.

Neither, the Master, whose hallowed name the Mission has theproud privilege to bear, • nor its organiser, the Swami Vivekananda,had any political end to serve by their work. The former had no-leisure to bring his mind down to those lower planes of conscious-'ness from which it was possible to think of the temporal things ofthe world, so absorbed was he in the Deity and with things spiritualand eternal. And the latter, whose love for the Master' hadbrought his life to such perfect conformity with that of His that helived only to serve Him by spreading His ideas, had repeatedlydeclared in unmistakable terms through his speeches and writings,
that his missionary work in India and abroad was for rousing thedormant spiritual, nature of individuals and therefore, of nations,.in this age of gross materialism, and thus to make them men inthe real sense of the word. . Extracts might be quoted from all hisletters, speeches and writings, which will bear testimony to whatwe have told above, and help the reader to understand clearly thatthe ideals for which he . worked were nothing but religious and themethods which he adopted for the same in India and abroad, werenothing but spiritual, e.g.; self-control and devotion to God, renuncia­tion and serving of men as images of God. • ' \

Such indeed was-the spiritual light infused by the Master in the hearts of the Swami Vivekananda and His other disciples that they could riot but look upon ordinary humanitarian works (e.g., helping the poor, nursing the sick, teaching the illiterate etc.,) in the light, of serving the Lord appearing to them in those forms. And thus-was introduced the term ' Seva ' or serving of the poor, the sick and the illiterate Narayans or images of God, when the Mission came to be organised into its distinct form in the year 1897. From_> th,at time forward until the year 1908 it was all fair weather and smooth sailing for the Mission, if we do not bring into consideration the period of deep sorrow and confusion which overwhelmed it on the occasion of the sudden passing unto peace of its great leader and organiser, the Swami Vivekananda, on July 4th, 1902. The

[ 44 ]

Triembers and workers of the Mission carried out during that period
famine relief worts in co-operation with the Government officials in
different parts of Bengal and India, established hospitals, schools andorphanages by raising subscriptions from the generous public, riskedtheir lives in nursing plague-patients and cleaning plague-spotsin Calcutta, Bhagalpur and elsewhere, and helped the needy bycarrying out flood and fire relief works whenever and whereversuch were wanted. None misunderstood or misinterpreted theideal for which the Mission stood during those years, and the self-sacrifice and disinterested service of its members endeared it to all.The ".detective department of the police were alert at first to findout the existence of any secret motive of the Mission and its
organiser, by watching its workers in silence and opening theforeign letters that reached the Belur Math—and even these were
almost convinced at the time, of the integrity and the open sincerityof them both. . •

But in the year 1906 came the- partition of Bengal with Swadeshi vows and Videshi boycott—and! the whole country ' was torn as it were with political views and counter-views and repressive methods from the Government and the establishment of societies which were proved in the end to have been founded in imitation'of the European Socialists and Nihilists by sincere but misguided enthusiasts as well as by self-interested and characterless hypocrites. The' Mission authorities smelt indiscretion and trouble and tribulation in and ultimate failure of the movement from the very beginning. They declined all overtures and invitations to join any movement what­soever, which savoured of politics and this created a bad name for the Mission with persons who were staunch believers in politics and agita­tion, for they went out scoffing and spreading the idea that the Mission existed for doing good to America and England, and not to India ! The Mission, however, heeded not their insinuations and held fast to the ideal placed before it by the Master and the Swami Vivekananda of preaching religion and serving the Lord¹ in suffering hurnanity. It took care, moreover, to stop preaching work in Calcutta, Dacca and all places in East Bengal until political excitement and turmoil had subsided in them; and made the rule in about 1008 that no

[ 45 ]

strangers would be allowed to stop at night in its centres at Belur and elsewhere to prevent persons with sinister motives from taking advantage of them for carrying out their secret purposes—for it came to the knowledge¹ of the Governing Body of the Mission from the examination of certain political prisoners published in the papers at the time that these people were unscrupulously using the Gerua garb of the monk and the name of religion to suit their end and had abused the open hospitality of the Mission cen'tres in U. P. and other places by sheltering themselves there at night or for a few days while travelling in those places for spreading their political propaganda.

The statement of the prisoners mentioned above, together with the fact that copies of Gita and Chahdi and books and pamphlets by the Swami Vivekananda were found in the possession of the political enthusiasts, some of whom were found out later as anarchists, drew the suspicion of the Government, it seemed, for the first time on the Mission. The detective officers, henceforth, tried their level best to find out in it things which it had never had, and principles by which it had never been actuated. No wonder all their attempts along this line were of no avail. And yet they would not call a spade a spade, but toiled on and on watching and searching for hidden springs of politics and even of anarchy in the temple of God and spirituality, with the idea grown strong in them out • of their own suspicion that the members and workers of the Mission were very clever people and knew very well to hide their real motives ! The Mission, however, moved along its own old path without fear and hesitation keeping everything strictly open and over-board, thinking that the time would surely come when these would come to under­stand their own mistakes regarding it. Its workers moved freely among the detectives as well as partisans of political move­ment with the idea to impress the former that there was nothing but fair play in everything that they did, and to impress the latter that they were'. travelling along wrong paths which will bring ruin to them in the .end.

The ideal which the workers of the Mission we're trained to keep

[ 46 ]

In view in everything that they did, by the Master and its organiser, was to help to build and not to destroy, to live silently the higher life and not to make fair speeches only about it, to lead people always with sympathy and love and not to condemn their frailties and shortcomings. And to that they strictly adhered in their dealings with everybody alike. They kept their centres open to all during day-time, offered their hospitality equally to all, and in informal talks always told all who came that the regeneration of India lay in and through the revival of real spirituality among her sons and daughters, that they could get nothing, not even political powers until they had made themselves worthy to receive the same, that there- was no royal road to get at anything that was worthy to get except through steadfast character, real sacrifice and perfect unselfishness, and that the ideas of revenge, party spirit and even selfish patriotism, however much they might prove to be incentives to' intense action for some people and nations at first, would always lead to misery and degradation and ultimate ruin as the past history of the world had proved. " Arid many who started in their career with strong political bent, were brought back to the fold of commonsense and spirituality by the workers of the Mission by those means. But it seemed that the detective officers could not understsnd this work of the Mission and taking a narrow view of the matter reported that the Mission members were mixing freely with political parties.

Meanwhile things grew worse. From political agitators many turned into anarchists and the party growing stronger began a regular campaign of murder and rapine over the province using all softs of unfair and vicious means, e. g., dacoities, to serve their selfish end. And it came to the knowledge of the Mission authorities that they \yere using the name of the Mission and a wrong interpretation of its religious and philosophical literature^ to pervert the minds of young, boys to join their camp/ They were very sorry for it and immediately (in April 1914) published broad-cast in almost all the papers of the province a very serious warning to "the public, as the reader will find from the reprint of it below:—

[ 47 ]

A Warning to the Public.

