Educational Services : Restoration work in progress : v A Non-formal Primar y On the left side of the entrance of School “Gadadhar Sishu Vikas Baranagar Math, a space measuring Kendra” is being run for 3,690 sq. ft. has long been occupied imparting basic education to the by 38 economically marginalized poor and marginalized children families. They live in a cluster of of the locality. All necessary squalid, unhygienic hutments School kits and nutritious tiffin having least basic facility for are provided to the students. healthy living. Moreover, the students and As a major breakthrough in the restoration process, a suitable place their parents are provided with was identified whereupon an alternative housing facility with all m e d i c a l c o u n s e l l i n g b y standard amenities for better living was conceived for these 38 specialist physicians and also families to free the land under their possession. Accordingly, the medicines are served . issue was broached to them proposing our offer for resettlement. v Monthly stipend to poor Although 17 families agreed to the offer, the rest 21 families claimed students pursuing further cash compensation. This apart, three shop-owners who have been higher studies. carrying on business occupying a part of the space. It, however, gives rise to the apprehension that another sizeable compensation Vocational Training Programme : package may have to be conceded. Vocational Training is being organised in Basic Computer Each family has been provided with a separate self-contained Learning /Computer Hardware /D.T.P. for young boys and accommodation, absolutely on ownership basis with electricity and Tailoring /Embroidery for girls who have finished school water connections. Interestingly, there shall be no sharing of education or pursuing higher courses. electricity and water among the resident families. Health Services : The entire process of relocation entails an expenditure of Rs. 2.00 crore of which the construction cost of the new housing complex is v F r e e A l l o p a t h i c a n d about Rs.0.80. crore whereas Rs. 1.20 Crore has been given as cash Homeopathic treatment compensation to others. This expenditure is more than our estimate. with medicines for the patients at our charitable dispensary 'Swami Vivekananda Swasthya Seva Kendra'. v Financial assistance for poor patients requiring special treatment at big specialty hospitals. “I have fasted on Ekadasi as a fun. I've worn a white Saree and v Cataract Operations of the remained close to Mother the whole day….. How can I make you Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, General Secretary, poor elderly patients with feel how excited I'm to go back to Saradadevi's place? I'm now Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math, has kindly supply of specs after operation. busy with trash jobs. I wish to go back to Swamiji and Mother – consented to inaugurate the new housing complex “Maa Sarada my desire is centred on it”. v The Health Awareness Abasan” for the relocated families on 10th February, 2017 at 4 P.M. - Sister Nivedita writes in a letter dated 18th June, 1899 Camps with specialist doctors for poor slum-dwellers for This significant development of retrieving the prime plot of land prevention and cure of diseases and inculcating in them inspires us to accelerate the process of acquisition, to make our Ramakrishna Math, Baranagar hygienic habits for better living. Such suggestions are dream of resurrecting the erstwhile Baranagar Math, the genesis of 125/1, Pramanick Ghat Road, Kolkata - 700 036 compiled in a booklet for free distribution. Ramakrishna Sangha from the ruins of history. Phone / Telefax : (033) 2557 0827 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.rkmbaranagar.org For information in detail, kindly visit our website www.rkmbaranagar.org S wa m i V i ve k a n a nd a to o k through belonged to them. They lived on madhukari and scanty Nivedita - as they saw her initiative in founding this alms received from their well-wishers. It was here that these v In a transition period of our national monastery in a rented abandoned dedicated youths took sanyas by performing virajahavan. “Be thou to India's future son / The mistress, servant, life, the intense spiritual practices of garden house at Baranagar in North Reminiscing those days, Swami Vivekananda once commented: friend in one”– Swami Vivekananda Sri Ramakrishna, an ardent seeker of v Calcutta. “Oh! Those were the days we lived. Such severe austerities “Khuki, my dear” – Sri Sri Sarada Devi. truth and his great pledge to usher in v a new era were embodied in profound Here lived a galaxy of monks led by would drive the ghost away, let alone man!”