Ramakrishna Mission Reports: General Report

THE GENERAL REPORT

OF THE

Ramakrishna Math & Mission

For April 1968—March 1969

The national ideals of India are Renunciation and Service. Inten
sify her in those channels, and the rest will take care of itself._: . . —Swami Vivekananda

INTRODUCTION History

Shortly after the passing away of Sri Ramakrishna, the Prophet of the harmony of all religions, in August, 1886, a monastic Order bearing his name was organised at the Math, Baranagore, two miles north of Calcutta, by his Sannyasin disciples headed by Swami Vivekananda. It gradually set up a twofold ideal before it : To create a band of Sannyasin teachers of Vedanta, and in conjunction with the lay disciples to carry on missionary and philanthropic work, looking upon all, irrespective of caste, creed or colour, as veritable manifestations of the Divine. For some time the latter work was carried on through an Association called the Ramakrishna Mission Association, started by Swami Vivekananda in May, 1897, shortly after his return from the West. In 1899 he transferred the Math or monastery to its present home at Belur, across the Hooghly, about four miles north of Calcutta, where it set itself to train a band of monks for self-realisation and for acquiring a capacity to serve the world in all possible ways. Soon after this the Math authorities took upon themselves the work of the Mission Association.

For the efficiency of its work and for giving it a legal status, a Society under the name of the Ramakrishna Mission

was registered in 1909 under Act XXI of 1860 (see Appendices A and B). Its management was vested in a Governing Body. Both the Belur Math and the Ramakrishna Mission gradually extended their spheres of activity, till they had a number of branches in different parts of the country and abroad.

The Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission

Though the Ramakrishna Mission and the Ramakrishna Math, with their respective branches, are distinct legal entities, they are closely related, inasmuch as the Governing Body of the Mission is made up of the Trustees of the Math ; the principal workers of the Mission are mostly members of the Ramakrishna Math ; and both have their Headquarters at the Belur Math. This distinction should be borne in mind though the name 'Ramakrishna Mission' is loosely associated by people with Math activities also. It is necessary moreover to point out that the appropriation of the name of Sri Ramakrishna or Swami Vivekananda by any institution does not necessarily imply that it is controlled by the central organisation at Belur,

The Math and the Mission own separate funds and keep separate audited accounts of them. The Math fund consists of subscriptions and donations from friends and devotees and is sometimes supplemented by the sale proceeds of publications, while fees from students, etc. as well as subscriptions and donations from the general public constitute the Mission fund, grants from the Government and public bodies often being common to both. Both the Math and the Mission funds are annually audited by qualified auditors.

Summary of Activities

The year 1968-69 was a period of stress and strain like the previous one. Although beset with financial and administrative problems arising out of economic and political instabilities in certain States of India, greater emphasis was paid during the period to relief and rehabilitation work as well as activities in rural and tribal areas. Thus a youth training centre, meant mostly for Adivasis, was started at the Ranchi Ashrama and nine major relief operations were conducted in different parts

of India. Besides, two new centres, one in Gauhati and the other in Raipur, were affiliated to the Mission during the year.

The new constructions during 1968-69 comprised the Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Block at the Kankhal Sev-ashrama, a shrine and a prayer hall at the Salem centre, a guest house at the Ranchi T.B. Sanatorium, an operation theatre block at the Varanasi Home of Service, a Botany block of the Vivekananda College in Madras, a science block of the Thyagarayanagar North Branch School in Madras, library building, monks' quarters and extension of a dining hall at the Deoghar Vidyapith and a new recreation-cum-dining hall at the Mission centre in Puri.

Under the Math section, the Ramakrishna Math, Madras, had a new extension of its dispensary building and the Kalady Ashrama had a new kitchen and dining hall for its Students' Home.

As in the previous year, our connection with the East Pakistan centres was very tenuous. The five monastic workers of Pakistan nationality and local friends and devotees somehow continued the usual activities, though on a reduced scale.

Ramakrishna Mission Society, Rangoon, our only surviving centre in Burma, was managed as before by some local friends, constituted into a Managing Committee by the Headquarters.

Centres

Excluding the Headquarters at Belur, there were in March, 1969, 114 branch centres in all, of which 52 were Mission centres, 21 combined Math and Mission centres, and 41 Math centres. These were regionally distributed as follows : 2 Mission centres, 5 combined Math and Mission centres and 3 Math centres in East Pakistan ; 1 Mission centre each in Burma, France, Ceylon, Singapore, Fiji and Mauritius ; 1 Math centre each in Switzerland, England and Argentina ; 10 Math centres in the United States of America ; and the remaining 44 Mission centres, 16 combined Math and Mission centres and 25 Math centres (85 in all) in India. The Indian centres were distributed as follows : 29 in West Bengal, 11 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Tamil Nadu, 7 in Bihar, 5 each in Kerala and Assam, 4 in Mysore,

3 in Orissa, 2 each in Maharashtra and Andhra, and one each in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, NEFA, Madhya Pradesh and Chandigarh. Moreover, attached to the branch centres there were over 23 sub-centres, where monastic workers resided more or less permanently.

Types of Work

Medical (Service : Most of the Math and the Mission centres in India and Pakistan conducted various activities ministering to the physical needs of the public in general, irrespective of creed, colour or nationality. Typical of these are the indoor hospitals in Calcutta_; Varanasi, Vrindaban, Kankhal,; Trivandrum and Ranchi. In 1968-69 there were altogether 10 full-fledged Indoor Hospitals with 1,227 beds, which accommodated 29,638 patients and 68 Outdoor Dispensaries, which treated 32,25,493 cases, including old ones. Besides, the centres at Salem, Bombay, Kanpur, New Delhi, etc. had provision for emergency or observation indoor wards attached to their dispensaries. The Veterinary section of the Shyamala Tal Ashrama treated 683 cases. The Sanatorium at Ranchi treated T.B. cases alone and a large section of the Seva Pratishthan of Calcutta was devoted to maternity and child welfare work.

Educational Work : The twin organisations ran during the period 4 Degree Colleges at Madras, Rahara (24 Parganas), Belur (Howrah), and Narendrapur (24 Parganas)—the last two residential—with 3,445 students on their rolls. A Pre-university College at Perianaickenpalayam (Coimbatore) with 381 students. 2 B.T. Colleges at Belur and Perianaickenpalayam with 266 students, 2 Basic Training Schools at Perianaickenpalayam and Madras with 233 students, one Post-Graduate Basic Training College at Rahara with 98 students, 4 Junior Basic Training Colleges at Rahara, Sarisha and Sargachhi with 342 students, a College for Physical Education, another for Rural Higher Education, and a School of Agriculture with 105, 243 and 137 students respectively at Perianaickenpalyam, one Agricultural Training Centre at Narandrapur with 92 trainees, 4 Engineering Schools at Belur, Belgharia, Madras and .perianaicken-palayam with 1,362 students, 14 Junior Technical or Industrial

Schools with 856 boys and 488 girls, 90 Students' Homes or Hostels, including some Orphanages, with 8,414 boys and 592 girls, 3 Chatushpathis with 35 students, 14 Multi-purpose Higher Secondary Schools with 5,728 boys and 448 girls, 8 Higher Secondary Schools with 3,600 boys and 1,788 girls, 16 High and Secondary Schools with 7,430 boys and 4,318 girls, 36 Senior Basic and M.E. Schools with 4,865 boys and 4,824 girls, 46 Junior Basic, U.P., and Elementary Schools with 7,235 boys and 2,136 girls and 131 L.P. and other grades of Schools with 6,032 boys and 3,565 girls. The Seva Pratishthan, Calcutta, and the Math Hospital at Trivandrum trained nurses and mid-wives, the number of trainees being 221. Thus there were altogether 50,757 boys and 18,522 girls in the educational institutions run by the Math and the Mission in India, Pakistan, Singapore, Fiji and Mauritius. Besides these, the Institute of Culture in Calcutta conducted a Day Hostel for 800 students, a School of Humanistic and Cultural Studies and a School of Languages for teaching different Indian and foreign languages with 42 and 1,296 students respectively. The Ashrama at Narendrapur conducted a Blind Boys' Academy with 95 blind students, and the centres in Raipur and Ranchi (Morabadi) ran a 'Panchyati Raj Training Centre' and a Social service training centre ('Divyayan') respectively.

Recreational activities : Some of the Math and the Mission centres have been providing scope for recreational, cultural, and spiritual activities to young boys at stated periods outside their school hours. The 'Balaka-sangha' of the Bangalore Ashrama has a fine building of its own. At the Mysore Ashrama also a considerable number of boys lake advantage of the various kinds of facility provided for them, and the 'Vivekananda Yuva Samiti' of the Belgharia Ashrama is engaged in similar activities.

Work for Women : The organisation has ever been conscious of its duties to the women of India. Typical of the work done for them are the Maternity Sections of the Seva Pratisthan, Calcutta, and the Hospital at Trivandrum, the Domiciliary and Maternity Clinics at Jalpaiguri and Khetri, the women's sections of the hospitals at Varanasi and Vrindaban, the attached Invalid Women's Home at Varanasi, the Sarada Vidyalaya at

Madras, the Girls' High Schools at Jamshedpur, the Sarada Mandir at Sarisha (24 Parganas) and two training schools for nurses in Trivandrum and Calcutta. Besides, there are special arrangements for women in other hospitals, dispensaries and schools, and some institutions are conducted especially for them. The Madras Math also conducts a High School and a Primary School for girls.

Rural Uplift and Work among-the Labouring and Backward Classes : The Math and the Mission have all along tried their best to serve those unfortunate countrymen who have fallen back culturally or otherwise. In addition to the more prominent village Ashramas like those at Cherrapunji, Sarisha, Ramharipur, Manasadwip, Jayrambati, Kamarpukur, Sargachhi, Along (N.E.F.A.), Perianaickenpalayam, Kalady and Trichur, quite a number of rural sub-centres—both permanent and semipermanent—are run under the branch centres at Belur, Sarisha, Tiruvalla, Kankurgachhi (Calcutta), Malda, Narendrapur and Cherrapunji. Of these special mention may be made of the numerous village sub-centres started for educating the hill tribes in Assam and a youth training centre in Ranchi meant for' local Adivasis. Our educational and cultural activities in the NEFA region are also proving very useful and popular. During the period under reiew, in the rural and backward areas the organisation ran 7 Multipurpose Higher Secondary Schools, 2 High Schools, 39 Senior Basic, M.E. & U.P. Schools, 37 Primary Schools, 61 Night Schools for adults, 8 Vocational Training Centres—with a total of 11,040 students. The organisation also conducted 13 Outdoor Dispensaries and 2 Mobile Dispensaries (serving more than 30 villages) with a total of 1,67,765 patients treated during 1968-69 besides running 139 Milk-distribution Centres all located in the rural and backward areas. In addition to such numerous activities, preaching and educative tours with magic lanterns, movie-films and such other means are also undertaken frequently. For the labouring classes in industrial areas the Mission conducted a number of night schools, etc.

Mass Contact : From the foregoing account it will be evident that the organisation's activity is not concentrated in urban areas alone ; it is spread over other fields as well. It will be wrong, again, to suppose that the organisation has no real

contact with the masses. As a matter of fact, the message of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda is spreading steadily in all parts of India, which fact is evident from the participation of innumerable people during the annual celebrations. The temples and Ashramas also draw thousands of people throughout the year. Besides these there are a number of medical institutions where millions get free medicines, and thousands are treated in the indoor departments. In the educational institutions also, a considerable number of poor students get free education, board or lodging. The organisation is also running a good number of free libraries in the rural areas. The publication centres, sometimes sell booklets at nominal prices to suit the pockets of the masses.

Relief and Rehabilitation Work : The Mission was engaged in continuous and extensive relief and rehabilitation activities throughout the year serving nearly one lakh distressed families affected by various calamities in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam. In all Rs. 27,98,117.64 p. was spent including the value of gifts. Throughout 1968-69 nine major and two minor relief operations were conducted as recorded below.

(z) Orissa Cyclone Relief started in 1967, continued till the middle of May, 1968. Rs. 16,165.65 p. was spent during 1968-69 apart from 4,425 kg. of milk powder distributed (appx. value Rs. 22,125/-).

(ii) Orissa Drought Relief was conducted in the district of Dhenkanol during the period from 23rd May, '68 to 13th September, '68 at a total cash expenditure of Rs. 1,00,453.47 p. 2,703 families of 186 villages were benefited.

(iii) Hooghly Flood Relief Work started in the Arambagh sub-division of Hooghly district on 18th July, '68, was continued upto 2nd September, '68. 2,000 quintals of rice worth Rs. 2,55,400/- was distributed amongst 9,298 families apart from cash expenditure of Rs. 5,773.76p.

(iv) Midnapore Flood Relief was conducted in the four thanas—Sabang, Bhagawanpur, Nandigram and Mayna—during the period from 14.8.68 to 31.12.68. Rs. 45,551.95p. in cash was spent apart from food-grains and other commodities worth

Rs. 14,09,179.67p. distributed amongst 14,191 families in 177 villages.

(v) Cloth Relief was conducted in the districts of Bankura and Midnapore from May, '68 to September, '68. New cloths and garments worth Rs.l 2,500/- were distributed.

(vi) Relief in the form of repair of school buildings was conducted in the district of Midnapore during 13th May, '68 to 30th January, '69 at an expenditure of Rs. 11,510.20 p. In .all 7 school buildings were repaired.

(vii) Assam Scarcity if Flood Relief, conducted from May, '68 to September, '68 in Barama and Hailakandi towns of Kamrup and Cachar districts respectively, involved a total expenditure of Rs. 23,348.20p,

(viii) North Bengal Flood Relief, which was started on 13th October, '68, in the Jalpaiguri district, continued in the next year. During the year under report Rs. 1,41,903.25p. in cash was spent apart from the distribution of food-grains, text books, agricultural implements, etc. worth Rs. 2,71,240.60p.

