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
new dehli
Mananiya Shri Bhaktavatsalam,
Respectful Pranams.
I am writing to you after a long interval. I have been practically out of Madras for the last several months. At present I am moving from State to State helping local sympathisers in the formation of State Committees and setting up organization for collection of funds. Leaders in public and even commercial field are enthusiastically joining the Committee in the implementation of the Rock- Memorial Plan. The response is very much assuring and it is hoped that, by December, Committees will be formed in all the States down to the district level, and even locally in big Cities, and the stage will be well set for a simultaneous and concerted drive for general collections throughout the country.
However, to provide, in the meantime, for the steadily mounting recurring expenses incurred on the preliminary work of stone-procuring and stone-dressing work, now in progress, some States where the Committees have already started functioning in some measure, have undertaken to send their quotas of monthly remittances which, together, would meet the requirements at Kanyakumari.
I was extremely happy when I learnt about your visit to one of our stone-dressing yards at Kanyakumari. Your visit and the kind enquiries you made have generated a new vigour and impetus among both the Committee workers and artisans employed in the construction work. The desire you expressed about the early completion of the work has also produced a very wholesome effect upon their minds and has intensified their sense of urgency and responsibility in that regard.
I take this opportunity of heartily thanking on behalf of our Committee both the State Government of Madras and your goodself personally, for issuing necessary orders to make available to us the Government land near the bus-stand at Kanyakumari, for our temporary use during the construction work. We also acknowledge gratefully the cooperation and help extended by the State Government to our Committee by their finally deciding to undertake the jetty-construction work at Kanyakumari and issuing orders to that effect.
I must confess, however, that my ardent hope that the State Government would kindly consider my request expressed in the last paragraph of my letter dated 10th December, 1964, addressed to Shri C.P. Kelu Erady, I.A.S., Joint Secretary to Government fervently appealing to the Government to waive the Committee’s offer to contribute to the extent of Rs. 50,000/- towards the cost of jetty-construction work graciously undertaken by the Government and thus help us by not only reducing our financial burden but also producing a desirable psychological effect in the country conducive to our collection-campaign, was, to my great disappointment, belied when I went through the copy of the G.O.Ms.No. 1248 dated the 29th April 1965, issued in that connection. I, therefore, appeal to you as the Chief Minister to kindly reconsider my request and generously free the Committee from its liability to contribute towards the cost of jetty construction work.
I understand, on the basis of the Chief Engineer Shri Pandyan’s talk with one of our Committee’s representatives, that the actual jetty-construction work may not start for another two months which might be necessary for completing detailed surveying, planning and estimating etc. In this connection I humbly suggest that while efforts should be made to reduce the intervening gap to the necessary bare minimum, the said period should be utilized in constructing approach-road to the shore-jetty. As the construction of approach-road itself is bound to take some time it is but proper that part of the work, at least, is undertaken forthwith so that further delay in the jetty-construction work may be avoided. I am sure you appreciate that all our efforts to expedite the work and accomplish its early completion would be of some consequence only if the jetty platforms are put up in time to facilitate the operation of the transport-service which is, virtually, the life-line of the entire project.
I am naturally eager to meet you and report to you in person about the details of the progress of work. I hope to be in Madras at the end of July. But I may avail of some opportunity to meet you in Delhi during one of your visits to the Capital.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Eknath Ranade