(By the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission.) The disclosures that have come to light in some of the recent trials ot East Bengal, have convinced the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission, that the good name of the Mission and that of the Belur Math have been, and are still being used by certain .societies to secure recruits to and spread the doctrines of theft mischievous, and not unoften criminal propaganda. The Governing Body think it desirable, therefore, to inform the general public arid specially the unwary young men of Bengal, that the Ramakrishna Order of Monks, whose principal headquarters is at the Belur Math, and who had the Swami Vivekananda as their head, is a strictly Religious Order and has nothing to do whatsoever with politics, much less with societies based on lawlessness.

The Order, to promote its spiritual culture and realise the•doctrines of the time-honoured Vedanta Philosophy, has engageditself since the very inception to serve the Lord by serving humanity
with the best of its might, remembering the imperative scriptrualinjunction to look upon man as nothing less than the DeityHimself—" Jivo Brahmaiva Naparah." To carry on such service•effectively, it'has had to work in co-operation with the generalpublic of India in many places, and in,course of time, that work ofphilanthropy and benevolence took the shape and name which isknown at present as the Ramakrishna Mission, Therefore, it willbe readily understood, that the Ramakrishna Mission has nothing to•do whatsoever with any kind of political movement. '

Taught .by Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, the Mission has always held the path of religion and service as the only way for the regeneration, pf Bengal and India and has - always preached that that regeneration can only come through characters based on a direct realisation of religion and the Lord, and never through politics. The Mission, therefore', has all along kept its own work separate from the National Congress, the Extremist and' some other regular and irregular political movements, with the firm conviction: that these would never lead to the glorious spiritual

t 48 ]

regeneration which should be the, ideal of India's people. Spirituality and not political aggrandisement had been the backbone of the Indian people in'trie¹ past, and oh that inheritance we should stands firm with good will and love and peace to all on earth if we are to become again a glorious nation in the future—such indeed had been the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and His disciple, the Swami Vivekanahda. And. the Mission has been and is always being guided by that idea.

Let the young men of Bengal and India take heed of the fact, and if in future they find a class of people coming to them in the name of the Rimakrishna Mission and that of the Belur Malh, to preach politics to them in any shape whatsoever, let them conclude at, once that they are impostors, who are but making cowardly attempts to hide their true colours behind the prestige of the' Mission and the Math, to serve their^ own dark purposes. They should communicate directly with the headquarters of the Mission if they want to join the Mission or serve its- various philanthropic work in any way, but they should never make enquiries regarding the purpose and method of work of the' Mission from questionable sources." They should first try to find out that the man who comes to theni as a preacher connected with the Mission,'is really such, •writing to the President or the Secretary at Belur Math, Dist, Howrah, before they listen to what he has to say. 'They should try first to find out whether or not a man who: wants any kind of contribution from them to, help the Mission,, has really been authorised to do so by letters of authority from the headquarters with special seals'of the Mission attached before, they contribute

their mite. ' '

The second thing against which we want to warn the general

public is, never to conclude that a Society or a Sevashrama, belongs to and is a branch of the Belur Math and the Ramakrishna Mission, simply for the reason that the name of Ramakrishna or Vivekarianda is attached to it.

It is not uncommon to find now-a-days the christening of societies, schools, hospitals, mills, stores, dispensaries, ^! trade-marks, and various other things desirable and undesirable/by the names of

[ 4ft } _

Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Good men are taking their names to- stimulate themselves to noble impulses and self-sacrificing efforts,- while the bad to screen themselves behind them to, secure public confidence on their, own- selves. It is proper.,, therefore, for the public to know that those alone of the Societies,, Ashramas, SevashramaSi and: so forth, which have the words "Ramakrishna Mission " attached to, their names, really belong to us as branches of. the Ramakrishna Mission of the Belur Math. And to secure the privilege of using the name of the Mission, _| the] Societies etc., have to apply to our headquarters for a formal grant of. a, charter of powers; and we might add here that if we do not count the Barisal Branch of the Ramakrishna Mission, we have no affiliated branch-centres, in the whole of Bengal, although several Societies and Ashramas in different parts of Bengal have made their intention.known to us recently, of applying to us for the same. The public should bear the fact always in mind and be guided by it, In conclusion, it is our. sincere prayer that the above informations, would, serve;-as a warning, to, the, public for their own good and security as, well as that of, the. Math and; the Mission.

april, i . ,- (Sd.), saradananda, . . .

1914.. J Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Mission.

The Mission authorities thought_fafter_vthis that they- had succeed_r edi in/ convincing- the, people ^: and₍ the' Government of.the integrity oitheir purpose and of the spiritual, ideal- for, which- the Mission, stood4 But, they, were; astonished;-, to. find- the. following remarks. coming-out in the; Bengal District Administration -Committee: Report

•-',.. ",Th.e>- subsequently, notorious^ Barindra^ Kumar; Ghosh,, who,-together- wjth; hissi br others -Arabindas! had; fallen, much under-Maharashtra; r,infjuenc'ei s^a^ed- in: 1,908. tha'^ starting, his propag'anda-betweeni.-i9po;an'd'.i 9P3J.he= visited, every district and sub-division ofBengal, .preaehingtthefcausevof independence-; >• but failing, to, awakenresponse; he-.TeturrjeditOcBatpda-, deciding: to_rappeal, next time_:,to
religion as? well^as patriotism;. With- the p,artition-carne_rhiS;,desired4 ' .. ' • ' • ..-•

. [. 5° 1

opportunity. He and his coadjutors proclaimed the doctrine of Indian independence, and were assisted by the influence of the famous Vivekahanda, who before his death in 1905 (!) had with his Guru, Ramakrishna, originated a great- revival of Hinduism. Numerous hostels and students' messes afford evidence to confirm the assertions of reliable witnesses, that Vivekananda's books are extremely popular with the youth of Bengal. Their attraction lies in the fact, that, as the Principal of a College has told us, ' his preaching gave rise to Nationalism with a religious tendency '. At the same time the Vivekananda Ramakrishna Mission has a purely philanthropic side, which often impels youthful enthusiasm to social service. Other circumstances, combined to spread a spirit of revolt among the English-knowing classes of Bengal, who are mainly Hindus."

Besides criticising the remarks of the Report and protesting against -the same in its own monthly journal of the Prabuddha Bharata, the Mission, however, took no other steps this time. For its authorities found the fact that the leading dailies and monthlies of Calcutta, also, were publishing editorials of their own accord' against those allegations. Nothing else of the sort was expressed from the Government side for some .time after this. Thus the period of lull that followed made the Mission authorities believe that the mistake" made inadvertently in the Report had been found out and corrected by the Government.