(ix) Maharashtra Earthquake Relief at Koyna, in the district of Satara, was conducted from 13th January, '68 to 12th July, '68. In all 41,482 families were benefited by this relief. Food-grains, blankets, clothings and many other articles of necessity including drugs were distributed.

(x) Gujarat Flood Relief : The Mission started relief and rehabilitation work in Surat district in August, '68. A scheme of Rs. 20,00,000/- was taken on hand for the construction of 1,460 pre-fabricated cement concrete hutments to accommodate 1,460 families. 75 such houses were completed during 1968-69 while 80 houses were nearing completion.

(xi) Besides the above, a minor flood relief work was conducted in the low-lying areas of Beliaghata and Topsia localities of Calcutta from 14th to 21st July, '68, when cooked food was served to 2,201 persons daily.

In all the above relief operations the Mission distributed amongst other things food-grains 28,605 quintals, biscuits 1,745 kg., milk powder 205 quintals, cloths and garments (new) 30,318

pcs., blankets 8,833 pcs., aluminium utensils 11,514 pcs., agricultural implements (spades) 2,000 nos., 1,419 pieces of C.I. Sheets for roofing purpose, school text books 6,133, students' note books 13,890, lanterns 230 and multivitamin tablets 2,25,090.

Spiritual and Cultural Work : Both the Math and the Mission centres laid emphasis on the dissemination of the spiritual and cultural ideals of India, 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 faiths through public celebrations, meetings, classes, publications, etc. They also conducted Libraries and Reading Rooms. A number of Sanskrit Chatushpathis too were run. At least ten centres published books on religious subjects and ten magazines in different languages. The Math centres at Mayavati, Baghbazar (Calcutta), Madras, Nagpur, Mysore, Rajkot, Bhubaneswar and Trichur 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 has been trying to bring together eminent men and women of India and other lands in cultural fellowship.

Annual Celebrations : Most of the Math and the Mission centres ceremonially observe the days sanctified by the advent of great saints and prophets. The general features of the celebrations of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda are : Special worship, Homa (making offerings in fhe sarrpri fir-_e\ chnr^.irr; ~£ c-criptural tc:-;U, I>!iajuii and Sankirtan (devotional music, often in chorus), distribution of Prasad (sacramental food) to the devotees, feeding of the poor in large numbers, and lectures on the lives and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda by eminent speakers, including Swamis of the Order. Thus the message of Sri Ramakrishna and his associates is steadily spread-ing^ and many young and ardent souls are coming into closer touch with the ideals of the Math and the Mission. In cooperation with the local public some centres celebrate the more popular Hindu festivals, accounts for these being maintained separately.

The Plan of the Report

The activities of the Math and the Mission have been described in this Report in five Sections. Section I deals with the Math and Mission Headquarters, Section II with Mission centres only, classified into (A) Institutions mainly medical, (B) Institutions mainly cultural and educational, and (C) Institutions of general services, Section III with combined Math and Mission centres, Section IV with Math centres in India, and Section V with centres outside India. We shall take them up in order. The descriptions given here are very short, since most of the centres publish Reports of their own^ to which reference may be made for details.

SECTION I THE MATH & MISSION HEADQUARTERS

The Ramakrishna Math, Belur (Howrah)

It was the aim of Swami Vivekananda to found an institution where thousands of young men would be provided with the means of attaining their own liberation and of preparing themselves for the service of humanity. The chief Math centre started for this purpose has long been situated at Belur (Phone ; 66-3619), on the western bank of the Ganga, four miles from Howrah Station.

Associated with the holy lives of Swami Vivekananda and his worthy brother-disciples, the Ramakrishna Math, Belur, or the Belur Math, as it is called in short, with its spacious grounds and serene atmosphere, is a place of pilgrimage for many sincere seekers of Truth. The course of training in the Math went on without a break, and a number of young men were initiated into Brahmacharya and Sannyasa. In the attached Training Centre for Brahrnacharins there were regular classes on philosophy and religion under qualified teachers. With the increase of the number of trainees the need of more accommodation is being keenly felt. The Sannyasins of the Math conducted regular religious classes for the public at and around the headquarters, and undertook many successful lecturing tours. The Math has a decent Library containing 13,576 books.

An attractive feature of the Math is the magnificent stone temple of Sri Ramakrishna with its spacious Natmandir (prayer

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most remarkable temple of its kind in eastern India.

The need of further increasing the accommodation in the Guest House for devotees and admirers who want to pass a few days with their families near the precincts of the Math is being keenly felt. So far the ground floor only has been constructed. The estimated cost of the rest of the building is Rs. 1,00,000/-, which, it is hoped, will be forthcoming.

The Ramakrishna Mission Headquarters

The Headquarters of the Mission as also of the Math (P.O. Belur Math, Dt. Howrah, West Bengal; Phone : 66-2391 ;

Telegraphic address : Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, Howrah)_; located at the Belur Math, regulates the activities of all the different Math and Mission branches. Besides this work of supervision, it conducted the following :

1. the ramakrishna mission charitable dispensary, belur

This Outdoor Dispensary with free Allopathy and Homoeopathy departments was founded in 1913, and had its own building in 1938. Besides medical relief, it supplied occasionally diet, clothes and blankets to the needy. In 1968-69 it treated 1,05,215 cases. The vast increase in the number of patients in recent years proves the popularity of the institution and underlines the urgent need for equipment as well as contributions for meeting its recurring expenses, for which, help from the kind-hearted public will, we hope, come in adequate measure.

2. help to the poor

The Mission Headquarters helped 144 families and 164 students regularly, and one school, 140 families and 10 students temporarily, with a total outlay of Rs. 33,303.71p. 9 blankets and 116 Dhotis and Sarees were also distributed amongst the poor.

SECTION II

MISSION CENTRES

A. INSTITUTIONS MAINLY MEDICAL

The Raniakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan Calcutta

This institution, formerly known as Shishumangal Pratishthan (99 Sarat Bose Road, Calcutta 26; Phones : 47-3636 (5 lines); Telegraphic address : SISUMANGAL), was started on a modest scale in 1932 for maternity and child welfare. In 1956-57, it was converted into a General Hospital. During 1968-69, the hospital with its medical, surgical, paediatric, oncology, radiotherapy, radiology, urology, gynaecology, obstetric, eye, E.N.T., orthopedic, dental, skin and family planning departments had 425 beds of which 160 were free. It also had a highly competent staff, well-equipped laboratories, a blood-bank, six modern air-conditioned Operation Theatres, five X-ray units and an all-electric laundry plant.

Housed in its own multi-storeyed buildings on 1.6 acres of land, the Hospital has a Nurses' Hostel and three other staff quarters accommodating nearly 400 inmates. The Pratishthan has a Training School for both Auxiliary and Senior Nurse-Midwives (roll strength : 191). In 1968 69, 32 Auxiliary Nurse-Midwives and 17 General Nurse-Midwives passed their final examinations, and were readily absorbed in different institutions. The Seva Pratishthan is also recognised by the Calcutta University for post-graduate teaching and research for the M.O., M.D. and M.S. Degrees.

Its activities in 1968-69 were : Indoor Department—Admissions 13,492; confinements 6,786; major operations 2,071. Outdoor Department : Total cases 1,14,014 ; new cases 43,363. All the outdoor cases and more than 50% of the indoor ones were free.

During the period under review the sixth storey of the Nurses' Hostel was completed and an air-conditioned mortuary was built.

The Ramakrishna Mission Tuberculosis Sanatorium

Ranchi

The Sanatorium (P.O. Ramakrishna Sanatorium ; Phone : Doranda 2248 ; Telegraphic address : RECOVERY) is situated on a picturesque plot of land measuring 279 acres, at an altitude of 2,100 ft., nine miles from the Ranchi Railway Station and about four miles from the Hatia Railway Station. Opened in 1951 with 32 beds, it had 250 beds during 1968-69.

An air-conditioned Operation Theatre and Recovery Room, 4 X-ray plants, including one of 500 m.a. with tomograph attachments, a well-equipped Laboratory, a Recreation Hall with a permanent stage and auditorium, projectors for showing films_; and an After-care Colony with a Rehabilitation Centre having a Tailoring Department, a Typewriting School and a Dairy and a Poultry Farm, are some of the prominent features of the institution.

During 1968-69, 603 patients (old : 245 ; new : S58) were treated in the Sanatorium, of whom 347 were discharged. 80 patients were treated free of all charges and 17 at concession rates^ while 1,956 were given medical advice and assistance in the Outdoor Department. The After-care Colony had 36 ex-patients, who were either given training in the Rehabilitation Centre or employed in various departments of the Sanatorium.

The free Outdoor Homoeopathic Dispensary treated 13,925 cases (new : 6,007).

The Ramakrishna Mission Home of Service

Started in 1900, it has been occupying its own premises on the Ramakrishna Road at Luxa (Varanasi 1 ; Phone : 62604) since 1910. A branch Outdoor Dispensary has been working since 1931 at the Shivala quarter of the city.

The activities of the Home in 1968-69 were—(1) Indoor General Hospital : Beds 150 ; admissions 2,967 ; surgical cases (including eye operations) 1,405. (2 & 3) Refuge for invalid men and Refuge for invalid women : Beds 25 and 50, but inmates 17 and 31 respectively for paucity of funds. (4) Casual help to invalids, poor middle-class women and poor

students : Rs. 6,250.56p. (5) Outdoor Dispensary (including the Shivala branch) : Total cases 1,99,289 ; new cases 56,393 ; Laboratory and X-ray cases 12,654 and 1,676 respectively.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama, Kaiikhal (Saharanpur)

Founded in 1901, the activities of the Sevashrama (Phone : Hardwar 141) in 1968-69 were—(1) Indoor Hospital : Beds 50 ; admissions 1,481 ; surgical cases 217. (2) Outdoor Dispensary : Total cases 1,26,457 ; new cases 35,243 ; surgical cases 5,298 ; laboratory tests 6,836 ; X-ray cases 1,207 ; physio-therapy 431. (3) Observance of birthdays of saints and prophets.

During the year the Indoor section was shifted to the newly constructed three-storeyed Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial block.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Lucknow

This Sevashrama, started in 1914 and located since 1924 at Aminabad, was completely shifted in January, 1967 to Chandgunj, Lucknow-7 (Phone : Ashrama : 24694, Polyclinic : 23337). Its activities in 1968-69 were—{!) Outdoor Dispensary : Total cases 3,65,389 ; new cases 23,085 ; surgical cases 13,430 ; dental cases 1,660; Physiotherapy 1,529; X-ray 2,578; Pathology cases 5,584. (2) A Library and Reading Room : Books 5,412); Newspapers and periodicals 69. (3) Occasional religious classes and lectures. (4) Birthday anniversaries of Sri Rnin^-krishn^i the Hol^v Mother and Swarui Vivekanandci. (5; Fortnightly Ramnam and Shyamnam Kirtans.

The construction of an up-to-date Polyclinic was nearing completion.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Jalpaiguri

Founded in 1923, the activities of the Ashrama (Phone : 344) in 1968-69 were—(1) An Outdoor Allopathic-cum-Homceo. Dispensary : Total cases 25,327 ; new : 9,018. (2) A Domiciliary Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic : Expectant mothers treated 720; home visits 4,439 ; confinements 2 ; clinic

16.

attendance 2,799. (3) A Students' Home : Inmates 14. (4) A free Reading Room and Library : Books 1,600. (5) Regular religious classes in and outside the Ashrama. (6) Birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. (7) Durga Puja, Kali Puja, etc.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Salem

The Ashrama, founded in 1928 and situated on the Ramakrishna Road, Sivaswamipuram Extension, Salem 7 (Phone : 5377), conducted in 1968-69—(1) A Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 41,755 (new : 21,154). (2) An operation theatre with 6 indoor beds. (3) A Library : Books 1,325. (4) Daily worship, weekly religious classes, fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan and Bhajan on Saturdays and Mondays. (6) Celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, etc. and other religious festivals. (7) Distribution of fresh milk to the poor and under-nourished children.

A new Prayer Hall was constructed.

B. INSTITUTIONS MAINLY CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL

The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture Calcutta

The Institute, established in 1938 and housed in its own commodious building at Gol Park, Calcutta 29 (Telephones : IS 3131, -1G-3432, 1G-3135 and 46-54;i-±; ieiegrapnic address : INSTITUTE), has a threefold aim : (a) a proper interpretation and appraisal of Indian culture ; (b) the promotion of mutual knowledge and understanding between India and other countries ; and (c) the promotion of the study of the cultural heritage of mankind as a whole. From an humble beginning the Institute has grown into a recognised centre of learning and has drawn the interest of the public and many a leading scholar of India and abroad.

In 1968-69 the Institute conducted : (1) A General Library and Reading Room with 58,040 books (issued : 1,31,954) and

368 journals. (2) A Children's Library with 4,389 books (issued : 8,533). (3) A Junior Library for the age group 13 to 16 years with 1,605 books (issued : 2,729). (4) The "Universal Temple" —a meditation hall and chapel. (5) 119 public lectures and meetings and 125 weekly discourses on scriptural topics by eminent scholars. (6) Educational and cultural film shows, music recitals, dramas, seminars, symposia and various other functions of cultural interest. (7) A school of languages with 1,296 students on the roll for German, French, Russian, Japanese, Arabic, Persian, Chinese, Spanish, spoken English, Bengali, Sanskrit, Tamil, Assamese, Urdu and Hindi. (8) Publication of a monthly Bulletin (20th year) and 3 booklets. (9) An International Scholars' Residence, which accommodated 45 persons. (10) The International Guest House : Guests accommodated 488. (11) A free Students' Day Home with 800 students. (12) A School of Humanistic and Cultural Studies with 42 students. (13) A School of Sanslritic Studies.

The Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha Belur

This institution (P.O. Belur Math, Dist. Howrah ; Phone : 66-3292), started in 1941, had the following activities :

(1) The Vidyamandira (Phone : 66-3349), a residential three-year Degree College with 216 boys, had its own dispensary and hospital. Religious classes for students were regularly conducted. The college had a unit of the N.C.C.

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sponsored Polytechnic providing thiee-year Licentiate Courses in Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, had 439 students of whom 90 lived in the Shilpamandira hostel (Phone : 66-2912).

The Shilpayaiana (Phone : 66-4124), a free JuniorTechnical School for boys of 14 years and above with three-year integrated course in Humanities, Science, EngineeringStudies and Workshop Practice, had 134 students.
The Shilpavidyalaya., a school with free training coursesfor one to three years in Electric wiring, Auto-Mechanics,

Fitting, Turning, Carpentry, Weaving, Tailoring, etc. had 62 students.

The Production-cum-Publication Section : Apart from
devising and manufacturing small machines and equipments, it
had its own Photography and Publication departments. All itsproducts were displayed and sold through a Sales-cum-ShowRoom.
The Janasikshamandira (Phone : 66-3643), a unit ofSocial (adult) Education, organised 9 night schools for adults(students : 170), arranged educative film and slide shows withthe help of a mobile Audio-visual unit and conducted a freePublic Library (Books : 16,073 ; issued 18,326) as well as aMobile Library unit lending books to village readers at
their homes. It also organised 46 free milk distribution centres,several cultural functions, sports and games for children andsupply of free tiffin to about 200 children daily.
The Tatlwamandira (Phone : 66-3292), where religiousclasses for the public and scriptural classes for the monasticinmates were held regularly.
The Sikshanamandira (Phone : 66-3695), a residentialB.T. College, had 134 students. An Extension Service Unit,attached to the college, conducted several seminars and published a brochure on Geography.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Perianaickenpalayam (Coimbatore)

This (P.O. Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya; Phone : 23655 ; Gram : KALVI, Coimbatore) is a comprehensive educational undertaking located on a plot of about 400 acres, 11 miles from Goimbatore on the Ootacamund Road. Its activities were :

A residential Multi-purpose High School with 196students.
A Basic Training School : Students 78.
The Swami Shivananda High School : Principallymeant for village boys, the school had 179 students including46 girls.
A Senior Basic School : Roll-strength 571 of whom

214 were girls. Free midday meal was provided for 160 students.

A Teachers' Training College offering B.T. and M.Ed.courses had 123 students. An Extension Service Unit, attached
to the college, conducted various seminars, which were attendedby 1,627 teachers.
A Degree College offering pre-University and degreecourses in arts and science. Roll-strength : 381.
A College for Physical Education with 105 pupils.
The Rural Institute : This institution had the following wings : (a) A School of Engineering offering a three-yearDiploma course in Civil and Rural Engineering and a sixmonth course in Automobile Engineering (students : 144). (b)A School of Agriculture offering a two-year certificate course(students : 137). (c) A College for Rural Higher Educationhaving a four-year Diploma course in Rural Services (students :243) and a post-graduate Diploma Course in Co-operation.
The Industrial Institute, which provided a two-yearcourse in turning and fitting, and an one-year course in composing, proof reading and printing, had 75 students.

The Rural Dispensary : Cases treated : 23,689.
The Industrial Section : It imparted practical training to Engineering students and manufactured electric motors,
sugarcane crushers, lathes and various other machine tools.

(12) The Central Library : Open access system wasfollowed ; No. of books : 34,378 (issued 19,060).

(13) Hostels : The nine hostels accommodated about 900inmates.

The Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home, Rahara (24 Parganas)

This centre (Phone : Barrackpore 80) situated 12 miles to the north of Calcutta and covering an area of about 68 acres is mainly a residential educational institution for orphans and poor boys, though some day-scholars attend its various schools and colleges. It conducted the following activities.

Orphanage : This had on its rolls 550 boys for whom education of various types and grades was provided.

Basic Education : One Pre-Basic (Nursery) School with 41 children, 5 units of Junior Basic School with 880 students, 4 units of Senior Basic School with 513 students, a Junior Basic Training College and one Post-Graduate Basic Training College (both residential) with 100 and 98 trainees respectively.

General Education : A Multi-purpose High School with four wings—Science, Technology, Commerce and Humanities —and a total roll-strength of 511. One three-year Degree College, offering Pass and Honours courses in Science and Arts subjects had 445 students.

Technical Education : A Junior Technical School and a Vocational School with a total roll-strength of 287.

Library : A well-equipped District Library with 22,002 books (issued : 28,909).

Social Education : There were 10 Adult Education Centres and an up-to-date Audio-visual Service Unit. One Rural Librarianship Training Centre (residential) was conducted by the Library.

Boys' Hostel : Besides the Home for boys, there was a paying hostel for the Multi-purpose School students with 110 boys. The three-year Degree College and the Junior Technical School had their own hostels.

The centre had 5 N.C.C. Troops with 5 officers and 1 instructor.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur (24 Parganas)

This institution situated at Narendrapur (Phone : 619-201, 619-202, 619-203 and 619-204), eleven miles to the south-~ east of Calcutta and covering an area of about 150 acres, had the following activities.

(1) A residential Degree College (Phone : 619-205) with 314 students offered Honours courses in both Science and Arts subjects.

A residential Multi-purpose School (Phone : 619-206)with 6 streams, had 449 students on its rolls. Recognised bythe Government of India as a model school, it had two mediaof instruction—English and Bengali. About 25 % of thestudents received financial assistance from the School.
One residential Senior Basic School (Phone : 619-207)with 266 students had English and Bengali as media of instruction. About 10 % of the students received financial assistance from the School.
The Institute of Social Education, and Recreation, whichconducted adult education and rural uplift activities.
The residential Blind Boys' Academy with 100 boysoffered general education through Standard Braille system aswell as vocational training in music and several crafts. TheAcademy also trained up teachers for tHe blind, and printedtext books in Braille.
A Central Library with 36,038 books (issued _: 47,450).
The Vivekananda Social Welfare Centre.; a unit mainlyfor the benefit of Harijans Jiving in the slum areas of Ram-bagan in North Calcutta, conducted : (i) a Nursery Schoolwith 80 students, (ii) a Basic School with 436 students, (iii) aSocial Education centre for women with 29 adult students, and(iv) Tutorial classes for 50 children. It also ran a CharitableDispensary (cases treated : 12,636) and trained Harijan boysand girls in several trades.
Training in Farming : A centre to train up villageyouth in modern methods of farming had 212 trainees including92 Gram Sevaks.
A Junior Technical School offering various tradecourses had 103 students.

(10) Child Welfare and Medical Care : Through 81 milkdistribution centres 12,000 children and 3,000 expectantmothers were given UNICEF milk daily. Periodic health-
examinati/qn, providing recreational facilities and supply oftext-books were other features of this programme. TheAshrama Hospital treated 15,831 outdoor cases from theneighbouring villages.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashram a, Sarisha (24 Parganas)

This institution (Phone : Diamond Harbour 29) successfully devoted itself to the task of village reconstruction through proper education. Its activities were :

A boys' Higher Secondary Multi-purpose School with Humanities, Technology and Science streams, had 414 students. It had two N.C.C. Troops and one Ambulance Division under the St. John Ambulance Brigade (India). The Hostel had 140 inmates, of whom 2 were free and 12 enjoyed concession.

A Girls' Higher Secondary Multi-purpose School with Humanities, Science, Home Science and Fine Arts streams, had 448 students. The Hostel had 120 inmates, of whom 16 enjoyed concession. The School had two N.C.C. Troops.

Two units of Senior. Basic School for boys and two units for girls, had 199 and 175 students respectively.

There were four units of Junior Basic School with a total of 389 boys and 295 girls.

Two Pre-E(KJc (Nursery) Schools had 51 boys and 39 girls.

Two units of Junior Basic Training College for women teachers had 142 trainees.

A Technical Section attracted large number of village women and students from the Multi-purpose and the Senior Basic Sections to have training in weaving, tailoring, sock-making, knitting and embroidery, etc.

One Community Centre for women and three other SchooL-cuin-Communiiy Centres conducted regular sittings of Kirtan, Bhajan, Kathakata, etc. The School-cum-Community centres had a roll strength of 69 (neo-literates 43) and the Women's Centre had 62 trainees (neo-literates 40).

8 Adult Education Centres, for men and 1 for women were conducted. Total roll strength for the men's centres was 201 (neo-literates 140). 10 attained literacy out of 16 in the women's centre.

One Area Library with 6 branches, a Text Book Library and a Sub-Divisional Library had 7,561, 1,677 and 2,492 books respectively.

A Pre-Vocational Training Centre, (students : 81) offering General Education and Technical Training to indigent students of the age group 11 to 14, had facilities for teaching (a) Fitting and Turning, (b) Sheet Metal work, (c) Smith-craft, (d) Moulding arid (e) Carpentry.

The Ashrama had two Audio-visual Mobile Units.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Society Jamshedpur

The centre, situated at Bistupur, Jamshedpur 1_; (Phone : 3795) conducted the following : (1) Five Higher Secondary Schools (of which two were for boys, two for girls and one for both in separate shifts) with 1,654 boys and 1,788 girls; 4 Middle Schools with 2,421 boys and 2,052 girls; 2 U.P. Schools with 271 boys and 222 girls—in all 11 schools with 8,408 pupils on their rolls. Out of them 400 poor students were granted free studentship and concession. While 1 U.P. School is for Hindi-speaking children only, there are Hindi sections in 2 High Schools, 3 Middle Schools and 1 U.P. School in all classes along with Bengali sections. The ] 1 School Libraries had a total of 25,925 books. (2) Two Students' Homes with 43 inmates particularly of backward communities from rural areas had provision for free board and lodging for a few poor but meritorious students. (3) A Public Library and free Reading Room with 3,687 books, 9 periodicals and 3 dailies. (4) Weekly classes and occasional lectures on religio-philosophical subjects. (5) Regular audio-visual instructions with the help of a 16 mm. projector. (6) Excursions, picnics and seasonal games and sports. (7) Celebration of the birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda, and religious festivals like Durga Puja, etc.

A new Science building of the Sister Nivedita Higher Secondary School was formally opened and the construction of the proposed multi-storeyed building of the Sakchi Students' Home was progressing satisfactorily.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College Madras

This Degree College, started in 1946 at Mylapore, Madras-4 (Phone : 73057) had 2,470 students during 1968-69, Admissions

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in the College were made on the basis of merit, except for Harijan and backward class students for whom a percentage of seats was reserved. The College, which also offered Postgraduate courses in certain Arts and Science subjects, had a Hostel with 270 inmates. Scholarships awarded by the College amounted to Rs. 1,91,965/- (Recipients : 468). There were more than 37,473 books in the College Library.

The College imparted religious education to students and celebrated the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Ramakrishnananda.

Foundation for the new Botany Block was laid during the year.

The Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home Madras

The institution, started in 1905, moved into its own buildings at Mylapore (Madras 4) in 1921. The Home comprised three distinct sections : a Hostel for boys studying in the Vivekananda College, a Technical Institute which is mainly residential, and a residential High School. The three sections had 44, 152 and 154 students respectively on their rolls. The Hostel provided free board and lodging for the inmates. The Technical Institute offered diploma and post-diploma courses in mechanical and automobile engineering respectively.

The Sri Ramakrishna Centenary Elementary School, Mylapore, and the Ramakrishna Mission Higher Elementary School at Malliankaranai near Uttiramerur in Chingleput District with 450 and 150 students respectively were also managed by the centre.

The Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Schools Madras

This centre at Thyagarayanagar (Madras 17; Phone: 442551) conducted two High Schools, one U.P. School, three Elementary Schools and a Hostel. In 1968-69 the two High Schools had 3,022 students, the U.P. School 676 boys and the three Elementary Schools 1,264 boys and 793 girls, -while the Hostel, managed by monastic workers, had 84 boys. Due attention was paid to their moral and spiritual well-being.

A new Science Laboratory for one of the High Schools was completed during the year.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sarada Vidyalaya Madras

Sri Sarada Vidyalaya, Thyagarayanagar (Madras 17; Phone; 443153) started in 1927 by some ladies, had the following activities :

A Girls' High School, housed in its own three-storeyedbuilding, had 2,023 students.
A Basic Training School, housed in its own three-storeyed building on Burkitt Road, with 155 trainees.
One Girls' Upper Primary School with 1,009 pupils.
A Model Senior Basic School, housed in a three-storeyed building, had 850 pupils.
Three Hostels with 222 boarders and an Orphanage.
Two Libraries for school students with a total of 19,485books.

The Vidyalaya had provision for moral and religious instruction, group singing, special worship, Bhajan and physical training as also for useful extra-curricular activities.

The Ramakrishna Mission Calcutta Students' Home Belgharia (24 Parganas)

This Home, started in 1916 in a rented house in Calcutta, finally shifted to its present permanent site at Belgharia (Calcutta 56; Phone: 611-551). The Home had the following activities during 1968-69 :

A Hostel, specially meant for poor but meritorious college students, had its own Library (Books : 6,100), Prayer Hall and a small workshop to train the inmates in domestic handicrafts. Out of 91 boarders of the Hostel, 59 were free and 10 enjoyed concessions. Nearly 44 % of the year's subscriptions was contributed by ex-inmates of the Home.

The Shilpapitha (Phone : 611-600), a Government sponsored polytechnic with 550 students, offered 3-year diploma courses in Civil, Mechanical fc Electrical Engineering.

The Home Library (Books : 11,000) -cum-Assembly Hall served both the inmates of the Home and the local public. The Vivekananda Yuva Samity, a forum for local youth, was conducted by the centre. The Home observed Kali Puja and Annapurna Puja during the year.

