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."
A view of one of the work-sheds in the smithy section.
The stone-dressing work implies a full-fledged smithy section to ensure a perennial supply of re-sharpened chisels of various types to stoneartisans. Accordingly, a Smithy Department was set up in the Committee's spacious stone-dressing yard.
A blackmith, trained in traditional method of preparing chisels, helped by four boy-assistants, one working at teh blower, another at the anvil, the third attending to the work of tempering and the fourth entrusted with the task of carrying re-sharpened chisels to stone-artisans, at their work-sheds, and bringing back the used ones to the Smithy Department, could supply maximum 800 re-sharpened chisels to stone-dressers within the course of a single working day.
As each sone-worker was required to exchange used chisels for the re-sharpened ones, for about 40 to 50 times a day, depending upon the quality or texture of stones he was asked to work upon, a single blacksmith with his team of four assisstants could, throughout a day, maintain a regular supply of chisels to 15 to 18 stone-dressers.
Obviously, the number of smiths increased with the increase in the number of stone-workers that were engaged on the project. During the peak period of 1969-70, when the average total number of labourers working on the Project, went up to 900, the number of stone-artisans of all grades rose up to 400.
Only ordinary charcoal is used for re-sharpening chisels, as heat produced by means of any other agency does not suit that work. The cost of teh charcoal alone, consumed in the said item of work, during six years of teh memorial-construction, amounts to Rs. 1,87,596-00.