-: And when His Excellency the Right Hon'ble Thomas David Baron Carmichael of Skirling, G. C. I. E., K.-C. M. G., the first Governor of Bengal was pleased to refer to the good works of the Ramakrishna-Mission in the following terms on the occasion of his opening the Sourindra Prasad Ward in the Dacca Branch, of the Ramakrishna Mission on the 24th August, 1916, and referred to the Mission workers in similar terms of praise later in His Excellency's Town Hall speech in Calcutta, they were almost sure that the Mission was not looked upon by the Government with distrust;—••"•

"The members of the Ramakrishna Mission are actuated by that spirit of helpfulness which is so .much needed In this world, the spirit that makes men ask_rthemselves the simple question—* Can I

, [ 51 ] -• .. .

help ' and which makes them say ' If I can it is my duty to do so ',• the spirit which leads to social service without any distinction of caste, race or creed. "The members of the Mission work in this spirit for the spiritual, intellectual and bodily good of their fellow-rrien. They hold religious services helping men to realize that personal relation of man to God, which is the foundation of religious devotion ; they conduct schools for the elementary, educa­tion of the masses and they maintain this Hospital for the relief of the human suffering and their spirit of helpfulness carries them further. It takes them out into the high-ways and bye-ways of life seeking¹ to help the poor and the sick and the helpless. All honour to them in their work *". '

But they were plunged into dismay again to. find the vein of distrust and suspicion running along the lines of His Excellency's Durbar speech at the Government House, Calcutta, on December, nth, 1916 where he made reference to the Mission in the following terms :—

. • '•' In attaining their end they (the recruiters of the criminal movement) use terrorism as well as persuasion, and I feel certain, I am sorry to say, that they often seize the opportunity which membership in a charitable society like the Ramakrishna Mission or participation in the relief of distress gives them to meet and to influence boys' who have noble ideas, but who have not enough experience to judge where a particular course must lead. I have the highest respect for the Ramakrishna Mission and for societies like it. I know of nothing more worthy of encouragement than the social service'which these societies exist to promote and there is nothing in India which I deplore more deeply, or of which it has been harder to convince me than the fact that mean and cruel men do join these societies in order to corrupt the minds of young men who would, if only they were not interfered with, be benefactors to .their fellow countrymen.

." Such societies naturally attract public sympathy. People think that all who take part in their work must be good men. - Parents are glad, to see their sons joining them, little thinking that in doing, so they fun the risk of becoming enemies to their country. You can

[ 52 ]

do no greater service to your, country than -by trying to prevent these societies being used by those who are doing such.infinite harm not only to Bengal but to all. India ".

In all'haste the Governing Body submitted the following; memorial to His Excellency, on January 22nd, 1917 and.passed anxious days for the sacred cause of the Mission awaiting for the result.,

The Memorial To the Government of BengaL

To His Excellency the Right Honourable,Thomas David

Boron Carmichael of Skirling G.C. 1. E_MK. C.

M. G, Governor of Bengal in Council.

The mmble Memorial of, the Governing Body of The Ramakrishna Mission, Belur, DistrictHowrah.

most respectfully showeth,

" '(i)¹ That your Excellency's, memorialists as heads of the Rama-.krishni Mission approach Your Excellency with this memorialed crave "leave "to ..recall Your Excellency's reference to the,Mission;/ in your Excellency's Durbar address of thenthDecember,last-since the reference'" has come to' receive interpretations, in,some, quarters at least, which are certainly not intended in Your Excellen­cy's words; but are already! laving'.,for the Mission seriously, unfortunate consequences-not simply m the withdrawal of support, Vhich was formerly cordially given, but in the diffusion of a, distms|. and even positive'¹ misunderstanding of the whol^ organisation, character and purpose which,cannot but have disastrous, results,.for-the work-of the Mission and consequently for the, people, it, serves,., the poor of its charities and_ the sick of its hospitals.

'"'" (2) Your Excellency's memorialists have very^ heartily.appreciated' the honour done to them by Your Excellency in selecting this Mission 'as the very type of societies for the charitable ends_?r and the social service, which Your Excellency so generously and heartily approves; and they feel encouraged to further efforts to retain and

[ '53 ]

be worthy of the pre-eminent distinction thus given to them, and this not only throughout what remains of Your Excellency's own Governorship, but that of Your Excellency's successors.

(3) As the very' first of these efforts, Your Excellency'smemorialists have tateh 'to heart the warning given in YourExcellency's address. Your Excellency's memorialists have accord­ingly gone over the entire list of'membersriip throughout India,which consists of 78 monastic, 121 lay and 2 associate members

-only and they are happy to place before Your Excellency the detailsand the results'of their investigation. To the best and utmost of'their= knowledge and 'belief 'this enquiry h'as "yielded not a singlename of any individual who has been in any way connected withcrime or with conspiracy, with revolutionary purpose, or even withunconstitutional agitation. .• ' ; , • ,

(4) Your Excellency's memorialists do not hesitate to explain thatlike rri'a'ny other monastic orders including many of the Christian faithand these not the least actuated by the tradition and spirit of theirMaster, they should hesitate to refuse frpm their novitiate, thoughthat is to their belief at present blameless, a man whose past life inthe world may have been blameworthy ; but like these orders, the
acceptance of such novices would be for the purpose, and with thediscipline, of weaning such men from their former courses, andleading them .from the'points of view these express, to that new and
inward life of religion which is the ideal of the. Mission, and to thatactive discipline of social service which is its daily and its exclusive,practical aim. "

"(5) Your Excellency however goes on to say^-and here are the passages which have given rise to that difficult situation,' above mentioned, with many of the old supporters and friends of the Mission—viz., that they (the recruiters of the criminal movement) " often seize the 'opportunity which membership in a charitable society, like the Ramakrishna Mission or participation in the relief of distress, gi^s them to meet and influence the boys who have noble ideas, but who have not enough experience, to judge where a particular course must lead "—and further, " that mean and cruel men do join these societies in order to corrupt the mihHs of young

[ 54 ]

men who would, if only they were not interfered with, be benefactors to their fellow-countrymen."

6. Your Excellency's memorialists must of course leave othersocieties each to enquire and speak for itself ; but they are relievedto be able to assure Your Excellency, and to offer' the documentaryevidence of their records, which are carefully and even strictly kept,that investigation of their membership, which at present amounts to201 members only, is to the best of their knowledge and belief, free
   from such elements.
7. Your Excellency's memorialists beg to submit for YourExcellency's perusal copiesN of the Rules and Regulations of the
   Mission promulgated and printed so far back as 1909 (appendedhereto and marked A & £) and owing to the strict policy pursued inenlisting its members, the members admitted during the last 19years since its foundation (as per page i of the First General Report
   of the Mission, marked C) has grown more slowly than in the caseof other similar institutions in the country and hence it cannot besaid that political conspirators have seized the opportunity whichmembership in the Mission may give them to corrupt the minds ofyoungmen.

