KendraUnfolds

KENDRA UNFOLDS

SELECTED LETTERS OF
MANANEEYA EKNATHJI RANADE

VIVEKANANDA KENDRA KANYAKUMARI

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© On behalf of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari
1st Edition: October 2005- 1500 copies.
2nd Edition May 2016

Published by:

Vivekananda Kendra Prakashan Trust,

No.5, Singarachari Street,
Triplicane, Chennai - 600 005.
Phone: (044) 28440042,
E-mail: [email protected]

SBN 81-89248-66-09

Price: 160/-

Printed at:

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Preface

Next only to the spoken word, letters are the most
effective media of communication. Most people write
letters with the intention of conveying information.
Great men, nation builders, social engineers, leaders of great
movements, etc. are great letter writers. Such letters constitute a
remarkable branch of world literature. Their importance lies in
their relevance far beyond the time or the person of those letters.
Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Guruji are a few in
our country whose letters have acquired the status of classical
literature. Mananeeya Eknathji Ranade belongs to that category
of letter writers both in terms of volume, variety and impact.

“Kendra Unfolds” is a collection of over 242 letters selected
from the more than 22 thousand letters personally written by
Mananeeya Eknathji. They cover a period of nearly 20 years,
starting from 1963 to 1982. These letters are addressed to people
who literally represent every strata of society. They also reflect
the need, the nature and the exigencies of the situation, wherein
they were written. Naturally, they cover such a wide spectrum,
immense variety and varied styles of presentation. But, in spite of
this immense vastness, there is a common background, a unifying
thread and one single well-defined goal, which is unmistakable.

Letter writing begins with Mananeeya Eknathji accepting the
responsibility of erecting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial at
Kanyakumari and ends, to put figuratively, with his last breath.
It runs parallel to the work which he made his life’s mission. It
would be more appropriate to say that the uninterrupted writing
of letters was an integral part of achieving the great work he had
undertaken, as important as any other activity. In fact, it was
through letter writing that he effectively played the role of man
making and nation building. The thousands of letters he wrote
were effective tools in his hands to mould workers, weapons to
fight the battle and lofty concepts to inspire people, As in the case
of great men mentioned at the beginning, Mananeeya Eknathji

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also maintained almost constant touch with all those concerned
with the work, conveyed to them the necessary information,
corrected and instructed them whenever required, inspired them
when their spirits drooped, reprimanded them when necessary
and consoled and counselled them at critical moments. His
living presence was felt by one and all on account of this forceful
medium — written words.

The 20-year period of his letter writing could be divided into 4
or 5 periods, some distinct and some overlapping. The earliest
letters belong to that shadowy period of doubt and uncertainity
when most people felt that a memorial on the rock was almost
impossibility. It was this uncertainity that brought Eknathji to
the scene to take up the challenge and materialize the dream.
But, even in those days, Eknathji had absolutely no doubt in his
mind about the ultimate success.. In some of his earlier letters we
find this categorical assurance given to the workers by him.

Letters of the earlier period present a vivid picture of his sustained
efforts to get every obstacle removed and to secure permission
from the Tamilnadu Government for erecting a memorial
on the rock, both at the state level and the center level. While
persuading the Tamilnadu Chief Minister, he was also trying to
bring pressure on him from prominent personalities including
hundreds of Members of Parliament from every part of India.

While the efforts were being made, he was also planning the
execution part, preparing different models of the monument
and also the statue to be installed, simultaneously, chalking
out a mammoth plan for collecting the enormous fund that was
required. For this, he was contacting important people in person
and through letters to organize committees in every state down
to the district level. It is evident that these committees were
not meant merely as agencies of fund collection, but also were
conceived as the nucleus for activities which Eknathji had in
mind, but had not divulged to even his close lieutenants.

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Every minute detail of the monument was so carefully thought
out after detailed discussion with people who were adept in the
matter. Nothing was left to chance. In the third part of the letters,
we find his mastery over every aspect of the monument and its
construction which he acquired through strenuous application.
He had mastered every aspect so that even the experts found his
word as final and authentic.

Even as the dream of the Rock Memorial was gradually nearing
completion, Eknathji’s mind had travelled far ahead and had
come to the conclusion that a monument in granite, however
magnificent, will be incomplete, if not accompanied by a living
expression to its spirit in the name of Vivekananda Kendra, a
non-sannyasin order of life workers, who will carry the message
of Swamiji to all parts of India, especially, the neglected and the
backward and the remote areas.

In the fourth part, we find the letters bristling with this grand
idea even before the inauguration of the monument. Search for
life workers had started. Ideas about the nature of training and
the kind of activities to be undertaken were formulated for which
he held extensive discussions with experienced people so much
so that there was no time lag between the inauguration of the one
and the initiation of the other.

