Ramakrishna Mission Reports: Tenth General Report

THE TENTH GENERAL REPORT,

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

(1938—1939)

With some recent information)

May, 1940

ISSUED BY THE SECRETARY FROM BELUR MATH, HOWRAH

The Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission (1940)

Swami Virajananda, President ,, »Achalananda, Vice-President ,, Sahkarananda, Treasurer ,, Madhavananda, Secretary ,, Amriteshwarananda

Atmabodhananda f Asst. Secretaries Vireswarananda Vishuddhananda, Accountant Bodhananda Mahimananda Sharvananda Santananda Asimananda Yatiswarananda Prabodhananda 'Atmapraliasliananda Nirvanananda Nirvedananda • Omkarananda

Bankers, 1940

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia & China, Ltd.,

Calcutta.

The Lloyds Bank, Ltd., Calcutta. The Central Bank of India, Ltd., Calcutta. The National City Bank of New York, Calcutta. The Bengal Provincial Co-operative Bank, Ltd.

* Auditors. 194O

Messrs. Banerjee, Roy Chaudhury & Co. Mr. S. N. Mukherjee, f.s.a.a. Mr. S. M. Sen Gupta, m.a. Mr. D. M. Sen Gupta, g.d.a. Messrs. N. C. Chakravarty & Co.

THE TENTH GENERAL REPORT

THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

registered under act XXI of 1860 of the governor-general of india in council

( 1938—1939 )

The national ideals of India are Renunciation and Service. Intensify her in those channels and the rest will take care of itself.

Swami Vivekananda

INTRODUCTION

History

After the passing- away of Sri Ramakrishna Deva, the Prophet of the harmony of all religions, in 1886, a monastic' Order bearing his name was organised by some of his Sannyasin disciples headed by Swami Vivekananda. After some years spent in intense spiritual practices, -the ideal that gradually shaped itself before the vision of the Order had a twofold character:

(a) To bring into existence a band, .of Sannyasins devoted to leading a life of renunciation and practical spirituality, from among whom teachers and workers could be sent out to spread Vedantic and religious ideas as illustrated in the life of Sri Ramakrishna.

(6) In conjunction with the lay disciples to carry on missionary, " philanthropic and charitable work, looking upon all men, women and children irrespective of caste, creed or colour as veritable manifestations of the Divine.

For some time the philanthropic and missionary work was carried on through the medium of an Association called the Ramakrishna Mission Association started by

Swami Vivekananda in May, 1897, shortly after his return from the West. In the year 1899 a Math or monastery was started at Belur, in the district of Howrah, Bengal, and in 1901 Swami Vivekananda executed a Trust Deed vesting the buildings and properties in a body of Trustees, the main objects of the Math being the training of a band of monks for Self-realisation and for the acquisition of a capacity tc serve the world in all possible ways. Soon after this Math was established as the central seat of the monastic order, the Ramakrishna Mission Association ceased to function as an independent organisation, and the Math authorities themselves carried on the philanthropic and charitable: work originally undertaken by the Mission Association.

In course of time, with the growth of its scope and public responsibilities it was felt that for the efficient carrying on of the philanthropic, charitable and missionary work, as well as for giving it a legal status, it was better to have a separate organisation known as the Ramakrishna Mission. Accordingly in the year 1909 a Society under the name of the Ramakrishna Mission, was registered under Act XXI of 1860. (Appendix G gives extracts from the Memorandum of Association and Appendix H extracts frorri the Rules.) The management of the Ramakrishna Mission was henceforth vested in a Governing Body consisting o:i the Trustees of the Belur Math for the time being. The registration of the Mission was undertaken to keep the Math activities, viz. the training and maintenance of a band of Sannyasins to carry on religious work, distinct from the Mission activities.

The activities of the Belur Math extended, and in course of time various branch Maths sprang up in different parts of the country. These branch Maths and the Mail at Belur were from their very inception treated as part ol a single organisation. Side by side with the springing into existence of the branch Maths, the Ramakrishna Mission extended its sphere of activities, and the various philanthropic and charitable institutions that had already been started by it in different parts of India were gradually incorporated into the registered Society known as the Ramakrishna Mission, and new centres also began to be started.

The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrislina Mission

Though the Ramakrishna Mission and the Ramakrishna Math with their respective centres are distinct institutions, there has been a close association between the two bodies, as the Governing Body of the Mission is identical with the Trustees of the Math, and the principal workers of the Mission are members of the Ramakrishna Math, and both have their Headquarters at the Belur Math. The name of the Ramakrishna Mission has, however, come to be loosely used by people in connection with all Math activities also.

It is necessary to point out that the mere use of thename of Sri Ramakrishna or Swami Vivekananda with anyinstitution does not necessarily imply that it is managed orcontrolled by either the Trustees of the Belur Math or theGoverning Body of the Ramakrishna Mission, or that the
central organisation at Belur Js responsible for their activities.

In furtherance of the objects of the Math and the Mission, trained members of the Order are sent out to countries outside India for the preaching of Vedanta in order to bring about a closer relation and better under-standing between India and foreign countries.

The Math and the Mission, which, as pointed out, are independent of each other in their respective spheres of activity, own separate funds and keep separate accounts of them. The Math fund consists of private subscriptions and donations from friends and devotees ear-marked for worship, maintenance of the monks undergoing spiritual discipline, celebrations of anniversary festivals, etc. In several Maths this fund is strengthened by the proceeds of the publication of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. For conducting the work of the Mission, subscriptions »and donations are collected from the general public. These constitute the Mission fund, which is annually audited by auditors appointed in the General Meeting of the Association.

Summary of the Activities in 1938 and 1939

It is gratifying to note that through the grace of the Lord and the sympathetic, co-operation of the generous

public, the various activities'-•of the Mission have shown an all-round progress during the period under review, and that our countrymen have been taking a greater interest in our movement, which is recognised as one of the nation-building forces in India.

branch centres

Under the Headquarters at Belur there were, in 1939, 33 Mission centres, 18 combined Math and Mission centres and 29 Math centres in India. These were distributed as follows: 33 in Bengal, 4 in Assam, 6 in Bihar, 3 each in Travancore and Mysore, 2 in Orissa, II in U. P., I each in Delhi, C. P., Sind, Cochin, Coorg, Bombay, Punjab and Kathiawar, and 10 in Madras. In addition to these, there were 2 centres in Burma, 4 in Ceylon, I each in Straits Settlements, Fiji, Mauritius, England, France, Switzerland and Argentina, and 13 centres in the United States of America. Thus there were altogether 58 Mission centres and 66 Math centres at the end₍ of 1939. Moreover, attached to these branch centres there'were no less than 18 sub-centres, where monastic workers resided "more or less permanently.

types of work

General Service: Most of the Math and Mission centres in India, Burma, Ceylon and the Straits Settlements conducted various institutions ministering to the physical needs of the public in general irrespective of caste, creed, colour, or nationality. ' Typical of these institutions are the Sevashramas in Rangoon, Benares and Kankhal. In 1939 there were 9 Indoor Hospitals which accommodated 11,928 patients, 58 Outdoor Dispensaries which treated 16,74,077 patients and 35 Ashramas undertaking home nursing, cremation, gratuitious relief, etc.

Educational Work: In 1939 there were 37 Ashramas accommodating 1,128 students, 9 ordinary High Schools and 3 Residential High Schools with 3,304 boys and 1,142 girls, 3 Industrial Schools and 7 Vocational and Agricultural Sections attached to other schools with 385 boys and 75 girls, 10 Middle English Schools with 1,534 boys and 629 girls, 68 Upper and Lower Primary Schools with 3,186

boys and 2,264 giris, 3¹ Night Schools with 1,170 students and-2 Sanskrit Schools with 89 students. The Students' Homes in Madras and Calcutta, the educational institutions in Ceylon, Coimbatore and Sonthal Parganas are illustrative of the work done by the Mission. Special mention may also tte made of the Industrial Schools at Madras and Belur.

Work among Women: The Mission has ever been conscious of its duties to the womanhood of India, as will , be evident from the various kinds of work undertaken for them. Typical of the work done are the Shishumangal Pratishthan for expectant mothers in Calcutta, the women's section of the Hospital and the attached Widows' Home at Benares, the Saracla Vidyalaya in Madras and the Sister Nivedita Girls' School in Calcutta. Besides, there, are special arrangements for women in the other hospitals, dispensaries and schools, and some institutions are conducted particularly for them.

Village' Uplift and 'Work among the Labouring andBackward Classes: The Math and Mission have all alongtried their level best for -serving their more unfortunatecountrymen who have fallen back culturally and educationally. Permanent centres like the Ashramas in theKhasia and Jaintia Hills, at Sarisha in 24-Parganas andthe Gurukula at Trichur in Cochin, have accordingly been
started for helping the hill tribes, the backward classes and
the village folk. Centres of this kind are responsible forconducting no less than 120 institutions of various kinds,while preaching and educative tours with magic lanterns,
gramophones, etc., are undertaken on a wide scale. Thelabouring classes in Industrial areas had also their share ofthe attention of the Mission, which conducted a goodnumber of Night Schools and Clinics for them. '

Relief Work: Relief work of various types was undertaken by the Headquarters as well as the branch centres from time to time, the most noteworthy of which, during 1938 and 1939, were the Bengal Flood Relief, the Orissa Cyclone Relief, the Midnapur Flood Relief and the Kathiawar Famine Relief.

Foreign Work: The monks of the Ramakrishna Math took upon themselves the' heavy task of carrying the

message of India to foreign lands, a task that had been left as a legacy by Swami Vivekananda. The various centres in North and South America, in Europe and the British colonies bear ample evidence of their labour of love.

Spiritual and Cultural: The Math and Mission centres, particularly the former, laid special emphasis on the dissemination of the spiritual and cultural ideas and ideals of the Hindus, and through various types of activity tried to give a practical shape to the teaching of Sri Rama-krishna that all religions are true. The centres established real points of contact between people of different denominations through public celebrations, meetings, classes, publications, etc. They also conducted Libraries and Reading Rooms. A number of Sanskrit Chatushpathis, too, were run mainly for the benefit of the members of the Order. Some Math centres printed books'on religious subjects, and seven magazines in different languages were conducted. The Math centres in Calcutta, Madras, Mayavati and Nagpur, in particular, have to their credit a -considerable number of useful publications. Special mention should also be made of the Institute of Culture in Calcutta, which tries to bring together eminent men and women of India and foreign lands into cultural fellowship.

Obituary

Six months after the Mahasamadhi of Srimat Swami Vijnanananda, the fourth President of the Order, noticed in the preceding Report, the Math and Mission sustained an irreparable loss at the passing away of Srimat Swami Suddhananda, the fifth President, on the 23rd October, 1938. This was preceded by another mournful event when on the 26th April, 1938, Srimat Swami Nirmalananda breathed his last, and succeeded by an equally great blow when Srimat Swami Abhedananda, the last Sannyasin disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, passed away on the 8th September, 1939.

The Plan of the Report

The activities of the Math and the Mission have been described in this Report in six sections. Section I deals

witli the Math and.Mission Headquarters, Section II with the group of Mission centres only, classified into (A) Institutions of general service and (B) Institutions mainly educational, Section III with combined Math and Mission centres, Section IV with Math centres within British India, Section V with Math centres in Native States, and Section VI with centres outside India. We shall take them up in order. The descriptions given here are short, as most of the centres publish separate Reports of their activities, to \\;hich reference, may be made for details. The statistics of the different centres have been omitted from the body of this Report and given in a tabulated form in Appendices A to F at the end.

SECTION I

THE MATH & MISSION HEADQUARTERS

The Ramakrishna Math, Belur

It was the aim of Swami Vivekananda to found an institution where thousands of young men would be pro-' vided with the means of attaining their own liberation and of effectively preparing themselves for the good of humanity. The first and foremost of all the Maths and Ashramas started for the realisation of this object is the central Math at Belur situated on the right bank of the Ganges, three miles to the north of Calcutta, in full view of the temple of Dakshineswar. Associated with the holy lives and a thousand sacred memories of Swami Vivekananda and his brother-disciples—who have done so much for the spiritual regeneration of India and the whole world —the Belur Math, with its spacious' grounds and seren; atmosphere, is a place of pilgrimage to all seekers of'Truth. It has been yearly attracting larger sections of our country men and an ever-increasing number of interested visitor: from foreign countries.

With a view to disseminating the ideas and ideals o; the Sanatana Dharma, the Swamis of the Order undertook during the period under review, lecturing tours in differed parts of the country, where they were received with .grea; enthusiasm. These were too numerous to mention ii> detail.

Two of the Swamis who have been working in Nortl; and South America as preachers of Vedanta came to the Math during the period under review. These were Swami Nikhilananda of New York and Swami Akhilananda ol Providence. Their sojourn in India was not free from activity, for in the course of their visits to the different centres they had to address public meetings and give talks to groups of devotees and admirers, all of which produced a profound impression on the audience.

The course of training in the Math went on without a break, and several young men had the privilege of being

initiated into the vows of Brahmacharya and Sannyasa. Regular classes were held throughout the period under review. In the attached Chatushpathi or Sanskrit School there were four or five daily classes, some under a qualified teacher, and the others under capable monks of the Order. In 'these classes various philosophical and religious books were studied. A general class was maintained for the study of the religious literature of the Order, which was open to the public. The Sannyasins of the Math conducted regular religious classes in Calcutta and other neighbouring places.

. The magnificent stone temple of Sri Ramakrishna with a Natrnandir (prayer hall), built mostly with American help, was formally dedicated by Srimat Swami Vijnan-ananda in January, 1938, although the completion of the edifice took some months more. _ In point of beauty and grandeur as well as strength it may be considered the most remarkable temple of its kind in Northern India. The actual cost,of the temple and its allied constructions has exceeded the estimated cost of seven lakhs of rupees by another lakh, and although some part of it has been subscribed by the Indian devotees, there is still a deficit of about Rs. 84,000/-, which awaits the sympathy and cooperation of the religious-minded public.

With the construction of the temple the need of a Guest House for devotees and admirers who want to pass a few days with their families near the precincts of the Math in order to profit by its spiritual atmosphere or to study at first hand the workings of the Mission at its chief centre, is being more and more keenly felt. The estimated cost of the land and building is Rs. 25,000. It is earnestly hoped that before long this particular want of the Headquarters will be removed by generous friends and well-wishers-of the Order.

The Ramakrishua Mission Headquarters

The Belur Math, as already mentioned, is also the Headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission, from which the activities of its different branch centres are regulated. Besides this work of supervision, the Mission Headquarters conducts the following:.

ramakrishna mission charitable dispensary, belur

This outdoor Dispensary was founded in the year 1913. Besides rendering medical relief it supplied occasional diet, warm clothing and pecuniary help to the needy. The physician in charge also attended patients in their own homes free of charge, whenever necessary, and in serious cases the services of expert physicians were requisitioned. The Dispensary has grown quite popular and drew patients from considerable distances. Through the kind help of some friends a permanent building for the Dispensary was constructed in 1938. Part of the total cost incurred is yet to be collected.

2. mass education work

Through the kindness of a few American friends, the Mission Headquarters at Belur started in the year 1928 a number of Primary Schools for the removal of illiteracy among Indian children. In 1938 and 1939 the Mission helped the following 21 schools from the Mass Education Fund, the number of students in 1939 being 1207:

(i) Arengabad. Primary School (Sylhet), (2) Chaitpur Primary School (Sylhet), (3) Shyampur L. P. School (Sylhet), (4) Dalaipara Primary School (Sylhet), (5) Sheila M. E. School (K. & J. Hills), (6) Nongwar Primary School (K. & J. Hills), (7) Gosaindurgapur Girls' School (Nadia), (8) Bally Balika Vidyalaya (Howrah), (9) Daharkundu Primary School (Hooghly), (io) Kachulia L. P. School (Barisal), (n) Bagerhat L. P. School (Khulna), (12) Jangalpara Primary School (24-Parganas), (13) Brahman-kitta Girls' School (Dacca), (14) Bhuvaneswar Primary School (Puri), (15) Faridpur Primary School (Faridpur), (16) Anandanagar L. P. School (Hooghly), (17) Napaty Primary School (Hooghly), (18) Ranior M. E. School (Midnapur), (19) Nijra'U. P. School (Faridpur), (20) Bally Barrackpore M. E. School (Howrah) and (21) Bagaria M. E. School (24-Parganas)—the last two up to May, 1938.

