Appeal

Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre at

Ramakrishna Math and Mission PO Belur Math, Dist Howrah, West , PIN 711202, India +91-33-2654-5700 [email protected] belurmath.org 1 founded Belur Math in 1898 to enshrine the sacred relics of his master Sri Ramakrishna. It has a magnificent temple dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, and three smaller temples dedicated to Holy Mother , Swami Vivekananda and Swami Brahmananda. Belur Math is also home to the headquarters of the world-wide and . The place is well-known for its architectural elegance, clean environs, sacred associations and its spiritual atmosphere. Located on the western bank of the Ganga, it is a haven of peace, drawing thousands of people to it every day from all over the world.

There has been a long-felt need for a state- of-the-art auditorium in Belur Math. The authorities of Belur Math decided to fulfill this need on the significant occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of .

Swami Abhedananda (1866 – 1939) was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and a brother disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Urged by Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda went to London in 1896 to spread there. For the next 25 years he spread the message of Vedanta and the Indian culture in USA and Europe. His profundity of scholarship, incisive intellect and oratorical power elicited widespread admiration, and people thronged to listen to him. He was also a prolific writer, and his books Life Beyond Death etc are famous even to this day.

After his long and successful work in the West, Swami Abhedananda returned to India in 1923 and continued his work of spreading Vedanta until his passing away in 1939.

Swami Abhedananda 2 Considering the significance of Swami Abhedananda’s life and work, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, decided to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary and constituted a National Implementation Committee (NIC) in March 2016 for the purpose and also for the commemoration of the birth centenaries of some other great personalities.

3 Plan for the Ground Floor

11050 Y 3000 450 450 D3 750 1875 STORE LIFT 1650X 2050 1800X1775 9150 1800 9150

W1 W1 W1 2375 W1 10925 1575 10925 W1 UP W1 LOBBY 6750X7925

6125 +900 6125 +900 W1 +900 W1 2200

1800 1575

SEC Y-Y +450 W1 W1

SEC Y-Y

W1 +900 W1 +900 20625 MULTI-PURPOSE HALL 28850X20250

A

SEC A-A W1 W1

10000 1500 ±00 D2 D2 3650

A +900 +900

SEC A-A 4135 4135 3675 3675

-600

±00

+750 +900 +750 +450

3000 1500 GREEN GREEN ROOM ROOM 6350X5050 +300 6350X5050 +300 STAGE +300 25 EXPN. JT. 25 EXPN. JT. UP 10000X5000 UP D1 D1 X X +150 RAMP -600 -600

2775 +300

2125 6375 13000 6375 2125

LIFT 3000 LIFT

250

HALL HALL 13500

250 6525 6525

14000

250 +2700 +2700

14500

D1 D1 +2500

D2 D2 +2700 +2700

D1 D1

12250 18620

LIFT SEC B-B LIFT 3075 12250

2725 3050X2350 3050X2350 B

2175 3425 UP 1000 1850 UP SEC B-B TOILET +2700 TOILET 6500X4300 6500X4300 LOBBY B 10370X11200 300

4000 4000

6625 1850 6625 1500 950

RAMP

1800 +2700 4100

GR. FL. PLAN ±0 AREA-2184.56 Sq.M. ±0

Y

4 Plan for the Second Floor

Y

LIFT STORE 1800X1775 1650X 1800

W1 W1 W1 W1 2950X1500 TOILET +8100 2950X1500 TOILET

W1 UP W1 LOBBY ROOM ROOM ROOM 6750X7925 4595X5000 4580X5000 ROOM 4580X5000 2925X1500 2925X1500 TOILET TOILET

W1 4595X5000 W1 +8100 +8100 +8100

SEC Y-Y W1 W1

SEC Y-Y 2250 WIDE PASSAGE W1 W1 +8100 20625 5500X7075 5500X4950

2760 1100 15400 1100

A 2925

SEC A-A

LIGHTING LIGHTING W1 ROOM ROOM W1 4150X3875 4150X3875 1225

A

SEC A-A +3600 3200 21500

22500 +11900

+11900

23500

24500

UP UP

X X +10400 +10400 25000

+7400

+11600 +11600 26000

26300

27300

28300

+10200 +10200

LOBBY 10370X11200

3075 LIFT LIFT 3075

12250 3050X2350 3050X2350 12250

UP UP TOILET TOILET 6500X4300 6500X4300 B B

+10200

19120

Y

2ND FLOOR PLAN AREA-2096.70 Sq.M.

5 Side Elevation

CATWALK (1000X2100)

G.L. ±0

SIDE ELEVATION

Ramakrishna Mission submitted a few proposals to the NIC, including the construction of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre at Belur Math, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Abhedananda. The NIC sanctioned a grant of Rs. 5.2 crore to Ramakrishna Mission for the project. Some important features of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre are as follows: • Dimension of the site: 222’ x 103’ • Height of the building: 80’ • Total no. of floors: Ground + 4 • Seating capacity of the main auditorium: 1400 • A smaller auditorium on the ground floor with a seating capacity of 300 • A multipurpose hall on the ground floor with a seating capacity of 500 • Additional facilities: A large gallery, 2 lifts, 3 staircases, 3 green rooms, sound control rooms, toilets, 12 living rooms for speakers, monks, etc. The total estimated cost for the project is Rs. 21 crore.

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Educational & Research Institute, Belur Math Math (An Autonomous Degree College)

6 Swami Vivekananda Swami Abhedananda

The Convention Centre will host the following programmes for the benefit of the general public, especially the youth, throughout the year: 1. Devotees’ Conventions / Spiritual Retreats 2. Youths’ Conventions 3. Values Education Workshops 4. Lectures and seminars on topics related to religion, philosophy and Indian culture 5. Cultural programmes 6. Academic programmes of Ramakrishna Mission’s educational institutions adjoining Belur Math: Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (a Deemed University), Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (a College of Arts and Science) and Ramakrishna Mission Sikshanamandira (a College of Teacher Education). Further, the Convention Centre will also be used to hold the following events for the members of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission: Monastic Heads’ Conference, Monks’ Conference, General Body Meeting of Ramakrishna Mission, Foundation Day Celebration of Ramakrishna Mission, and other conventions. 7 Being a charitable organization, Ramakrishna Mission depends mainly on donations from the generous public and financial support from the Government for running its varied service activities. In particular, successful completion of this project — construction of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre — depends entirely on the availability of active support from our devotees, well- wishers and corporate houses.

We, therefore, earnestly request you to come forward and donate generously for this noble project which, we are sure, will help to perpetuate the memory of the great Swami Abhedananda for centuries to come.

Account payee cheques or bank drafts drawn in favour of “Ramakrishna Mission” may kindly be sent to the following address:

The General Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Belur Math, Dist. Howrah, - 711202

Kindly mention in the covering letter that the donation is for “Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre”.

All donations to Ramakrishna Mission are eligible for Income Tax exemption u/s 80G (5) (vi) of IT Act, 1961.

Online donations can be made through our website .

Yours in service, Swami Suvirananda General Secretary

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