Once the Vivekananda Kendra came into being, the letters
show, that Eknathji’s mind was fully and totally absorbed in
the all-important task of selecting, screening and training of
the life workers. He had no precedence to follow. He was the
path maker. Yet, he so planned every thing that even experts in
the field would find it marvellously superb. To him, it would
appear, that this part of the work was no less important than the
erection of the monument, nay, even more important. He spent
every moment of his time, every ounce of his energy and every
bit of his intelligence and intuition to accomplish this divine task,
which he considered the precious legacy of Swami Vivekananda,
which he was destined to execute.

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Following the training part of the life workers - the Man-making
- came their deployment to the remotest corners of the country
to embark upon the grand vision - the Nation building. Young
workers, both men and women with little or no experience, whose
only capital was burning idealism and some preliminary training
had been deployed to far off places. The last part of the letters
give us a glimpse of the various kinds of problems they had to
face, their initial responses in facing up to them, some negative,
some positive, their falterings and their failures, their successes
and their adventures, are all reflected in the various letters which
Eknathji kept on writing to them; a day-to-day monitoring as
it were. All the while , he was on the move, despite his failing
health and precaution of the doctors, he was in constant touch
with every worker, informing, inspiring, instructing, chiding,
consoling and often jovial with them. Every letter was like a
missile which had a definite target. No word was superfluous. It
was an exercise in perfect letter writing.

The letters not only unfold a gradual and steady development
process of the Vivekananda Kendra, it also unfolds the
multifarious dimensions of Mananeeya Eknathji’s unique and
dynamic personality, situations and problems, surprises and
challenges different dimensions of his personality come to light
through these letters. Out of the thousands of letters he had
written, it can safely be stated that no two are alike. He was
always conscious not to be methodical or repetitive, because he
knew that he was dealing with different types of persons whose
responses are bound to be different. He has to appeal to each in
an appropriate manner. He could assess the mental makeup of
men to whom he wrote and he wrote accordingly. To a worker,
who wrote identical letters to a large number of people, Eknathji
wrote back as, “Your stereotype letters addressed uniformly to different
categories of persons betray your lack of correct understanding of men
and matters. I request you not to use the same broom while dealing with
…….. Your letters may reasonably cause resentment in those circles. It
is always safe to use beseeching language because majority of people are
allergic to blunt expressions.”

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A large number of letters he wrote were addressed to Kendra
workers either at the headquarters or in various places where they
were posted. His responses to the letters were invariably intended
not only to bring their attention to the defects, deficiencies
and inaccuracies but also instruct them to develop into ideal
Karyakartas. He used the letters addressed to him not only for
the information they contain but also to gain an insight into the
workings of their mind. To every query, he used to give detailed
replies, sometimes going beyond the immediate requirement,
but always keeping in mind the total and long time development
of the Karyakartas. His insight into the psychology, gained by
long years of experience and by learning was so piercing that he
would respond not only to the expressed feelings but also to the
hidden ones. In fact, nothing remained concealed to his intuitive
insight.

Many letters show that he was indulgent to those who were
committing mistakes but whose sincerity and honesty are above
board. But to those whose arrogance or self-righteousness are
persistent, he never minced words nor showed any sympathy.
He had no hesitation in asking workers who continue to be
impervious to patient guidance to leave the organization
straightaway. There was no compromise with them. Quite a few
letters are of this type.

Some of the letters provide us with windows through which
we get distinct visions which he had cherished in his mind for
implementation at the appropriate time. For example, in one
of his earliest letters, he wrote something which is extremely
revealing.

“I could get the chance to tour nearby areas of Kanyakumari and
to study the life of illiterate and innocent fishermen and other
downtrodden sections of the people there. Though they must
have got converted into Christianity long back, the Hindu ethos
and Sanskars are still in them in abundance. To bring all these
sections of people in this all encompassing Hindu fold is not a
very big task as it seems from outside. Even after such a long

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gap, all of them do not appear to be totally cut off from Hindu
society. For me, many of them look pro-Hindu. The need is for
planned and organized efforts of those few dedicated workers
who have the inborn natural concern and feeling of oneness for
the neglected poor people.

The Memorial for Swami Vivekananda is only a forerunner
of that grand plan. If my intuition had not shown that clear
direction for future line of action, I would not have taken any
interest in this spiritless work of laying stone upon stone.

In it only the vision of that sacred mission hidden in the womb
of Time that has inspired and spurred me to undertake this work
of the Memorial.”

In another letter, he had indicated his future plan of establishing
center of Vivekananda Kendra outside Bharat. He had also made
plans for a three months tour abroad in that connection. Then
again, in another letter, he had expressed the need for creating
infrastructure for

“effective suitable literature in important local dialects and the
publication of a regular periodical in English from a suitable place
for the intellectuals among the local population are also to be
considered as a necessary part of the envisaged infra-structure.”