(8) Your Excellency's memorialists crave leave to mention theconnection of the revered name of Sree Ramakrishna Dev, who isconsidered as a saint not only by his followers in this country andelsewhere, but by recognised European savants like Prof. MaxMullerand Mr. William James of America, the Gifford lecturer on NaturalReligion delivered at Edinburgh in 1901 and 1902, with severalindependent and different religious and philanthropic societieshaving absolutely no connection whatever with the RamakrishnaMission—but the similarity of the names of which is apt to confusethe Ramakrishna Mission with one or other of them as if they areparts of the same organisation ; whereas the Ramakrishna Mission infact has nothing to do with the aforesaid bodies or societies bearingthe" name of Sree Ramakrishna. In'the town of Calcutta there areseveral such societies, some of which,, like the Ramakrishna Anath-bhandar- Society at Bowbazar, derive much of their influence and
prestige owing to the .official patronage the} receive in the shape of

t 55' ] ' -

monetary help from the Government, the Calcutta Corporation etc., and their annual meetings are presided over by such high officials like the Hon'ble Mr. P. C. Lyon c.s.i., the Hon'ble Mr. C, F. Payne, Sir Lawrence Jenkins and others—-and a large body of men confuse such societies with the Mission. With regard to the Ramakrishna Mission itself, the help of outsiders having sympathy with the work of the Mission is taken in occasional large philanthropic works e.g., famine-relief, flood-relief etc.—such co-operation being limited to the period reliefs are actually given and those workers have no manner of control over the Mission itself. These men are very carefully selected by Your Excellency's memorialists and by way of further precaution and safety Your Excellency's memorialists have decided to get a declaration in the annexed form (marked D) to be duly signed in future from all those who would come to help the Mission in its philanthropic "works. If a few of these outside workers are looked upon as suspicious characters by the Police—no blame can be attached to the Ramakrishna Mission itself.

(9) That Your Excellency's humble memorialists further beg leave to point out that the opportunity which according to Your Excellency's opinion, membership in a philanthropic body like the Ramakrishna Mission gives to political conspirators, " to meet and to influence boys who Have noble ideas but who have not enough experience to judge where a particular course may lead," happens to "be very much limited in the case of the Ramakrishna Mission owing to such circumstances and safe-guards as (a) the avowed exclusion of every political propaganda from the'aims and objects of the Mission, its public manifesto under the heading "A -warning to the public " printed"* in various newspapers in April 1914 after consultation with such a high and responsible police officer as Mr. C. A. Tegart m.v.o., c.i.e., a copy of. which is- enclosed (marked £") being noteworthy in this connection, besides, the_v views publicly discussed in its periodical organs and teachings published in" its books"; (6) the special features of the Mission vesting all powers of control and guidance in the hands of the monastic body composed of a few senior members (at present 17) and the impossibility of any outsiders entering into the body to influence

[ 5« 1

its methods, its policy and course of action ; (V) the constant readiness to offer every facility ^;in every centre of work, temporary or permanent towards official or police inspections. Such .facility 'has already been given on -more 4han one occasion to such responsible police officers as Mr. G. C. Denham and Mr. G. A. Tegart, the latter of whom visited the Headquarters of the Mission at the Belur Math, which was also honoured 'with a visit by Her Excellency Lady Minto and which was declared by Mr. Duke, afterwards Sir William Duke, then in charge of the District of Howrah, in his judgment in a legal arbitration on 3rd August 1899 as a purely religious institution.

(10) That Your Excellency's memorialists "beg to submit that the Ramakrishna Mission is not merely a charitable institution or movement confined to the relief of distress among all men irrespective of race or creed, but it is essentially a religious movement, regarding even such work of relief as a kind of religious service. Your Excellency's memorialists may be permitted to cite here the case of the Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service at Benares—which is a branch of the Mission—doing splendid work in giving relief to the sick, the infirm, the aged and the poor and is looked upon by the Local Government as a very useful non-official hospital, and local officials do all in their power to help the institution (vide Report for 1914 marked f; pp. 7, n, 19 and 22) and the Government of the U. P. have, acquired lands under the Land Acquisition Act for extension of this branch of the Mission.

(u) The said Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service at Benares and similar works started by the Mission at Kankhal, Brindaban, Allahabad and elsewhere are mainly supported by private charities and contributions from members and sympathisers ; Your Exellency's memorialists regret very much to bring to Your Excellency's notice that unfortunately since the Durbar speech—which has generally been construed as an indictment against the Ramakrishna Mission—such active help is in danger of being withdrawn and some of the members are hesitating to continue their membership for.fear of unnecessary and groundless harassment and trouble.

[12) With this humble memorial and explanations which Your

[ 57 ]

Excellency's memorialists are prepared to support fn detail, they trust and pray that Your 'Excellency before leaving India, will do the Mission the very great and helpful service—one fully in keeping hot only with the spirifdf Your Exciellericy's address,'biit'with ttet fairness and openness w'hich have ajiimated the whole of Y6iir Excellency's rule and wofi Your Excellency the united esteem 'and good-will of the vast body of the community as well as of minorities like the Ramakrishna¹ 'Mission—of in some way correcting the disastrous impression of the Mission which has unfortunately 'arisen since the TJurbar speech.

Your Excellency's memorialists will be pleased to ^;ahswer any •questions whether personally or in writing and remain

—, _ ,.-,-.- Your Excellency's most humble

1 he Ramakrishna

_w , "} ana obedient servants,

_. . _,' , J, (Sd,) Saradananda

Belur, Howrah, ( ,

_. . , _ • ) Secretary, Ramaknshna Mission,

Dated 22nd Tan.,17.v , „ . „ ,

for the Governing Body.

The' Secretary of the Mission was then called to see His Excellency the Governor one day in the Government House in Calcuttta to answer and explain certain questions regarding the activities and functions of the Mission, • And at last on 26th March, 1917, the Mission was grateful to receive through its Secretary the following words of trust and assurance from His Excellency :—

THE REPLY.

Governor's C-amp, Bengal.

26th ^:Ma'rch, 1917. Dear Sir,

1 thank jou for^having come to see me and ^;for the .trouble you ^:have taken to tell nie about the origin of the Ra'makrishtia Mission, and'its arms and objects.

I -read with great interest the "memorial which the Missio'n authorities Submitted 'to me 'some rime ago. I 'regret very much to

[ 58 ]

hear that words used by me at the Durbar in December last regarding the Mission should have led in any way to the curtailment of the good religious, social and educational work the Mission has done and is doing. As you, I know, realize, my object was not to--condemn the Ramakrishna Mission and its members. I know the character of the Mission's -work is entirely non-political, and I have heard nothing but good of its work of social service for the people. What I wanted to impress upon the people is this: Charitable and philanthropic work such as the Mission undertake is being adopted deliberately by a section of the revolutionary party as a cloak for their own nefarious schemes and in order to attract to their organi­sations youths who are animated by ideals such as those which actuate the Mission, with the intention of perverting these ideals to their own purposes ; and with this object unscrupulous use is being made of the name and reputation of the Ramakrishna Mission.

I have full sympathy with the real aims of the true Ramakrishna Mission and it was this-, abuse of the name of the Mission that.! wish to prevent. I hope the words I used will help, the Mfssion to guard against the illegitimate use "of its name by unscrupulous people.

Yours very sincerely

(Sd.) Carmichael. To

The Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, i Mukherji Lane,

Baghbazar, Calcutta.