Owing to the shortage of funds, the work was greatly handicapped. To those who believe, with Swami Vivck-ananda, that the well-being of a nation depends on the condition of its masses, we earnestly appeal for contributions to this fund.

3. temporary relief work

As detailed reports of the relief activities undertaken >y the Mission up to 1939 have been or will be printed separately, only a short account of them is given below.

I. Bengal Flood Relief,

In the middle of 1938 most of the districts in Bengal were subjected to heavy floods, which destroyed crops, submerged houses and washed away the cattle and other belongings of the villagers, throwing them into extreme difficulty. Relief was started by the Mission in the Gopal-ganj sub-division of the Faridpur district from the third week of July, as that area happened to be the worst affected. Soon after, centres were opened in the Murshi-dabad district also. The branches^of the Mission at Malda, Dacca and Sonargaon also organised relief in the neighbouring areas.

In Faridpur the Mission had three relief centres, which doled out 1739 mds. 20 srs. of rice and I md. of salt among 4021 people of 50 villages 'and distributed 1465 pieces of cloth, 300 blankets and 1197 shirts. Besides, 115 culti-vators were helped with 80 mds. 20 srs. of seeds, and 30 widows received Rs. 60 /- as capital for getting a fresh start in life. The total cost incurred was Rs. '6,540-0-6.

In Murshidabad the Mission had three centres, whichworked for 28 villages and helped 1484 persons with 590mds. 20 srs. of rice, 1195 pieces of cloth and 315 blankets.
Two temporary Charitable Dispensaries were also opened,which treated 3537 patients. The expenditure incurredwas Rs. 2,641-2-0. This work as well as the work inFaridpur was closed in December, 1938. ,

In Malda the local Ashrama organised two centres, which helped 1027 persons in 15 villages with 250 mds. of rice and 100 pieces of cloth. The Ashrama collected and spent Rs. 1,016-13-3, ^and the Headquarters contributed Rs. ioo/- for the purpose.

The Mission branch at Dacca distributed 37 mds. of rice and 393 pieces of cloth among 963 recipients, the total expenditure being Rs. I72-2¹3.

The Mission branch at Sonargaon in the same district helped 137 persons, the expenditure being Rs. 137-10-9, o! which Rs. ioo/- was contributed from the Headquarters The Mission also contributed Rs. 20/- towards the floo< relief organised by the Ashrama at Kalma, Dt. Dacca.

//. Orissa Cyclone Relief, 1938-39

Parts of the Puri and Ganjam districts in Orissa wen-devastated by a cyclone in November, 1938. Two centre of relief were started, one in each district, and the worl continued till January of the next year. The centres dole<^;out 513 mds. 13 srs. of rice to 1422 persons belonging to 39 villages. Besides, 279 houses were built, and 306 pieces of cloth were distributed. The total expenditure was Rs. 2,794-6-6.

///. Midnapur Flood Relief, 1939

In July, 1939, the greater part of the Midnapur district was submerged by a flood, which inundated the embankments on either side of some of the principal rivers. The consequent damage was extensive, and the Mission immediately undertook relief in the Ghatal sub-division of the district, while the Mission branch at Tamluk organised relief in that sub-division.

The three relief centres under the Headquarters helped 2060 persons belonging to 21 villages with 507 mds. of rice, 5 mds. of other foodstuffs and 677 pieces of cloth. The expenditure was Rs. 2,004-0-3.

The three centres under the Tamluk Sevashrama helped mo persons belonging to 23 villages with 375 mds.' of rice. This relief work cost Rs. 1,738-14-0, of which Rs. 350/- was contributed from the Headquarters.

The Mission also contributed Rs. 200/- towards the relief of some distressed villagers in the Rampurhat subdivision of the Birbhum district.

IV. Minor Relief Activities in 1938

(A) FIRE RELIEF-

The Mission supplied materials for constructing huts to 42 families, who had been rendered homeless by a

^I3

astatirig fire at Poradi, a tillage in Manbhum. The 1 expenditure for this was Rs. 166-8-0.

In the same district a fire burnt the whole village of Ludhark. The Mission spent Rs. 412-12-0 in building huts for 62 families.

Three villages in the Birbhum district got help for a similar purpose. Thus 7 families in Chandpur, 20 in Baliara and 6 in Scorn got help to the extent of Rs. 200/-.

(b) DACCA TORNADO RELIEF

The Sonargaon branch of the Mission organised relief in some villages laid waste by a tornado in March, 1938. The work continued for two months, and 30 families were helped with materials for building their houses. The total cost incurred was Rs. 565-11-0, of which Rs. 500/- was contributed by the Headquarters.

The Mission supplier} some, homoeopathic medicines at a cost of Rs. 10/- for s'ome villages near Almora affected by cholera.

(D) RELIEF TO SHANGHAI REFUGEES

In December, 1938, the Mission contributed Rs. ioo/-through Sardar Jamiat Singh of Calcutta for relieving some refugees from Shanghai, China.

V. Minor Relief Activities in 1939 FIRE RELIEF

The whole village of Krishnapur in the Midnapur district was destroyed by a huge fire in April, 1939. The Mission spent Rs. 400/- for helping 41 of the most needy families with hut-building materials.

Simultaneously with this, 7 families at Rokanpur in

he Burdwan district, 25 at Muthapatna in the Puri district

tad I at Sarisha in 24-Parganas were helped for the.same

purpose at a total expenditure of Rs. 220/-. Soon after

this the Mission had to spend Rs. 240/- more for relieving

,36 families at Haidarpur and Jajigram in the Birbhum

[district, and 2 families at De_thi in the Burdwan district.

Other accounts of relief rendered by the branch centres will be found in their respective places.

4. help to the poor

The Mission Headquarters also maintained a Poor Fund for the redress of individual distress, out of which it helped a number of helpless widows and gave small stipends to some deserving students. Besides, a Permanent Fund of Rs. 6,500f- in Government securities, Rs. 6,643-1-3 in the Bank, and Rs. 471-5-8 as the opening balance for 1938, the total receipts of this Fund in 1938 and 1939 were Rs. 1,232-0-6 and Rs. 1,249-9-6 respectively, and the total expenditure Rs. 1,293-14-6 and Rs. 1,208-12-0 respectively, leaving a balance of Rs. 450-5-2. Urgent attention of the sympathetic public is respectfully invited towards the improvement of this Fund.

Detailed accounts of the Provident Relief Fund, the Mass Education Fund, the Poor Fund and the General Fund, along with the audited balance sheet of the Mission Headquarters, will shortly be published in' a separate Report.

5. the ramakrishna mission vidyamandira

It was the cherished desire of Swami Vivekanarida to impart education to our youths on national lines in the manner of the ancient Gurukulas. According to him, education should develop strength of character, self-reliance, a spirit of philanthropy and self-sacrifice in the students, and afford them facilities for the assimilation of ideas. Above all, it must adequately develop their will. To materialise this object Swamiji wanted a regular University to grow at Belur, where secular education would be imparted along with spiritual and moral culture.

To begin with,'it is proposed to start an Intermediate Arts College of the residential type on spacious grounds close to the Belur Math. It is estimated that a humble .beginning can be made with a sum of Rs. i,oo,ooo/-. A portion of this has already been realised, and there is every chance that the scheme will materialise in the near future.

SECTION II

MISSION CENTRES

A. INSTITUTIONS OF GENERAL SERVICE

The Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service, Benares

This is one of the oldest Sevashramas of the Mission, devoted to the service of the poor and suffering humanity irrespective of caste, creed or sex, and its services have won the admiration of all.

Started in 1900, it was handed over to the Ramakrishna Mission in 1902, and was formally made a branch centre of the Mission as a registered body in 1909. It haS been occupying its present premises at Laksa (Telephone : 104) since 1910, and has got a valuable property of its own. The work has grown at a steady pace, and a branch outdoor Dispensary was" opened in 1931 at the Shivala quarter of the city. The present activities of the Home may be divided under the following heads: (i) Indoor General Hospital (with 115 beds): It takes care of those helpless sufferers who are picked up from the roadside or bathing-ghats on the Ganges, besides those who seek admission into it. The Female Hospital is segregated from the Male and is conducted exclusively by women workers. All three systems of treatment—Allopathic, Homoeopathic and Ayurvedic—are made use of. (2) Refuge for Invalid Men (with 25 beds). (3) Refuge for Women Invalids (with 50 beds): There were 25 inmates on an average in this. (4) Home for Paralytic Patients: It accommodated 23 patients in 1939. (5) Dharmasala for poor strangers: It gave temporary shelter and food to about 262 persons during 1939. (6) Outdoor help to Invalids and poor Ladies of respectable families. (7) Outdoor Dispensary (including the Shivala branch). (8) Special and occasional relief.

T. B. Sanatorium at Dungri, Ranchi

The appalling prevalence of Tuberculosis in India is a fact well known to everybody. Yet it is a pity that the

means of combating this .fell disease are hopelessly inadequate. As a humble attempt to mitigate, however imperfectly, the ravages of the disease, the Mission has decided to start, through its Benares branch, a Sanatorium with Hospital arrangement at Dungri, about 8 miles from the Ranchi Railway Station, where an extensive plot of land measuring 240 acres has been secured, and a few cottages are being put up with the small amount of contributions received for this purpose. The development of this much-needed institution into an efficient Tuberculosis Sanatorium and Hospital in the near future depends on the prompt and energetic support of the generous public, which, we earnestly hope, will be forthcoming.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kankhal (Saharanpur)

This Sevashrama has been doing considerable service to the sick ever since its establishment in 1901. It was made a branch of the Mission in iqii. Its activities lie in the following directions: (i) An 'Indoor Hospital (with 50 beds). (2) An Outdoor Dispensary. (3) A'Night School for the boys and girls of the poor and depressed classes. (4) A Library and Reading Room, which is open to the public, and another Library' for the patients.

The institution rendered great service to visitors, pilgrims and suffering people during the Kumbha Mela at Hardwar in 1938, when three temporary outdoor Dispensaries were opened at Bhimgoda, Rohri and Bhupatwalla.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama,Brindaban (Muttra)

The Sevashrama at Brindaban, started in 1907, was harided over to the Mission in the following year, and was made a branch centre in 1911. It has all along been doing excellent service to thousands of pilgrims to this holy place.

The activities of the Sevashrama fall under the following heads: The Indoor Hospital, the Outdoor Dispensary, and pecuniary and other help to poor people. In 1939 a Surgical Ward with 8 beds was constructed,

¹⁷

raising the total number of beds to 42. Another building for the dispensary was commenced in the same year, but is awaiting funds for its completion.

The Ramakrishna Mission Shishumangal Pratishthan, Calcutta

Started in July, 1932, in a rented house, with the object of safeguarding the maternal and .infantile health of the country against the appalling rate of mortality, the institution was shifted in June, 1939, to its permanent home at 99, Lansdowne Road (Telephone: South 1234), where a fine two-storeyed building accommodating 50 beds for mothers and 50 beds for babies, with other adjuncts and temporary quarters for the staff, was constructed on a plot of land measuring about 2^ Bighas.

The institution seeks to fulfil its object by giving regular hygienic instruction and efficient prenatal care to expectant „ mothers through Sunday clinics, providing skilled aid during confinement either in the homes of the patients or in the hospital of the Pratishthan, taking systematic care of new-born babies up to the school-going age through home visits and bi-weekly clinics, and training women of good families in midwifery, obstetrical nursing and infant care. The Indoor Hospital is fitted with up-to-date appliances. A-very efficient staff looks after the work of the institution, the management being placed in the hands of an influential Local Committee.

It is gratifying to note that in 1939 infantile mortality and maternal mortality were only 25 and r6 per thousand respectively. The result can compare favourably with that of the best clinics and maternity hospitals in the world and is attributable to the special care taken by the* staff and the spirit of service actuating them.

The institution has already succeeded in winning universal admiration as an ideal Maternity Hospital aifd Child Welfare Centre. The Corporation of Calcutta and the Government of Bengal have shown their appreciation by making a large recurring and a capital grant, respectively, to the institution.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Cawnpore

This growing institution was made a branch of the Mission in 1931. It was removed in 1936 to its own premises at Ramakrishnanagar, the site being a gift from the Cawnpore Improvement Trust. In August, 1939, it completed an outdoor Dispensary.

Besides regular worship, Bhajana, religious classes and the observance of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and other festivals, it conducts two Boys' Schools, a Students' Home and a Library.

The Ramakrishna Mission' Ashrama, New Delhi

The centre at Delhi was started in the old city in 1927 as a Math doing preaching work. In 1929 an outdoor Dispensary was added to it, and the institution was made a branch centre of the Mission in 1930. In 1933 the Ashrama opened a Tuberculosis Clinic at Paharganj, a congested quarter of the city. In ,1935 the main Ashrama was shifted to its permanent site on Ibbetson Road (off Panchkuin Road), New Delhi, which had been secured from the Government, and in the same year the Clinic was also removed to a more commodious house at Daryaganj, in the heart of the old city. A plot of land has since been offered at Qarolbagh by the Improvement Trust for housing the Clinic permanently.

Both the Dispensaries did excellent work during the period under review. Besides regular religious classes," lectures and Bhajana for the public were organised from time to time.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Lucknovv

This Sevashrama had its inception in the year 1914. It was removed to its permanent quarters at Aminabad in 1924 and was made a branch of the Mission in 1925. It runs an outdoor Dispensary and helps poor people, with regular or casual allowances.

A Night School is conducted by the Sevashrama mainly for the boys of the labouring and depressed

classes. There is also a Library and Reading Room attached to the Ashrama.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Katihar (Purnea)

This Ashrama was started in 1926 and was made a branch of the Mission in 1931. It conducts two outdoor Charitable Dispensaries. A small Library lends books to the public, and regular religious classes are held and lectures organised on the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda and other holy occasions, which are celebrated publicly. In 1939 a new room was added to the Dispensary building in the Ashrama.

The Ramakrishna Mission Seva Sadan, Salkia (Howrah)

The institution has been in .existence since 1924 and was taken over as a branch by the Mission in 1931. It conducts an outdoor Charitable. Dispensary, and maintains a Students' Hpme for boys, who get their general education in the local schools and colleges. Weekly religious classes are conducted for the public. In 1939 the Seva Sadan purchased a small plot of land with some sheds, and steps are being taken for the erection of permanent structures.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Midnapur

This Sevashrama was started in 1914, and was recognised as a branch of the Mission in 1931. It conducts an indoor Hospital, an outdoor Dispensary; two Primary , Schools and a Library for the public, and gives casual help to needy persons. Religious, classes and lectures are arranged from time to time.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Ranchi

This Ashrama, situated at Morabadi, a secluded quarter of the town, was started in 1927-, and was recognised as a Mission branch in 1930. It has a small outdoor Dispensary attached to it. It also conducts a small Library and holds regular religious classes in the city for the benefit of the public. A religious class on the Gita is also held for ladies in the local girls' school.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Salem

The Ashrama at Salem was established in the Siva-swamipuram Extensions in 1928. Besides regular worship and Bhajana, scriptural classes are held for the public. Harikathas and lectures are occasionally arranged in the Ashrama premises. For the youngsters, Gita and Parayana (recitation of scriptures) classes are regularly taken.

Since 1933 a Free Ayurvedic Dispensary is being run in the town, which extended its work to the neighbouring villages during epidemics etc. The inmates of the Ashrama took great pains to root out the guinea-worm disease from one of the villages. For the benefit of the children living in Harijan quarters, the Ashrama conducts a free Primary School, which has become popular.

B. INSTITUTIONS MAINLY. EDUCATIONAL The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home, Madras

This premier educational institution of the Mission was started in 1905 to provide free boarding and lodging to indigent students of approved merit. It was recognised as a branch of the Mission in 1918. In 1921 it was established in spacious buildings of its own at Mylapore. In 1922 a Residential High School was added and in 1925 an Industrial School. The High School at Tyagaraya-nagar was started as a branch of the Home in 1932. The period under review saw the extension of the shrine dedicated to the goddess Saraswati. The construction of an additional set of two quarters for the ward-masters of the Industrial School was completed.

In the Home about half the students were in receipt of scholarships from various sources. Proper attention . was paid to physical instruction as also moral and religious training through regular classes and individual and congregational worship. The boys received tutorial guidance from the ward-masters. Regular and efficient work in the gardens by the boys secured for the Home special appreciation from the Agri-Horticultural Society. The chief characteristic of the Home, is the emphasis it lays on self-help as the starting point for character-building.

