Sir,

Swami Vivekananda stayed at the Niranjana Mutt in city when he visited Mysuru for the first time in November 1892. Hence, construction of Swami Vivekananda Memorial Cultural Youth Centre as a memorial to him at the place where the monk stayed is not only most appropriate but also a necessity.

The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), after renovating Niranjana Mutt, handed it over to Sri Ramakrishna (RK) Ashram. But the space is not enough to meet the planned projects of the Ashram. Hence, the NTM School adjoining the Mutt was handed over to RK Ashram as per a Government Order.

Although the School and Viveka Memorial are equally important, it is to be noted that NTM School has very little number of students and they are transferred to the nearby Devaraja Government School, which has better infrastructure. The transfer will not hurt the students nor their parents. At the same time, accepting such a small change in situation for the cause of a good idea, should not be difficult. It is to be noted here that many Government Schools have been shut down due to poor admission of students. In such a situation, one cannot understand why activists are fighting to save only NTM School while being silent on other such Government Schools.

I would like to recall that on July 19, 2008, Swami Vivekananda Smaraka Samskritika Yuva Kendra (Trust) wrote a letter to the Government seeking handing over of NTM School to it as there were only very few students in the school. But, the Karnataka Government replied that the School cannot be handed over to a Trust. However, the Government was ready to hand over the School to RK Ashram if it was willing.

Following this proposal, RK Ashram wrote to its Head Office at Belur Mutt, Kolkata, for guidance. Acting on Belur Mutt’s approval, the city’s RK Ashram came forward to take possession of NTM School and its land. It was only then, the Government of Karnataka transferred the NTM School building and land to RK Ashram, Mysuru.

It is to be noted here that RK Ashram is not interested in unnecessary acquisition of assets or expansion of its landed properties. The Ashram has many devotees who are willing to donate their sites or buildings. But the Ashram has no such tradition of accepting all properties given as donation.

Building a Viveka Memorial at this site is significant because Swamiji had stayed here and will give a historical value to the place. Besides, as the site is in the heart of the city, it is easily accessible to tourists and visitors.

The construction of the Memorial at the site, which also includes the NTM School building premises that adjoins Niranjana Mutt, will be a jewel in the cultural capital Mysuru’s cap. As of now, the site legally belongs to Sri Ramakrishna Ashram. The Ashram does not want to take forceful possession of the land as a matter of principle. The residents of the city must understand the benefits they would get if RK Ashram is allowed to takes over the School and the site peacefully within the framework of law.

– K. Leelavathi, writer, Ramakrishnanagar ‘K’ Block, 16.10.2019

Note: As per our information, neither Ramakrishna Mission’s Head Office at Belur, Kolkata, nor the Mysuru Sri Ramakrishna Ashram had submitted a proposal to anyone on the Viveka Memorial project.

When in power, the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, after deciding to celebrate Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary in a meaningful manner, passed a resolution to construct a Swami Vivekananda Memorial at every place across the country where the Swamiji stayed with the co-operation of the respective State Governments.

Following the resolution, the UPA Government constituted a Central Committee with the then UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as the Head and the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and other dignitaries as members. The UPA Government, which set aside a big sum of money for the project, also transferred Rs. 5 crore for Viveka Memorial in Mysuru.

Based on the UPA Government’s decision, the then BJP Government in the State headed by Jagadish Shettar transferred the NTM School building and the land on Jan. 9, 2013, for the construction of Memorial to Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysuru.

Before the project could take off, the Karnataka Assembly polls took place in May 2013 and the Congress Government headed by Siddharamaiah came to power. Since then, some politicians and several Kannada activists have been opposing the handing over of NTM School and land to RK Ashram.

Though the land for Viveka Memorial was sanctioned by the then BJP Government headed by Jagadish Shettar in January 2013, it is ironical that the incumbent BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has sent a memo to the Mysuru Deputy Commissioner directing him not to hand over NTM School to Sri Ramakrishna Ashram.

An experienced administrator and seasoned politician that he is, CM Yediyurappa should not have issued the memo unilaterally in such a mighty hurry without the knowledge of the Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysuru. In all fairness, Yediyurappa should have sought an explanation from RK Ashram, before issuing such directive.

It is unfortunate that the rulers sometimes take decisions for short-term gains or to meet their selfish ends. Or, who knows, they simply succumb to pressure or intimidation.

In most such cases, the fallout of such decisions, taken to wriggle out of a difficult situation, can make an adverse impact on the society. Such irrational decisions will deprive our society of establishing a big inspirational centre such as Viveka Smaraka that will benefit the present and future generation, is it not? Come, let us all introspect on the issue.

– K. B. Ganapathy,  Editor-in-Chief

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