The Governing Body here express their deep debt of gratitude not only to His Excellency, the first Governor of Bengal for thus righting matters regarding the reputation of the Mission, but to those friends also, without whose active and combined help things would have taken a dilatory course and the false indictment against the Mission remaining long on it would have produced unfortunate-consequences by diffusing distrust and misunderstanding on the-. whole organisation. It is not easy to name all of them ; so we-content ourselves with mentioning the few prominent ones here—

[ 59 ]

Miss J. MacLeod, Prof. P. Geddes and the late Mrs,. Geddes, the Hon'ble Nawab Sir Syed Shamshul Huda, (k.c.i.e.), Mr. W. R. Gourlay, c.i.e., i.c.s., Srijut Dasarathy Sanyal (Pleader, High Court), Srijut Mohini Mohan Chaterjee (Solicitor, High Court).

In conclusion, as the event has taken place while this report was going to the press, the Governing Body take the opportunity to express their heart-felt thanks to His Excellency the Right Hon'ble Lawrence John Lumly Dundas, Earl of Ronaldshay g.c.i.e., the present Governor of Bengal for kindly visiting the Belur Math on the morning of the 7th March, 1919, and to inform the readers that His Excellency has been graciously 'pleased to make a grant of Rs. 5OO/ to the Mission "as a contribution towards• the cost of revetting the riverside land belonging to the Math at Belur," placing the amount at the disposal of the District Magistrate, Howrah.

Co-operation of the Mission with the Government during

relief operations and help rendered by the

Government officials.

It has been always the policy of the Mission during its relief operations to supplement the work undertaker^ by the Government, to act in co-operation with it as far as possible and according to its suggestion and advice. The Government officials seeing the actual work have always'appreciated it and helped it with not only good advice and police help etc., but have contributed to its funds from their own pocket or secured Government grant for it. \We give below: a jist of some of the contributions thus received, as well as some, letters from the Government officials showing their appreciation of the work of the Mission :—

Charitable Relief Fund through the Collector of Puri during the Famine Relief in the Puri District in 1908, Rs. 1,250.

The Government of Bengal through R. G. Kilby Esq., Magistrate and Collector, Midnapur (during flood relief in Ghatal Sub-Division in 1909) Rs. 2OO/, and 15 Mds. of Rice.

R. G. Kilby Esq., (personal contribution during the same period) Rs. 50.

[ 60 ]

* Gdvfernment' of Bengal thrbiigh F. B/'Bradley fiirt Esq., Collector, Midnapore during flood relief, ih Burdwan Division in 1913 and 1914,-Rs. i,ooo/.

Hon'ble .P. C. Lyoh, i.c.s. (personal contribution during the Same period) Rs. 5O/.

J. Lang Esq., i.c.s., Divisional Commissioner, Chittagong(personal contribution during famine relief work in the Districtof Kpakhali in 1915) Rs. 20/. ,

Through . W. S. Adie Esq., i.c.s., District Magistrate andChairman-, Noakhali (Government grant during the same period)Rs. 2,ooo/. ^: ,

Through C. Tindall Esq., District Judge, Bankura and President, District Board General Relief Committee, (during the famine relief work ih Bankura'in 1915-1916) 644 pieces of new cloth.

Some extracts from the letters of the Government Officials.

To swami sankaran\nda brahmachari, Dear Sir,

I send you a small contribution to your funds as an expression of my appreciation of the splendid work of charity which is being carried out by your Mission here.

Camp Bhagwanpu'r, ' Yours sincerely,

21-11-13. (^Sd-) ^p- ^c- ^lyon-

The 22rid December 1913.

Midnapur.

Dear Sir,

\ • ...

I have just received your letter of tHe i8rh. I a'm sending you -Rs. 1,000 (one thousand) from the Government gra'ht for the use of your Mission irr Offcles' Nbs. i and 3 of Bnagwan'puf. In future Jf you require any help will you kindly write to the S. D. O., who I am

I-⁶?. ] •

sure will dq, his, utmpst to, giver joy a supply, of rice from theGovernment depot of Kalinagore. <

Jna,nananda Br,ahmachari Yours truly.,

. " of Ramakrishna Mission. (Sd,) F. B. bradley bart.

To swami bhumananda,

Ramgunj, Noakhali, 12th. July.19.14.

Sir, ' • , - .... . _.

I have the honour, to enquire if your Mission is willing to take charge of the Lakshmipur thana of the district for distribution of relief in case we give aijothe.r Rs. 1,000 (one, thousand) duly.: for the

purpose. ••.'.. -

; I have the honour to be, Sir,

^: Your most obedient servant;, (Sd.) 1. C. dutt,

For Chairman, D. B. Noakhali..

To brahmachari dhruva, chaitanya,

_: - Ramakrishna. Mission, Bankura.•-.'••. Bankura,

\ ' • • ^Ik-October

Dear Sir, ' . . *' ...-,.• .

I should be very much obliged if you could arrange to 'see meto-morrow, morning about.7-30, if not inconvenient,,so that, we,cantalk_yover: the, matter of. relief of distress in certain,areas, lamanxious if,p,9ssible.:tp.ayoid,ove_:r-lapping,and;consequent, dissipatio.nof energies among the various agencies employed in this object. Ifit ,c.qu]*d_rbe, arranged^ that .certain, areas,. w.oul4,be,Jiv charge: of .certainagencies^ 1, think we., should be .able,to.put.more into .those_;areas',.At, apy_v, rate,, I. should,, fee-l, that,.so far,, as any,area,/was,allqted', a.burden,was off from, my, shoulders, ' . •.. ,...-.

•' ...... . • Y.Qurs Sincerely,.

,(S4.J;A;_;W. cook,, , • District Magistrate. Bankura*

[ 62 J Circular issued by the Magistrate in October ryrj.

Circles Nds. i and 3 of the Bhagwanpur charge are herewithplaced under the- control of the Ramaknshna Mission. These,Circles have been selected in consultation with Jnanananada of theRamakrishna Mission and it is, understood that the Mission willappoint an officer in both these. Circles whose name will be sentto me. , . ' \

Camp Bhagwanpur, (Sd.) F. B. bradley birt.

The sist October 1913.

The several Mission Funds kept open for public contribution.

Apart from the monastic life and discipline of the Math, theRamakrishna Mission afford^ a field of activity where the public areinvited to co-operate with the members of the Ramakrishna order.Generally speaking, such co-operation may either consist in anactive participation in the work of the Mission as its member orassociate, or in pecuniary contribution to its funds, or in both.People who sympathise with the objects of the^: Mission but areprecluded from active participation in its works by their avocationin life are welcome to • co-operate with the Mission, among otherways, by sending contribution,, however small, to the followingfunds:— • . .

(i) Funds for support of the permanent Institutions f.e.,Sevashramas at Benares^ Allahabad, Brindaban, Kankhal and Dacca,the Branch centre at Barisal,' and the Charitable Dispensary atBelur; ' . - ,_'

(ii) Provident Relief Fund—for keeping resources ready to some extent against the sudden scourges of nature such as earthquake, pestilence, famine, flood, fire &c.j that is to say, cases of wide-spread distress where prompt action constitutes.a large factor of successful relief. We quote the following from the public appeal that was made from the Mission when this important fund was first set afoot:—• '

t 63 ]

"The periodic recurrence of famine, plague and many other disasters has become almost quite certain in India like chronic diseases in the human organism and it seems that nothing short of a permanent, fund can cope with such an outlook. The Mission, therefore, has decided to keep a special fund which for easy reference and for distinguishing it from other funds has been named " the Provident Relief Fund " open always to the public for contribution, for relieving all periodic and temporary public distresses such as famine, flood, earthquake, plague, fire &c.