It works without servants, everything being done by the boys themselves. The Seva-pravina Samiti, an association of 15 experienced and elderly students elected by the general body, looked after the distribution of domestic duties among the boys, their execution and supervision, as well as'the maintenance of day to day discipline in the discharge of duties. Training in social service was afforded to the boys by associating them with the Ramakrishna Tondar Sangam, a local organisation devoted to service in slums and to the poor. Music classes were conducted thrice "a week. The Old Boys' Association also did very useful work by publishing a quarterly magazine and by trying to keep alive the spirit of fellowship among the old boys. The Plome has two excellent Libraries containing about 15,000 books.

The Residential High School continued to produce good results at the public examinations and maintained several extra-curricular activities. Small classes, simplicity in furniture and dress, individual attention to boys, the laboratory plan "of work in teaching Sanskrit and a compulsory 'course of Manual Training are some of the special features of the School.

The Industrial School,. fully equipped with precision tools and appliances, teaches Automobile Engineering, and the students, after completing a course of four years, appear for the Government L. A. E. Diploma Examination.

The High School at Tyagarayanagar showed further remarkable development, the total strength rising to 2,253 in 1939. The girls' department of the High School had. 245 girls in the three higher forms. The new building for the High School is nearing completion. When finished, it will accommodate 23 classes, the library and the laboratory, and will have a big hall for congregation and examinations. There is a separate Hostel for the boys of the School, who are brought up in a healthy atmosphere, with due emphasis on the formation of regular and healthy habits, devotion to God and service to humanity. Foundation was laid by the President of the Mission in April last . of a permanent building for the Hostel to accommodate about a hundred boys. »

The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home, Calcutta

This Students' Home, started in 1916 and made a branch of the Mission in 1919, is a college students' hostel under the Calcutta University. All along it has been doing solid work by imparting to its young _t inmates a course of thorough man-making education, in addition to the academic education they receive from the University. Moreover, by helping poor and meritorious young men through their college education with free board, lodging, books and other necessaries, this Home has been indirectly giving an economic lift to so many wretched families.

Away from the din and bustle of the city, the Students' Home is situated in a quiet suburban retreat on its own grounds measuring about 32 acres on Sir Romesh Mitter Road, P. O. Dum-Dum. This fairly big area, covered with gardens and tanks and furnished with a number of decent buildings including a "modest but beautiful temple, has a pure and elevating atmosphere, which is essential in any organized effort after character-building'.

During the years under review the number of free boarders continued to be twenty-five, that of part-free boarders varied from eight to nine, and that of paying boarders from five to ten. During this period seventeen students graduated from this Home, and thirteen passed the Intermediate Examination, two medical students passed the P. Sc. M. B. Examination, and one passed the First M. B. Examination.

In 1938 some important structures were erected, namely, a spacious dining hall, a medical ward and two 'dormitories. The Home has a Calcutta office at 53, Garpar Road.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar (S. P.)

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith is a Residential High School for young boys, conducted on the model of the ancient Gurukula system, where the main stress is laid on the development of character and a religious spirit through self-control and self-discipline.

It was started in 1922 and was converted into a branch of the Mission in 1924. It is situated on an open plot of

land amid picturesque natural scenery away from the bustle of the town. Most of the teachers are members of the Ramakrishna Order. The Vidyapith is in a position to accommodate 140 students. It is now fitted with electric lights and a Gymnasium is under construction.

Seven' boys passed the Matriculation Examination in 1939. There is provision for the teaching of music, typewriting, gardening, physical culture and other extra-academic activities. There is a School Library and Reading Room, as also a Laboratory. The boys conducted the periodical Vidyapith and organized debates, festivals and other social activities. Two books were published during the period.

A Charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary is attached to this institution, which has recently acquired some land for its future expansion.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrania, Shillong,

East Khashi Hills (Assam)

The work in these hills was begun in 1924 with a view to propagating education and general culture among the hill-tribes—mostly Khasis^-one-third of whom had forsaken their ancient beliefs and adopted alien faiths and cultures, often without any proper understanding. From a humble, beginning with an L. P. School in a small village, the work spread to different parts of the hills, as noted below, till in 1937 it was made a branch of the Ramakrishna Mission.

The Ashrama at Shillong functions mainly as the headquarters of the Mission's work in these hills. It maintains a free Library and Reading Room, manages a Primary School at Mawkhar, within the town, and" conducts many scriptural classes and lecture tours. It is ideally situated and possesses a fine temple and suitable buildings.

At Chermpunji, thirty-two miles from Shillong, a High School affiliated to the Calcutta University and a free Primary School are being run. There is also an attached Hostel under the supervision of the monastic workers.

Ample facilities were provided for an all-round development of the pupils—physical, intellectual and moral. A weaving section was opened in 1938.

A free M. E. School for boys and girls is conducted at Sheila, twelve miles from Cherrapunji. The centre has also various other activities of a religious nature.

At Nongwar, a village eight miles below Cherrapunji, there is a free Primary School teaching up to class IV, It now sits in its own building recently constructed on a charming site.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya, , Perianaikenpalayam (Coimbatore)

The Vidyalaya was started in 1930 as a boarding home with only three boys. It has since developed into a full-fledged Residential High School with a rural service section extending to the surrounding villages. It was made a branch of the Mission in 1934.

The individual method of instruction was introduced in 1937 for teaching some of the subjects, together with a compulsory course of manual training. At present tailoring, carpentry, spinning and carding are taught, and the results so far are very encouraging. The Wardha method of education has been introduced as an experimental measure in the first form and has been found to be successful. Attempts will be made to extend it to the higher forms.

The whole scheme of , the institution has been drawn up with a view to evolving a type of education by which the boys will grow into strong and self-dependent young-men. The training arouses their latent instincts of leadership and impresses on them the value of team-work. The boys,^ divided into groups under their captains, perform all the works of the Ashrama including cooking. They are drawn from all sections of the Hindu society irrespective of caste, and are treated equally. A special feature of the institution is that the classes are sometimes taken out to the surrounding villages, where magic lantern demonstrations are held, and the boys help in cleaning the surroundings. Religious, moral and physical training is adequately imparted along with intellectual training. Besides, the

students take part in other so'cial and literary activities. They run a manuscript magazine called Bala Bharati.

The institution conducts two Study Circles and a Rural Library. A Summer School with resident students for the training of rural workers is an annual feature of it. The villages around were shown educational films as a part of a scheme of adult education.

To establish greater contact with parents and to educate them about the ideals and the working of the Vidyalaya, a quarterly educational magazine in Tamil under the ,,name of Vidyalaya is being run by the institution. A scheme has also been devised by which old boys of the Vidyalaya will be advanced money for further courses of study in the arts as well as the professions.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sarisha (24=Pai;ganas)

This institution, situated'26 miles south of Calcutta on Diamond Harbour Road, within an hour's drive of the city, devotes itself to the task of village reconstruction through an all-round education of the right type. In this field its place in the Mission is very high. Started in December, 1921, it was recognised as a branch in 1924. The Shiksha Mandir or Boys' Agricultural M. E. School, to which have been added, under Departmental permission, continuation .classes VII and VIII, supplements general and agricultural education with lessons in Vrata-chari dances and many other types of physical culture under experts, and provides ample opportunities for various useful social activities. In the Sarada Mandir or Girls' High School academic education is supplemented by such useful subjects as cooking, sports and physical culture. Both these Schools have efficient staffs, and the students of 'both are supplied with daily tiffin. A mixed U. P. School in the neighbouring/village of Jangalpara is supervised by the Ashrarna. The results of public examinations of these Schools, particularly the Girls' School, have been uniformly brilliant. P'rom 1928 to 1939, 25 girls received Government and District Board scholarships. The girls who so far appeared at the Matriculation Examination from the Girls' School all came out successful. In 1939 one Shiksha Mandir boy woa an M. E. scholarship.

As a part of youth Welfare activities, the Ashrama maintains a Literary Association and a Sports Club for local youths and takes every care to get these youths well placed in life. The number of boys thus employed is 26.

There are two Hostels, one attached to the Ashrama and another in Calcutta. The Ashrama bears all the expenses of the boarders of the "former and gives pecuniary help to some of the inmates of the latter. It lays particular emphasis on physical education, under the supervision of an expert. The boys and girls have shown great skill in drills and sports. The Sarada Mandir is noted in Bengal for its brilliant sporting activities. The Diamond Harbour sub-divisional branch of the Inter-School Sports Association, Bengal, started and conducted by the Ashrama, organises annual competitive sports for the school students of the sub-division. In 1939 a Zone Committee was started for conducting Inter-Middle School physical activities.

The Ashrama Library is open to the public. There are separate school Libraries for $ie boys and girls and for the Literary Association. A number of newspapers and periodicals are kept for the use of the 'public. The Ashrama runs an outdoor Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary and helps poor people with cash and cloth.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Vidyalaya, Madras

Sri Sarada Vidyalaya, started in 1921 by some ladies imbued with high ideals of service, became amalgamated with the Ramakrishna Mission in May, 1938, after a steady growth for seventeen years, during which time it proved its increasing usefulness in several directions. Since then it is located in Tyagarayanagar in some sheds and rented houses. The original object of the Vidyalaya was the education of women on the enduring basis of religion, preference regarding admission being given to widows between the ages of 16 and 25. The scope of the institution has now expanded, and it serves as a self-contained centre for women's educational work.

The Training School branch of the Vidyalaya is recognised by the Government and trains teachers of the Higher Elementary grade free of charge. The unique feature of

the School is that it has a preparatory section into which are admitted young women with little or no previous schooling. The School has a practising section attached to it with classes I to V. Besides, there is a separate Higher Elementary School, which has a strength of 833 boys and girls. The,Training School has a Library containing 1415 books. Provision was made for moral and religious instruction, group singing and physical training, as also for useful excursions and extra-curricular activities.

The Hostels attached to the institution are located in three separate rented houses, and the total number of inmates in 1939 was 80, including the students under training.

The Sister Nivedita Girls' School and Sarada Mandir, Calcutta

This Girls' School at 5,. Nivedita Lane, Baghbazar, was started in 1902 by Sister Nivedita (Miss Margaret E. Noble), to .give proper^ education to Hindu girls. She wanted each,of them to be loyal to the ideals of the race and filled with a passion for service. While keeping intact her tenderness and humanity, her great power of service and her silent self-effacement, which go to make her the centre of the Hindu home, the School has all along been endeavouring to make her more efficient in the household duties and the arts and crafts auxiliary to them. It is the aim of the institution to train the students in such a way that they may be able to solve their own problems.

The institution was made a branch of the Mission in 1918. It teaches up to the Matriculation standard, and is taken care of by nineteen lady teachers, eight of whom are honorary workers. The teaching is entirely free. Along with Bengali, Sanskrit, mathematics, history >and geography, were taught drawing, music, needlework, rules of hygiene, and house-keeping. Religious training was an important part of the curriculum. Special scriptural classes and lectures were arranged from time to time for the inmates.

The Sarada Mandir or Hostel attached to the School accommodates students, who live under the motherly care of resident lady teachers. 'The School has got a decent

Library and Reading Room. It also possesses a bus and a motor car.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Society, Jamshedpur (Singhbhum)

This Society has been in existence since 1919, but wasturned into a branch of the Mission in 1927. It is doingmostly educational and some philanthropic work in thetown. It runs four Day Schools and a Night School, allof the Primary standard. Tuition is free in three of theseschools and partly free in one. It also maintains a
Students' Home for poor and deserving boys. TheSociety's Hall was lent to the Jamshedpur Mahila Samitifor their weekly meetings and classes as well as theirannual meeting and Exhibition. The Vivekananda Libraryand Reading Room situated in the Society's premises andits extension at the Ashrama- on the bank of the Subarna-rekha, away from the din of the town, were maintained asusual. - , ' ,

The philanthropic activities of the Society included nursing of the sick in the local Hospital or in their own homes, cremation of the dead and free supply of firewood for this purpose, and occasional help in cash or kind to indigent people. The Society also" co-operates with the Tata Welfare Department of the Steel Company, whenever necessary.

Regular weekly classes were held in different parts of the town for the benefit of the public. Occasional lectures during the birthday anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda were organised.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Faridpur

The Ashrama was founded in 1921, but was turned into a Mission branch in 1934. The main work of the Ashrama is educational. It conducts an M. E. School for girls and a Primary School for Harijans. It also accommodates some students. Regular religious classes are held in and outside the Ashrama. It has a small Library, which is open to the public. There is also an outdoor Dispensary attached to it.

The Ramakrishna Mission Industrial School, Belur (Howrah)

Started in 1921 as a part of the Mission Headquarters work, this Industrial School was made a branch centre in 1930. It has secured recognition from the Department of Industries, 'Bengal, as also from many who believe that the spread of Industrial and Agricultural education in the country is of national importance.

The course of study comprises cabinet-making, weaving,, dyeing, calico-printing and tailoring. The improvement in the standard of training under competent teachers has been maintained in all sections. The articles turned out in the workshops commanded a ready sale. The training in Industrial subjects was supplemented by a subsidiary course of instruction .and practical work in Agriculture, so that the students might be equipped for an independent career in rural areas.

In the attached Students' Home, most of the boys, being poor,¹ were given⁵ free board and lodging. The indigent among the day scholars were also helped with stipends. The studies and activities of the boys after school hours were under the close supervision of the Warden. Almost the whole of household work and management was in the hands of the students. Along with regular religious training and physical exercise, music also received proper attention. The health of the inmates during the period was satisfactory.

The Rainakrishna Mission Ashrama, Barnagore (24-Parganas)

Started in 1912 under the name of the "Barnagore Home of Service," where, among other activities, orphan and destitute boys were maintained and given free education, this institution was made a branch of the Mission in 1924. Grown-up boys residing in the Ashrama are sent to the local High Schools, and younger boys receive education in the local M. E. School and in the Ashrama. They showed very good results in the public competitive examinations. The Sanskrit Chatushpathi, with its 30 students, did creditable work under a competent teacher, three boys

passing the Government titli examinations with distinction in 1939. There is a Library and Reading Room attached to the Ashrama, as also an outdoor Charitable Dispensary, which is doing good work. The Ashrama gave occasional doles of rice to the needy and attended to the cremation of some dead bodies.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Patna

Started in 1922, the Ashrama was made a branch of the Mission in 1926. It was shifted in 1930 from a rented house at Moradpur to its own home at Langartolly, Bankipore.

The Ashrama conducted an L. P. School' (raised in1940 to the U. P. standard) within, and one outside itspremises for the children of the labouring classes. Thereare two Charitable Dispensaries under its management, oneat the Ashrama and the other at Mithapore. A few collegestudents are provided with free board and lodging. Asmall Library is open to the public., «

The Ashrama has a shrine, where daily worship is performed. Regular religious' classes and meetings are held in the Ashrama, and the Swami in charge undertakes lecturing tours in different pa°rts of the province.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Sargachhi (Murshidabad)

This is the oldest Ashrama of the Mission (P. 0: Mahula), started in 1897 by the late Swami Akhanda-nanda, a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, for the improvement of education and sanitation in the villages. Made a branch of the Mission in 1911, it maintains an Orphanage and conducts a Day and a Night School, both of which are free.

The outdoor Charitable Dispensary treats local patients, who are also served with free diet and injections, whenever required. The Ashrama maintains a 'small Library, and organises regular classes and occasional lectures in the district town of Berhampore, six miles off, where there is a tenement for the temporary residence of monastic workers.

The Ramakrishna Mission, Barisal

This institution was started in 1904 and was turned into a Mission branch in ign. It has been located in its own premises since 1930. During the period under review, temporary help was given to some persons. Religious classes were- conducted in and outside the Ashrama, and public lectures were organised on various occasions, which were very successful. The centre maintains a Library, which is open to the public.

A number of poor and deserving students were accommodated in the Students' Home attached to the centre. Some paying students, who wanted to be benefited by the training, were also admitted. All attempts were made to make them active, self-reliant youths, with a taste for service and sacrifice.

The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta

In order to commsmo'rate the first Birth Centenary of Sri Ramakrishna, the above Institute was started by the Mission in January, 1938, in'fulfilment of one of the objects of the Sri Ramakrishna Centenary Committee. It has for its object the carrying out and realisation of the universal teachings of Sri Ramakrishna through the study and promotion of the creative achievements and spiritual experiences of the diverse races, castes, classes and communities of mankind on a scientific, comparative and cosmopolitan basis.

