At Kanyakumari - a unique symbol of unity and purity - is the Memorial of Swami Vivekananda, another symbol of the united aspiration of Nation. In the Memorial, there is a happy and harmonious blend of all the architectural beauty of the country. It is a symbol of unity because the whole nation wished, worked and contributed for it. Person from all states participated in its inauguration.
"An aggregate or a congregation of men does not make a nation, nor do the geographical area and duration of time qualify a society to be known as a nation. A government formed on such a basis can be called a state, but not a nation. It is common goal or mission that makes a nation. All the constituents strive collectively for something noble. Service with spiritual orientation results in man-making which invariably and inseparably connected with nation building." It is the core of all the thoughts behind Vivekananda Kendra.
Second Phase of Vivekananda Rock Memorial was parallel when Rock Memorial was taking shape. As Eknathji used to say "To put up a Cement and Concrete structure is not the work for which I am born, I am to erect a living and dynamic monument which will be worthy of Swami Vivekananda and which will be capable of bringing into fruition his grand vision of future India."
Letter to Shri M. Bhaktavatsalam
Shri M Bhaktavatsalam
Chief Minister of Madras
Fort St. George, Madras – 9
Dear Sir,
Following the grant of Government permission for the construction of the Vivekananda Memorial on the Vivekananda Rock the Committee addressed itself to the task of making preliminary arrangements at Kanyakumari to start the construction work as early as possible.
As the entire construction is to be in stone the laborious and dexterous work of cutting and chiselling the stones to designed shapes, forms an important preliminary part of the construction work. For that purpose nearly a hundred artisans of requisite skill will have to be pressed into service and this special labour will have to be imported from all parts of Tamil Nadu.
This implies that a suitable plot of about five acres of land in the vicinity of Kanyakumari—at the most a mile or two away from the township—where amenities of power and water are readily available is an urgent need. Such a spacious area is necessary for making housing arrangements for the families of the imported skilled labour and the staff of supervisors as also for erecting spacious store houses and big worksheds for carrying on the work unaffected and undisturbed in the sun and the rains and for unloading the stone from the quarries.
As we shall have to make expenditure on the land procured for the said purpose and to construct quarters and sheds over it, we are, naturally, not in favour of securing it on any lease basis but are keen on owning it so that after completion of the Memorial work we may be able to use the premises for some suitable purpose in furtherance of the aims and objects of the Committee.
We, therefore, approach you with a request that the Government may kindly allot to the Committee requisite area from poromboke lands, if available, or acquire it for us from private holders at a reasonable price which, obviously, the Committee is prepared to pay.
In this connection we have one more request to make. There is a walled plot of Government land near the Kanyakumari bus stand on the East of the road leading to Gandhi Mantapam and south of the West-East road meeting the main road to the Temple. We pray that the said vacant plot be made available to us temporarily for facilitating the construction work on the Rock, on any terms you deem fit. Being spacious and near the proposed Jetty Point on the shore it will be of vital importance to the entire work. Apart from its use as a place for depositing the finished stones and storing other building materials before their transportation to the Rock, it can be immediately utilised for starting the 29 stone cutting work by putting up temporary worksheds over it, pending the finalisation of elaborate arrangements under contemplation.
As our ambition is to complete the work by January, 1967, we are anxious to make a beginning immediately. We are sure you will appreciate our difficulties and consider our prayer favourably.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Eknath Ranade