(iii) Educational Fund—to help educational works started by the Mission, i.e., Sister Nivedita's Girls' School at Baghbazar, Calcutta, the Ramakris'hna Free School at Dacca, the Night School at Kankhal—Saharanpur District, the Ashrama (Orphanage) at Sargachi, Murshidabad, and the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home at Madras.

(iv) General Fund—for general expenses _% of the Mission, such as are incurred for inspection of centres, holding meetings of the Association, Missionary work, postage, printing, stationery &c.

(v) Poor Fund—for alleviating individual distresses of various natures that claim urgent help from the Mission at its headquarters.

Contributions are to be sent to the headquarters of the Mission with the name of that particular institution or Sevashrama clearly specified which is to get the benefit thereof. It is also open to, the contributors to send their money direct to the address of the Institutions'of the Mission which they desire to help.

APPENDIX A.

Memorandum of Association

OF

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION; Registered on the 4th of May 1909.

(Uncle?, Act XXI of, 1860 of the Governor, General of. India in. Council.).

1, The name of the Association is THE RAMAKRISHNAMISSION.

2. The objects of the Association are,:-^

(a) To impart and promote the study of the Vedanta and; its

principles , as propounded: by Srr Rkmakrishna and practically illustrated by hisowalife and of: comparative theology in. its widest form.

(b) To impart-and promote the, study of the arts, sciences and'

industries,., ., ...... . •..•.':-

(c) To train teachers in all branches of knowledge above

mentioned; and: enable them. to> reach the -masses.

(d), To carry on educational :work among the masses.

(«) To establish, maintain, carry on and assist schools, colleges, orphanages, workshops, laboratories;, hospitals, dispen;-saries, houses .for the infirm, the invalid and the afflicted, famine-relief-works, and other educational and charitable works and institutions of a like nature.

(/) To print and publish and to sell or. distribute, gratuitously or otherwise, journals, periodicals, books or leaflets that the Association may think desirable for the promotion of its objects.

(g) To carry on any other work which may seem to the Association capable of being conveniently carried on in connection with and calculated directly or indirectly to promote any of the before-mentioned objects.

[' 65 j

(K) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or other­wise acquire property movable or immovable and any rights or privileges which may be deemed necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association and to improve, develope, manage, sell, lease, mortgage, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the Association. (/') To construct, maintain or alter any house, buildings or works necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association.

(j) To accept any gift of property whether subject, or not, to any special trusts or conditions in favour or furtherance of any of the objects of the Association.

(k) To take such steps by personal or .written appeals, public

meetings or otherwise as may from time to time be

deemed expedient for the purpose of procuring

contributions to the funds of the Association in the

shape of donations, subscriptions or otherwise.

(/) For the purposes of the Association to borrow" and raise

money in such manner as the Association may think fit.

(m) To invest the moneys of the Association not immediately

required upon such securities and in such manner as

may from time to time be determined.

(«) To undertake and execute any trust or any agency-business which may seem directly or indirectly conducive to any of the objects of the Association either -gratuitously or otherwise.

(<?) For the purpose of the Association to make, accept, endorse and execute Promissory Notes, Bills of' Exchange, Hundis and other negotiable instruments. (/>) To incorporate any institutions, societies or associations having objects wholly or in part similar to any of those of the Association and to'co-operate with any person or any persons in aid of such objects.

(?) To do all or any of the above things either as principals,, agents, trustees or otherwise and by or through trustees, 5

agents or otherwise and-either alone or in conjunction with others, (r) To do all such other things as are incidental or conducive

to the attainment of the above objects or any of them. 3.. The names, addresses and occupations of the governing body of the Association are :—

J- Being the present Trustees of the Belur Math.*

Swami Brahmananda, Belur Math, Hindu Missionary.SaradanandaSivanandaAkhandananda
SubodhanandaTuriyananda
SuddhanandaBodhananda
Atmananda
SatchidanandaVirajanandaAchalanandaSankaranandaMahimanandaDhiranandaNirbhavananda ,, , J

* The namqs of S\vamis Trigunatita,, Ramakrishnananda, Prem-ananda and Advaitananda have been omitted from the original list, on account of their demise and that of Swami Abhedananda, he having made' himself ineligible to be a Trustee according to the rules laid down in the Deed of Trust of the Belur Math, by settling Tiimself permanently out of British India.

The names of Swamis Achalananda, Sankarananda, Mahima­nanda, Dhirananda and Nirbhayananda have been added to the original list on account of their being elected to the Trusteeship after the Memorandum was drawn up.

APPENDIX. B. Rules and Regulations

OF

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION.

OBJECTS.

1. the Association is established for the purposes expressedin the Memorandum of Association.

MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATES.

2. All followers, whether lay or monastic, of the ParamahamsaRAMAKRISHNA may be members of the Association if electedat a meeting of the Association or nominated by the Governing Bodyhereinafter mentioned.
3. All persons irrespective of colour, creed or caste, sympathis­ing with all or any of the objects of the Association may beassociates if elected or nominated as mentioned in rule 2, regardingthe election of members.
4. Monastic members shall not be required to pay any admis­
   sion fee or any subscription.

5. Every lay member and; every associate, unless exempted
herefro'm in writing by the Governing Body, 'shall pay an admission

fee of R.s.5 and an annual subscription of Rs. 5 payable by two half-yearly instalments in advance. The Governing Body may exempt any member or associate from payment of all or any fees or subscriptions.

6. The annual subscription shall be commuted by a paymentof Rs. i ocx

7. Connection of^members and associates with the Association.shall cease by.resignation or non-payment of dues for two years

but shall be capable of renewal in, such manner as .the Governing Body may from time to time determine.

[ 68 ]

8. Members shall be entitled to :—

(a) Vote at all .meetings of the Association, use the Library

attached to the Math at Belur in the district of Howrah arid reside at the Math temporarily subject to rules and regulations prescribed by the Math authorities.

(b) Attend all classes formed by the Association for the

instructions of its members and receive individual instruction whenever practicable.

(c) Receive all publications of the Association at a special

disconnt of 25 per cent on the published price. (d*) Mofussil members shall be entitled to 'receive English or Bengali proceedings, reports and leaflets published by the Association^-on payment of postage dues.

9. Associates shall have all the" privileges of members exceptthe right to vote at meetings.

MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

10. There shall¹ be one ordinary._meeting of the-Association-in every year to be held at such place and time as the President
shall from time to time determine.

n. Extraordinary general meetings', of the Association may be convened either by the President or by a requisition signed by not less than five members of the Governing Body or by a requisition signed by not less than 8 members of the Association. The time andplaceof such' extraordinary meetings shall be determined by the President or requisitionists with the sanction'of the President. 12. (a) Each member shall have a single vote, in all meetings of the Association except the President, who shall have a casting vote in case of a tie.