The Institute attempts in its humble way to supply cultural and spiritual foundations of a new personality among the men and women of the world, .and equip them as proper and adequate instruments for the establishment of world peace, genuine internationalism and a really humane culture on earth. It is located at 19, Keshab Chandra Sen Street (Telephone: Burrabazar 5757).

The present activities of the Institute comprise lectures, classes, the publication of books, the maintaining of a Students' Home, a public Library and Reading Room, and the establishment of cultural relations with different countries of the world.

The Ramakrishna Mission, Lahore

The Mission started its first centre in the Punjab in February, 1939, in a rented house at 3A, Lodge Road, Lahore. It will require some time to bring the Ashrama into line with other centres of the Mission by securing land and buildings and organising philanthropic work on an appreciable scale. At present it conducts regular religious classes and arranges occasional" lectures for acquainting the general public with the broad principles of Vedanta as lived and taught by Sri Ramakrishna. The response-received so far from the local public is an earnest of the success that is sure to attend the centre.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Vizagapatam

This Ashrama, which is the first centre of the Missionin Andhra, was started in 1938, although it was actually
constituted as a branch of the Mission in December, 1939.The Ashrama is now located in a rent-free house. TheSwami in charge holds discourses on religious subjects andvisits neighbouring towns on preaching tour's. A Libraryof useful books is being developed. The public is showing
keen interest in the work, and it is hoped that the Ashramawill soon have a permanent home of its own on an extensive plot of land.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Asansol (Burdwan)

The Ashrama was started in 1926, and after makingsome progress it was handed over to the Mission in 1938,since when it has been reorganised and developed invarious ways. Some new buildings have been constructed,the staff has been considerably strengthened, and the U. P.School for boys raised in 1940 to the M. E. standard with81 boys. The financial position of the Ashrama has alsoimproved. Besides the M. E. School the Ashrama conducts regular worship, a small Library, a Night School, aHomoeopathic Dispensary and a Students' Home. Religious meetings and festivals are also arranged on specialoccasions.

Situated as the Ashramy is in a growing industrial town which is the centre of the coal fields of Bengal, it has great possibilities of expansion in future.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Silchar (Cachar)

„ This institution has been doing good work, mainly educational, among the backward classes of the Cachar district of Assam since its inception in 1924. It was made a/branch of the Mission in 1938.

The Sevashrama maintains four Night Schools in andaround the town, a Students' Home, and a small Libraryopen to the public. Regular classes and occasionallectures were organised. Monetary help was also rendered,and some rice doled out to people of the locality. Lantern
lectures were arranged for educating the rural people inhygienic, social and religious matters. :

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Taki (24-Parganas)

Established in 1931 at Thuba, within Municipal limitsof Taki, an affluent village, as a centre of rural uplift, theAshrama made excellent progress till in 1938 it became apart of the Mission. It has lands of its own measuringabout 8 Bighas, to which was added in 1939 another plotfor the vocational section. „ '

In the Ashrama compound, in addition to a temple there are two U. P. Schools, one for boys and the other for girls, and another Primary School is situated in the neighbouring village of Jalalpur. There is also a Night School in the Ashrama. A small Library is open to the public, and religious classes and lectures are organised from time to time. The vocational section is steadily developing.

The Charitable Dispensary attached to the Ashrama serves a good number of patients, and steps are being taken for transferring a well-equipped Hospital at Taki to the Mission, to be managed by^his centre.

SECTION III

COMBINED MATH & MISSION CENTRES

A. INSTITUTIONS COMBINING GENERAL

SERVICE WITH RELIGIOUS

ACTIVITIES

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Madras

This is one of the oldest and most influential centres of the Order. Founded by Swami Ramakrishnananda, one of the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna, at Mylapore, away from the commercial areas of the city, in the vicinity of ancient temples sacred to the Vaishnavites and Saivaites of the South, this Math has for more than four decades been an active centre for training- monastic members and ministering to the public in various ways.

r • i

Among the activities of the Math are the following:

It holds regular worship of Sri Ramakrishna at abeautiful shrine, when a large number of devotees attend.
Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekanandaare celebrated on a grand scale. (3) Over a dozenmonastic members are carefully trained in spiritual practice
and altruistic service. (4) Two monthly' organs, TheVedanta Kesari in English and Sri Ramakrishna Vijayamin Tamil, which have completed their twenty-fifth andnineteenth year respectively, are conducted by the Math.(5) About forty religious books, including translations ofscriptures, have so far been published in English, Tamiland Telugu. (6) Weekly religious discourses are conductedby competent monastic members at the Math and at educational institutions and religious associations in various partsof the city. (7) A well-equipped Library, housed in a new
spacious building, is open to the public. (8) For thebenefit of the inmates, persons of great academic distinc
tions deliver courses of lectures on Religion, Philosophy,Psychology,and Ethics, some of which are also open to thepublic." (9) A Charitable Dispensary is efficiently run withthe aid of qualified doctors. (10) A Society formed under

the direct inspiration of the Math actively works among the labouring classes in three settlements according to a definite scheme of rural reconstruction, (n) The Swamis of the Math occasionally undertake extensive preaching tours all over the Presidency with a view to disseminating the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

The Mission branch associated with the Math undertakes, as emergency arises, relief work in various parts of the Presidency with the co-operation of the public and the Government.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Bombay

This Ashrama, situated at Khar (Phone: 88042), a flourishing suburb of Bombay, has, since its inception in 1923, been doing good work in the city and suburbs, and its beneficent influence is being, felt in the Presidency. The Mission branch, opened ia 1932, conducts a Charitable Dispensary, a Library containing a large number of philosophical and theological .books, which is accessible to the public, and a Students' Home, which seeks to supplement University education by cultural and spiritual instruction.

The Ashrama conducted regular worship and celebrated the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda in an elaborate manner. Religious classes were held in the Ashrama and different parts of the city. The Swamis of the Ashrama were invited by various associations of the city to deliver lectures, and undertook lecturing tours in the Presidency. *

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Bhubaneswar (Purl)

This monastery was founded by the late Swami Brahmananda, the first President of the Order, in 1919. Regular worship and religious classes were conducted. The Sanskrit Chatushpathi for the monks of the Order turned out good work under a qualified Pandit. The birthday of Swami Brahmananda was celebrated with great eclat. The Swamis occasionally went out to the villages, propagating the message of the Master.

The Mission branch, started in 1920, runs a Charitable Dispensary, which has been doing good to thousands of sick people including pilgrims, and a free Primary School, besides organising a "Chhatra Mangal Samiti," which helps poor students, conducts the annual inter-school sports and gives prizes to the competitors.

During the Orissa Cyclone of 1938, the centre, with help from the Headquarters, undertook relief work at Parikud, in the district of Puri, and ^Jat Rambha, in the district of Ganjam.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama, Bankura

This Math was started in the year 1917. During the period under review it conducted regular worship and religious classes. Through various functions such as the feeding of poor Narayanas .and lectures in villages, the centre has succeeded in establishing a contact¹ with the masses and in imparting to them .the universal^ message of Sri Ramakrishna.

The Charitable Dispensary .attached to it was made a branch of the Mission in 1932. Pecuniary help was given to poor people, particularly students. Besides conducting a Primary School for the depressed classes, the centre imparted education on Homoeopathic Therapeutics to a number of young men, some of whom were accommodated in the Ashrama. In 1939 the Students' Home was expanded to admit other students as well.

The centre took an active part in the Fire Relief work at Khatra, in the same district, in 1938, and financed a similar relief at Kakradara. Besides, Test Work was conducted during the distress of 1939.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama, Allahabad

The Math, located at Muthiganj, was founded by Swami Vijnanananda in the year 1908. The Mission Sevashrama was started in 1910. During the period under review, in addition to the normal work of an Ashrama,.

religious classes were organised among University students, and lectures were delivered in the different Hostels. The birthdays of the Prophets were celebrated with meetings and lectures, which were largely attended.

The Charitable Dispensary run by the Sevashrama has been rendering useful service to the poor and helpless, and steps are being taken for expanding the scope of its work.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Karachi

This Math was started at Garden Quarter, Karachi, in 1936. In the very same year it purchased in that locality a house with a fine plot of land, on which a temple was erected in 1938. -It is mainly a preaching centre and holds scriptural classes thrice a week for the benefit of the public, besides arranging occasional leqtures. It also conducts regular worship, and a small Library.

A Mission branch was added in January, 1939, with aHomoeopatliic Charitable'Dispensary, which grew in popularity and had to be removed to an adjoining tenement forbetter accommodation. In' addition to his ordinary duties,the doctor in charge visits the Bhil village at Clifton oncea week and renders free medical help.

A Primary School started in the same village for Bhil children has also been made a part of the activities of the centre. Besides the three R's, it gives the children instruction in spinning and soap-making. Adult education forms another important item of its rural uplift work. In addition to various devices for the mental and physical well-being of the adults, such as Bhajana, lantern lectures, gramophone music and lathi-play, a regular- Night School is being run, and a hand loom with an instructor has Tseen provided for them. The centre also conducts another Night School at Kumbharwada.

The Kamakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama, Tamluk (Midnapur)

This is one of the popular institutions of the town. Started in the year 1914, it was recognised as a Mission branch in 1929. The Seva'shrama maintains an indoor

Hospital and an outdoor Dispensary, occasionally nurses patients in their own homes and distributes cloth, blankets, rice and small cash to some deserving persons.

During the period under review,. Cholera Relief work was undertaken in some villages of the sub-division, when 73 patients were treated. The Sevashrama' undertook Paush Sankranti Relief work in 1939. Particular mention may be made of the extensive Flood Relief work undertaken by the Sevashrama in the Sadar sub-division of the district in 1939, with help from the Headquarters.

The Primary School attached to the Sevashrama is running successfully. The Circulating Library and the Reading Room have also maintained their popularity. Extensive preaching work, including classes, meetings and lantern lectures, was undertaken in the sub-division, with the help of the Swamis from the Belur Math. »

The Ashrama conducted daily worship and Bhajana,and celebrated the anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna andSwami Vivekananda.

The Matrimandir and ^arada Sevashrama, Jayrambati (Bankura)

The Matrimandir (P.O. Desra), established in 1920 to perpetuate the sacred memory of the Holy Mother in her birthplace, has been doing good work; It conducted daily worship and, among other things, celebrated the Holy Mother's birthday and two other festivals.

The Sevashrama, made a branch of the Mission in 1930, conducts an outdoor Charitable Dispensary and a Primary School.

«. The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Mymensing

This Ashrama was started in 1922 and is now situated in a secluded corner of the town. Besides regular worship, Bhajana and scriptural classes, occasional lectures, were arranged in or out of the Ashrama. The birthdays of the great Masters were also duly observed.

A Mission centre was opened in 1931, which runs a Library open to the public and a small Students' Home.

The Ramakrishna A'shrama and Mission 5evashrama, 5pnarg'aoii (Dacca)

This centre, situated at Tajpur (P.O. Aminpur), was started in 1915. The Sevashrama was converted into a Mission branch in 1925. Besides conducting an outdoor Dispensary and a free Library, which is open to the public, it accommodated some poor students and gave regular or casual help to a number of poor families.

The Ashrama conducted regular classes, worship, Bhajana, etc., and organised occasional lectures.

B. INSTITUTIONS DOING EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

The Ramakrishna Math.and Mission, Dacca

The activities of the Dacca centre date back to the year .1899, when the first preachers were sent there from the Headquarters. ' Trie Seva department was added in 1908, and the,monastic workers took charge of the centre in 1914. It was recognised as a branch of the Mission in 1916.

The Mission centre at Dacca conducts an outdoor Dispensary, for which a one-storeyed building was constructed in 1939. During the period under review, rice was distributed to a number of needy families as monthly doles. Pecuniary help was given to some indigent people and poor students. Some clothes also were distributed.

The centre conducted a Boys' M. E. School in the Ashrama and a Boys' Primary School in the town. It also supervised a free Primary School for girls at Brahmankitta, a ,village in the district, and conducted another in the town. The Library and Reading Room was run as usual. It has a small branch at another locality of the town. Weekly religious classes were held in the Mission premises as well as in other parts of the town, and occasional lecture tours were undertaken to different places of the district.

Regular worship, Bhajana and the celebration of religious festivals as well as the birthdays of the great

⁴⁰

Teachers of the world were 'the principal Math activities of this centre. The monks' quarters were extended during the period under review.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission

Seva Samiti, Sylhet

This institution has been in existence since 1916, but the Seva Samiti was made a Mission branch in 1926. The Samiti conducted in the neighbouring villages one M. E. and nine Primary Schools for boys, one Primary School for girls and two Night Schools. Along with general education, it has been trying to introduce agriculture, shop-keeping, poultry-farming, weaving and brick-making. It maintained two Libraries at Sylhet and Agna, both open to the public, and had a branch Charitable Dispensary at Devpur.

The Seva Samiti at Karimganj, which is an extension of this centre, conducted one L. P. and one Night School, a Charitable Dispensary and a Students' Home< for boys, who got their general education in the local schools.

Both the Samitis nursed some patients in their own homes and helped a number of poor people in cash and kind.

The Ashrama devoted itself mainly to holding regular worship, Bhajana and religious classes, organising lectures, and celebrating the anniversaries of the great Masters.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission 5eva Samiti, Habiganj (Sylhet)

This institution was started in 1920, but the SevaSamiti was recognised as a Mission branch in 1926. Themain activities of the latter consist in imparting education,
secular and religious, to cobblers and members of otherdepressed classes in the district, and in organising suitablehome industries for the improvement of their economiccondition. The Samiti conducted one Night School atGosainagar and four Primary Schools at Sridharpur,Daulatpur, Chaitpur and Charipur. A small Library andReading Room, open to the public, was conducted atHabiganj.

The Samiti nursed some patients in their own homes, and distributed rice and some pieces of cloth to the poor.

Five Shoe Factories and Mridanga Factories were run in different towns of the district with substantial help from the Ashrama, and so were the two Co-operative Societies at Gosainagar and Daulatpur.

. The Ashrama conducted regular worship and religious classes, and organised occasional lectures and discourses, besides celebrating the birthday anniversaries of the great Masters.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama, Contai (Midnapur)

Although started in 1913, the Sevashrama was made_
a branch of the Mission in 1927. In common with otherMath centres, the Ashrama conducts regular worship andreligious classes, and arranges lantern lectures in andoutside the town. The Sevashrama maintains a Libraryand Reading Room as well as a Charitable Dispensary.Some students were ac'cornmodated in the Ashrama duringthe period under review. Besides, some sick persons werenursed in their homes, and some dead bodies werecremated. A few poor people received help in cash andkind.

At Mansadwip, in the Sundarbans, the Sevashrama conducts a U. P. School for girls and another extended M. E. School for boys to which are attached an agricultural section and a small hostel.

At Belda, three miles off, are maintained an L. P. School for girls and a U. P. School for boys.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama, Narayangfanj (Dacca)

Although the Ashrama was started as early as 1909, the Mission branch was opened in 1922. During the period under review the Ashrama, like other Math centres, conducted regular worship, religious classes, anniversary celebrations, etc.

The activities of the Sevashrama fall under three main heads: the Charitable Dispensary, the Durgacharan Library and Reading Roonv, and the Vidyarthi Bhavan

or Students' Home. The¹¹ Dispensary and the Library served the general public as usual. But the Students' Home made conspicuous progress, and was welcomed by the public as the first hostel in the town.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Rural Uplift Work, Chandipur (Midnapur)

This Ashrama, started in the year 1916, is situated in the rural area of the Midnapur district. Daily worship and scriptural classes were held, and occasional religious lectures were arranged. The Charitable Dispensary, which along with the Library is now housed in a permanent building constructed during the period under review, was run as usual.

In 1938 and 1939 the Ashrama undertook in the neighbouring villages Cholera Relief on five occasions, and Mela Relief on four occasions. Besides, Fire Relief was undertaken on an extensive scale in 1939 with financial help from the Headquarters.

The Ashrama maintains a U. P. School for boys and an L. P. School for girls as well as a small Library, which is open to the public.