The Ramakrishna Mission, Chingleput

Started in 1936, the institution (Phone : 436 ; Post Box : 11) had the following activities during 1968-69 : (1) One High School for boys with 441 pupils. (2) A Girls' High School with a roll strength of 411. (3) A Junior Basic Elementary School with 255 boys and 202 girls. (4) A Students' Home for boys with 18 inmates. (5) A Library with 10,933 books. (6) A small printing press. (7) Celebration of the birthdays of saints and prophets.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Cherrapunji (K. & J. Hills)

This centre (Phone : Cherrapunji 42) in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya conducted the following activities in Cherrapunji : (1) A High School with 241 boys and 223 girls. (2) A Vocational School with weaving, tailoring, typewriting and carpentry sections. (3) A Hostel with 80 boys. (4) Three Primary Schools. (5) Educational film-shows.

The monks had their private shrine and celebrated the birth-days of saints and prophets in which the public also took part.

At Sheila, 13 miles down, it conducted an M.E. School, a Primary School and an Ashrama with a Library and a Community Hall, where Durga Puja was held.

At Nongwar, a village 9 miles below Cherrapunji, a free Primary Shool and an M.E. School were conducted.

At Sohbar, about 8 miles down, it had a Junior Basic School, an M.E. School with a vocational section teaching weaving, tailoring and carpet-making and two separate hostels for boys and girls.

At other places scattered all over the South Khasi Hills, it conducted 8 M.E. Schools and 21 Primary Schools,

Altogether 935 boys and 910 girls studied in the 11 M.E. Schools and the 27 Primary Schools run by the Cherrapunji centre.

In various parts of the Khasi Hills, modern method of Bee-keeping was introduced and taught under the agency of the Mission. There were 9 Bee-keeping sub-stations in different villages with about 7,800 hives fetching subsidiary income of over Rs. 1,50,000/- to the bee-keepers.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith Deoghar (S.P.)

Started in 1922 this institution (P.O. Vidyapith ; Phone : Deoghar 33; Gram : RAMAKRISHNA MISSION VIDYAPITH, Baidyanathdham-Deoghar) had the following activities during 1968-69 : (1) A residential Boys' Higher Secondary School (roll strength 335) recognised by the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, with three streams—Science, Commerce and Humanities—had English as the medium of instruction. The School had provision for teaching various handicrafts, music, painting, tailoring, gardening, etc. There were 7,058 books in the School Library. (2) A Charitable Dispensary, which treated 16,160 cases (new : 5,192). (3) A free Upper Primary School for Harijans (Roll strength 177) supplied free midday meals, uniforms, books, etc. to the children.

A new extension of the dining hall, a monks' quarters and a Library building were constructed during the year.

The RarnakHslina Mission Vid"a*»ith Purulia

Started in 1958, this institution (P.O. Vievekananda Nagar ; Phone : Purulia 160), had the following activities during 1968-69 : (1) A residential Multi-purpose Higher Secondary School for boys (roll strength 551), offering Humanities, Science, Technology, Fine Arts and Agriculture courses, had provision for teaching music, tailoring^ ceramics, etc. Recognised as a model school by the Government of India, the school offered stipends and scholarships to about 40 % of the boys half of which was provided by the Government of West Bengal. As

an adjunct to the Agriculture stream a dairy and a poultry were maintained. The school libary had over 10,000 volumes. (2) A small Pre-Basic (Nursery) School for day scholars. (3) One Audio-visual unit, which served nearby villages.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Baranagore Calcutta 36

Started in 1912 this educational institution for boys (Phone: 56-2624) had the following activities during 1968-69 : A Multipurpose School with Humanities, Science, Technology and Commerce courses; Roll strength 929 ; 2 units of Semor Basic School with 291 students, a Primary School with 358 students and two units of Junior Basic School with 413 students. Besides general education, the boys were given religious and moral training. The Ashrama Students' Home accommodated 201 boys of whom 12 were free and 4 enjoyed concession.

The Ashrama conducted a School-cum-Community Centre and an Area Library (Books : 5,844). Regular educational film-shows were organised by the Audio-visual unit of the Ashrama.

The Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary treated 18,371 patients (new : 3,305).

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Asansol (Burdwan)

The Ashrama, situated on the Grand Trunk Road (Phone : 2937), conducted—(1) a Multi-purpose School with three streams —Science, Technology and Humanities; roll strength 827. (2) Two Junior Urban Basic Schools with 302 boys. (3) A Students' Hostel with 30 inmates. (4) An Ashrama Library and a Reading Room with 1,631 books. (5) Regular religious classes and occasional meetings and festivals. (6) Durga Puja and Sri Ramakrishna Birth Anniversary.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Taki (24 Parganas)

This Ashrama, established as a centre of rural uplift (Phone : Taki 25) conducted—(1) A Multi-purpose Higher

Secondary School teaching Humanities and Science with 602 students. (2) Three U. P. Schools—one for boys, one for girls and the other for both—with roll strength of 122, 74 and 86 respectively. (3) A Students' Home with 64 inmates. (4) A small Library with 356 books. (5) A Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 64,050 (new : 8,953).

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Manasadwip (24 Parganas)

This institution in the Sagar Island conducted—(1) a Multi-purpose Higher Secondary School with 370 boys. (2) A Junior Basic School with 140 boys and a special cadre Primary School with 147 girls. (3) A Students' Home, with 15 boys.

Occasional religious classes and discourses in the Ashrama.
Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Motherand Swamiji.

The Ashrama had a School-cum-Community Centre with a free Reading Room and a Lending Library for the public. It also organised magic lantern lectures of educative value among the rural folk of nearby localities.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Midnapore

The activities of this Ashrama (Phone : 156) were—(1) A Multi-purpose Higher Secondary School (Phone : 260) with Science, Technology, Commerce and Humanities and a roll strength of 460 boys. (2) Two units of Junior Basic School with 238 boys and 155 girls. (3) A Pre-Basic (Nursery) School with 41 children. (4) A Students' Home. (5) A Circulating Library and Free Reading Room : Books 3,449 ; issued 6,161. (6) An Outdoor Dispensary with Allopathic and Homoeopathic departments : Total cases 90,387 ; new cases 32,401. (7) Regular religious classes, birth anniversaries of Religious Teachers, religious festivals and occasional lectures. (8) Educational film shows. (9) Participation in Midnapore Flood Relief work.

A Prayer Hall was under construction.

The Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama Silchar (Cachar)

This institution (Silchar 4; Phone : 280) conducted—(1)

A Students' Home with 50 inmates, including 32 tribal boys. (2) A free Library and Reading Room with 2,160 books. (3) Regular religious classes in the Ashrama, and occasional lectures. (4) Tribal welfare work among Naga, Kuki, Mizo and Reang tribes. (5) Durga Puja, Kali Puja and the birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swaini Vivekananda.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Puri

This Mission branch (Phone : Puri 207) conducted the following activities : (1) A Library with a free Reading Room ; Books 8,000 ; Newspapers and periodicals 59. (2) A Students' Home, which provided free board and lodging, coaching and facilities for general education in recognised institutions to 50 students including 46 tribal and backward class boys. (3) Birthday celebration of Swami Vivekananda, occasional religious meetings and festivals and fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan.

A new dining-cum-recreation hall was constructed during the year under review.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ramharipur (Bankura)

Detached from its mother centre at Bankura, it came to be treated as an independent centre from 1966. It had : (1) A Multi-purpose Higher Secondary School with Science, Humanities and Agriculture (Roll strength 365). (2) Two units of Junior Basic School with 252 pupils. (3) A School-cum-Community Centre having a Night School for adults and a Library. (4) A Hostel with 57 boys. (5) A Homoeopathic Dispensary with a daily average of 30 patients. (6) Weekly religious discourses and birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Sxvami Vivekananda.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama

Sargachhi (Murshidabad)

This oldest Ashrama of the Mission (P.O. Sargachi-Ashrama), started in 1897 by Swami Akhandananda, had the following activities in 1968-69—(1) A residential Junior Basic Teachers' Training College with 100 trainees. (2) A Multi-

purpose Higher Secondary School with Humanities, Science and Agriculture (Roll strength 428). (3) Three Junior Basic Schools with 328 boys and 174 girls. (4) An Adult School with 27 students. (5) An outdoor Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 10,957 (new : 6,435). (6) Six Libraries with Reading Rooms : Books 11,632; issued 5,079; periodicals and newspapers 63. (7) Daily worship at the Ashrama shrine, observance of the birthdays of religious celebrities and regular religious discourses. (8) Birth-anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji and weekly religious classes at the Berhampore sub-centre. (9) Occasional help in cash and kind. (10) Two Hostels with 60 inmates.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Visakhapatnam

This Ashrama at Maharanipeta (Visakhapatnam 2 ; Phone: 2561), situated on the Beach Road in full view of the sea, conducted—(1) A cultural and recreational centre with a small library for children and arrangement for teaching Sanskrit on easy lines. It also provided audio-visual education for the children as also the public through documentary film shows.

(2) A Library and free Reading Room with 2,345 books; newspapers and periodicals 26. (3) Daily scriptural discourses. (4)A Primary School in another part of the city (Phone : 3855)with English medium having 209 boys and 167 girls on its rolls.(5) Celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and otherreligious celebrities.

The RaKiakrishna Mission Ashrama, Along (Siang), N.E.F.A.

Started in 1966, the centre, situated at Along (Telephone : Along 49), a beautiful valley in the Siang division of N.E.F.A., conducted—(1) An English Medium School for the tribal boys and girls (Roll strength : 163). (2) A Hostel with 50 free boys.

(3) Excursions and educative tours for students. (4) Film-shows,mostly documentaries, for the local people, and occasionallectures at various places of N.E.F.A.

The construction of a new building for the School was in progress.

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Gauhati (Kamrup)

Started in 1939 by local devotees, the Ashrama in Chhatri-bari, Gauhati 8 (Phone : 5621), was taken over by the Mission on the 3rd December, 1968. Its activities were : (1) An M.E. School with 107 boys. (2) A circulating Library with Reading Room : Books 1,862 ; dailies 2. (3) A students' Home for boys : inmates 11 (free 7). (4) Daily prayers in the Ashrama shrine, weekly religious classes, and occasional festivals and functions in and outside the Ashrama,

C. INSTITUTIONS OF GENERAL SERVICE (Medical, Cultural and Educational)

The Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi

Started in Old Delhi in 1927 and finally shifted in 1935 to its present site on the Ramakrishna Ashrama Marg, New Delhi 55 (Phone : 27-7111), the Ashrama conducted : (1) An Outdoor Homoeopathic Dispensary : Total cases 51,948 (new: 6,298). (2) A Library with separate sections for children and university students : Books 23,773, issued 19,017 ; newspapers and periodicals 146. (3) 85 religious discourses on Saturdays and Sundays in the Ashrama. (4) Occasional classes and lectures in various local colleges and cultural institutions; regular Sunday classes at the Delhi University. (5) Birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious celebrities at the Ashrama and other localities of Delhi. (6) The Sarada Manclir, which organised religious and moral instruction classes for children aged 6 to 12. (7) A modern multi-storeyed T.B. Clinic (Phone : 56-1707) at Karolbagh with 28 indoor observation beds : Total outdoor cases 1,13,507 (new : 2,603); indoor cases 246. Under the Home ^Treatment scheme, the Clinic extended its medical services to patients unable to attend the Clinic in person.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Kanpur

This institution, located at Ramakrishna Nagar, Kanpur 12 (Phone : 63391), conducted—(1) An outdoor Dispensary : Total

cases 2,51,988 (new : 46,610). (2) A Higher Secondary School with 680 boys. (3) A Library with 2,808 books. (4) One Physical Culture Institute for Harijans. (5) Religious classes, Bhajan and observance of the birthdays of religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Patna

The Ashrama situated at Bankipore (Ramakrishna Avenue, Patna 4 ; Phone : 50815), conducted—(1) Two charitable Dispensaries, one Homoeopathic and the other Allopathic. Total cases 76,790 and 89,636 respectively (new cases 7,875 and 11,344). (2) A Library and free Reading Room with 8,187 books (issued 15,223); newspapers and periodicals 73. (3) Regular lectures and scriptural classes in and outside the Ashrama. (4) A Students' Home for college boys with 23 inmates (12 free and 3 part-paying). (5), Weekly Sunday classes for children. (6) Durga Puja, Kali Puja and birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrania, Shillong

The Ashrama, located since 1937 at Laitumkhrah, Shillong 3 (Phone : 3676), conducted—(1) A Charitable Dispensary with Pathology, E.N.T., X-ray and Electrotherapy sections as also a Homceopathic department : Total cases treated 55,638 (new : 34,653). (2) A Mobile Dispensary, which regularly visited 30 neighbouring villages and treated 21,962 patients. (3) A Library and free Reading Room with 7,839 books (issued 7,521) ; newspapers and periodicals 63. (4) A Students' Home mainly for tribal boys : inmates 20. (5) Public meetings, educative film-shows and fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan, and occasional religious discourses in and outside the Ashrama. (6) Anniversaries and festivals. (7) A small publication department for books in Assamese and Khasi languages. (8) The Vivekananda _Tarun Sangha, which organised religious classes for boys of the age group 10 to 15.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Chandigarh

The Ashrama (sector 15 B, Chandigarh 17 ; Phone : 23787) conducted : (1) Regular religious discourses on Saturdays

and Sundays, fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan and occasional lectures in and outside the city. (2) A small Library with 1,368 books. (3) Birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other saints and prophets. (4) A Students' Home for college students with 35 inmates. (5) A charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary; total cases 9,775 (new : 3,953).