(6) In the absence of the President a member' of the Governing Body of' the Association will be elected to preside at any of its meetings.

(Y) The Secretary shall duly notify-to the members; of the-time and place of the meetings of the Association at least twenty-four hours before such a meeting takes place.

.. . [ 69 ]

(d) The Treasurer will collect all funds, dues, donations,contributions and deposit the same in a Bank, in thename of the Ramakrishna Mission. .,

• •.••-• •. . "••-.•/ •'"',"' • -- • •

, .13. (a).Not less than five members shall form a quorum, -in' "any meeting of the Association, competent to proceed

with the business of the meeting.

: (b) The Accountant shall keep clear.accounts of the income, and expenses of the Association and report the same

at the'meetings of the Governing Body.

• THE GOVERNING BODY. ' ^; "

14! The management of the Association and its affairs shall -vest in the Trustees for the time being of the Indenture of Trust dated the 3Oth day of January 1901 usually called the Trust Deed of the Belur Math, who shall form the Governing Body of the Association. If at any time there shall be no acting Trustee of the said Belur Math, the Association in general meeting may appoint a Governing Body of the Association, constituted as the Association in such meeting shall determined

15. The Governing Body shall from among its member^ elect a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary or Secretaries, a Treasurer and an Accountant of the Association, and assign to them their respective duties and they shall form the executive committee of the Association.

16.. The Governing Body shall be competent from time to time to frame rules for the conduct of its business and also to make bye-laws for the management of the Association and for the manage­ment^ conduct and carrying on of its business and affairs and also from time to time, to vary or repeal any such rules or bye-laws.

17. The Association in general meeting may disallow, rescind,cancel or alter any such rules or bye-laws and may make rules orbye-laws for any of the purposes aforesaid.
18. (a) The Governing Body shall be competent to delegate by

a certificate, in writing and bearing the seal of the Association to any person or persons or body or bodies such portions of their authority as they shall from time

to.time think fit and at pleasure to revoke the authority so delegated.

(5) The Governing Body may confer the honorary position
of an associate upon any one who has distinguishedhimself by education and philanthropic works orotherwise.

19. (a) The Governing Body shall cause proper records and

accounts to be kept of the Association, its affairs and property.

(6) The Governing Body shall elect workers from among
the members and associates of the Association andauthorise and empower them to raise subscriptions,donations etc., from the public, for furthering anyobject of the Association, by giving theni certificates-in writing bearing the seal of the Association and takeaccounts from them of the same.

(c) The President; or in his absence the Vice-President, or in the absence of both, the Treasurer, or in his absence, the Secretary of the Mission shall have power to with­draw money,, to draw interests on Government Promissory notes and other securities for money, to renew, consolidate or sell such securities belonging to the Ramakrishna Mission, Belur, arid in doing "so, he shall quote the resolution of the Governing Body authorising him in that behalf.

(</). Three of the office-bearers of the Ramakrishna Mission, one of whom must be the President, if he shall be present within 20 miles of Belur, shall be competent to sell all immovable property belonging to the- R. K. Mission and execute and register all instruments of sale in respect thereof.

AUDIT.

20. The accounts of the Association shall be annually. audited
by an auditor or auditors" to be appointed by the Association inmeeting.

SEAL.

21. The Association shall have a common seal of such makeand design as the Governing Body shall decide,
22. The seal shall be affixed to all formal documents in thepresence of two members of the Xjoverning Body of whom one shallbe the President, the Vice-President or the Secretary.

CONTRACTS.

23. All contracts shall be made by two members of the
Governing Body and the President or in his absence the Secretary.

MISCELLANEOUS.

24. The rules and regulations for the time being of theAssociation may from time to time be altered, added to or rescinded
by the Association in general meeting.

BYE-LAWS.

1. Philanthropic, charitable or any other, kind of work startedby the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission in co-operationwith the interested people of any locality outside of Belur shall be
   regarded as Branch Centres.
2. (a) These will be managed by local committees and office-

bearers, or by single -individual Or individuals selected from among the members and associates by the Governing Body.

(b) The duties and powers -with which a local committee or any of its office-bearers is Hereby entrusted, shall, so far as applicable, be performed and exercised by single individual or individuals, authorised to manage a branch centre, the monthly detailed account of the work done in the centre and the sums drawn and disbursed for carrying on the- -work being submitted directly by such _: individual or 'individuals to the Governing Body of the Mission.

3. The Ideal committees' shall direct the business of thosecentres, by rules and bye-laws framed by the Governing Body in

[ 72 ]

consultation with the local members and associates or the people of the locality interested in those works.

4. Every such centre shall contribute, when capable, a. sum ofRupees twelve annually to the Governing Body, in considerationof its affiliation with the Association.
5. The sources of income of such institutions shall besubscriptions and donations from the public : and the money raised
   by such means shall be exclusively used for'the welfare of suchinstitutions.
6. Subscribers to such an institution, its bona fide workers andmedical men and other persons who render substantial and gratui­tous service to such an institution are eligible for election as'merrbersand office-bearers of the local committee and shall be associatemembers of the Ramakrishna Mission.
7. The Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission shallappoint a chief Supervisor and a local committee with office-bearersfor the management of affairs of every branch centre, which is not
   managed by a single individual or individuals.
8. The Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission shallhave power to remove and dissolve such Supervisor and localcommittee and appoint others in their places.
9. The local committee shall consist of not less than 8 members
   including the chief Supervisor and the Secretary and each membershall have equal power to vote.

10. Subscriptions and donations shall be received by theSecretary or the Assistant Secretary who shall grant a receipt forthe same.
11. All moneys and deposit accounts, Government Promissory
    notes and other Securities approved by the Governing Body shallstand in the name of the Ramakrishna Mission with the name of thelocal centres attached to it. The local Treasurer shall have powerto withdraw money, to draw interest on such securities and to renewor consolidate Government Promissory notes at the requisition ofthe local Secretary or the Local Assistant Secretary who shallquote the resolution of the local Committee authorising him todo so.

[ 73 ]

12. The local Secretary or the local Assistant Secretary shall
    call a meeting of the local committee every month, giving due notice•of the business to be brought forward before the meeting to all themembers of the Committee and shall submit the proceedings ofsuch and other meetings to the Governing Body of the RamakrishnaMission.
13. The local Secretary shall publish an annual report of the•working of his Committee or branch centre.
14. In all meetings of the local Committee the presence of fivemembers shall form a quorum. In the absence of the local Presidentor the local Vice-President, the meeting shall elect a President from
    amongb't the members present.
15. All questions before a meeting of the local committee shall
    be decided by a majority of votes. In cases of equal division, theChairman shall have a casting vote.

16." The local Secretary or the local Assistant Secretary shall have power to call a meeting of the local Committee at any time at the request of four members of the local Committee.

