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 Panna
delhi
Dear Shri Panna,
Last evening I had written to you quite in a hurry as there was very little time at its disposal to catch the air-mail. Today I shall try to answer all the queries you have made in your previous letters. Hindusthan Standard and Ananda Bazar have in their issues of 14th Sept. published the news you have referred to in your last letter, basing it totally on some documents shown to their Delhi Representatives by Information Dept with the obvious purpose of extricating the Cultural Affairs Ministry of Shri Humayun Kabir from the whole issue. The Dept. seems to have encouraged representatives of some important Newspapers and Journals, including those of Ananda Bazar and Hindusthan Standard, to have a peep into those particular communications from the State Govt. of Madras during the month of January 1963.
Not only much water has flowed from below the Jumna bridge since then but even the documents themselves, being selected for exhibition with a motive, speak a partial truth.
In view of my talks with Shri Humayun Kabir there is now no necessity of writing to Shri Kabir by either Shri Sarojbabu or anybody else. After I learn from Shri Kabir confirming authenticity of the conversation reduced to writing by me I may release the report to the Press, unless, of course, some other developments take place in the next few days.
I have a reason to believe that Dr. Radhakrishnan was to talk about the matter to Shri Bhaktavatsalam during his visit to the South. One should not be surprised if he has already talked. I learn that some other notable persons have also talked to Shri Bhaktavatsalam. I do expect that some good will come out of the efforts.
It would have been very nice of you had you succeeded in arranging a deputation waiting upon the President during his visit to Calcutta. You have missed an important bus indeed.
I have not heard anything from you regarding Shri Kalidas Bose’s or Shri Shyamaprasad’s tour of Bengal for organising public opinion on the issue. Whatever little we have been able to do in Calcutta is to be followed up in the rest of Bengal also.
Did you hear from Hon’ble Justice Mukherji after you have sent the copies of his message? Mrs Mukherji is at Nagpur and she has been invited to witness RSS Dussrah function.Do report to me if you have learnt about her attending the celebrations.
You have to use your ingenuity and imagination in seeing that the people do not forget the ‘Rock Memorial Issue’ or that they do not become hopeless. In your mind also there should not be any doubt about the ultimate success. A statue of Swamiji on the Vivekananda Rock should be considered as a foregone conclusion.
Originally I had planned to stay in the Capital for a couple of weeks at the most. But my stay here is being prolonged like the tail of Hanumana. All the same you should not be surprised if all of a sudden on one fine morning I am in your midst.
What about the Bengali edition of ‘The Rousing Call to Hindu Nation’? Why not give a rousing call to both Shri Sitanath Goswami and the Swastik Prakashan for bringing out the book in time?
I intend to write to Dr. Majumdar and other elderly members of the Committee within the next few days when I hope to be able to furnish them with some valuable information.
You should keep contact with Revered Swami Sambuddhananda and try to post him with all developments I report to you from time to time. In the same way you should keep touch with Swami Bhashyananda of Ramakrishna Mission Cultural Centre, Gole Park. I had met Shri Ranganathananda Swami here last week.
I am so much busy here that to find time to write even urgent letters is also very difficult. Invariably every day I have to go to bed reluctantly at 1 o’clock with the burden of the pending work on my head. I am sure you, at that end, also must have been required to put in hard work as all other colleagues are unable to share your burden because of their other professional and family work.
Convey my Pranams to all elderly persons associated with our Committee. Also convey my Namaskaras to friends and co-workers like Shri Vasantrao, Dixit Kesheorao, Kalidas Bose, Sarojbabu, Shyama Pd, Aji Sanatda, Dr. Sujit and others.
Yours Sincerely,
Eknath Ranade