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Ranchi

The activities of this Ashrama at Morabadi, 11 & 12 Swami Vishuddhananda Road, Ranchi 8 (Phone : 1215) were—(1) A charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary : Total cases 17,094 (new : 11,235) ; 666 patients received help towards diet. (2) A Mobile Homceo. Dispensary, which served neighbouring villages. (3) A small Library and Reading Room. (4) Regular worship and observance of the birthdays of Religious Teachers. (5) Religious discourses in and outside the Ashrama, and occasional lectures. (6) "Divyayan", a residential Institute for training village youths^ particularly Adivasis, in agriculture, animal husbandry and social service was started during the year under review.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Katihar (Purnea)

The Ashrama (Phone : 149) conducted the following activities—(1) A Homceopathic-cum-Allopathic Dispensary with an Eye Department : Total cases 27,909. (2) A free Library and Reading Room : Books 2,200. (3) A Secondary School recognised by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education with 605 students. (4) A Students' Home with 18 inmates. (5) Regular religious classes, occasional lectures in and outside the Ashrama, and observance of the birthdays of religious celebrities. (6) Occasional help in cash and kind.

The Ramakrishna Mission

Vivekananda Smriti Mandir, Khetri, Rajasthan

Started in 1959 this Mission centre is housed in the mansion at Khetri in Rajasthan where Swami Vivekananda stayed as the honoured guest of the Raja. The centre conducted : (1) A Library and Reading Room with a children's section :

Books 4,471 ; issued 2,511 ; dailies and periodicals 42. (2) Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swamiji and other religious Teachers. (3) A Nursery-cum-primary School with 118 children.

It also conducted a free Maternity Home and Child Welfare Centre in the town which handled 141 maternity cases, indoor and outdoor, in addition to 1,708 ante-natal and postnatal cases.

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ashrama, Raipur

Started in 1959, the Ashrama (Phone : 1046) on the Great Eastern Road, Raipur (P.O. Vivekananda Ashram), was taken over by the Mission on the 7th April, 1968. Its activities were : (1) An outdoor Allopathic-cum-Homceo. Dispensary with dental and pathology sections as also a Health Centre : Cases treated 46,366 (new : 10,778). (2) A Hostel for college boys ; inmates 58. (3) A Public Library and Reading Room : Books 12,414 (issued 8,813), newspapers and periodicals 80. (4) Panchayati Raj Training Centre^ a govt.-aided training centre for the training of Panchayat officials, etc. (5) Religious classes and public lectures in and outside the Ashrama. (6) Publication of the Vivek-Jyoti, a quarterly magazine in Hindi.

SECTION III COMBINED MATH & MISSION CENTRES

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Madras

Started in 1897 by Swami Ramakrishnananda and occupying its own home at 11, Sri Ramakrishna Math Road, Myla-pore, Madras 4 (Post Box: Mylapore 635; Phone: 71231), this Math principally conducted—(1) Daily: worship of Sri Ramakrishna and fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan. (2) Religious classes and lectures in and outside the Math. (3) Celebration of the birthdays of Prophets and other festivals. (4) A Public Library with a children's section : Books 15,685 (issued 3,023); newspapers and periodicals 236. (5) Three monthly journals : The Vedanta Kesari (English, 56th year), Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam (Tamil, 50th year) and Sri Ramakrishna Prabha (Telugu, 26th year). (6) Publication of books (new : 4; reprints : 29). (7) & (8) A Primary School (students 670) and the Vivekananda Centenary Girls' High School (students 588), both at George Town, Madras 1. (9) A Charitable Dispensary with Allopathic, Homoeopathic^ Dental, E.N.T., X-ray and Surgical sections : Total cases 1,63,571 (new : 68,069).

During the year under review an additional wing was added to the Charitable Dispensary building.

The Mission branch undertakes relief work as and when necessary.

The Ramakrishna Mission and Ashrama, Bombay

Started in 1921 and presently situated at Khar, Bombay 52 A.S. (Phone : 53-2442), the Ashrama conducted—(1) Daily worship and fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan. (2) Celebration of festivals like Durga Puja and observance of birthdays of religious celebrities. (3) Religious classes in and outside the Ashrama. (4) Sunday religious classes for children and Saturday Bhajans for lady devotees only.

The Mission branch conducted—(1) A Charitable Dispen-sary-cum- 20 bedded Hospital with Allopathic, Homceopathic,

Ayurvedic and Nature Cure sections : Outdoor cases 1,85,440 (new : 33,103); indoor cases 756 (surgical : 370). (2) A Library: Books 15,295 (issued 8,644); periodicals and dailies 142. (3) A Boys' Homd : inmates 80. (4) Earthquake Relief work at Koyna in the Satara district of Maharashtra.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama Vrindaban (Mathura)

The Sevashrama (Phone : 10), occupying its own commodious new buildings on the Mathura Road, had the following activities : (1) An Indoor Hospital with Medical, Surgical, Eye, E.N.T., Dental, X-ray, Paediatric and Pathological departments : Beds 100, admissions 2,364 ; surgical cases 2,355. The Eye Department, a special feature of the Hospital, proved very popular. (2) An Outdoor Allopathic-cum-Homceo. Dispensary : Total cases 1,44,830 (new : 24,137).

The Math branch, started in 1965, observed certain festivals and the birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Mission and Ashrama Mangalore (South Kanara)

Besides daily worship, Bhajan and the celebration of birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda, this Ashrama, situated on Mangaladevi Road, Mangalore 1 (Phone : 3412), organised weekly classes and occasional lectures or discourses in and outside the Ashrama. The Ashrama Library had 2,892 books.

The Mission branch conducted—(1) A Boys' Home with 51 boys. (2) An Allopathic Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 30,272 (new : 6,811).

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Rajahmundry (East Godavari)

The Math, started in 1951 and situated at Veerabhadra-puram, Rajahmundry 1 (Phone : 112), conducted regular worship and Bhajan, regular scriptural classes, a Library and Reading Room (Books 5,935 ; newspapers and periodicals 24), and celebration of the birthdays of Prophets.

The Mission branch conducted a small Students' Home with 8 boarders. The Town Centre, on the bank of the Goda-vari, conducted regular worship_> a free Library (Books 1,400 ; newspapers and periodicals 38) and a charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary (daily average : 95 patients). Daily religious discourse, a regular feature of this centre, proved quite popular.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Bhubaneswar

Founded by Swami Brahmananda in 1919, this monastery on the Vivekananda Marg, Bhubaneswar 2 (Phone : 213), conducted daily worship, regular religious classes and lectures in and outside the Math_; and celebrated the Kali Puja and birthdays of Prophets.

The activities of the Mission branch were—.(1) A free U.P. School with 110 boys and 85 girls. (2) An M.E. School with 59 boys. (3) An Allopathic Charitable Dispensary _: Total cases 21,575 (new : 11,410). (4) A free Library and Reading Room : Books 7,861 (issued 16,859); periodicals, etc. 35. (5) Pecuniary help to deserving persons. (6) Participation in Cyclone Relief work in Cuttack district.

A new Library Building was under construction.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama Bankura

The Math (Phone : 231) conducted—(1) Daily worship. (2) Regular religious classes and lectures. (3) A number of public celebrations. (4) A Library and Reading Room : Books 3,001 ; periodicals, etc. 15.

The Mission Sevashrama conducted—(1) Two Charitable Dispensaries; cases treated 47,818 (new : 11,944). (2) A Junior Urban Basic School with 117 boys and 57 girls. (3) A Students' Home with 19 inmates.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ashrama, Malda

This centre (Phone : 479) held regular secriptural classes and Bhajan as also occasional lectures both within and outside its own premises. It also celebrated the birthdays of Saints and Prophets.

The Mission Branch conducted—(1) A Higher Secondary School with 635 students. (2) An Urban Junior Basic School with 204 boys and 22 girls. (3) Four Primary Schools, one in the Mission Refugee Colony, and the other three located in different villages serving tribal and backward community children, with a total of 260 boys and 136 girls. (4) A Junior Basic School at Mohanpara with 76 boys and 69 girls. (5) Four social and adult education centres for tribals and backward communities : Neo-literates 96. (6) Two Nursery Schools with 50 boys and 55 girls. (7) A Women's Home Industry centre with 32 trainees. (8) A Students' Home with 28 boys, of whom 5 were free. (9) A Library and Reading Room : Books 2,196 (issued 2,578). (10) A Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary with branches at Sahapur and Chitkol : Total cases 38,450 (new : 5,200). (11) A Children's Club with 150 boys and 160 girls.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama Tamluk (Midnapore)

The activities of the Mission branch (Phone : 5) were— (1) An Industrial School with 24 students. (2) A Junior Basic School with 93 boys and 88 girls. (3) A Night School for adults (Roll strength : 21). (4) A Primary School with 97 boys and 64 girls. (5) A Students' Home with 13 boys. (6) A Library and Reading Room : Books 6,860 ; issued 4,604. (7) An Outdoor Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 23,836 (new : 4,981). (8) Casual help in cash and kind.

The Ashrama conducted daily worship and Bhajan and celebrated a number of birthdays of Prophets and Saints.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Kamarpukur (Hooghly)

This centre was founded in 1947 to preserve the place where Sri Ramakrishna was born_j as also his ancestral home.

The Math (Phone : Kamarpukur 21) conducted daily worship and religious classes and observed certain festivals and birthdays of religious celebrities.

The Mission branch conducted—(1) A charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary : Total cases 12,806 (new : 4,827). (2) Two

Senior Basic Schools with 168 boys. (3) Two Junior Basic Schools with 285 boys and 154 girls. (4) A Pre-Basic School with 41 children. (5) A School-cum Community centre : Students 11. (6) An Audio-Visual Mobile Unit. (7) A Hostel with 125 boys of whom 25 enjoyed concession. (8) A Multipurpose Higher Secondary School with three streams and 228 boys. (9) A Sanskrit School with 30 students. (10) An Area Library with 5,009 books; issued 4,692. (11) A Pre-vocational Training Centre. (12) A Rasktrabhasha Prachar Kendra to teach Hindi.

The Matrimandir and Ramakrishiia Mission Sarada Sevashrama, Jayrambati (Bankura)

The Matrimandir, established in 1920 in memory of the Holy Mother at her birth-place, conducted daily worship and religious classes, some festivals and a small library.

Its Math sub-centre, the Ramakrishna Ashrama, Koalpara (P.O. Dehuapara), at a distance of five miles from Jayrambati, is a quiet retreat associated with the momory of the Holy Mother.

The activities of the Mission Sevashrama were—(1) A Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 15,025 (new : 3,820). (2) A Senior Basic School with 87 boys and 35 girls. (3) Two Pre-Basic (Nursery) Schools with 49 boys and 39 girls. (4) One Night School for adults : Students 10- (5) Two Junior Basic Schools with 214 boys and 136 girls. (6) Occasional help in cash and kind.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama Contai (Midnapore)

The Sevashrama (Phone : Contai 151) had the following activities : (1) A Library and Reading Room with a Mobile unit : Books 5,096; issued 5,480; magazines etc. 24. (2) A Charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary : Total cases 34,560 (new : 11,894). (3) A Students' Home with 8 free students. (4) One U.P. School at Belda, 4 miles off, with 85 boys and 65 girls. (5) Occasional pecuniary help to deserving persons. (6) Flood Relief work in the district.

The Math conducted daily worship and organised occasional public lectures. Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda were observed.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama Allahabad

The Math, situated at Muthiganj (Bigyanananda Road, Allahabad 3 ; Phone : 5689) was founded in 1908 and the Mission Sevashrama in 1910 by Swami Vijnanananda. The Math conducted : (1) Daily worship, fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan and occasional religious classes. (2) Birth anniversaries of Saints and Prophets.

The Sevashrama conducted : (1) A Charitable Homoeopathic Dispensary: Total cases 11,369 (new: 5,131). (2) A Library and Reading Room : Books 8,719 ; issued 4,639 ; newspapers and periodicals 55.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Seva Samiti Karimganj (Cachar)

The Seva Samiti (Phone : 272) conducted—(1) A Students' Home with 18 inmates. (2) A Library and Reading Room : Books 2,185; issued 2,238; dailies and periodicals 19. (3) A Homoeopathic Dispensary : total cases 3,275 (new : 1,374). (4) Cremation of unclaimed dead bodies. (5) Doling of rice to the needy and occasional help in cash and kind. (6) Public classes and lectures. (7) Fire relief work in the district.

The Ashrama conducted : (1) Daily worship and religious classes. (2) Birth anniversaries of Prophets.

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission Sevashrama Garbeta (Midnapore)

The Sevashrama (P.O. Amlagora) conducted : (1) A Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 6,440 (new: 5,374). (2) A small Students' Home. (3) A Junior Basic School with 100 boys and 100 girls. (4) A Library : books 1,232. (5) Occasional pecuniary help.

The Math conducted daily worship and observed the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama

Calicut

Located in its own premises at Kallai, Calicut 3 (Phone : 2471), the Sevashrama conducted—(1) A Secondary School with 696 boys and 591 girls. (2) A Primary School with 306 boys and 274 girls. (3) A Students' Home with 85 inmates. (4) An Allopathic Dispensary : Total cases 48,116 (new : 15,371). (5) Da'ly Bhajan and discourses for the students of the Home, and special Bhajan and discourses for school students every Sunday. (6) Religious and cultural meetings, and occasional educational film shows for students.

The Math branch at Quilandy, 25 kilometres from Calicut, duly observed the birthdays of certain religious celebrities in addition to conducting regular worship, Bhajan, etc.

SECTION IV MATH CENTRES

The Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati (Almora)

Under the inspiration of Swami Vivekananda the Ashrama (P.O. Mayavati, via Lohaghat) was founded in 1899 in the solitude of deep Himalayan forests, commanding a magnificent view of the snow-range.

During 1968-69 the Ashrama at Mayavati maintained a Library (Books : 7,500), and a 23-bedded Hospital, which treated 729 indoor and 19,756 outdoor cases (new : 9,451).

The attached guest-houses provided opportunities for spiritual culture to a limited number of aspirants.