Whenever he felt that the workers entrusted with specific
responsibilitieslackedinclarityofvisionorpositiveunderstanding
he was always forthcoming with detailed instructions which
leave no room for any sort of doubt, confusion or vagueness,
whether it is regarding the objectives of our publications like
Yuva Bharati or preparing the account sheets of Karyakartas.
He used to write to them with mathematical precision, point by
point, in unambiguous terms. For example, when he wanted to
clarify the criterion for incurring expenditure by a Karyakarta he
reduced his reply to the form of a formula which left no room for
any confusion.

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“(i) simplicity in life entailing progressive reduction of wants
to the reasonable minimum necessity and (ii) bringing about
other changes in habits and life-style to qualify ourselves to serve
the cause of the Kendra more effectively. Through this letter I
express before you my sincere hope and expectation that, against
the background of our avowed high objectives, (1) we shall have
a close look at our spendings to effect cuts to bring down our
expenditure to a level and a pattern satisfactory to our own
conscience, if it is not so at present, and (2) shall take meticulous
care to follow the prescribed code of conduct in respect of the
writing of accounts and submitting them to the office concerned,
if we have not been particularly attentive to this work so far.

For guidance sake, it may be said that the following three
questions should be posed to oneself and affirmative answers
obtained from one’s conscience before one proceeds to procure
or purchase a thing one sets his mind upon (1) Does that thing
constitute a necessity for me? (2) Do I really believe that I cannot
deny that thing to myself, without detriment to my health or to
Kendra work that I am entrusted to do? (3) Does the thing that
I want and which I am proposing to purchase is of the available
cheap and economic variety, good enough to serve my need?”

There are letters which show how concerned he was with the
questions of national security, which came to his notice when
he visited border areas like Jammu & Kashmir and Arunachal
Pradesh. He immediately took up such matters with the Prime
Minister by writing letters detailing the problems and inviting
Government’s attention to them. His letter to Prime Minister
Morarji Desai is indicative of this.

“I had never noticed the kind of panicky atmosphere that is prevailing
at present among the Hindus here. As regards the recent Mattan
episode, the people here do not consider it a stray case of terrorization
and encroachment but are convinced that there is a planned attempt
to grab Hindu religious endowments lands. The connivance at this on
the part of the high-ups in the Government intrigues them. ……….. I
wanted to place before you my observations and assessments regarding

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men and matters in that sensitive area, But, the present goings-on in
the Capital deter me from seeking a meeting with you for this purpose.
Perhaps, after a couple of months you may be free from your present
agonizing preoccupation and may be able to spare necessary time for
such a meeting. ………… Unless Arunachal Pradesh comes within
their ambit, these forces, perhaps, feel that their dreams would not be
fully realized. Besides other things, the most coveted thing in Arunachal
Pradesh that lures them is its approximately one thousand kilo metres
long border contiguous to China.”
Some of his letters contain nuggets of gold in the form of
profoundly philosophic truths reduced into maxims which could
be contemplated upon and applied to the day-to-day life of orders
in the field. They are so numerous, effective and useful and of
such rare value that they deserve to be compiled into a separate
book with the title “Thus spoke Eknath Ranade”. They could be
treasured as part of a precious philosophical collection. In fact,
Eknathji combined in himself, among many other qualities, the
virtues of a rugged, pragmatic, down-to-earth activist with that
of a lofty, contemplative philosopher. This volume “Kendra
Unfolds” is a monument to the above said qualities which he
embodied. There is no doubt it deserves a place among the most
valuable books ever published.

P.Parameswaran
President

Vivekananda Kendra

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20-08-1963
Calcutta

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.

I badly need your help in finishing up the said preliminaries.

Firstly, I need the new booklet the copies of which shall have
to be distributed among the Press-representatives. The number
of important Dailies and Weeklies is twentyfive here. At least an
equal number of copies would be necessary for their distribution
among other important persons. I, therefore, expect an air-parcel
of 100 copies before the end of this week.

Secondly, if Shri Dattaji’s present efforts at Kanyakumari
actually produce any desired result and if it is at the stage of
being purposefully utilised in the Press-conference, I would like
to be posted with all details of the same before I meet the Press.

Thirdly, I am immediately in need of the photographs and the
respective negatives about which I have already written to you.
Apart from those mentioned in my previous letter I require the
under described photographs and their negatives.

(1) A booklet by name ‘Kanyakumari’ published by Hari
Kumari Arts, carries on its cover a photograph of the K.K. Temple
and the V. Rock. As you know, it is actually a combination of two
photographs taken separately. I require those two photographs
with their negatives and also, if possible, a negative of the said
combined photograph.