In 1937 a Mission branch for Rural Uplift was established at Magrajpur, a neighbouring village inhabited by people of the depressed classes. For their benefit a Primary School and a Charitable Dispensary have been started, and other measures for rural improvement are under consideration. The doctor-in-charge freely visited poor patients at. their homes.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama, Baliati (Dacca)

This centre completed its twenty-ninth year in 1939. The Sevashrama, which was made a Mission branch in 1925, conducts a mixed Primary School for boys and girls as also a Library and Reading Room, and doles out rice to indigent people.

The Ashrama, in common with other Math centres,conducted regular worship, scriptural classes, Bhajana,etc., and organised some lectures for the benefit of thevillagers.

SECTION IV

MATH CENTRES

The Advaita Ashrama Mayavati (Altnora)

The Advaita Ashrama at Mayavati came into existence in 1899 in pursuance of the cherished object of Swami Vivekananda to found an Ashrama in the heart of the Himalayas, where the Advaita or the unity of existence might be lived and taught in its purest form. Situated in the bosom of the Himalayan forests at an altitude of 6,800 ft., away from human habitations and commandirjg a magnificent view of the snow-clad peaks, it discards all ceremonial wprsh'ip and is specially dedicated to Advaita, though it sympathises with all modes of worship as, approaches to the Divine. It aims at producing a band of strong 'and self-reliant characters through regular study, classes, reflection and meditation.

It is the chief publication centre of the Ramakrishna Order, and it has brought out a large number of books, the most notable of them being The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda in seven volumes. It also runs an English Vedanta monthly, Prabuddha Bharata, which completed its forty-fourth year in 1939 and occupies a prominent place in the field of Indian journalism. ' The Ashrama possesses a fine Library.

During the period under review the Ashrama brought out the following new books: Talks with Swami Vivekananda, With the Swamis in America, Shiva-Mahimnah Stotra and Aparokshanubhuti. It also reprinted* the following works: Modern India, In Defence of Hinduism and The Last Message of Sri Krishna. The publication department is located at 4, Wellington Lane, Calcutta.

The period under review also saw considerable improvements effected in the Hospital and Charitable Dispensary attached to the Ashrama at Mayavati. A larger building to accommodate more beds, with a specially

fitted operation room, was built for it, and a medicalgraduate was put in charge of the work.

The Ramakrishna Math, Baghbazar, Calcutta

The nucleus of this Math was laid in 1899 ,in a rented house. It was removed to its permanent site at I, Udbodhan Lane in 1909. Since then it was the Calcutta residence of the Holy Mother, and it was here that she entered Mahasamadhi. The place is therefore an abiding source of spiritual inspiration to hundreds of devotees. In addition to the usual routine of a monastery, it conducted a small Library and a weekly class on the Bhagavat'a. The Swamis of the Math delivered lectures and conducted regular classes in and outside Calcutta.

This is one of the chief publication centres of the Ramakrishna Order. It publishes the Bengali translations of most of the English work's of Swami Vivekananda as well as the works of Swami Saradananda and others, 21 of which were reprinted during the period under review. A book of Sanskrit hymns with Bengali rehdering, the Gita with Bengali translation,' and a selection of the sayings of Swami Vivekananda in Bengali were new publications during the period under review. The Math also printed thousands of copies of Rama-Nama-Sankir-tana for free distribution. The Udbodhan, a Bengali religious monthly started by Swami Vivekananda, completed its fortieth year in 1939.

The Ramakrishna Adva ita Ashrama, Benares

This Ashrama, started at Laksa in 1902 by the late Swami Shivananda in the premier holy city of India, contiguous to the Home of Service, provides facilities for spiritual advancement to the monastic members of the Ramakrishna Order, a good number of whom are maintained by the Ashrama. Regular scriptural classes were held during the period under review, which were fairly attended.

The Ashrama conducts a Library containing books on religious, scientific and historical subjects, besides a valuable collection of Sanskrit philosophical works.

The Ashrama celebrated in a befitting manner the birthday anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda along with the important Hindu festivals.

The Gadadhar Ashrama, Calcutta

This Ashrama, started in 1921 at 86A, Harish Chatterjee -Street, Bhowanipur, continued its spiritual activities. Regular worship, Bhajana and weekly classes on the Bhagavata and the Upanishads were conducted for the benefit of the inmates of the Ashrama as also of the public. An outdoor class on the Bhagavata was also ¹ opened at Chetla.

The Veda Vidyalaya, established in 1926 for the spread of Sanskrit culture, arranged regular classes on Nyaya, Vedanta, Mimamsa, and other allied branches of Sanskrit learning. Of the 59 students on its rolls in 1939, five lived jri the Ashrama. During the period under review the students showed good' results in public examinations, securing Government scholarships.

The Ashrama has a Library with a valuable collection of scriptural and philosophical works together with a few choice books on Hindu culture.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Nagpur

Though the foundation of the Ashrama was laid in 1925, actual work began in 1928. Since then it has made steady progress. It conducts two Charitable Dispensaries, one in the Ashrama premises at Craddock Town and the other in a village called Khambla.

Weekly religious classes were regularly held in theAshrama, and public lectures were arranged in the townas well as in other rural and urban areas of the province.The public Library and Reading Room conducted by theAshrama was largely patronised.

The Students' Home attached to the Ashrama ran an organisation called the "Students' Study Circle," which arranged debates by students, lantern lectures in slums, and public meetings to discuss important problems. Biweekly religious classes were held for the benefit of the inmates of the Home. The free Gymnasium in the Ashrama kept up an average attendance of 40.

The Ashrama has undertaken the publication, of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature in Hindi and Marathi, the number of books published so far in the two languages being six and five respectively.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Ootacamund

This Ashrama, situated in one of the beauty spots of the hill station, was started in 1926. During the period under review it conducted regular worship and three weekly classes for the public in and outside the Ashrama. Occasional lectures and discourses were arranged, and preaching tours were undertaken in the adjoining districts.

The Library and Reading Room attached to the Ashrama has more than 1,500 volumes of selected works in English and Tamil, and was open to the public.

The birthdays of the great Founders of religions and some important religious festivals were observed.

The Ramakrishna Math, Conjeeverafn(Chingleput)

This monastery in the holy 'city of Kanchi was founded in 1932. It has since been steadily growing in popularity and 'making its healthy influence felt all around. It has a decent building of its own. During the period under review regular religious classes were held by the Swamis, and occasional lectures and discourses were given in and outside the Math.

The public Library and Reading Room attached to the Math is.the only one of its kind in the city, and is doing valuable work.

The birthdays of the great religious Teachers and Prophets of the world were duly observed.

The Ramakrishna Math, Nattarampalli (North Arcot)

The Math completed twenty-nine years of its useful life in 1939. Regular worship, weekly religious classes and Bhajana were conducted, and occasional lectures and discourses were arranged both in the Math and outside.

Moral instruction was imparted, to the children of the local school.

A Night School for adults was conducted, and some students were accommodated in the Math. It also celebrated the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivek-ananda and other saints.

The Saradashrama Ponnampet (Coorg)

This Ashrama, situated among the hills of Coorg, was started in 1927, and has been growing steadily. Regular worship and religious classes are conducted. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda were elaborately celebrated. The Ashrama has been successfully teaching scientific methods of bee-culture to rural people. It has a small Library.

The C0org Honey and Wax Producers' Society, started under the auspices of- the Ashrama in 1936, did valuable work among the villagers, which was highly appreciated «by the Gpvesnment.

Sri Ramakrishna- Niranjana Ashrama, Ottapalam (Malabar)

The Ashrama was established in 1926. Situated on the river Bharata, it commands a charming view of the countiyside. Besides worship and Bhajana, daily religious classes and occasional public meetings form an important part of its activities. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples are observed here every year. Of late it has opened a free Ayurvedic Dispensary, which .is ministering to the needs of the poor. A Primary School for the benefit of poor children is also maintained by the Ashrama, and some of them are given books etc.

In December, 1939, a beautiful temple to perpetuate the memory of Srimat Swami Nirmalananda was opened at the Ashrama.

Other Ashrama in Malabar

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Quilandy, was started in 1915. Worship, Bhajana and the anniversaries of Sri

Ramakrishna and his disciples form its general activities. Five Harijan students are maintained by the Ashrama, which receives a Government grant of Rs. 250 /- per year towards their upkeep. The activities of this centre are slowly extending to other parts of North Malabar.

Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Chellapuram (Calicut),was started in 1930. It is still housed in a small rentedbuilding. It runs a Charitable Dispensary for childrenand conducts weekly scriptural classes for the benefit ofstudents.

The Ramakrishna Math, Puri

JThis centre in the holy city of Puri was opened in1932. It is situated at Chakratirtha, directly on the sea,of which it commands a magnificent view. Being at aconsiderable distance from tne congested quarters, theMath is an ideal pMce for leading a contemplative life. Ithas got a nice building, where, among other things, regularworship is performed.

In 1939 two gifts of land and buildings were made by a lady and a gentleman for starting a Widows' Home at Puri, and steps are being taken for launching the work in the near future.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Malda

This Ashrama was started in 1924. During the period under'review regular scriptural classes and Bhajana were held, and occasional festivals were celebrated. The Ashrama conducted four Night Schools and one Primary School for the backward classes in the town and the villages. One Charitable Dispensary in the Ashrama and another at Chapai-Nawabganj, 43 miles off, served a great number of poor patients, besides rendering various kinds of help to poor people.

The Vivekananda Youths' Club, organised under the auspices of the Ashrama, freely used the Gymnasium in the Ashrama and rendered relief during the Ramkeli and Sadullapur Fairs.

The Ashrama Library wa.s open to the public.

The Ramakrishna Ashraina, Dinajpur

The Ashrama completed its sixteen til year in 1939. Religious classes were regularly conducted in and outside the Ashrama. The Swami in charge held weekly classes in the local jail. During th,e anniversaries of the great Masters lecjtures were organised. The Charitable Dispensary attached to the Ashrama did great service to local people with Homoeopathic medicines. The Ashrama conducts four Schools, one of which teaches up to Class VI, while the others are L. P. Schools. It also conducts a '-small Library.

The Ramakrishna Kutir, Almora

This Himalayan centre was founded in the year 1918 under the auspices of the late Swami Turiyananda, a disciple of the Master. Situated amidst beautiful surroundings, with a healthy climate, it provides excellent facilities for meditation arid study. It has a small Library.

The Vivejcananda Ashrama, Shyamala Tal (Almora)

This is another retreat in the Himalayas (P. O. Sukhidhang), which was founded in the year 1914. The .Ramakrishna Sevashrama attached to the Ashrama has proved a boon to the poor, sick hill-people for many miles around. It treats both indoor and outdoor patients.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Kishenpur (Dehra-Dun)

This Ashrama (P. O. Rajpur) was started in 1916 in a picturesque valley five miles above Dehra-Dun, on the road to Mussooree. It is a delightful place for meditation. It has a pretty good Library and a small Charitable

Dispensary.

The Ramakrishna Sevashrama, Qarbeta (Midnapur)

The Ashrama completed its twenty-second year in 1939. It conducts a Charitable Dispensary, as also a mixed Primary School and a Night School.

The Ramakrishna^ Ashrama, Jamtara (Sonthal Parganas)

This monastery was started in 1921, and on account of its climate has been a health resort for the sick members of the Order. Regular worship is performed. Attached to the Ashrama there is a small Charitable Dispensary as well as a small Library.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bagerhat (Khulna)

The centre was started in 1926. During the period under review scriptural classes were regularly held in and outside the Ashrama. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and the Holy Mother were duly celebrated. The special feature of the last-named function was that ladies took a prominent part in it. There is a small Library as well as a Primary School in the Ashrama.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Jakndi (Paridpur)

This Ashrama was started -in 1918' and was recognised as a Math centre in 1931. It has a small Library. Religious classes were held regularly, and some patients were nursed in their own homes.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Koalpara (Bankura)

This old Ashrama (P. O. Kotalpur), situated on the road to Jayrambati at a distance of four miles from it, is a quiet retreat, where regular worship, Bhajana, etc., are performed.

SECTION V

MATH CENTRES IN NATIVE STATES

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot (Kathiawar)

Since the inception of the Ashrama in 1927 it has developed into a useful centre with diverse activities. In 1935 it had its own- building in Jagnath Plot. In 1937 an Ayurvedic Charitable Dispensary was opened, and next year an Allopathic section was added to it. In June, 1939, a Primary School was started, and some boys were accommodated in the Ashrama. Free coaching classes for students of the Matriculation class, debating society meetings and religious lectures were among the educational activities of the Ashrama. The Library with its free Reading Room was helpful to the reading public. The Ashrama has published half a dozen books in Gujrati. Help of various kinds was rendered to the poor people of the locality.

In co-operation with the Western Kathiawar Agency,the Ashrama started Famine Relief in October, 1939, inDhrapha Thana, Kathiawar. Monthly doles of grains,cloth and medicines were given to the poor, old and invalidpeople of the whole Thana. Cattle camps and cheap grain.shops were also opened.

MYSORE STATE

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore

This Ashrama was founded in 1903 by the late Swami Ramakrishnananda, and was removed to its present site at Basavangudi in 1908. Situated in a healthy locality, the Ashrama provides a congenial place for meditation and prayer. Besides regular worship, Bhajana, and the birthday celebrations of the great Masters, the Ashrama conducted two weekly classes, one at the Ashrama and the other at Ulsoor. Moral -^nd religious instruction was

imparted to the inmates of the Bangalore Central Jail. There is a small Library open to the public. The Ashrama has attracted a large number of- young men of the town. Organised into a body called the Viveka-Sadhana, they conducted Bhajana, debates and a Night School. A Gymnasium for .them is under construction. The Swamis of the Ashrama also organised and delivered lectures in the town as also in many places within the State. The Ashrama has published some books in Canarese.

The Vedanta College, Bangalore

The Vedanta College for the benefit of young aspirants for a spiritual life was started in July, 1939, at Bangalore, and for the time being it is housed in the local Rama-krishna Ashrama. The expenses are met from the Holy Mother's Trust. Under _t able monks of the,.Order, the students read the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, various scriptures and the Works of Swami Vivekananda. There were four students in the College in 1939.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

The Mysore Ashrama, started in 1925, was removed in 1931 to its own premises at'Vontikoppal, one of the best extensions of the city. Besides regular worship and Bhajana, it conducted in 1938 weekly religious classes in and outside the Ashrama, notably in eight Students' Hostels and three Schools of the city. In 1939 classes were held in two Schools and four Hostels, and occasional lectures were delivered in Schools, College Hostels and the University. Under the auspices of the Ramakrishna Seva Samiti, the Ashrama conducted Rural Welfare Work in Padavarahalli, in the outskirts of Mysore, where religious, discourses, special lectures, Harikathas, a Night School, a Co-operative Society, Home Industry, etc., were organised. The Ashrama Library was well utilised by the public, specially students.

Through the generous help of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore, the Study Circle, established in 1932 to give the monks of the Ramakrishna Order a course of training in Eastern and Western Philosophy, Sociology, Comparative Religion and Scientific Outlook, continued to produce:

its beneficent results. Fivemonks in 1938 and seven others in 1939 availed themselves of the opportunity thus offered.

The birthdays of the great Teachers and Founders of religions were observed with due solemnity. The Swamis of the Ashrama addressed various local institutions and associations as well as the University, and undertook lecturing tours in Coorg.

. The Ashrama conducted a Students' Home in a separate building of its own, which in 1939 accommodated 30 boys. A Swami of the Order looks after their welfare.'

TRAVANCORE STATE

The Ramakrislina Ashrama, Trivandrum

This Ashrama is situated at Nettayarn, 5 miles from the town, on a hill overlooking the sea on one side and the beautiful town of Trivandrum on the other. It is furnished with a Library and'is,-an,ideal centre for meditation, prayer and study. , Ever since its inception in 1924, it has been doing good work in and around the town. Regular scriptural classes are held for the benefit of devotees. Attached to the Ashrama, and located at the foot of the hill, is the Charitable Ayurvedic Dispensary serving the pobr in general, particularly malaria patients.

The Prabuddha .Keralam Office, located in the town, is an extension of the work of the Ashrama. It conducts the Malayalam monthly of that name and has published Malayalam translations of some Ramakrishna-Vivek-ananda literature. It also manages an Allopathic Dispensary.

Being the most important centre of activity in Travan-core, the Ashrama attracts a large number of devotees and friends from all parts of the State, where its silent influence is being steadily felt.