The Ashrama has a branch at 5 Dehi Entally Road, Calcutta 14 (Phone : 44-1214), which undertook the following activities • (1) Publication : 16 books were reprinted, (2) Publication of an English monthly, the Prabuddha Bharata (73rd-74th year). (3) Religious classes and public lectures in its own auditorium. (4) A Public Library and Reading Room : Books 8,245 ; newspapers and periodicals 94. (5) Doling of foodgrains etc. to 216 recipients and monetary help to different institu¹tions (Rs. 1,977).

The Ramakrishna Math, Baghbazar, Calcutta.

The Math occupying its own home at I Udbodhan Lane (Calcutta 3 ; Phone : 55-2447 and 55-0056) is known also as the Calcutta residence of the. Holy Mother. In addition to the usual routine of a monastery, it conducted : (1) A Library ; Books 2,376; issued 1,949. (2) Scriptural classes and lectures. (3) A Publication Department, which published 6 books (new 1, reprints 5) in addition to the Bengali monthly Udhodhan (70th year).

A multi-storeyed building on a newly acquired plot of land for the Library and the Publication Department was under construction.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Nagpur

The main feature of this Ashrama at Dhantoli, Nagpur 1 (Phone : 23422), is the publication of Ramakrishna-Viveka-nanda literature in Hindi and Marathi. The Ashrama conducted : (1) A Library and free Reading Room : Books 22,634 ; issued 13,365; newspapers and periodicals 111. (2) A Students' Home for college students : inmates 32. (3) A Publication Department, which brought out 26 books (new 9, reprints 17). (4) Publication of the Marathi monthly—Jivan Vikas (13th year). (5) A Study Circle, which organised debates, public meetings and magic lantern lectures. (6) Birth anniversaries of religious celebrities. (7) Weekly scriptural discourses and lectures. (8) A Charitable Dispensary in Indora, a backward locality, which treated 1,14,695 cases (new : 19,881).

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Rajkot

The Ashrama, situated in Jagnath Plot (Phone : 24407), conducted—(1) A Charitable Dispensary with Ayurvedic and Homoeopathic departments : Total cases 64,438 (new : 5,991). (2) A Students' Home with 75 boys. (3) A free Library and Reading Room : Books 16,399 (issued 10,537); newspapers and periodicals 137. (4) A Publication Department which published Gujarati versions of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. (5) Regular worship and religious discourses in the Ashrama and occasional lectures in Rajkot and other places. (6) Birth anniversaries of religious celebrities. (7) Rehabilitation of flood victims of Surat district.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama^ Triehur

This Ashrama, situated at the Vilangan (P.O. Puranattu-kara; Phone : Triehur 646), four miles from Triehur town, is an important educational centre which conducted—(1) A Guru-kula and an orphanage with 128 boys. (2) A High School with 725 boys, and a Lower Primary School (students : 733). (3) Two Co-operative Societies. (4) A Library and Reading Room at Punkunnam in Triehur town : Books 4,705; newspapers and periodicals 17. (5) Daily worship and Bhajan in the Ashrama Gurukula, at the Punkunnam Library and in the Harijan Colony at Adat as also regular religious classes for the public.

(6) Birth anniversaries of religious celebrities_; and festivals. (7)Spiritual retreats for lay devotees. (8) A Publication Department, which brought out 9 books (new 4, reprints 5). (9) Publication of the Prabuddha Keralam, a monthly in Malayalam(54th year). (10) A Printing Press. (11) A Charitable Dispensary:
Total cases 24,781 (new : 12,904). (12) A 10-bedded Hospitalfor women and children ; cases 227.

The girls' section, comprising a Gurukula for girls, a Girls' High School, and other ancilliary institutions for them, was handed over by the Ramakrishna Math to the Sarada Math on 6th June, 1968.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bangalore

The Ashrama at Basavangudi, Bangalore 19 (Phone : 23939), conducted—(1) Weekly religious discourses and daily worship and Bhajan in the Ashrama, and occasional lectures outside. (2) A Library and Reading Room : Books 4,557 (issued 1,739); magazines 22. (3) A small publication department for Kannada books. (4) A Cultural and Recreational Centre for boys aged 7 to !5. (5) A Students' Home for University boys (Phone: 72464) with 83 inmates. (6) Birth anniversaries of Incarnations.

(7) The Swami Vivekananda Ashrama, Ulsoor (Phone : 50966),which had daily Puja, occasional Bhajan and weekly religiousclasses.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore

This Ashrama at Vani Vilas Mohalla, Mysore 2 (Phone : 20535), has a beautiful Temple and Prayer Hall as also a Residential Primary and Higher Secondary School (Phone : 22954). The School (students : 296) had typing, drawing, painting and music as hobby classes. In addition, the Ashrama conducted :

Daily worship and Bhajan, and fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan.
Regular classes and occasional lectures in and outside thecity. (3) A Publication Department for books in Kannada :•
Reprints 11 ; new book 1. (4) Birth anniversaries of religiouscelebrities. (5) Retreats for students. (6) A Library : Books7,000; issued 2,756.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Trivandrum

The original Ashrama was built on the Nettayam hills

about six miles from Trivandrum. In later years the centre of activity shifted to the city at Sasthamangalam, Trivandrum 10, (Phone : 2551).

Besides daily worship and the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna, the Nettayam Ashrama had the following activities—(1) Religious classes and discourses : 264. (2) Public lectures, inter-religious group discussions, etc. (3) An Ayurvedic Dispensary (Total cases 12,570; new 6,774) is conducted at a little distance on the road leading to the city.

The city branch conducted : (1) A 130-bedded Hospital (free beds : 70) with X-ray, Cardiography, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, E.N.T., Dentistry, Maternity, Psychiatry and surgical departments : Cases—indoor 5,987 and outdoor 52,975 (new : 31,648). (2) An Auxiliary Nurse-Midwifery Training Centre (trainees: 30) attached to the Hospital.

The Ramakrishna Ad v ait a Ashrama, Kalady (Ernakulam)

This Ashrama near the birthplace of Sri Sankaracharya (Phone : 45) conducted : (I) Daily worship. (2) An Ayurvedic Dispensary : Total cases 3,896 (new : 3,268). (3) An L.P. School with 164 boys and 138 girls. (4) A Sanskrit U.P. School with 273 boys and 186 girls. (5) A High School having 298 boys and 241 girls. (6) A Students' Home with 116 inmates including 60 scheduled tribe boys. (7) Weekly religious classes and occasional lectures in and outside the Ashrama. (8) A Library and Reading Room : Books 6,658; newspapers and periodicals 19. (9) A Publication Department for books mainly in Malaya-lam. (10) Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda, and other festivals.

A new kitchen and dining hall for the Students' Home was constructed during the year under review.

The Ramakrishna Saradashrama, Ponampet

(Coorg)

The Ashrama conducted—(1) An Indoor Hospital with 50 beds : Admissions 964. (2) An Outdoor Charitable Dispensary : Total cases 24,933 (new : 15,367). (3) A Library and Reading

Room : Books 2,435; magazines and newspapers 12. (4) Occasional lectures in and outside the Ashrama. (5) Observance of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. (6) Special Bhajan on Ekadasi days.

The Vivekananda Ashrama, Shyamala Tal (Almora)

This Ashrama (P.O. Sukhidhang, via Pilibhit) amid charming Himalayan scenery is an ideal resort for meditation and study. Its activities were : (1) A Library with 2,174 books.

The Ramakrishna Sevashrama, a 12-bedded hospital attached to the Ashrama, which treated 68 indoor and 4,170 outdoorcases (new : 2,575). Its Veterinary section treated 683 animals.
Observance of birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the HolyMother and Swami Vivekananda.

The Ashrama guest houses offered limited accommodation to religious-minded visitors.

The Ramakrishna Yogodyana, Kankurgachhi, Calcutta.

This Math (7 Yogodyana Lane, Calcutta 54; Phone: 35-2928), founded in 1883 by Sj. Ram Chandra Datta, a distinguished lay disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, was sanctified by the Master's visit. It enshrines part of the sacred relics of Sri Ramakrishna. Its activities were—(1) Daily worship and regular Religious classes. (2) Celebration of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna and some other festivals. (3) A small Library with 1,063 books. (4) Two Charitable Dispensaries (Homceo.) at Kumirmari and Manasadwip villages of 24 Parganas : Total cases 26,892 (new: 9,901). (5) Two Primary Schools at Manasadwip and Kumirmari with 108 boys and 54 girls.

The Gadadhar Ashrama, Calcutta

This Ashrama at 86A Harish Chatterjee Street, Bhowani-pore, Calcutta 25 (Phone : 47-9779), continued its spiritual activities, consisting of daily worship and Bhajan, the observance of some annual celebrations and regular classes for the public. The Ashrama Library contained 2,600 books.

The Veda Vidyalaya, a Sanskrit Chatushpathi with 3 students, had a library with about 1,000 books.

The Ramakrishna Math, Cossipore, Calcutta

This Math is established in the garden house (90 Cossipore Road, Calcutta 2 ; Phone: 56-2568) sanctified by the stay of Sri Ramakrishna with his disciples during the last few months of his life, as also by his Mahasamadhi. Daily worship weekly scriptural classes in and outside the Ashrama, occasional meetings and the annual celebration of the 'Kalpataru Utsav' were the main activities of the centre. The Ashrama owned a small library.

The Ramakrishna Advaita Ashrama, Varanasi

Started by Swami Shivananda in 1902, the Ashrama (Ramakrishna Road, Varanasi 1) has all along been used as a retreat for old and retired monks. It also conducted—(1) Daily worship and Bhajan and the celebration of the birthdays of Incarnations and Saints. (2) Regular Religious classes for the public and occasional public lectures and seminars. (3) A Library and free Reading Room : Books 9,209 ; issued 1,904 ; journals, etc, 23.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Ootacaniund (Nilgiris) The Ashrama at Ramakrishnapuram, a beauty spot of the famed hill station, conducted—(1) Daily worship. (2) Congregational prayer and chanting on Sundays at the Ashrama. (3) Indoor and outdoor religious classes, besides several lectures outside the district. (4) A Library and Reading Room : Books 2,570 ; magazines and newspapers 12. (5) Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and other religious celebrities, as also various festivals.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Tiruvalla (Alleppey)

Started in 1913 and occupying its own home at Thukalassery since 1930, the Ashrama besides regular worship, Bhajan and the celebration of some birthdays conducted regular weekly classes at the Ashrama and in some temples nearby. It also maintained a small Library and organised spiritual retreats for devotees.

The Ramak'rishna Ashrama, Palai (Kottayam), a sub-centre

of the Ashrama, besides managing a Primary School conducted weekly religious classes and a Students' Home.

The Ramakrishna Math, Kanchipuram (Chingleput)

This monastery (70 Nellukara Street, Kanchipuram 2) coii-ducted—(1) Regular religious classes in the Ashrama and occa-sional public lectures. (2) A Public Library and Reading Room: Books 6,760; issued 2,102; magazines and newspapers 9; average daily attendance 207. (3) Daily discourses on Tiruvempavai for a month. (4) Celebration of several festivals and the birthdays of Prophets. (5) Bhajan on Saturday evenings.

The Ramakrishna Math, Nattarampalli (North Arcot)

Besides daily worship and religious classes on every Sunday, this rural monastery conducted regular weekly Bhajans in the Math. Lectures and film-shows were occasionally organised in the neighbouring villages. The birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda were held in the Ashrama and also organised in different places. The Ashrama held free coaching classes for school children and conducted spiritual retreats for devotees.

The Ramakrishna Math, Puri

This monastery, constructed in 1932 on the sea beach at Cha.krai.ir ilia, is an excellent place for coiiLemplaLioii. Besides daily worship and Bhajan, the Ashrama celebrated some birthdays and other festivals. Religious discourses were held in the Ashrama occasionally.

The Ramakrishna Kutir, Almora

Founded in 1916 by Swamis Shivananda and Turiyananda, this Ashrama is a favourite retreat for our monks. Besides daily classes and occasional Bhajans the Ashrama conducted a Library (Books : 3,882 ; periodicals, etc. 27). Limited accommodation was offered to religious-minded visitors.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Kishenpur (Dehra Dun)

Started in 1916, the Ashrama (P. O. Rajpur) is situated in a picturesque .valley four miles above Dehra Dun on the Mussoorie Road. Besides daily worship it conducted—(1) A Library : Books 1,444; newspapers and periodicals 8. (2) A Charitable Dispensary: Total cases 326 (new: 120). (3) Birth anniversaries of religious celebrities^ and a few public meetings at Dehra Dun.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Chandipur (Midnapore)

The Ashrama (P. O. Math Chandipur), started in 1916, conducted—(1) Daily worship and religious classes. (2) A Charitable Dispensary: Total cases 23,155 (new: 8,873). A free U.P. School: Boys 71 ; girls 77. (4) A Library with 1,077 books. (5) Occasional relief in cash and kind to the poor. (6) Observance of the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious teachers.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Kaiimpong (Darjeeling)

Besides serving as an excellent retreat for our monks, this Ashrama, commanding a fine view of the snow-range, had a small Public Library (books. 1,080). Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda were observed.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Jamtara (Santhal Parganas)

This monastery serves as a place of rest and change tor our monks. It also conducted—(1) A Charitable Dispensary: Total cases 9,874 (new: 6,686). (2) A Library with about 500 books. (3) Regular worship, Bhajan and birth anniversaries 'of Incarnations and religious festivals. (4) Distribution of drinking water with sweets to pedestrians during summer.

SECTION V

CENTRES OUTSIDE INDIA IN EAST PAKISTAN

A. MISSION CENTRES

The Ramakrishna Mission, Barisal

This centre conducted—(1) A Library. (2) Occasional religious classes. (3) Celebration of the birthdays of religious teachers. It also maintained a prayer hall.

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Faridpur

The Ashrama's activities were—(1) An M.E. School. (2) A small Students' Home. (3) An outdoor Homceopathic Dispensary. (4) A small Library. (5) Birth anniversaries of Prophets. (6) Help to the poor in cash and kind. A prayer hall was maintained by the centre.