. “Lokmata” (Mother of People) – Rabindranath Tagore. v wisdom of Swami Vivekananda, his Swamiji. Among Sri Ramakrishna's With the passage of time, the Math has widened its spheres of “A flame embodied”– Sri Aurabinda own replica and chosen leader. These v were instrumental in the emergence household activities. Yet its main aim is to “Mahasweta” – Abanindra Nath Tagore of 'Ramakrishna Sangha' devotees, the prominent ones who recover the lost land measuring v “Inspiration” – For millions of India's freedom fighters frequented this monastery include about two acres and erect a In a message of blessings to his dear disciple, Swami Replica building of the old Girish Chandra Ghosh, Balaram Bose, Vivekananda said: “Be thou to India's future son / The Suresh Chandra Mitra. Deben monastery, to evoke the mistress, servant, friend in one”. Rabindranath Tagore called Majumdar, Sri M (Master Mahasaya), memory of those awe-inspiring Chunilal Bose, Bhabanath Chatterjee days spent here by Swami her “Lokmata” (mother of the people) and Sri Aurobinda etc. and were instrumental in Vivekananda and his brother described her as ''a flame embodied”. An Irish by birth, Sri Sri Maa is the saviour, rather initiating the Sangha. monks. However, the recovery process is on progress . Nivedita literally emerged in our national scene for selfless mother of the Sangha. Her divine service to Mother India, precisely for the spread of Women presence, ceaseless prayer and th Education and her special endeavour to awaken the people of guidance in critical situations Celebration of 150 Birth Anniversary of Sister Nivedita are the most treasured India to make them free from foreign subjugation. Our main possession of this Sangha 2017 - 2018 aim is to highlight Nivedita's dedication, religious practices, Abstract of Programmes austerities and above all, her love for India, which are our prized inheritance. Mute witness - gate pillars of Old Math v Inauguration of a modern auditorium Community Development Programme : Suresh Chandra Mitra Balaram Bose Girish Chandra Ghosh – “Nivedita Debangan” ; v Happy Birthday to You : After the demise of Sri Ramakrishna on v Cultural Programmes – Highlighting Observance of Birth Anniversary of 16th August, 1886, his foremost different inspiring aspects of donors and his / her near ones by disciple Narendranath (later Swami Nivedita's life through lectures Vivekananda), a restless God-seeker, distributing milk and bread to the delivered by reputed personalities, shunned his family and took shelter in local poor, elderly people and an abandoned and dilapidated garden staging of drama etc. children daily; house at Pramanick Ghat Road, v Publishing books on Nivedita's life, Baranagar, along with some of his v In Memory of Your Dear Ones : brotherly disciples. The house was a commemorative books, leaflet, photo-posters, brochures etc. Remembrance of departed near ones Sri M (Master Mahasaya) Bhabanath Chatterjee vDistribution of books on Nivedita and her inspiring on their Death Anniversaries by Surcharged with spiritual thoughts and ideals of Sri messages among students at cheap rates; feeding milk and bread to the slum v Daily puja at the shrine, aratrik bhajans, Ramakrishna, his disciples left behind vValue Education Programmes; children and poor elderly people . reading from the religious scriptures, all temporal attachments and vCompetitions through essays, debates and discourses , spiritual discourses; repository of accumulated v Live and Let Live : Monthly v garbage and wild weeds. stereotypical pattern of life. Days questionnaire on Nivedita and her life, for college and school Devotees' conferences; Pecuniary Help for the Old and v Sri Sri Durgastami Puja, Sri Sri Kali Puja, However, this place gradually flowed by amidst intense japa, students; metamorphosed into the Crippled. Sri Sri Sodoshi Puja, Sivaratri, Janmastami, meditation, puja, spiritual interactions vDebates and workshops in different schools. Christmas etc. legendary 'Baranagar Math', v v the first-ever monastery of and singing devotional songs, Teachers' Retreat on Nivedita’s education and ideology Pre-Puja Garment Distribution : v Birth anniversaries of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sri Sarada Devi and Ramakrishna Order. kirtans etc. Austerity and penury all vMusical programmes in memory of Nivediata For the poor men and women people. Swami Vivekananda. Present activities of the Math Spiritual services:.