The Secretary,

Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee

Dear Friend,

After assuming charge of organizational work of the Committee as its Organising Secretary in August last, it is for the first time I am reporting to you regarding progress of the Committee’s work which, for the last several months, has been centering round securing approval of the State Government of Madras for ‘Vivekananda Rock Memorial’ plan.

After the State Government’s refusal of permission in the month of March 1963 to our proposed plan of erecting Swamiji’s statue on the V. Rock, our continued persuasive efforts by way of sending to the Madras Government copies of resolutions passed in meetings organized by our workers at a number of places all over the country as well as writing of personal letters by our supporters to Shri Bhaktavatsalam, Minister for Hindu Religious Endowments and Charitable Trusts, Madras State, in favour of the Committee’s Memorial Plan have proved quite useful indeed.

Some important Dailies and other Journals have also joined us in our laudable cause and have appealed through even their editorial columns to the State Government of Madras for permitting our Committee to go ahead with its plan. Learning from Newspaper reports about our noble object some influential persons are understood to have spontaneously written to, and some have even personally met the ministers concerned, requesting them to support the Memorial Plan of our Committee.

As has been promised by Shri Bhaktavatsalam to our Delhi Committee Representatives who met him in July last, he is believed to have placed the matter before the State Government for reconsideration.
                                                         
As Shri Bhaktavatsalam himself is recently elected to head  the Madras Government which is reviewing the V. Rock Memorial issue, it is hoped that the Committee will get the  green signal soon after 2 nd October when he is scheduled to  assume his new office of Chief Ministership.Shri Bhaktavatsalam as we all know, personally, has been sympathetic to our cause. The day of his ascending to the headship of the State, therefore, is significant for us. Every  unit of the Committee has naturally a reason to rejoice on  that day and send congratulatory telegrams on behalf of the ‘Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee’ to Shri M. Bhaktavatsalam, Fort St. George, Madras –9.

I have met Shri Humayun Kabir recently. The interview was quite useful. I may get an opportunity of meeting Shri Bhaktavatsalam during the next few days when he is expected to visit the Capital.

I may have to stay in the Capital for a few days more.

Yours sincerely,

Eknath Ranade

26 Cornwallis St,

Dated 17-8-63
Calcutta – 6

Dear Shri Sankaran,

Received your two circular-letters dated 13-8-63 and a copy of the Memorandum of Association and the Rules and Regulation of the Committee on the 16th of August, as expected.  You also must have received my letter dated 15-8-63 in due time.

Dear Shri Sankaran,

A rough plan of my movements in Calcutta during the next 10-12 days is now almost ready in my mind. I have started meeting important people here since today. I hope to complete my first round of visits by Sunday the 25th. My next move is to address a Press-conference. Though I have not fixed up a definite date for the same as yet, I hope it can be conveniently held on Tuesday or Wednesday if Monday the 26th is considered a bit too early from the point of view of completing preliminary preparations prior to the conference.

25-12-1963
New Delhi

Dear Panna,