B. COMBINED MATH & MISSION CENTRES

The Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Dacca

The Mission branch (Phone: 53326) conducted—(1) An outdoor Homceopathic Dispensary: Total cases 1,924 (new 319). (2) A Boys' School (up to class VIII): Students 465. (3) A Library and Reading Room: Books 3,015; newspapers and periodicals 11. (4) Religious and cultural discourses. (5) A Students' Home with 65 boys. Occasional pecuniary help was given to the needy.

The Math section conducted—(1) Daily worship, prayer and weekly religious classes. (2) Celebration of certain festivals and observance of the birthdays of religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Mission and Ashrama, Narayanganj

(Dacca)

The activities of the Mission section were—(1) A Students'

Home with 17 inmates (free 4). (2) A small Library. (3) Occasional pecuniary help to the needy.

The Math section conducted—(1) Regular worship, religious classes and Bhajan. (2) Celebration of the birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vive-kananda.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Seva Samiti

Sylhet

The Mission Seva Samiti's activities were—(1) A Library and Reading Room: Books. 1,800. (2) A Students' Home. (3) Help to the poor in cash and kind. (4) Cremation of unclaimed dead bodies.

The Ashrama conducted—(1) Daily worship and Bhajan. (2) Weekly religious classes and occasional lectures. (3) Celebration of certain festivals and birth anniversaries of religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Seva Samiti Habiganj (Sylhet)

The Mission branch conducted a small Students' Home.

The Ashrama conducted regular worship and religious

classes and celebrated the birthdays of some Saints and Prophets.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama and Mission Sevashrama Baliati (Dacca)

The Mission branch conducted—(1) A Charitable Dispensary. (2) A Girls' Primary School. (3) A srnail Library anu Reading Room.

The Ashrama conducted regular worship, Bhajan, etc.

C, MATH CENTRES

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Dinajpur

The Ashrama's activities were—(1) A Students' Home. (2) A small Library and Reading Room. (3) Occasional help in cash and kind to the needy. (4) Regular worship, Bhajan and

religious classes, and celebration of some festivals and birth anniversaries of religious celebrities.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Bagerhat (Khulna)

The Ashrama's activities were—(1) Regular worship and scriptural classes. (2) A small Library with about 800 books.

(3) A Students' Home. (4) Pecuniary aid to the needy. (5)Celebration of the Jagaddhatri Puja and the birth anniversariesof Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda.

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mymensingh

The centre conducted—(1) Regular worship, Bhajan and occasional public meetings. (2) A Students' Home with 22 inmates. (3) A small Library: Books 554, periodicals, etc. 3.

(4) Weekly religious classes and Bhajan for students.

IN BURMA

The Ramakrishna Mission Society, Rangoon

With a three-storeyed building at 230 Botataung Pagoda Road (Phone: 11626) and a free Guest House in an adjacent building, the Society conducted : (1) A free Open-Access Lending and Reference Library and Reading Room: Books 49,776 (issued 24,346); newspapers and periodicals 123 ; daily average attendance 460. (2) 40 lectures on educational and cultural topics by outstanding persons. (3) 2 Musical Evenings. (4) 2 Symposia on cultural and religious topics. (5) Fortnightly Ramiiam Sankirtan. (6) Celebration of the birthdays of world teachers of diverse faiths.

As permits for permanent residence of Indian monks are not available, the work of the centre is conducted by some local friends of the Mission.

IN CEYLON

The Ramakrishna Mission (Ceylon Branch)

The Ashrama at Colombo with its own home near the beach on Ramakrishna Road (Colombo 6; Phone: 88253)

conducted—(1) Daily worship and weekly classes in Tamil and English and occasional festivals. (2) A free Library with 2,450 books and a Reading Room with 40 newspapers and magazines. (3) Poyaday religious classes for about 535 children in the* Ashrama. (4) Religious classes for youthful offenders at the Wathupitiwela Training School^ about 28 miles from Colombo. (5) The International Cultural Centre with a Students' Hostel (students: 39), Guest Rooms, Library, etc.

The construction of the Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Hall, the biggest hall in Colombo, was completed in March, 1969.

At the Batticaloa branch, besides running three orphanages with 70 boys and 49 girls, regular classes were conducted for the lepers of Mantivu Lepers' Asylum and the prisoners of Batticaloa Jail. 395 students attended the Poyaday religious classes. Foundation of a new building for the orphanage was laid during the year under review.

The capacious Madam (Pilgrims' Rest House) at the holy seat of Kataragama, 180 miles from Colombo, had a daily average of about 400 pilgrims. As in previous years, the Madam supplied free meals each day to about 9,000 pilgrims and cool drinks to about 20,000 for 18 days during the E$ala Festival.

IN SINGAPORE

The Ramakrishna Mission, Singapore

The main Mission centre is located at 179 Bartley Road, Singapore 19 (Phone: 89077). It conducted—(1) A Students' Home for indigent boys (inmates 54) at 179 Bartley Road. (2) A Sanskrit class. (3) Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and other religious celebrities, as also fortnightly Ramnam Kirtan and several festivals in the Sri Ramakrishna Temple. (4) The Kalaimagal Tamil School at 7 M.S. Yio Chu Rang Road with 175 pupils.

The branch centre at 9 Norris Road, Singapore 8 (Phone: 35249), undertook the following activities: (1) A Library and Reading Room: Books 5,144; periodicals and

dailies 38. (2) Weekly scriptural classes and occasional meetings for the public. (3) The Vivekananda Tamil School and the Sarada Devi Tamil School, run a.t 38 Norris Road, in two alternate sessions, with 103 and 93 pupils respectively. Adult Night classes for 111 students were also conducted in the School building.

IN FIJI

The Ramakrishna Mission, Nadi

The Ashrama is situated amid sylvan surroundings in the Nadi township (Post Box 9; Phone: 16), where Gita classes were held weekly apart from daily worship in the Ashrama shrine.

The educational work of the centre at Nadi consisted of : (1) The Vivekananda High School (Phone : 444) with 262 boys and 150 girls. (2) A Students' Home with 25 boys ; and (3) A Library

IN MAURITIUS

The Ramakrishna Mission, Vacoas

The Mission centre at Vacoas (Phone : 313) had the following activities : (1) A Secondary School with 260 students, a small Library and an evening Hindi class at St. Julien d' Hotman with 80 children. (2) Preaching in different places of Mauritius. (3) Weekly religious and cultural classes for Hindu students in Queen Elizabeth College at Rose Hill, and religious talks delivered at the Youth Leaders' Conference. (4) Birth anniversarv of Sri Ramakrishna.

IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The Vedanta Society, New York

This is the first Vedanta Centre in the United States of America, having been started by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. It has its own five-storeyed building at 34 West 71st Street, New York, N.Y. 10023 (Phone ; Trafalgar 4-8691).

Swami Pavitrananda has been in charge of the Centre since 1951. Services were conducted by the Swami every Sunday, and classes on the Bhagavad-Gita were held on Tuesdays. There was a special class for the members on Fridays.

Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and Lord Buddha as well as Christmas and Easter were celebrated. The annual Members' Dinner and "Vivekananda Fourth of July Festival" also were celebrated.

Groups of students from different institutions, including those from New York University came for special and regular classes at the Centre. The Swami had several outside engagements for lectures.

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Centre New York

The Centre was founded in 1933 by Swami Nikhilananda who continued to be Minister-in-charge. He was assisted by Swami Adiswarananda, who joined the centre in August 1968. Located in its own house at 17 East 94th Street, New York, N.Y. 10028 (Phones: Atwater 9-1710 and Lehigh 49445, Cable address : Ramaviijek, New York) the centre had the following activities during 1968-69.

Sunday sermons and regular weekly lectures were conducted except for the period from 16th June, 1968 to 15th September, 1969, when classes had to be suspended due to the illness of Swami Nikhilananda. Special services were held for the Christmas, Easter, and the birthdays of Buddha, Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda.

Since 1947, "Vivekananda Cottage", the house in Thousand Island Park (New York State) in which Swami Vivekananda imparted his Inspired Talks in 1895, has been used as a retreat and a place of pilgrimage during summer. As usual daily meditation classes were conducted there.

Groups of students from various colleges and churches came to attend special lectures at the Centre. Swami Nikhilananda, as the Adjunct Professor of Hindu Religion at Temple University of Philadelphia, Pa., held his final class of the semester and subsequently resigned owing to failing health.

The Centre had its own publication department with a good number of valuable publications to its credit.

The Vedanta Society, Providence (R. I.)

This Society, started in 1928, has its permanent home at 224 Angell Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02906 (Phone :' 421-3960) Swami Sarvagatananda has been in charge of the Centre from November, 1962.

The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, Sri Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus Christ, as well as Easter and Durga Puja were celebrated. Sunday services and Tuesday classes on Raja Yoga were conducted regularly. He also gave lectures to the students of Brown University, and some other local educational and religions organisations. He continued to be an active member of the World Affairs Council of Rhode Island.

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Society • Boston (Massachusetts)

This Society, started in 1941, is located in its own commodious home at 58 Deerfield Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215 (Phone : 536-5320). Swami Sarvagatananda took charge of the centre in November, 1962.

During the year under report, Sunday services and Thursday evening classes were held regularly. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna the ' Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda^ Swami Brahmananda, Sri Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus Christ, as well as festivals like Faster and Diirsm Pnia were dulv celebrated

* ~ O~J J

Acting as one of the religious counsellors of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Swami conducted regular Friday services in the Institute chapel. He also delivered a series of lectures in the Department of religion at Boston University and spoke in various local colleges and church groups including the Centre for the Study of World Religions in Harvard University. On invitation, the Swami conducted a religious service at the Cathedral-of-the-Pines and took part in a religious conference held in the Star Island off the coast of New Hampshire.

The Society maintained the Sarada Ashrama, a spiritual retreat at Marshfkld, where meditation classes and spiritual talks were conducted during summer for the devotees of both Boston and Providence centres.

The Vivekananda Vedanta Society Chicago (Illinois)

The Society was founded in 1930. Swami Bhashyananda, the present head, took charge of the Society in July, 1965, and in September, 1966, shifted the headquarters of the Society to 5423 S. Hyde Park Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60615; Phone : (Area code : 312) 363-0027.

Besides daily worship in the shrine, regular Sunday services and weekly classes with meditation on Tuesday and Friday evenings were conducted by the Swami. He also gave interviews to spiritual seekers. The Society ran a Library with about 2,000 volumes and conducted a Sunday School for children. In addition to these activities the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda and Jesus Christ as well as special worship of the Divine Mother Durga were observed.

On invitation the Swami gave talks on Hinduism and Vedanta at various universities, colleges, churches, etc., in and around Chicago. He also organised a lecture tour of Swami Ranganathananda, who was invited from India to join a Symposium of Religions organised by the Society to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Parliament of Religions in Chicago.

A new plot of land measuring eighty-one acres was purchased for the proposed Vivekananda Monastery in Ganges

Township of Michigan State.

The Vedanta Society, St. Louis (Missouri)

This centre, started by Swami Satprakashananda in 1938, acquired its own premises at 205 South Skinker Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63105 (Phone : PA 1-5118) in 1952. As, before he lectured on Sundays on different religious and philosophical topics, and conducted meditation classes and expounded

Hindu scriptures on Tuesdays. He also gave interviews to spiritual aspirants. The Swami was invited to speak on Hindu Religion and Philosophy at different educational and religious institutions in and outside St. Louis. The Durga Puja, Good Friday, Christmas Eve and the birthdays of Sri Krishna, Buddha, Shankara, Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivek-ananda and Swami Brahmananda were specially observed. The lending Library of the centre was well utilised by the members and friends. The Swami expounded the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna once in a month for nine months.

The dedication ceremony of the new extension of the Society's Vedanta Temple was held in October, '70.

The Vedanta Society of Southern California Hollywood

This Society was started in 1930 by Swami Prabhavananda, who is still its leader. Swamis Vandanananda and Asaktananda worked under him as Assistant Ministers. The former returned to India in September, 1969. The main centre of the Society is at 1946 Vedanta Place, Hollywood, California 90028 (Phone : Hollywood 5-7114). At Santa Barbara, 86 miles north of Los Angeles, the Society has a temple, a convent and a monastery, and at Trabuco, 65 miles to the south, a shrine and a monastery.

During the year under review, in all the three establishments, morning meditation, noon worship and vesper service were performed. In Hollywood, fortnightly Ramnam singing and a monthly 24-hour vigil were conducted. Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Shivaratri were celebrated, as were the birthdays of Sri P.amakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Brahmananda, Buddha and the Christ. Weekly two evening classes were held in Hollywood, and one at Santa Barbara. Lectures were given each Sunday at the Hollywood and Santa Barbara temples. Both the centres maintained Sunday Schools for children. The Swamis lectured on invitation at various churches and colleges, and numerous groups attended services at the Society.

A house in South Pasadena where Swami Vivekananda had lived for several weeks in 1900 was acquired in 1956 by the Society and is being maintained as a shrine.

The Vedanta Press, the Society's publishing department, has a good number of useful publications to its credit including a bimonthly periodical : the Vedanta and the West.

The Vedanta Society of Northern California San Francisco

This Society was established by Swami Vivekananda in 1900. Swami Ashokananda, who was in charge of the Society since 1932, passed away in December, 1969. The present head is Swami Shantaswarupananda, who is assisted by Swamis Shraddhananda and Swahananda.

The Headquarters of the Society are located at the Hindu Temple at 2963 Webster Street, San Francisco, California 94123 (Phone : 346-1265). In the spacious new Temple at 2323 Vallejo Street (San Francisco, California 94123 ; Phone : 922-2323), worship was conducted twice daily, and the auditorium was kept open for meditation. Public lectures were delivered there on Sundays and Wednesdays by the Swamis. The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna. the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda, as well as those of Sri Krishna, Lord Buddha and the Christ were celebrated in the new Temple. Here also was held the Annual June Reception by and for the members of the three centres. The well-equipped Library had about 12,000 books.