The kamakrishna Ashrama, Haripad

This is the earliest institution of its kind in Kerala, having been opened in 1913. Besides daily worship, Bhajana, Sunday classes for the public and yearly celebra-

tions, the Ashrama has been Conducting for the last twenty-three years a Primary School for the Harijan children, being a pioneer in this field. It also maintains a few indigent students studying Sanskrit in a local school. The Ashrama has done much to popularise the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda around the locality.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Tiruvella

This Ashrama was started in 1913 on a small plot of leasehold land in a congested part of the town, but was removed in 1930 to a commodious permanent building in a better locality. Besides, regular worship, Bhajana and classes in the Ashrama, the monks conducted weekly religious classes in three neighbouring schools and held discourses in adjoining villages. The Ashrama has published a Malayalam translation of Swami Vivekananda's Bhakti-Yoga and reprinted a commentary on Harinama-Kirtana. Besides its normal activities, the Ashrama guided the activities of a number of smaller centres in Travencore.

Other Ashramas in Travancore

There are several smaller "centres working on similar lines and following the usual routine of an Ashrama life. All of these have small libraries attached to them and organise Kirtana parties.

The Yogananda Ashrama at Alleppey was started in 1925. Regular religious classes and occasional lectures organised by it in the town and elsewhere are appreciated by the local public. It has also succeeded in arousing the interest of the fishermen community of a neighbouring village in -the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

Sri Premananda Ashrama at Muttam organises regular religious discourses and Kirtana parties and occasional lectures.

Sri' Brahmananda Ashrama at Kayangulam helps a number of poor students with free tuition etc. The annual reading of the whole Srimad-Bhagavatam in seven consecutive days forms a special feature of this Ashrama.

The Ramakrishna Ashrcftna at Adoor, started in 1931,. is picturesquely situated. It conducts a Night School for the depressed classes and, gives three Harijan boys all-facilities for study etc. It also conducts five religious classes a week for the benefit of the inmates of the Leper Asylum at Noornad.

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama at Moovattupuzha wasstarted in 1930 and is situated on a beautiful hillock adjoining a river. Depressed class students are instructed so asto become useful citizens later on, and one of them is givenfree boarding etc. The Bhajanas held here draw a largegathering, so much so that the people utilise it as aBhajana Matha. _x

The Ramakrishna) Ashrama at Palai conducts a Primary School for the children of the locality.

Sri Sarada Ashrama at' Neyyur is the only centre in South Travancore and was started in 1931. It runs a Primary School for .the .benefit of the Harijans, and looks after their physical and moral well-being as well. . One of the pupils is maintained in the Ashrama, and other poor children are occasionally supplied with books etc.

Besides holding Bhajana in the Ashrama, the inmates along with some members of the depressed classes take out Bhajana parties in the village. • Regular talks are given on the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda in the Ashrama, as also in the neighbouring villages. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami \[ivekananda are observed.

Relief work in times of distress caused by famine, flood and epidemics is another important channel of the activities of these Ashramas in general. There is a,grovying impression in the minds of the people of Travancore that the silent work of these Ashramas has done more for levelling down social inequalities in the State than speeches or demonstrations could do. Thus all the Ashramas in their humble way have contributed to the socio-religious uplift of people of this State. Much more can be accomplished in this direction if adequate financial support is available from the public.

COCHIN STATE

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Trichur

The beginning of this Ashrama dates from the starting of the Vivekodaya Samajam in 1915, but it was recognised by the Math Headquarters in 1929. It has rapidly developed into an important centre of education. Its educational activities commenced in 1924, when the Ramakrishna Gurukula and Vidyamandira were started for imparting education mainly to Harijan boys and girls. The work expanded, and the institution was divided into the following sections: a Gurukula for boys, a Gurukula for girls and a Vidyamandira consisting of a High School, a Primary section and an Industrial section.

In the Industrial section, vocational training is given to the boys in weaving, mat-making, knitting, embroidery, etc. The Primary section teaches both boys and girls free of charge. The High School is recognised by the Government, and the students have sho_twn₍good results in the Scholarship Examination. In the Gurukulas the boys and girls live as free boarders under, the supervision of highly qualified resident teachers, who also teach in the Day School. The inmates live a simple open-air life, following a daily routine of self-help and study. Due attention is paid to their spiritual development through daily religious classes, worship and prayers.

The Ashrama exerted itself fully for the economic and ciilturaruplift of the Harijan masses. Weekly classes were conducted in the Viyyur Central Jail.

Other Ashramas in Cochin

Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Pudukad, standing on the bank of a river, was started in 1934. Attached to it there is an Ayurvedic Dispensary under a competent Vaidya, which receives a grant from the State.

The Poor House, Ernakulam: The Executive Committee of the institution has placed its internal management in our hands, and a Swami has been deputed to help the destitute and infirm so as to bring solace and comfort to them in their hour of need.

SECTION VI

CENTRES OUTSIDE INDIA

IN BURMA

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Rangoon

Started in 1921 on an extensive plot of land lent by the» Government, in structures provided by the Corporation of Rangoon, the Sevashrama was made a branch of the Mission next year. It is situated on Merchant Street, off Thompson Street,'East Rangoon (Phone: Central 1087).

According to the Burma Government's administration report, this is the second largest Hospital in Burma so far as the number of patients is concerned. As an institution of social service it is the principal non-official organisation in Rangoon, and as such its pre-eminence is acknowledged by one and' all. « »

The Sevashrama is making rapid progress in all directions. The notable events' during the period under review are: The assurance of the Government regarding permanent occupancy of five acres of land that had been lent by it, the opening of a Medical Ward in 1938, and the opening of the Maternity and Segregation Wards in 1939. These have widened the scope of its work.

The Sevashrama maintains an indoor Hospital with 200 beds and various departments, and an outdoor Dispensary. As regards the volume of work in these departments, it is easily the first among the Mission institutions. It has an efficient staff consisting of thirteen paid and nine honorary doctors, with forty nurses and ward assistants to work in twelve different wards.

The Ramakrishna Mission Society, Rangoon

After twenty years of existence in different forms, the Society was handed over to the Mission in 1921. The free Reading Room and Library conducted by it have grown in popularity and size, and.they supply a vital need of the city of Rangoon in the sphere of intellectual and moral

education. The General Library contains a representative collection of 6,850 volumes, and the Reading Room receives as many as 156 papers and periodicals—monthlies, weeklies and dailies—in English, Burmese and almost all the principal Indian languages. In 1939 the Library had 865 regular borrowers, and the average daily attendance at the Reading Room was 100. The Society also conducts a Tamil Ladies' Library, which contains 1,312 volumes. The total number of borrowers in this section in 1939 was 208.

The free Guest House, known as the Sashi Niketan, afforded temporary lodging to people passing through Rangoon. Altogether 99 people were served in 1938 and 86 in 1939.

Regular classes and occasional lectures on the Upa-nishads, Gita, Bhagavata and the teachings of Sri Rama-krishna were held by the monastic members of the Mission. The Society also arranged a fortnightly class for the moral and religious instruction of the "B" class prisoners of the Insein Jail. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, the Holy Mother' and other great World Teachers were celebrated.

The Society organised Relief work during the civil disturbances in Burma in July and September, 1938, when food and other help were given to about 4,000 Indians, 1,400 Burmans and many Buddhist monks belonging to about 28 monasteries.

The construction work of the three-storeyed structure of the Society at 230-232, Thompson Street, corner of Bigandet Street, has been completed. The ground floor houses the Library and Reading Room, the first floor is a large and well-furnished Lecture Hall, and the top floor contains a Temple, Prayer Hall and quarters for monastic workers. The building has cost about Rs. 5O,ooo/-. With the opening of this building the Society starts a new chapter in its long histoiy.

IN CEYLON

The Ramakrishna Mission (Ceylon Branch)

During 1924 the management of a number of Schools in Batticaloa, Trincomalie and Jaffna was handed over to

the representatives of the Mssion, then working in theIsland, and in 1929 an Ordinance incorporating the Rama-krishna Mission (Ceylon Branch) was passed by the CeylonGovernment.

The Ashrama at Colombo, inaugurated in 1930, continued in a'rented house till it was shifted to its own buildings on 44th Lane, Wellawatta. A plot of land purchased in front of the Ashrama is being converted into a Children's Park. In 1938 the Centenary Temple and Prayer Hall was, opened. In addition to daily worship and weekly classes in Tamil and English in the Ashrama, classes and lectures are organised in different parts of the town. The free Library and Reading Room is open to the public. By its catholicity the Ashrama has succeeded in attracting people of various denominations in the Island.

The educational activities of the Mission are spread over the districts of Batticaloa, Trincomalie, Jaffna and Badulla, v?hich have altogether three English Schools coaching up students for the Local S. S. L. C. (Eng.), Cambridge Senior and London Matriculation Examinations, fourteen Tamil Schools and one English Night School. Of these, eleven Schools are in Batticaloa, two in Trincomalie, four in Jaffna and one in Badulla.

The Shivananda Vidyalaya at Kalladi-uppodai, outside the Municipal limit of Batticaloa, is a self-contained residential High School. Besides imparting physical, moral and religious education, the school has a reputation for good teaching, as is proved by its success in Government examinations. .At Batticaloa there is an Orphanage for girls attached to the Girls' School at Karativu.

The school at Trincomalie developed considerably during the period under review. It is now a well-equipped Senior Secondary English School.

The Vaidyeswara Vidyalaya, the third English School
under the Mission in the Island, situated at Vannarponnai,Jaffna, has made great progress, though it is handicappedfor funds.

IN STRAITS SETTLEMENTS The Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore

The Mission centre at Singapore was started in 1928 in response to a grooving demand on the part of the local public for the ideas and ideals of the Ramakrishna Mission. It has got a two-storeyed building of its own at g, Norris Road, to which was added in 1938 another two-storeyed building at 38, Norris Road, for the accommodation of the Saradamani Girls' School.

The centre conducted weekly scriptural classes in English and Tamil, and lectures on religious, cultural and philosophical subjects were arranged from time to time in different parts of Malay. For this kind of work the Koona Vayloo Pillay Hall of the Mission at Singapore was most serviceable. It was also often used by some sister organisations.

With a view to bringing the youths into closer contact, the Young Men's Cultural Union was started in 1939. It arranges fortnightly lectures and debates on cultural topics, and has also organised an Orchestra. .

The Mission branch conducts the Vivekananda Tamil School, the Vivekananda English School, the Saradamani Tamil¹ Girls' School, the Saradamani English Girls' School and the Adult Labourers' Night School. The two English Schools sit in the afternoon. In addition to religious instruction, music, needlework and physical training receive particular attention in these schools. A Vocational Class to teach fretwork, carpentry and basketry has also been added to the Boys' School since 1938. Thirty per cent, of . the Day School students and eighty per cent, of the Night School students were given free tuition.

The centre has a free Library and Reading Room.

IN. FIJI Vedanta Work at Nadi

The visit of Swami Avinasananda to Fiji in the year 1937 created great enthusiasm among the Indian settlers in the Island. During his stay of eight months, he succeeded in organising various important measures for

the social amelioration of the settlers. After he left forIndia for reasons of health, the Mission Headquarters sentSwami Rudrananda in January, 1939, to continue thework. The Swami on his arrival was given a warm reception throughout the Island. '

Under his guidance the Then India (South Indian) Sanmarga 'Aikya Sangam, a recognized philanthropic body carrying on educational, religious and other activities in the Island, is gradually growing in strength. Besides other activities connected with the Sangam, the Swami is directly ^ in charge of the Students' Home in Nadi, a town in the Western part of the Island. He has travelled all over the Island and delivered more than 100 lectures in different languages. He is trying to start Bhajana Sabhas in the villages, and is organising a Young Men's Association for the uplift of the masses.

IN MAURITIUS

Vedanta Work at Port Louis

At the,earnest invitation of friends, Swami Ghan-ananda was deputed from, the Headquarters to Mauritius in July, 1939, as a preacher of Vedanta. He was given a rousing reception in different parts of the Island by the Indian community, in which many non-Indians also j'oined. His impressive lectures in English and popular discourses in Tamil have made the people conscious of the glorious ' cultural and spiritual heritage of the motherland. He has been speaking twice a week on an average, and occasionally conducting congregational prayers for the benefit of the masses. In December he spoke on the message of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda at a crowded meeting at Rose Hill, presided over by the Governor.

As a result of the enthusiasm created, many .Night Schools, with a total of several hundred boys and girls on their rolls, have sprung up in the Island during the last few months. A Parents' Association has been formed to help the Government to take measures for teaching Indian languages effectively in the schools of the Colony.

The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda were celebrated in a manner calculated to vivify the cultural and religious consciousness of the people. The

Swami is staying at 42, Lou. is Pasteur Street, Port Louis, and a centre bids fair to spring up somewhere in the Island in the near future.

IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Vedanta Society, New York

This is the first Vedanta centre in the United States of America. Started in 1894 as a result of the enthusiasm created by Swami Vivekananda through his epoch-making address on Hinduism at the Parliament of Religions, Chicago, it was incorporated in 1898. Housed in a spacious building at 34 West yist Street, close to the Central Park, the Society has a beautifully decorated auditorium, a chapel for meditation and a good library of Eastern and Western literature.

The season's work begins in October and ends in June. During the period under review a sermon was preached every Sunday by Swami Bodhananda, who is in charge, and scriptural classes were held twice a week. Practical training in meditation was also given, and interviews were arranged, in which individual instructions were given to the students to assist them in leading a religious life.

The Society, among other things, celebrated the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, when notable speakers addressed the audience, and Hindu •dinners¹' were arranged.

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Centre, New York

.After six years of work at its rented quarters, 200 West 57th Street, the expansion of this Centre made urgent the securing of a permanent home where the needs of the Swami and the students could be better provided for. The Centre was fortunate in acquiring in June, 1939, a fine five-storey house in one of the best quarters of the city, at 17 East 94th Street, close to Fifth Avenue. After extensive alterations, the building was occupied in August. The first service was held by Swami Nikhilananda in September, and the formal dedication in October. On this

occasion the Swamis in charge of the Boston, Providence and Chicago Centres were guests of the Centre, and spoke both at the Centre and at the large dinner held in celebration of the dedication.

Among other things, the house contains a specially designed Chapel, and a Library and Reading Room for members. 'On account of its location, a new class of people is being attracted to the Centre. Attendance at the lectures and classes continues to be very satisfactory.

On Sundays, Swami Nikhilananda delivers sermons /on general religious and philosophical topics. On Tuesday and Friday evenings, he conducts classes on the Bhagavad-Giia and the Upanishads respectively. Before the latter class there is a period for meditation. Special services are held on the birthdays of .Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, Christ and Buddha; and in connection with these, dinners are arranged, which are addressed by well-known public speakers of the city. The Swami is often invited to speak at churches and schools in New York or its vicinity, and now and then speaks over the radio.

After seyen years of work in America, the Swami was happily enabled to pay an. extended visit to India in 1938, renewing his contacts with his brother monks.

The Vedanta Centre, Boston (Massachusetts)

The foundation of this Centre was laid in 1909 by Swami Paramananda, its present leader. The Swami is a successful exponent of Vedanta and is often incited tp lecture in many cities on his frequent journeys from Boston to his California work at La Crescenta. He is the author of many Vedantic books, both prose and verse.

The present home of the Centre, at 420, Beacon Street, is a beautiful, majestic building with a large, attractive Auditorium, a well-stocked Lending Library of religious works, a Reading Room and a separate Chapel, used for household worship and meditation. The house was dedicated as a memorial to Sri Ramakrishna on his one-hundredth birthday. Frequent fireside meditations are held in the great hall under the dome during the week. A Hindu banquet is served to many guests, once a month, until the Cohassef Ashrama, is opened.

The public services comprise two Sunday Assemblies and one practical class on Tuesday evenings. During the Swami's absence, regular services are conducted by one of the Sisters. The Centre observes the Durga Puja, the Dipali festival, the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, Lord Buddha's festival, as also Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, Easter and the anniversary of the Boston Centre.

The Vedanta journal Message of the East, established in 1912, is now issued in quarterly form. In 1939, it completed its twenty-eighth year of service. It is published regularly from the Boston Vedanta Centre. The periodical is sent to all University and public libraries, where bound copies have a place on their permanent reference shelves.

The Ashrama, Cohasset (Mass.)