17. The local Secretary and the local. Assistant Secretary shall
    receive representations from the public and select the business to be
    taken up by the local Managing Committee at its sittings, and, shallhold communications on behalf of the Committee.
18. The local Secretary and the local Assistant Secretary shall
    keep a record of the proceedings of the meetings under the signature•of the Chairman, and a detailed account of the work done in the-centre and of the sums drawn and disbursed by him for carrying
    on the work and shall place them before the monthly meeting of thelocal Committee. : ,
19. The local Committee shall have power to frame new rules•at any future time for the furtherance of the object of such aninstitution with the sanction of the Governing Body of the Rama­krishna Mission.
20. The Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of., the localCommittee should apply to the President of the Governing Body ofthe Ramakrishna Mission to empower with proper certificate bearinghis own signature and the special seals of the Ramakrishna Mission,

[ 74 ]

the workers elected by the Committee for raising subscriptions and donations in aid of the institution. Such workers should produce them, if wanted, before all donors for their satisfaction.

21. Such workers should carry receipt books to enter the sums* donated with the signatures of the donors in their own handwritings* They should remit their collections to the local Secretaries with the names and addresses of the donors at the end of every week without fail, and the local Secretaries or the local Assistant Secretaries should send acknowledgments of the sums thus received, to the donors by return of post.

CONTENTS.

The Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission ... ivIntroduction ... ... ... i

Section A. — The Maths and Ashramas.

permanent institutions for missionary works : —

(i)- The Ramakrishna Math, Belur ... ... 3

• ' (2) The Ramakrishna Math, Baghbazar, Calcutta ... 5

3. The Gadadhar Ashrama, Bhowanipur, Calcutta ... 5
4. The Ramakrishna Adwaita Ashrama, Benares .-.-; 5
5. The Adwaita Ashrama, Mayavati (Almora) .... 6
6. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Madras ... ... 7

• . (7) Sri Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore ... ... 8

8. Sri Ramakrishna Math, Patna . ... ... g
9. Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamala Tal ... g.(10 — 17) Other Indian Maths and Ashramas ... i_o(18) Foreign Centres : —

•(a) Vedanta Society, New York ... _{fii IO}

2. Vedanta Society, San Francisco ... ...-,, n
3. Vedanta Centre, Boston ... ..; _r,
4. Vivekananda Ashrama, Kuala Lumpur (F. M. S.) 1 1Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda Birthday

Celebrations ... — ... _I2

Section B.— Mission Proper.

philanthropic

At the Head-quarters : —

Charitable Di

Tenip&rary

Head-quarters

(3) Other Philanthtopic Works from the Head-quarters 14

Permanent Philanthropic Institutions affiliated to the Mission :—

1. The Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Benares 15
2. The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal(Hardwar) ... ... ... 18
3. The Ramakrishnna Mission Sevashrama, Rangoon 19
4. The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Muthiganj,Allahabad ... ... ... 20
5. The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Brindaban 21
6. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch Centre, Dacca ... 22
7. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch Centre, Narayan-

ganj (Dacca) ... ... ... ?^

8. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch Centre, Barisal... 24
9. The Ramakrishna Mission Charitable Outdoor Dis­pensary, Bhubanesv/ar (Puri) ... ... -24.
10. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch Centre, Koalpara(Bankura) ... ... ... 24

(11) The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Midnapore 25

B. educational institutions. Those affiliated to the Mission :—

1. The Ramakrishna Mission Industrial School, Belur(Howrah) ... ... ... 25
2. The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama (Orphanage),Sargachi (Murshidabad) ... ... 26
3. The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home, Myla-pore, Madras ... ... ... 27
4. The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home, Calcutta 28
5. Sri Ramakrishna Vidyapith, Deoghar (SonthallPergs.) 29
6. The Ramakrishna Mission Free ScriGGi, uacca ... iy
7. The Night School, Kankhal ... .... „ 30
8. The Sister Nivedita Girls' School. ... ... 30
9. The Ramakrishna Anath Ashrama (Orphanage),Baranagore, Calcutta ... ... ... jj
10. Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Sarisha (24 Pergs.) ... „ 32

Ill

Those likely to be soon affiliated :—

1. Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Bankura ... 33
2. Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Sonargaon, Dacca ... 33
3. Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama and Saradapith, Gar-beta (Midnapore) ... ... ... 33

Thanks of the Mission ... ... ... 34

Obituary ... ... ... ... 34

The Several Mission Funds kept open for Public Contri­bution ... ... ... ... 36

Appendices.

Appendix A.—Extracts from the Memorandum of Association 37 ,, B.—Rules and Regulations of the Ramakrishna

Mission ... ... ... 40

,, C.—Statement of Accounts ... ... 4»8

The Governing Body

of

the Ramakrishina Mission.

Present Executive Committee.

1. swami sivananda, President.

2. ,, akhandananda, Vice-President.
3. ,, saradananda, Secretary.
4. ,, suddhananda, Joint Secretary.
5. •„ sankarananda, Do.
6. ,, dhirananda, Treasurer.
7. „ amriteswarananda, Accountant.

Members.

8. swami abhedananda.

g. ' „ SUBODHANAKDA.

10. ,, BODHAKANDA.
11. „ sachchidananda.
12. ,, VlRAJANANDA.
13. ,, achalananda.14.. ,, mahimananda.

15. ,. sarvananda.
16. ,, VlSUDDHANANDA.
17. ,, madhavnanda.

Bankers.

thr chartered bank of india, Australia & China. Calcutta,

Auditors.

messrs. B. -mookherjee & Co. bab'u B. N. sanyal.

2. The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal ... 23
3. The Ramakrishna Mission,Sevashrama, Brindaban ... 24
4. The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Allahabad ... . 26
5. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch. Centre, Dacca -....:' .28
6. The Ramakrishna Mission Branch Centre, Barisal .... _•', 32B. Educational Institutions;— ..." ... ' ... '134

- i. Sister Nivedita Girls' School .'..•'•- ' ... , ... 36

2. The Night School at Kankhal '. . , ... .. ^ ... 38
3. Sri Ramakrishna Free School. Dacca .... . . ... 39
4. The Ramakrishna Missiori Ashrama (Orphanage)

Sargachi (Murshidabad) •••-.• ... .' ... ' 39

5. The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home. Madras... 41'Thanks of the Mission ^ ' ' ... ... :.; . 42

Misinterpretation and Misrepresentation of the .-Mission's

• ideal and the steps taken to correct them ^; ... 43Co-operation of the Mission with . the Government duringrelief operations'and help rendered by the 'Government.'

' •• officials ' ' ... ....... ; ... 59

The several Mission Funds open for public contribution ... 62

Appendices.

1. Extracts from the Memorandum of Association ... 64
2. Rules and Regulations of the Ramakrishna Mission ..." 67
3. Statement of Accounts :.. . ... 75

Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission.

Present Executive Committee.

1. swami brahmaxaxda, President.

2. ,. sivananda, Vice-President & Treasurer.

3. „ saradaxaxda, Secretary.

4.. . ,, suddhaxaxda, joint-Secretary.

5. ., saxkaraxaxda, Do.

6.. .,- mahimaxaxda, Accountant.

Bankers.

chartered baxk or india, Australia & China, Calcutta.

Auditors

messrs. B. mookherjee & Co. babu B. N. sanyal.