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(2) In your album at Madras there is one quite a comprehensive
photograph presenting to view the temple premises, the V.
Rock, the Gandhi Memorial building, the minor rock near the
shore, and even a part of a building on the other side of the road
opposite to the Gandhi Memorial. I require the negative of this
particular photograph along with other articles.

The idea is to prepare two big pictures, one depicting the
Vivekananda Memorial in its entirety as it will look when
completed, and the other presenting a comprehensive and
panoramic view of the seashore-background of the V. Rock.

The newspaper cuttings, both of English and vernacular
Dailies from Andhra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala which I had
already sought from Madras even before, appear to be all the
more necessary when I find that there is, contrary to all facts, a
feeling prevalent here that the South is more or less cold to the
idea of the Memorial of Swami Vivekananda at the Rock. Madras
is reluctant – and reasonably too – to part with that valuable
newspaper cuttings – file. But I still think that if you send the file
to me by Registered air parcel for being used in my contemplated
tour from State to State, it would serve a very useful purpose.
The responsibility of handing it over back to you when I return
to Madras, of course, rests with me.

Just when I am on the point of winding up, I am fortunate in
receiving your letter dated 18-8-63. From your letter it appears
that you had not received my two letters posted on 16th and
17th. Calculating the reasonable delay due to Sunday in between
and the unreasonable delay on account of the inefficiency of both
the postal and censoring depts.. I presume that by now, at least,
you must have been in the receipt of those letters.

In your letter you have wrongly spelt the name of Shri Asim
Kumar. Please note that it is NOT Aswin Kumar.

Please convey my respectful Pranams to Dr. Raghavan,
revered Shri V. Rajagopalachari, Shri Mahadevan and other
elders. Also convey my Sadar Pranams to Shri Nanjappaji, Dattaji

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Shri Gopalan and others. My affection and Namaskaras to all the
Karyalaya brothers.

Yours sincerely,

27-09-1963

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.

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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 2nd 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,

30-09-1963

Dear Shri Panna,

Last evening I had written to you quite in a hurry as there was
very little time at its disposal to catch the air-mail. Today I shall try
to answer all the queries you have made in your previous letters.
Hindusthan Standard and Ananda Bazar have in their issues of
14th Sept. published the news you have referred to in your last
letter, basing it totally on some documents shown to their Delhi
Representatives by Information Dept with the obvious purpose
of extricating the Cultural Affairs Ministry of Shri Humayun
Kabir from the whole issue. The Dept. seems to have encouraged
representatives of some important Newspapers and Journals,
including those of Ananda Bazar and Hindusthan Standard, to
have a peep into those particular communications from the State
Govt. of Madras during the month of January 1963. Not only
much water has flowed from below the Jamuna bridge since then

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but even the documents themselves, being selected for exhibition
with a motive, speak a partial truth.

In view of my talks with Shri Humayun Kabir there is now
no necessity of writing to Shri Kabir by either Shri Sarojbabu
or anybody else. After I learn from Shri Kabir confirming
authenticity of the conversation reduced to writing by me I may
release the report to the Press, unless, of course, some other
developments take place in the next few days.

I have a reason to believe that Dr. Radhakrishnan was to talk
about the matter to Shri Bhaktavatsalam during his visit to the
South. One should not be surprised if he has already talked. I
learn that some other notable persons have also talked to Shri
Bhaktavatsalam. I do expect that some good will come out of the
efforts.

It would have been very nice of you had you succeeded in
arranging a deputation waiting upon the President during his
visit to Calcutta. You have missed an important bus indeed.

I have not heard anything from you regarding Shri Kalidas
Bose’s or Shri Shyamaprasad’s tour of Bengal for organising
public opinion on the issue. Whatever little we have been able
to do in Calcutta is to be followed up in the rest of Bengal also.

Did you hear from Hon’ble Justice Mukherji after you have
sent the copies of his message? Mrs Mukherji is at Nagpur and
she has been invited to witness RSS Dussrah function. Do report
to me if you have learnt about her attending the celebrations.

You have to use your ingenuity and imagination in seeing
that the people do not forget the ‘Rock Memorial Issue’ or that
they do not become hopeless. In your mind also there should
not be any doubt about the ultimate success. A statue of Swamiji
on the Vivekananda Rock should be considered as a foregone
conclusion.

Originally I had planned to stay in the Capital for a couple of
weeks at the most. But my stay here is being prolonged like the
tail of Hanumana. All the same you should not be surprised if all

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of a sudden on one fine morning I am in your midst.

What about the Bengali edition of ‘The Rousing Call to Hindu
Nation’? Why not give a rousing call to both Shri Sitanath
Goswami and the Swastik Prakashan for bringing out the book
in time?

I intend to write to Dr. Majumdar and other elderly members
of the Committee within the next few days when I hope to be
able to furnish them with some valuable information.