In the old Temple, Friday scripture classes were held regularly besides a Sunday School for children conducted till December, '68.

The monastery of thp Society had three permanent establishments, one located at the old Temple in San Francisco, another at the Olema Retreat and the third at the Sacramento branch centre. In addition to the Swamis from India, the membership comprised ten monastic members including one Sannyasin. There is also a convent for women at San Francisco.

The Society has three retreats under it, the old retreat known as Shanti Ashrama, located in the San Antone Valley, the 160-acre retreat on Lake Tahce in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the 2,000-acre wooded retreat at Olema in Marin County. Another property was newly acquired at Bayside Acres

in Marin County. Swami Shraddhananda spent part of each week at the Olema retreat^ where, during his stay, he held daily classes for the monastery members. Swami Swahananda also visited the retreat from time to time.

During the year under review, two booklets comprising some lectures of Swami Ashokananda were published by the Society.

The Society has two branch centres :

Berkeley Centre : This branch centre, established in 1939 at 2455 Bowditch Street, Berkeley, California 94704 (Phone : 848-8862), had Swami Shantaswarupananda as its resident minister during 1968-69. Until mid-July he lectured on Thursdays and each Sunday of the month except the third; when Swami Chidrupananda spoke. With the beginning of winter Swami Swahananda spoke on Sundays while Swami Shantaswarupananda conducted a class each Thursday.

Sacramento Centre : Started informally in 1949 and affiliated in 1952, this branch centre is located at 1337 Mission Avenue, Sacramento County (P. O. Carmichael, California 95608 ; Phone : 489-5137). During the year under review a public lecture, preceded by worship, was given every Sunday morning by Swami Shraddhananda. The Swami also conducted a class for the devotees on Wednesdays besides holding classes for monastic members and granting private interviews.

Both the centres at Berkeley and Sacramento maintained libraries and celebrated the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda, Buddha and the Christ and observed the Easter festival.

The Vedanta Society, Portland (Oregon)

The Society, started in 1925, is now under the leadership of Swami Aseshananda. In September, 1968, it dedicated its new spacious temple and monastery in Portland's attractive Mt. Tabor district (Address : 1157 S.E. 55th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97215 ; Phone : 235-3919).

During 1968-69 the centre conducted daily worship and meditations, maintained a library, and celebrated the Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Shivaratri as also the birthdays of Sri Rama-

krishna, the Holy Mother, Lord Buddha and the Christ. The Swami held scriptural classes and gave interviews to those seeking spiritual guidance. He also spoke in various colleges, churches and the State University of Oregon.

In the Retreat Temple of the Society, which overlooks the Columbia River Valley ^ Sunday morning services were held in the summer season. The Swami invited informal discussions on religion and philosophy following the, service. Members of the Society were encouraged to spend their vacations in this quiet atmosphere.

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Seattle (Washington)

This Centre, started by Swami Vividishananda in 1938, in the beautiful north-western seaport of the United States, has its own three-storeyed home at 2716 Broadway East, Seattle, Washington 98102 (Phone : EAst 3-1228). During the period under review public lectures were delivered by him every Sunday, and weekly religious classes were held on Tuesday evenings. He also gave individual instructions and occasionally spoke before school, university and church groups on invitation.

During a visit to Honolulu for a month the Swami delivered lectures and granted interviews to spiritual seekers.

Birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and Lord Buddha, as well as Christmas and Easter were observed.

IN ARGENTINA

The Ramakrishna Ashrama, Buenos Aires

This Ashrama in Argentina was founded in 1933 by Swami Vijayananda. He is now assisted by Swami Paratparananda. In 1941 it acquired its own fine home in the small town of Bella Vista, 1149 Caspar Campos (Phone : 656-0098), about 30 kilometres from Buenos Aires^ the capital of Argentina. It was granted a legal status by the Argentine Government in 1957.

During the year under review the Swami gave informal talks on Sundays in the Ashrama and weekly public lectures in

Buenos Aires on Wednesdays. Besides maintaining a library, the centre duly observed the birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Brahmananda as well as Christmas Eve and Durga Puja.

On invitation the Swami visited Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo in Brazil where he gave four public lectures besides talks and interviews to devotees.

IN ENGLAND

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, London

Founded in 1948 by Swami Ghanananda, this Centre is now housed in a commodious building at 54 Holland Park, London W. 11 (Phone : 01-727-4010; Cable address: Vedanta London W. 11). It also owns a house at 68 Dukes Avenue, Muswell Hill, London N. 10. Swami Bhavyananda took over charge of the centre during the last illness of Swami Ghanananda, who passed away in November, 1969.

During the year the centre conducted regular Sunday services besides occasional lectures organised outside London. Interviews were given by the Swami-in-charge to earnest spiritual aspirants. A considerable number of visitors were received by the Centre besides attendance at meetings.

Vedanta for East and W_est, the bi-monthly organ of the Centre, entered its 19th year in September, 1969.

The birthdays of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother, Swami Vivekananda and other religious teachers, as well as sacred festivals were observed as usual.

IN SWITZERLAND

The Ramakrishna Vedanta Centre, Geneva

Swami Nityabodhananda, who started this Centre in 1958, conducted regular classes on the Gita at his residence in 20 Avenue Peschier, Geneva; Telephone : (022) 46-12-48. On invitation, he gave a series of talks on Vedanta at the University of Geneva and spoke in an international inter-religious Congress

which held its sessions in Rome and Paris. On request from the National Protestant Church of Switzerland he represented Hinduism and Buddhism at the Congress organised for the Unity of World Religions. The Swami organised a new study-group in Avignon in the south of France while the study group at Basel and the. retreat at St. Moritz continued successfully.

IN FRANCE

The Centre Vedantique Ramakrichna, Gretz

The nucleus of this Centre was formed in Paris in 1936, and the Centre's own house on Boulevard Victor Hugo, 77-Gretz (Phone : 407-03-11), about 30 miles from Paris, was acquired in 1948. Swami Ritajananda, who has been in charge since 1961, is now assisted by Swami Vidyatmananda.

Situated on an extensive plot of land in a quiet area of the town, the Centre conducted regular worship in the shrine and provided facilities for meditation to spiritual aspirants. There were public lectures on Sundays in the Ashrama lecture hall. The Swami gave interviews to people seeking advice on spiritual matters. He also gave talks at Bruxxelles and various other places. The study group, organised at Wiesbaden, Germany, continued successfully. Bhagavad Gita classes were conducted twice a month in Paris.

The Centre published the Vedanfa, a quarterly magazine in French.

Funds That Need Liberal Help

The Ramakrishna Math and the Mission afford opportunities for the wider public to co-operate with the Ramakrishna Order in carrying on various types of work chalked out by Swami Vivekananda for serving mankind. Such co-operation may consist in active participation in the work of the Mission as its members or associates, or in contribution to the different funds of the Math and the Mission. Persons who are in sympathy with the objects of the organisation, but are unable to take part in its activities, are cordially invited to help it by contributing to one or more of the following funds, which, need their

active support. All donations to the Ramakrishna Math and the Mission are exempt from income-tax.

(i) The General Fund, for defraying the administrative and other general expenses of the Mission.

(ii) The Provident Relief Fund, to meet disasters like famine, flood, cyclone, pestilence, riot and earthquake throughout the country.

(iii) The Poor Fund, for alleviating individual distress of various kinds.

(iv) The Mass Education Fund.

(v) The Mission Workers Fund, for the medical care, of workers who fall sick, or retire in old age.

(All the above are Mission Funds.)

(vi) The Math General Fund, similar to the Mission General Fund, mentioned above.

(vii) Funds for the maintenance of any of the permanent institutions described in the Report.

(viii) Funds for the maintenance of old and sick monks.

Contributions may kindly be sent to the General Secterary, Ramakrishna Math or Mission (as the case may be), P.O. Belur Math, Dt. Howrah, with a clear specification of their purpose ; or they may be sent direct to the branch centres concerned. Cheques, drafts or postal orders should be drawn in favour of Ramakrishna Math or Ramakrishna Mission, as the case may be, and crossed to ensure safety.

APPENDIX A

EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

registered on the 4xH, may, 1909, under act XXI of 1860 registration No. 1917 of 1909-10

revised according to west bengal act XXVI of 1961

1. (a) The name of the Association is THE RAM-KRISHNA MISSION. It may also be spelt as RAMAKRISHNA MISSION.

2. The objects of the Association are :

(a) To impart and promote the study of the Vedanta andits principles as propounded by Sri Ramakrishna and practically illustrated by his own life, and of Comparative Theologyin its widest form.

To impart and promote the study of the arts, scienceand industries.
To train teachers in all branches of knowledge abovementioned and enable them to reach the masses.

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

(e) To establish^ maintain, carry on and assist schools, colleges, universities, orphanages, workshops, laboratories, hospitals, dispensaries, house for the infirm, the invalid, and the afflicted, famine-relief works, and other educational and/or charitable works and institutions of a like nature.

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

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

APPENDIX B

EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

1. The Association is established for the purposes expressed in the Memorandum of Association; and its Headquarters as well as the registered office is at Belur Math, District Howrah.

Members and Associates

2. (a) All followers, whether lay or monastic, of the Para-mahamsa Ramakrishna may be members of the Association,if elected at a meeting of the Association or nominated by theGoverning Body hereinafter mentioned, provided that all theTrustees for the time being of the Indenture of Trust datedthe 30th day of January, 1901, usually called the Trust Deed ofthe Belur Math, shall be ex-officio members of the Association.

(b) A person intending to be a member shall sign the declaration form annexed herewith and submit to the General Secretary an application, in a form 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

(j\ T 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.

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

(iii) 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 of the Mission.

(c) 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 the Association or nominated by the Governing Body.

Monastic members shall not be required to pay anyadmission fee or any subscription.
Every lay member and every associate, unless exemptedtherefrom in writing by the Governing Body, shall pay an admission fee of Rs. 5/- and an annual subscription of Rs. 12/-payable in advance. The Governing Body may exempt anymember or associate from payment of all or any fees or subscriptions.
The annual subscription may be commuted by theGoverning Body on payment of Rs. 350/-.
(a) Connection of members and associates with theAssociation shall cease by resignation, death, removal or nonpayment of dues for two years, but shall be capable of renewalin such manner as the Governing Body may from time to timedecide.

8. Members shall be entitled to : —

Vote at all meetings of the Association, use the Libraryattached to the Math at Belur in the district of Howrah andreside at the Math temporarily subject to rules and regulations
prescribed by the Math authorities.
Attend all classes formed by the Association for theinstruction of its members and receive individual instructionwhenever practicable.
Receive all publications of the Headquarters at aspecial discount of 25 per cent on the published price.

(e) Mofussil members shall be entitled to receive the. proceedings, reports and leaflets published by the Association on application.

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

DISTRIBUTION OF BRANCH CENTRES (as in July, '70) :

West Bengal : Calcutta (7 centres), Belgharia, Narendrapur, Rahara, Sarisha, Taki, Manasadwip, Eelur (Saradapitha), Tamluk, Chandipur, Midnapore, Garbeta, Contai, Ram-haripur, Bankura, Jayrambati, Kamarpukur, Asansol, Sargachhi, Malda, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong and Purulia.

Assam : Shillong, Cherrapunji, Karimganj, Silchar & Gauhati.

N.E.F.A. : Along.

Bihar : Patna, Katihar, Ranchi (2 centres), Jamshedpur, Deo-ghar and Jamtara.

Orissa : Bhubaneswar and Puri (2 centres).

U.P. : Allahabad, Varanasi (2 centres), Lucknow, Kanpur, Vrindaban, Almora, Shyamala Tal, Mayavati, Kankhal and Kishenpur.

Delhi: New Delhi. Punjab : Chandigarh. Rajasthan : Khetri.

Gujarat: Rajkot.

Maharashtra : Bombay and Nagpur.

Tamil Nadu : Madras (5 centres), Kanchipuram, Chingleput, Nattarampalli, Perianaickenpalayam, Ootacamund and Salem,

Andhra : Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry.

Kerala : Trivandrum, Tiruvalla, Kalady, Trichur and Calicut.

Mysore : Bangalore, Mysore, Ponampet and Mangalore.

M.P. : Raipur.

outside india East Pakistan : Dacca, Narayanganj, Baliati, Mymensingh,

Faridpur, Barisal, Bagerhat, Dinajpur, Sylhet and

Habiganj.

Burma: Rangoon. Ceylon : Colombo. Fiji : Nadi. Singapore: Singapore. Mauritius: Vacoas. England : London. France: Gretz. Switzerland : Geneva. United States of America : New York (2 centres), Boston,

Providence, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, Hollywood,

Portland and Seattle. Argentina (South America): Buenos Aires.

OUR THANKS AND APPEAL

We express our deep sense of gratitude to all those kind contributors, friends and sympathisers, who by their ready assistance, financial or other, have helped us to carry on our different activities. Our thanks are also due to the editors of various newspapers for kindly publishing our appeals and reports, and also to the gentry, official or non-official, in the relief areas for their timely help. We also express our gratefulness to those local physicians, engineers, lawyers and "other gentlemen who kindly volunteered their services to the different centres.

We hope the generous public all over India and abroad will continue to help the Math and the Mission unstintedly, to enable us to respond to the cry of distress, from whichever quarter it may come. All well-wishers of India and friends of the afflicted may find here a golden opportunity to earn the eternal blessings of the Lord by trying to alleviate the sufferings of their less fortunate sisters and brothers.

Our appeal is also to intelligent, high-minded youngmen, who understand and appreciate the life-giving message of Swami Vivekananda, to respond to his clarion call by dedicating themselves to the service of their fellow beings, who are grovelling in ignorance and misery.

Ramakrishna Mission Reports

Thursday, 5 April 2012

General Report - 1970

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