This lovely woodland retreat was' established in 1929 as an extension of the Boston Vedanta Centre. It is situated on the beautiful South Shore, a distance of twenty-three miles from Boston. During 'the summer months, regular Saturday afternoon services are held there, as .also Tuesday evening classes. It is very much like the forest retreats of ancient India. Hindu dinners are served on Saturdays between the service under the pines and the closing meditation on the rock at the sunset hour. One noteworthy event of the year is the Fourth of July celebration in memory of the passing away of Swami Vivekananda. In fair weather all services are held under the trees. Should it rain, there is a large, 'attractive studio room, where the students congregate around a blazing fire while they receive instruction from the Swami or one of his able assistants.

Vedanta Society, Providence, R. I.

'The Society was started by Swami Akhilananda in September, 1928. In 1931 he dedicated the Temple at 224 Angell Street, a fine three-storeyed building in the best section of the. city, donated by two American members. Services are conducted regularly by the Swami every Sunday, and scriptural classes_t are held twice a week, and

meditation is taught. The Lending Library is open for the use of the members. Interviews and individual instructions are regularly given to the students. Many outside friends, clergymen, rabbis, professors and professional people come for religious and philosophical discussions. Many come for the solution of their personal problems.

Swami Akhilananda was invited during 1938 and 1939 by the churches, synagogues, societies and clubs in Providence and other cities in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to speak on India, Hindu philosophy, Hindu religion, and psychological problems. He attended as a member the meetings of the Rhode Island Ministers' Union and the Council of Churches in Rhode Island, The Swami also gave lectures and joined the discussions in the Universal Club at Brown, University. He was invited by this University every year to lecture to the students. The University of Rochester, in New York State, invited him to give a series of eight lectures in November, 1939. At intervals he conducted morning devotional services over radio stations WJAJR and WPRO. These lectures were much appreciated by the public all over the New England States.

The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, Buddha, Krishna, as well as Christmas, Easter, and other special days were observed by the Society. Receptions, social activities, dinners, etc., were also held on these festive occasions. The Society had the pleasure of entertaining the Swamis of the other centres in America.

At the request of earnest students, Swami Akhilananda went every week to Philadelphia and gave two lectures, on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. Pie also gave interviews on Fridays and Saturdays to the students.

The Vivekananda Vedanta Society, Chicago (Illinois)

This Vedanta Society was started by Swami Gna-neswarananda in 1930 and is situated at 120, East Delaware Place, in a very respectable locality near Lake Michigan. On his premature'death 111,1937, Swami Vishwananda was

sent from the Headquarters and took charge of the centre in May, 1938. He renamed it the Vivekananda Vedanta Society in honour of the founder of the Order, who first gave his message to the world in this city.

Lectures are j|iven regularly on Sunday afternocins at the Masonic Temple. Classes for the study of the Gita and Raja-Yoga are held every Tuesday and¹ Thursday evening at the Society's premises. Besides the regular classes the Swami gives private instructions and interviews to students seeking advice in spiritual matters.

In October, 1938, he was given a public reception in the International House of the University of Chicago. He has made the acquaintance of many well-known scholars and educators connected with this as well as the Northwestern University, and he has often been invited to speak before groups of teachers and students in these. Small groups are also invited to the Centre for a Hindu dinner and an evening of informal discussion on Hindu philosophy and culture.

The Ramakrishna anniversary banquet was successfully held at the Hotel Maryland in April, 1939.

The Vedanta Centre, St. Louis (Missouri)

Tnis is another new centre in the United States of America, the ground for which was prepared by the attempts of our Swamis in this direction in recent years. The present centre was started at 5316, Pershing Avenue by Swami Satprakashananda after a series of lectures delivered by him at the Hotel Melbourne in October, 1938, arid a course of lessons on Yoga, followed by semi-weekly class talks and daily meditations next month. In December he gave two lectures a week, in addition. Since January, 1939, he has been giving only one lecture a week instead of two, besides the class talks and meditations. The work was continued through the hot season (July-September). The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Lord Buddha were specially observed.

The Swami was invited to address different clubs an institutions in the city. He has also given interviews to many seekers of truth. Considering the response he has

received so far, it may reasonably be presumed that the Centre will be a permanent one.

The Vedanta Society, Denver (Colorado)

The work at Denver (Colorado), the cultural centre of the mid-west United States, was started by Swami Vividishananda in May, 1936, when a series of lectures delivered by him on Vedanta and the life and culture of the people of India attracted many earnest souls, and a Vedanta Society was formed with its location at 1205, Washington Street (Apt. 18).

Up to June, 1938, the Swami continued his weekly-classes on the sacred books of the Hindus in the Y.M.C.A. Building and the Cosmopolitan Hotel. In August of that year he moved to the much bigger city of Seattle (Washingt®n). Accordingly the. Denver Centre has been closed.

The Centre duly celebrated, among other things, the birthday anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.

The Ananda Ashrama, La Crescenta (California)

The Ashrama is situated in the beautiful Sierra Madrehill country, sixteen miles from Los Angeles. It wasfounded in 1923 as an extension of the Boston VedantaCentre. Away from the din and confusion of c,ity life,the Ashrama with its spacious grounds serves as a modelhermitage for the Vedanta students of America. SwamiParamananda has succeeded in attracting a group ofdevoted followers, both men and women, who live andwork in this Ashrama as one family. Regular servicesand classes are held by the Swami or in his absence byone of the sisters. The outstanding events of the Ashramaare the Durga Puja, the Dipali festival, the birthdays ofSri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda, the New Year'sEve service, Christmas service and Sunrise service on Easter morn. The Ashrama has an extensive Arts and Crafts and Weaving department and an important Bee Industry.

The Vedanta Society, Hollywood (California)

This centre, situated at 1946, Ivar Avenue, was started by Swami Prabhavananda in the year 1930. Since that time it has been steadily growing. It possesses a home of its own called _tthe Vivekananda Home, the gift of an American lady devotee. To accommodate the substantially increased congregation, a temple, with a large auditorium and library, was built on the Society's premises and dedicated in July, 1938.

Sunday services and weekday classes were regularly held. Swami Prabhavananda is continuing his lectures on Indian Philosophy and Religion, and is ably conducting the monthly journal, Voice of India.

The celebration of the birthday anniversaries of some of the great Teachers of the world including Sri Rama-krishna and Swami Yiyekananda amid appropriate, settings, was also a part of the centre's activities.

The Vedanta Society, San Francisco (California)

This Society owed its origin to the inspiring visit of Swami Vivekananda to the city in the year 1900. It is located in the Hindu Temple; the first of its kind in the West, at 2963, Webster Street, within a few minutes' walk of the San Francisco Bay. The Society was formally incorporated in 1928.

Under the leadership of Swami Ashokananda, the activities of the Society during the period under review have maintained their progress. He lectured twice a week on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. The Sunday lectures were given at the Century Club and the Wednesday lectures at the hall of the Society. On the first Friday of every month there was a question class in the evening, and on other Fridays there was a meditation class followed by the expounding of the scriptures. Besides, the Swami gave interviews to a large number of earnest seekers, and he was often invited to deliver lectures in intellectual circles, which were much appreciated.

The Society observed certain special days, which were very well attended. It has a Library which is open to all,

but only members are allowed to borrow books. Since October, 1939, the Society has been renamed "The Vedanta Society of Northern California."

In August, 1938, an Ashrama for the use of the Swami was built and dedicated on Lake Tahge, a beautiful, secluded region of the Sierra Nevada range, about 150 miles to the north-east of San Francisco.

The Shanti Ashrama, San Antone Valley (California)

This "Peace Retreat," started by the late Swami Turiyananda, is attached to the Vedanta Society, San Francisco. It is situated amidst beautiful mountain scenery, about a hundred miles from city, and has since 1900 been an excellent place for meditation to the students of the Society.

The.Vedanta £ociety of Northern California, East Bay' Centre, Berkeley

Successful extension work of the Vedanta Society ofSan Francisco, carried on for a number of years by SwamiAshokananda at Oakland, a°large city across the Bay, led
to the opening in 1939 of a permanent Vedanta Centre 'inthe adjacent University town of Berkeley, called "TheVedanta Society of Northern California, East Bay Centre."The new home of this Centre, located at the copier ofHaste and Bowditch Streets, was dedicated during theDurga Puja, in October, 1939. It is a beautiful structure,
built in the Spanish style and tastefully decorated, whereSwami Ashokananda, besides conducting Sunday eveningservices and study classes on Mondays, gives individualinstructions to a great many students.

The Vedanta Society, Portland (Oregon)

This centre was started in November, 1925. After a period of suspension since June, 1930, it was reorganised in 1932 by Swami Devatmananda, its present leader, under whom the Society has made remarkable progress. Besides having a home of its own called the Vedic Temple, a two-

storeyed building located in a very respectable district, at 1206 N. W. 25th Avenue, it got a new extension in 1936 called Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, which covers 120 acres of hilly land commanding gorgeous views, and is situated on Wilkinson Road, about 20 miles from the city. It is planned with the object of presenting to the seekers an opportunity to cultivate their spiritual life in a natural setting of quiet and solitude, away from the bustle and hurry of the city life.

In addition to Sunday services, weekly classes, special devotional services on the birthday anniversaries of all the World-Teachers and social gatherings, the Society also conducts a Women's League, a cultural and educational group consisting of women members and friends of the Society, which meets once a month. Lecture classes and forums in different parts of the city are also organised.

The Vedanta Centre, Seattle (Washington)

This experimental centre in the premier city of the north-west coast of the United States had its origin in the series of lectures given by Swami Vividishananda at the Mayflower Hotel in September, 1938. Since then, with the intermission of the vacation months (July-August), he has been lecturing at the same place every Sunday, and been holding two to three religious classes every week at his own residence, 153, Harvard Avenue, North, Apt. 200.

In November, 1938, the Swami delivered, on invitation, a series of lectures at Everett, 30 miles off, and gave weekly talks on Yoga for two months. In 1939 also he lectured there. He was also invited to address a few Clubs in Seattle. The Centre has appropriately observed the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and Lord" Buddha.

IN ARGENTINA (SOUTH AMERICA)

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Buenos Aires

This centre in the most progressive city of South America was established in 1933 by Swami Vijayananda, who had been sent there the year before from the Head-

quarters. He has been successfully preaching the universal message of Vedanta in this distant land, being a pioneer in this field.

The Ashrama is located at Ayacucho 2137. The Swami has got a good command over Spanish, 'the language of the country, and every week he holds several classes, all of which are'well attended. He has, delivered from time to time public lectures in English, to which his eloquence and forceful personality have attracted very large audiences. His occasional radio talks -in Spanish are being much appreciated.

The Ashrama has undertaken the translation of Swami Vivekananda's works in Spanish, and the publication of the addresses and class talks of Swami Vijayananda. Already a few books have been published.

IN ENGLAND

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Vedanta Society,London

The establishment of this centre by Swami Avyakta-nanda in October, 1934, fulfilled a cherished desire ofSwami Vivekananda. It is now located at 5, High OaksRoad, Welwyn Garden City, Herts.

The Swami has made extensive tours of England and the Continent and delivered a large number of lectures on invitation before different Societies and Associations interested in Indian thought, both in England and elsewhere. Weekly classes and lectures at the Society's Hall, summer classes in the country, drawing-room meetings, meditation classes and interviews are some of the ways in which he is trying to attract the English public, including the cultured section. He is being increasingly appreciated everywhere.

The Society successfully organised in August, 1939, a Summer School and a Convention of Religions at South-port, Lancashire.

IN FRANCE

Vedanta Work in Paris

The Vedanta work of the Ramakrishna Order is spreading slowly but surely »in Europe. The latest tangible

proof is the success of Swami Siddheswarananda, who was deputed to Paris in July, 1937, on the invitation of some sincere friends. He had to spend the first few months of his stay in France in studying the French language as well as the culture of the people. By 1938 he began to give interviews and conduct meditation classes. On invitation, the Swami also spoke weekly in English to a' group in Versailles. After the summer of 1938, the apartment in Paris so far used proved too small and inconvenient, and a hall had to be rented, where the season's work began with interviews and weekly lectures in English as also meditation classes, which attracted an ever-increasing group interested in the study of Indian religion and culture. Owing to this expansion of work, the Swami had to move in February, 1939, to a commodious house at Saint Mande, one of the suburbs of Paris, and the work was resumed in this new informally constituted Centre Vedantique Ramakrishna. The public lectures, however, continued to be delivered in the hall in the city itself. By this time the Swami was not only cqnducting chis classes and interviews, but very often delivering _t his public speeches also in French. At .present all his work is carried on in this language.

The war created a definite set-back, but the Swami was able to recover the popularity of.the Centre. Besides contacting a large number of people through the weekly lectures in the city and the meditation classes at St. Mande, by sending out copies of his lectures, he keeps active touch; with about two hundred of his students who left the city on the outbreak of the war. He is also co-operating in the Vedanta work started by Swami Yatiswarananda in Geneva and Lausanne (Switzerland). He spends about a month each year in the former town.

IN CENTRAL AND NORTHERN EUROPE

The Vedanta Work at St. Moritz, the Hague and Stockholm

At,the invitation of some Vedanta students of Wiesbaden, Germany, Swami Yatiswarananda was sent there by the Headquarters in November, 1933. Up to the

.summer of 1936 he held weekly classes for the different groups, gave personal instructions to many spiritual seekers, and established points of contact with many Indologists in the country.

In the winter of 1935 the Vedanta. work was extended to Switzerland, study groups being formed at St. Moritz (Engadin)" and later at Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne, where the Swarni gave, lectures and held classes for some time every year up to the end of 1938.

He visited the Hague, Holland, in November, 1937, and stayed there till the middle of July, 1938, with the exception of one month, during which he visited Paris and London. After giving a few lectures at the Hague, he began regular classes, which led to the formation of a good Study Circle there. The work was resumed in January, 1939, and continued till the end of June. Some earnest souls from other places' also came in close touch with him.

At th«j request ^of some friends, the Swami went to Stockholm, _tSweden, in* August, 1939, and gave regular talks to a select group at his own place. In September he delivered a series of public lectures on Vedanta at the local Theosophical Society of Adyar, and a number of talks on Vedanta and Yoga at the weekly meetings of ariother Theosophical lodge, Orion.

Through lectures and classes, interviews and correspondence, distribution of class-notes and circulation of periodicals and books, Swami Yatiswarananda has succeeded in coming in touch with a large number of spiritually-minded persons in different walks of life, including University professors, clergymen, psychologists and doctors, many of whom regard the teachings of, the Vedanta as a veritable blessing. At different places.nuclei of future Vedanta Societies have been formed with those who have found new hopes and strength in the message and are facing the present trying situation in Europe with remarkable courage and resignation.

OTHER ASHRAMAS

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Jalpaiguri

The Ramakrishna Ashrama at Jalpaiguri, which entered its twelfth year in 1940, is soon going to be handed over to the Mission. The present activities of the Ashrama consist of (i) an Outdoor Dispensary, which treated 22,282 and 28,741 cases in 1938 and 1939 respectively, (ii) a Primary School for the boys of the backward classes, which had a strength of 25 boys, (iii) a Free Library and Reading Room with 1,165 books, 8 periodicals and 2 daily papers, (iv) a Home for poor students, which accommodated 4 boys in 1939, and (v) a Domiciliary Maternity and Baby Clinic, which was started in July, 1938, and conducted 120 cases during« the period under review, besides educating through the magic lantern the womenfolk of the locality on maternity. The Clinic„ also took care of new-born babies for a pretty long period.

The Ashrama has also a temple for the spiritual uplift of the seekers after truth, and the Swamis often undertake preaching in neighbouring places, and arrange meetings arid public celebrations on special occasions.

The two following centres, though not yet formally

connected with the Mission, deserve encouragement.

The Vivekananda Silpi Sangha, Cossipur, Calcutta_!

This is an institution started by a Swami of the Ramakrishna Mission in 1929 as a step towards solving the unemployment problem of the middle classes in our country. It teaches young men to earn their livelihood by developing such cottage industries as can be conducted with small capital, e.g., weaving, dyeing, bleaching, soap-making, clay-modelling, cane-work, toy-making, leather embossing and painting, and fret-work. A techno-industrial school, which is conducted under its auspices and is managed by one of its students, is doing very useful

work at Jharia, and so is the branch centre at Chota Ambona, near Dhanbad.

The Sangha at Cossipore feiA, Barrackpur Trunk Road) and its branches have trained many students up till now. With the help of some of them, temporary extension -centres were started at various places in Assam, Bengal and Bihar, and more than a thousand persons learnt one or more crafts through them.

The Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Kaladi (Travancore)

This Ashrama at the birthplace of Sri Sankaracharya, started in 1936, has made steady progress during the period under review. Summer classes on various books relating to, Vedanta, attended by students from all parts of Kerala, were held, and the Swami in charge delivered more than 200 lectures at different places within and outside the S^tate, which were very well attended. He also published many books- on Vedanta in Malayalam and conducted ''regular religious classes in several places. The Ashrama Library contains over 1200 books.

The number of students in the Sanskrit School run by the Ashrama rose to 212 at the end of 1939, and Another building was added to it. There is also an arrangement for teaching Ayurveda, Thirty-six students were accommodated in the Ashrama itself, which also celebrated

the birthdays' of the Founders of many religions.

CONCLUSION

Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda Birthday Celebrations

As it is impossible to give detailed descriptions of the celebrations observed by the Maths and Ashramas all over India and abroad, we give here only a brief general account of the same. On these occasions, special worship, Homa (making offerings in the consecrated fire), chanting of sacred texts, Bhajana and Sankirtana (devotional music, often in chorus), distribution of Prasada (sacramental

food) to the devotees, feeding- of the Daridra Narayanas ("the Lord in the poor") in large numbers, and lectures on the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda by eminent speakers form the general programme according to the circumstances.

These occasions also afford great opportunities to the different centres to invite the senior Swamis of the Order as preachers, and thus the message of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda is steadily propagated all over the country. They bring many young and ardent souls into a closer touch with the principles and ideals of the Mission. , Some of them have already dedicated their lives to the cause by joining the monastic Order, while others have become friends and supporters of the Mission.

Funds Kept Open for Public Contribution

Apart from the monastic life and discipline of the Maths and Ashramas, the Ramakrishna Mission affords opportunities for the wider public, to _tco-operate with the members of the Ramakrishna Order in carrying out various items of work chalked out by Swami Vivekananda for serving our countrymen in different ways. Generally speaking, such co-operation may consist in an active participation in the work of the Mission as its members or associates, or in pecuniary contribution to its different funds, or in both. Persons who sympathise with the objects of the Mission, but are unable actively to participate ill its activities, are always welcome to co-operate with it by sending contributions, however small, to one or more of the following funds, which need their support:

(i) Funds for the support of the permanent Philanthropic and Educational Institutions.

(it) The Provident Relief Fund, for keeping the resources ready to some extent against the sudden scourges of Nature such as pestilence, famine, flood, fire and earthquake.

(Hi) The Poor Fund, for alleviating individual distress of various, kinds that claims urgent help from the .Mission at its Headquarters.

(iv) The Mass Education Fund.

(v). The General Fund, for defraying the general expenses of the Mission, such as are incurred for the inspection of centres, the holding of meetings of the Mission, missionary work, postage, printing and stationery.

(vf) The Workers' Fund, for providing sick workers with special diet or medicines.

Contributions may kindly be sent to the. Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, P. O. Belur Math, Dt. Howrah, with a clear specification of the particular institution or work for which they are meant, or they may be sent direct to the institutions concerned. Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Ramakrishna Mission, and should be crossed to ensure safety.

Thanks of the Mission and its Appeal

We take this opportunity to express our deep sense of gratitude to all the kind donors) subscribers, friends and sympathisers who by their ready assistance, financial or other, have placed the different centres of the Mission on a working order/ as well as to those who, in response to our appeals for funds during various providential mishaps such as earthquake, flood, famine and fire, have helped us to carry on successfully these occasional relief operations. Our thanks are also due to the proprietors and editors of the English and vernacular periodicals in India for the kindness they have shown in publishing our appeals and reports, as also to the local gentry, official or non-official, in the various areas, whose co-operation has materially helped the Mission in conducting the relief activities in those parts. We also express our gratefulness to the local physicians of the different centres who cheerfully lent us their services whenever they were approached.

We hope the generous public all over India"and abroad will continue to give the Mission the same kind co-operation and help that they have given it so unstintedly in the past, so that we may realise the Truth by carrying out the ideal of Work and Worship, the gospel of the new era wherein lies the hope of the future. All well-wishers of India can find here a golden opportunity to do their bit towards the amelioration of the condition of their suffering brethren, and be sharers in the uplift, of humanity.

APPENDIX G

EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION , OF THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

registered in may, igog, under act XXI of 1860 of the governor-general of india in council.

i. The name of the Association is the ramkrishna mission. It may also be spelt as ramakrishna mission.

The objects of the Association are:

To impart and promote the study of the Vedanta
and its principles as propounded by Sri Ramakrishna andpractically illustrated by his own life, and of Comparative'Theology in its widest form. ' ,
To impart and promote the study of the arts,sciences and industries.
To train teachers in all branches .of knowledgeabove-mentioned and enable them to reach the masses.
To carry on educational work among the masses.
To establish, maintain, carry on and assist'schools,colleges, orphanages, workshops, laboratories, hospitals,dispensaries, houses for the infirm, the invalid' and theafflicted, 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 orleaflets that the Association may think desirable for thepromotion of its objects. _t

(g) To carry on any other work which mayseem 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.

APPENDIX H

EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

Objects

1. The Association is established for the purposes
expressed in the Memorandum of Association.

Members and Associates

2. (a) All followers, whether lay or monastic, of theParamahamsa Ramakrishna may be members of theAssociation if elected at a meeting of the Association or_inominated by the Governing Body hereinafter mentioned.

(b) A person intending to be a member shall sign the declaration form annexed herewith and submit to the Secretary an application, in a fcrm prescribed by. the Association, and he shall be proposed by a member of the Association and seconded and supported .by at least two members of the Governing Body.

Members' Declaration Form

I wish to be a member of the Ramakrishna Mission Belur, Howrah. I look upon Sri Ramakrishna as an Illustration and Embodiment of the Religion Eternal, whose life and teachings help one to understand the plan and purpose of all the religions of the world and their underlying truth and harmony.

I look,upon all religions as paths to God, and shall try to live' in peace and fellowship with the followers of all religions.

I have full sympathy with all the objects of the Ramakrishna Mission as set forth in the Memorandum of Association, and I will actively co-operate with the work ofthe Mission'.

1 shall pay the admission fee and
and shall abide by the rules, regulations and bye-laws ofthe Association.

All persons irrespective of colour, creed or caste,sympathising with all or any of the objects of the Association may be associates, if elected at a meeting of theAssociation or nominated by the Governing Body.
Monastic members shall not be required to payany admission fee or any subscription."

-» • i •

Every lay member and every associate, unlessexempted therefrom in writing by the Governing Body,shall pay an admission fee of Rs. 5 and an annual subscription of Rs. 5 payable by two half-yearly instalmentsin advance. The Governing Body may exempt anymember or associate from payment of all or any fees orsubscriptions.
The annual subscription shall be commuted by apayment of Rs. 100.
(a) Connection , of members and associates withthe Association shall cease by resignation, death, removal
or non-payment of dues for two years but shall be capableof renewal in such „ manner as the Governing Body mayfrom time 1,0 time decide.

(6) The Governing Body on a requisition signed by forty lay members of the Association may remove a lay member from the rolls of the Association, provided the connection of such member be deemed by the Governing Body after enquiry as detrimental to the interests of the Association.

(c) If in- the opinion of the Governing Body the conduct and behaviour of any member have been such as tobe detrimental to the objects and work of the Association,the Governing Body may after notice to such member andhearing his explanation, if any, suspend him for a periodnot exceeding six months.

(d) It shall be competent for the Association toremove any lay member from the rolls of the Associationby a majority consisting of at least three-fifths of the votescast at a meeting of the Association.

(e) The Governing Body shall be competent to removeany monastic member from the rolls of the Association bya majority of votes cast at a meeting of the Governing

Body specially convened for that purpose, provided that no one shall be removed except when not less than five votes' are cast in favour of his removal.

8. Members shall be entitled to:

(a) Vote at aj.1 meeetings of the Association, use the Library attached to the Math at Belur in the district of Howrah and reside at the Math temporarily subject to rules and regulations prescribed by the Math authorities.

(6) Attend all classes formed by the Association for the instruction of its members and receive • individual instructions whenever practicable.

(c). Receive all publications of the Association at a special discount 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 membersexcept the right to vote at meetings.

APPENDIX I

TEMPORARY RELIEF WORK UNDERTAKEN IN THE PAST

1. Famine Relief Work :

In Murshidabad in 1896; in Dinajpur, Sonthal Parganas and 24-Parganas in 1897; at Kishengarh (Rajputana) in 1899-1900; at Khandwa (C. P.) in 1900; in Tippera, Sylhet, Noakhali and 24-Parganas in 1906-07; in Puri and Murshidabad in 1908; in Bankura, Balasore, Noakhali, Tippera, Cachar, Midnapur, Mymensingh, Faridpur and Dacca in 1915-16; in Manbhum, Sonthal Parganas, J'uri, Tippera and Bankura in 1919; in Puri in 1920; in Khulna in 1921; in Sonthal Parganas and Midnapur in 1926; in Bankura and Dinajpur in 1928; in Rangpur aiid Nadia in 1931; in Mymensing and Pabna in 1932; in Sylhet, °Barfkura and Burdwan in 1935; in Khulna, Midnapur, Bankura, Birbhum and Sonthal Parganas in 1936; in Kathiawar in 1939.

2. Flood Relief Work:

In Bhagalpur in 1899; in 24-Parganas in 1900; in Midnapur and Hooghly in 1909; in Bankura, Hooghly., Howrah and, Midnapur in 1913-14; in Cachar, Noakhali and Tippera in 1915; in Benares, Ballia, Burdwan and Faridpur in 1916; in Burdwan and Cachar in 1916; in Rajshahi in 1918; in Muttra in 1918-19; in Midnapur, Cuttack and Puri in 1920; in Amherst (Burma) in 1920-21; in Rajshahi, Midnapur, Faridpur, Hooghly and Bankura in 1922; in Patn.a and Arrah in 1923; in Dehra^Dun, Saharanpur, Muttra and Bhagalpur in 1924; in Tanjore, Trichinopoly, Coimbatore, Salem, British Malabar, Cochin and Trayancore in 1924; in Akyab (Burma) and Midnapur in 1926; in Kaira and Balasore in 1927; in Cachar, ,Sylhet and Nowgong in 1929; in. Midnapur in 1929; in Pabna, Mymensing and Dacca in 1931; in Cuttack, Puri and Midnapur in 1933; in Sylhet and

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Nowgong in 1934; in Hooghly, Burdwan and Bankura in 1935; in Arakan (Burma), Malda and Cawnpore in 1936; in Puri and Cuttack in 1937; in Dacca, Malda, Faridpur and Murshidabad in 1938; in Midnapur, Birbhum, Sind and Kathiawar in^c 1939.

3. Sanitary Relief Work:

Plague: In Calcutta during the epidemic of1899-1900; at Bhagalpur in 1904-5 and 1912; at Lahoreand Rohtak in 1924.
During the. Ganga-Sagar Mela in Saugor Island in1912, 1914—1925.
During the Kumbha Mela at Allahabad in 1930
and 1936; at Hardwar in 1938..
Influenza: In Benares, Balasore, Puri andNoakhali in 1918-19.
Small-pox: In Midnapur in 1936; in Bankura in1937.

(/) Cholera: In Tehri in 1913; in Howrah in 1917; in Jalpaiguri in 1924; in Purnea and Hooghly in 1925; in Malda and Purnea in 1926; in Burdwan in 1929; in Purnea in 1930; in Midnapur in 1935; in Almora in 1938.

4. Cyclone and Tornado Relief Work:

In Dacca, Barisal, Faridpur. and Khulna in 1919; in Ganjam in 1923-24; in Faridpur in 1926; in Nellore in 1927; in Mymensing in 1932; in Tanjore'in 1934; in 24-Parganas in 1935; in 'Guntur in 1936; in Puri and Ganjam in 1938; in Dacca in 1939.

5. Fire Relief Work:

Iii Puri in 1915, 1916, 1920, 1923, 1926, 1927, 1932 and 1933; in Murshidabad and Muttra in 1927; in Midnapur in 1919; in Jessore in 1922 and 1933; in Manbhum in 1923, 1925, 1930 and 1933; in 24-Parganas in 1923, 1927, 1928 and 1930; in Burdwan, Birbhum and Kamrup in-1924; in Howrah in'1930; in Bankura in 1932 and. 1933; in Murshidabad in 1933; in Birbhum in 1933; in Bankura, Birbhum and Manbhum in 1935; in Puri in

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1937 In Birbhum and Manbhum in 1938; in Midnapur, Murshidabad, Puri, Birbhura and Burdwan in 1939.

6. Earthquake and Landslip Relief Work:

At Darjeeling in 1899.

At Dharamsala (Punjab) in 1905; at Pegu (Burma) in 1930; in North Bihar in 1934.

7. Riot ^Relief Work:

In Dacca, Mymensingh and Sukkur in 1930. Coolie Relief Work:

At Chandpur (Tippera) in 1921.

9. Water Scarcity Relief Work:

In Faridpur in 1920-21.

10. Cloth Relief Work:

In many districts of Bengal in 1919. Besides these, temporary relief work of various kinds was organised by the branch centres of the Mission from time to time.

appendix j

list of centres according to territorial divisions (1940)

Bengal: Calcutta (4 centres), Gauripur, Barnagore, Taki, Salkia, Belur (2 centres), Sarisha, Asansol, Midnapur, Tamluk, Chandipur, Garbeta, Contai, Bankura, Jay-rambati, Koalpara, Sargachhi, Bagerhat, Barisal, Malda, Dinajpur, Dacca, Narayanganj, Sonargaon; Baliati, Faridpur, Jahndi.and Mymensing.

Assam: Shillong, Silchar, Sylhet and Habiganj.

Bihar: Patna, Katihar, Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Deoghar and Jamtara.

Orissa: Puri and Bhubaneswar.

U.P.: Allahabad, Benares (2 centres), Lucknow, Cawn-pore, Brindaban, Almora, Mayavati, Shyarhala Tal,Kankhal and Kishenpur. '

Sind: Karachi. .

Delhi: .Delhi. '

Punjab: _c Lahore.

Boyibay Presidency: Bombay and Rajkot.

C.P.: Nagpur. . .

Madras Presidency: Madras (3 centres), Conjeeveram, Nattarampalli, Perianaikenpalayam, Ootacamund, Vizagapatam, Salem, Ottapalam, Quilandy and Calicut.

Travancore: Trivandrum, Tiruvella, Haripad, Alleppey, Muttam, Adoor, Kayangulam, Palai, Moovattupuzha and Neyyur.

Mysore: Bangalore (2 centres) and Mysore.Co&rg: Ponnampet.

Cochin: Trichur, Pudukad and Ernakulam.

CENTRES OUTSIDE INDIA

british empire:

Ceylon: Colombo, Batticaloa, Trincomalie, Jaffna andBadulla.

Burma: Rangoon (2 centres).

Fiji: Nadi.

Mauritius: Port Louis.

Straits Settlements: Singapore.

europe:

England: London.

Central and Northern Europe: St. Moritz, the Hague and Stockholm.

France: Paris.

united states of america:

New York". New York (2 centEes).

Massachusetts: Boston and"Cohasset.

Rhode Island: Providence.

Illinois: Chicago.

Colorado: Denver.

California: San Francisco, Berkeley, San Antone Valley, Hollywood and La Crescenta.

Oregon: Portland.

Washington: Seattle.

Missouri: St. Louis.

south america:

Argentine Republic: Buenos Aires.

A Warning

It has come to our notice that persons other than accredited representatives of the Mission often approach the, sympathetic public and raise funds by taking advantage of their charitable disposition towards the Mission activities. Yery often the contributors are deceived in this way, as the money thus collected never reaches the Mission. The generous public is therefore particularly warned that no contribution should be made to'any person who approaches them in ^! the name of the 'Ramakrishna Mission without possessing a Letter of Authority duly signed by the President or,Secretary and bearing the embossed seal of the Ramakrishna Mission. The Mission authorities will be highly obliged if any case causing the slightest suspicion regarding the bona fide character of the collector of subscriptions or donations be immediately reported to them. In doubtful cases contributions may be withheld, or sent directly to the Secretary ot the^: Ramakrishna Mission, for distribution to • the particular centre of which the collector of such funds claims to be the representative.

Ramakrishna Mission Reports

Saturday, 1 October 2011

Tenth General Report - 1939

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