You should keep contact with Revered Swami
Sambuddhananda and try to post him with all developments I
report to you from time to time. In the same way you should
keep touch with Swami Bhashyananda of Ramakrishna Mission
Cultural Centre, Gole Park. I had met Shri Ranganathananda
Swami here last week.

I am so much busy here that to find time to write even urgent
letters is also very difficult. Invariably every day I have to go to
bed reluctantly at 1 o’clock with the burden of the pending work
on my head. I am sure you, at that end, also must have been
required to put in hard work as all other colleagues are unable to
share your burden because of their other professional and family
work.

Convey my Pranams to all elderly persons associated with
our Committee. Also convey my Namaskaras to friends and
co-workers like Shri Vasantrao, Dixit Kesheorao, Kalidas Bose,
Sarojbabu, Shyama Pd, Aji Sanatda, Dr. Sujit and others.

Yours sincerely,


In every attempt there will be one set of men who will
applaud, and another who will pick holes.
--Swami Vivekanda

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21-10-1963
New Delhi

Dear Shri Panna,

Your letter dated 14-10-63 (but posted on 16-10-63) was duly
received here on 17-10-63. I waited in vain for your letter on the
15th and 16th.

It is unfortunate that while I got Madras letter on the morning
of the 11th you could not get the letter till evening. It may be that
the letter was waiting for you in the letter-box. Your letter has
not mentioned whether the postal delivery was late or the home
clearance was delayed.

It was expected of you that you would at least contact those to
whom I had written letters from here. I have received a letter from
the Honourable Speaker Shri K.S. Basu informing me that he
received my letter of the 12th instant on 14th afternoon making it
impossible for him to take up the matter. He has also mentioned
in his letter ‘None of the members of the Calcutta office had
contacted me on the subject’. I do not know if you could contact
Shri Ashoka Sarkar, Shri Sunitibabu and Justice Mukherji. Even
if a deputation meeting with Bhaktavatsalam was not found
feasible for the reasons mentioned in your letter, the occasion
and my letters did provide you with an excuse to contact those
four gentlemen. As an organiser and a social worker you must
always remember one maxim, i.e. ‘Opportunities are Duties’.

I am writing this letter to you on the eve of my departure to
Bombay. I am leaving Delhi by tomorrow’s Punjab-Bombay Mail.
After staying there for a week I intend to leave for Calcutta. It
depends upon my work at Bombay. In the middle of November
I shall have to come back to Delhi again.

You have not yet reported to me about Mrs. Justice Mukherji’s
impressions of her visit to Nagpur and her participation in our
Vijaya Dashami function there. You have also not written to me
about Dr. Sujit Dhar. I hope Shri Debajyoti Parman has returned

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from his Nagpur journey with more vigour and enthusiasm.

I am giving below my Bombay Address. Convey my Saprema
Namaskaras to Shri Vasantji Bhat, Shri Amalda, Yalida, Keshabji,
Sujit, Ajit, Sarat, Bhola, Bipul, Poorna and others. I hope all the
three secretaries – Shri Kalida, Shyamaprasad and Sarojbabu-are
in touch with 76. and are applying their mind to the subject.

Nothing more at present. More when I receive your letter at
Bombay.

Yours

07-11-1963

Dear Shri Panna,

Your letter dated 30-10-63 was duly received. This morning
I received another letter of the 5th November along with the
enclosed newspaper cutting of Ananda Bazar.

Yesterday Shri Kesheoji left for Calcutta by 29 Down Howrah
Express (via Nagpur) and will reach there tomorrow evening.
He told me that in his previous letter to Calcutta he had wrongly
informed that he was leaving by Howrah Express, via Allahabad.
Please intimate to Shri Prabhakar Lakhe about the mistake.

A new pamphlet ‘A brief account of developments pertaining
to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial proposed to be erected on
the Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari’ is newly published and I
have sent 200 copies of the pamphlet with Shri Kesheoji for being
distributed to important persons connected with the Committee
and also to Editors of newspapers for their information. I am
confident you will take proper care about their distribution and
carry the copies personally to important persons.

My cough and the accompanying throat trouble is on the
retreat. I hope to be completely normal within a week though I
might take a sufficiently long time to regain my normal strength.

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I am leaving for Delhi on the 10th evening by plane. I shall
stay there for about four or five days. I am undertaking this
short trip to Delhi to meet some important persons. I could not
meet them during my last visit due to my indisposition. As I am
feeling better now, I have decided to complete the work before
leaving for Madras to attend the Committee Meeting. I shall go
to Madras via Bombay.

I do not know Shri Krishnakumar Chattopadhyaya. But
some of you should meet him when he returns from Jaipur and
know the details of the talk between him and the Chief Minister
of Madras. Report to me without delay about the information
received from Shri Krishnakumar Chatterji either on my Bombay
address or Delhi address.

