Sir,

My first visit to Sri Ramakrishna Vidyashala was somewhere in 1965 or so. My brother-in-law was a student there and Swami Sureshanandaji was the Correspondent at that time.

I was very much thrilled to see the Swamiji for the first time. He spoke to me very nicely. I went and bowed before him and got his blessings. At that time I was serving at a school in Coorg as Head Master.

Later on I left Coorg and joined Government College as lecturer in Economics. And then I was selected as Principal of Navodaya Vidyalaya by the Government of India and posted as Founder-Principal to Shivaragudda in Mandya. I had the responsibility of running the residential school.

I thought of consulting the Swamiji on various issues of running the residential Vidyalaya and went and requested the Swamiji to guide me. Swamiji was so happy and kind-hearted that though he was busy with the Vidyashala administration, he used to take me around the class rooms, dormitories, kitchen, dinning room, playground, etc., and make me note down certain things which can be implemented in my Vidyalaya.

I was able to implement certain things though not fully but very substantially.

In my further visits, I requested him to visit our Navodaya Vidyalaya and bless the staff and students. But it was not possible during my tenure as I had to go to South Canara.

I used to take his blessings often as I was fortunate enough to become a faculty in RIMSE after my retirement from Government service. I consider myself very lucky to come in contact with the great and Godly Monk Swami Sureshanandaji.

– Dr. H.S. Raghavendra Rao, Retd. Professor, J.P. Nagar, 20.3.2019

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