Shri Bhaktavatsalam is scheduled to be in the Capital from
today the 7th to 14th Nov. I believe, many people must have
talked to Shri Bhaktavatsalam at Jaipur about the Rock Memorial.
When I reach Delhi I may know the outcome of the talks. I may
even get a chance of meeting the Madras Chief Minister.

I do not doubt in the least the ultimate grant of permission
from the Madras Government for the Rock Memorial. It would
not be also too long before the permission is granted.

Yours,

09-11-1963

Dear Shri Panna,

After posting a reply to your letters I received your fresh letter
written probably on the 6th.

I read your letter and carefully thought over the contents. I do
not consider your leaving Calcutta at this time would be proper.
I would request you not to entertain any idea of going home or
to any other place till January 1964.

From your letter it appears that you suffer, at present, from a
sort of worklessness. It is a terrible disease. It looks all the more

19

alarming when there is work on your left and on your right
and even before your eyes. The new assignment has opened up
before you a hundred avenues to fruitfully exploit your latent
abilities and employ all your potential energies.

If you begin to use your own initiative you will be cured of
this nasty disease. If the Rock Memorial idea has enveloped your
entire mind and heart then your legs will know in what direction
to move. Start thinking that it is you who have to find out ways
and means to advance the work in that region so that the idea of
the memorial becomes an actuality in the immediate future. The
least that you can do is to stick to your post without wavering.
But that is evidently the least. I expect more-far far more from
you. For rising equal to the expectations you have to think about
the statue-memorial, talk about it to the people, go about meeting
useful people with that end in view and even dream about it. Just
waiting for some Eknath or Charnath in expectant attention is
not the job you have been selected to perform.

I am leaving for Delhi tomorrow by evening plane. I intend
to return to Bombay by 15th. You send information about Shri
Chatterji’s talk with the Madras Chief Minister on my Delhi
address if possible.

Nothing more at present.

Yours,



1-12-1963
Nagpur

Dear Panna,

I am sending this letter with Shri Kedarnath Sahani who is
leaving for Calcutta today.

I am enclosing herewith the report of my talk with Shri
Bhaktavatsalam on 12-11-63 at New Delhi.

20

I am also enclosing a copy of the application newly
submitted to the Chief Minister of Madras State personally
by me on 26-11-1963 at Madras. Through this application
a modified plan of the statue on the Rock is persented to
the Govt. The modified plan is further modified on the
basis of my talk with Shri Bhaktavatsalam on 12-11-63 at
Delhi.

I am also enclosing copies of two letters addressed to Shri
Bhaktavatsalam (one dispatched from Delhi and the other after
the General Body meeting at Madras) prior to the submission of
the modified plan.

All their enclosures will give you and our important
Committee-members a fair idea of what is going on between the
Committee and the Government of Madras.

We have not publicised the modified plan because we feel
that ultimately our old plan will be accepted and approved by
the state Government. It is no use publicising a plan of a bigger
statue and then revert back to the old plan of a moderate sized
statue.

When the state Govt. will begin seriously applying their mind
to the plan, the old plan along with the project of the bridge will
be found more desirable and safe in those surroundings.

I have to request you therefore, not to leak out the details of
the alternative plan to the press.

Show all these papers to Shri R.C. Majumdar, Shri Sunitibabu,
Shri Basu and other respected members of Committee.

I am reaching Delhi on the 4th. I intend to visit Calcutta in the
second week of December.

Note: I am also enclosing two copies of the report of my talk
with Shri Kabir and of his subsequent letter.

21

13-12-1963

Dear Shri Panna,

I am writing to you after a long gap. After coming here I
have been busy meeting people and writing letters to important
persons who might be helpful to our cause at this crucial time. I
have written letters to Shri Sunitikumar Chatterji, Shri K.C. Basu,
Dr. R.C. Majumdar and Hon’ble Justice Mukherji P.B. of Calcutta.
If you have met any one of them you might have already known
the contents of these letters. The other day Shri P.C. Sen was
here. I have written to him also. I tried to see him personally but
I could not do so. I have also written to Shri Atulya Ghosh and
Shrimati Padmaja Naidu.

Yesterday I met Shri M.C. Chagla, the new Education Minister.
We had a very happy talk. He gave a patient hearing to my
account of all the developments since the beginning. I found him
in agreement with us not only intellectually but also emotionally.
This meeting would be useful indeed.

The local Committee secretary has released a press-note, about
my interview with Shri Chagla. I think Hindusthan Standard and
Ananda Bazar must have given it in their papers. If so please send
the relevant cuttings. Last time you did not send Hindusthan
Standard cutting. I came to know about it very late. You are to
carry out the standing instruction about procuring four copies of
those important Dailies if the issues carry something important
regarding the Rock Memorial. One copy of the cuttings is to be
sent to me wherever I may be.

I am sending with Dr. Sujit Dhar some copies of the Lok Sabha
discussion on the subject. I am also sending with him some copies
of my conversation with Shri Bhaktavatsalam.

I am enclosing herewith a copy of the said press-release. I
have not written to Belur or Gol Park or Sur Industries Buildings.

The great quality of Bhakti is that it cleanses the mind.
--Swami Vivekananda

22

But I shall write to them within the next few days. You have
never reported to me about your meeting the important persons
referred above. I hope you will do so in your next communication.

If everything goes well I may be in your midst in the third

week or the fourth week of this month.

Yours

20-12-1963

Dear Shri Panna,

Dr. Sujit must have told you about my activities here at
present. As a result of approaching distinguished persons and
Members of Parliament with a request to help our cause some
M.P.s have proposed to issue a statement in favour of the
proposed Rock Memorial project appealing both the Central and
Madras Government to enable the Committee to implement its
noble undertaking. Uptill now more than hundred Members
have offered to sign the statement. The statement would be
issued most probably on Monday. Of course, I would like you
and the friends there to keep this news to yourselves.

Mananiya Lalaji (Shri Hansraj Gupta) has flown to Calcutta
this morning. Shri Prabhakar Lakhe knows the place where he
could be contacted. I would very much like to get some copies
of the booklet ‘brief account’ which I hope you will send with
Mananiya Lalaji. At least fifty copies are needed urgently. If you
can spare more the better it is.

I hope this step by the Members of Parliament would yield
desirable result.

Nothing more at present. You will get something interesting
and encouraging to read in papers next week.

Yours,

23

25-12-1963
New Delhi

Dear Panna,

Please find enclosed herewith a copy of the Appeal issued
by more than three hundred Members of Parliament, of both
Houses, released to the press today by Shri M.S. Aney, probably
the eldest Member of the house. I am sure you will read the names
of the signatories with interest and pleasure. Every signatory has
signed two copies of this joint statement. Thus separate copies (in
the original) have been forwarded to the Prime Minister and the
Chief Minister, Madras State. While forwarding the copies of the
Appeal to the Prime Minister and the Madras Chief Minister Dr.
M.S. Aney has written very short but forceful letters, the copies
of which I am attaching herewith.

Some functions are under contemplation at Kanyakumari to
observe the 101st birth-anniversary of Swamiji. You may get a
circular letter from Madras shortly.

Nothing more at present.
I shall let you know about my further programmes in a couple
of days.

Yours



20-03-1964
New Delhi

Dear Shri S.Venkataraman,

Received your letter dated 17-3-64 last evening. A little before
that I had received the revised report by Shri Vhitale. I also
received the accompanying three designs.

I have already written letters to Dr. Radhakrishnan, Pandit
Jawaharlalji, Shri M.C. Chagla and Shri Lalbahadurji to seek their

24

interview. I shall be staying here till March 24. I have reserved
my passage in De Lux train on 25th for Nagpur.

I have commenced meeting important people in the Capital.
I have shown the three designs drawn on two sheets of paper
to persons whom I met yesterday and this morning. Design No.
1 is naturally liked by all but all of them know that it will not
find favour with the Chief Minister and therefore they consider
it to be out of question. As the statue in design No. 2 is not fully
enclosed it also stands no chance of being approved by the
State Government, according to them. Design No. 3 satisfies
the conditions prescribed by the Chief Minister in so far as the
statue is housed in a completely enclosed Dhyana Mandapam.
Naturally, that design is attracting the attention of almost all
people but a number of persons have remarked that the design
appears to be too secular to be a fitting memorial for a spiritual
personality. One of them even remarked that it has a look of some
Industrial house or factory. After ascertaining views of several
other persons I shall write to Shri Chitale to prepare a few more
designs of the third alternative in his report designs which will
satisfy people with spiritual or religious mental make-up. While
I meet Dr. Radhakrishnan or Panditji it is better to have a few
more alternative designs.

I have just now received packets of photos and negatives sent
by you. Now I have no time to go through the detailed description
of individual photo plates as there is very little time left for the
letter to catch the mail.

I may write to you again tomorrow. I may write to Shri Chitale
in a day or two. But in the meantime you may show this letter
to him to acquaint him with first impressions of laymen whom I
have met uptill now.

About other things you have written in your letter I shall write
to you at leisure.

Yours,

25

11-05-1964

Mananiya Shri Bhaktavatsalamji,

I had hoped that I would be able to complete my tour round
the country and report to you in the middle of April. But the
time-schedule I had proposed for that purpose could not be
kept up. Following my meeting with you at Madras and with
the Kanyakumari Collector subsequently at Nagerkoil, I started,
about the middle of March, on my errand to meet certain
distinguished leaders in the country. But I soon realized that I
could move only in a lower gear. I had to remain stuck up in Delhi
for weeks. Even then my desire to discuss the subject in hand
with the President and the Prime Minister in person, remained
unfulfilled though, fortunately, I could meet Shri Lal Bahadur
Shastry, Shri M.C. Chagla, Dr. M.S. Aney and other dignitaries in
the Government and outside and discuss the matter with them.

From Delhi I went to Calcutta. There, I could meet almost
all the senior Swamis of the Ramakrishna Order. But I had to
visit Silcher in Assam to meet the President of the Ramakrishna
Mission, Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj.

I had the good fortune of meeting His Holiness Shrimat
Shankaracharya Swami of Kanchi twice during the last few
weeks but I could not get proper opportunity to know his
suggestions, if any, on the subject, as, by coincidence, he was
either in ‘Maunam’ or engaged in some Homa or Pooja on those
occasions. I could, however, talk to the Shishya Swami at length.

To sum up the views expressed by distinguished leaders
whom I have been able to meet uptill now, I may state that
some divergent opinions on certain points such as the posture
of the proposed statue or the propriety of housing it in a shrine-
like building notwithstanding, all are agreed on one point that
the monument should be imposing and befitting. They have
also unanimously appreciated and welcomed the Committee’s
decision to abide by the Administrative requirements stated by
the Government and to soon finalise a proper plan in consultation
with them.

26

I have availed of the opportunity to meet eminent architects
and sculptors of other parts of the country during my stay at
Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay. Some of them have shown keen
interest in our project and have volunteered to help our cause by
making available to us their expert advice and experience. They
are likely to visit Kanyakumari for studying the site very shortly.
With a view to seek expert opinion from all such quarters I have
written to the All India Institute of Architects as well as to the All
India Sculptors’ Association, at Bombay, enclosing the necessary
sketches and photographs of the site and the surroundings as
also the necessary data pertaining to the background and the
four corners of the Administrative requirements within which
any scheme has got to be formulated. Their communications are
awaited.

Uptill now the well-known architects Shri S.L. Chitale and
Shri D.V. Nagarajarao of Madras have visited Kanyakumari and
have studied the site on the Rock. They are at work and will soon
be submitting alternative designs or plans to the Committee.
I propose to meet you with those designs as soon as they are
received by our office.

In the meantime, I think the Government should urgently
consider and finalise the matter of putting up jetty platforms
at suitable places in the sea for facilitating the transportation of
building material to the Rock, as explained in my letter dated
7-3-1964 written to you from Nagerkoil. When, recently, I met
the Kanyakumari Collector at Nagerkoil he informed me that
the report concerning the matter had already been dispatched to
Madras from that end and that the decision from above would
be known in due course.

The Cape, I have noticed, is already in the grip of monsoon
weather. The Engineers, therefore, might recommend the jetty
construction work to begin only after the cessation of the Summer
monsoons. Yet, even to be able to commence the work at that
time the high level decision in the matter, the consequent passing
of necessary orders and the preliminary plans and preparations

27

have got to be expedited without further delay. It appears that
unless you look into the matter personally the things may not
move with required speed.

I am sending per bearer along with this letter an album of some
photographs of various notable spots on the Vivekananda Rocks
and of their surroundings, which we have prepared for being
presented to you. I am also enclosing some sketch-drawings of
the same, prepared by Shri D.L. Nagarajarao, Architect, Madras.

Last time you had expressed your desire to visit the sacred
Rock as soon as time permitted. Though you have not been able
to snatch some time from your heavily crowded programmes to
do so uptill now, a look into the album and the sketches, I hope,
may give you atleast some imaginery satisfaction of having been
breathing the blissful atmosphere of the holy place.

As mentioned above, I shall be meeting you and placing before
you for your perusal and choice, sometime in the next month,
draft designs of the Rock Memorial prepared by architects.
To utilize the intervening time I am proposing to visit certain
important centers in the country to organize collection drives
in different states. I may, however, curtail my scheduled tour
programme and return to Madras, if so required, after hearing
from you.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

Enclosures:
An album containing photographs.
Two sketch-drawings,
A brief note on Vivekananda Rocks &
The technical details of Vivekananda Rocks, at a glance.

“Books are good but they are only maps.”
--Swami Vivekananda

28

26-08-1964

Mananeeya Shri Bhaktavatsalam,

Respectful Pranams.

Following our meeting on August 3, when you were kind
enough to peruse the various draft plans prepared by architects
and convey your general approval to one of them, I immediately
addressed myself to the task of getting the selected plan finally
drawn with suggestions and changes proposed by you as well
as by Pujyapada Srimad Sankaracharya Swamigal of Kamakoti
Peetam, incorporated into it.

In the first instance, accompanied by the architect, Sri S.K.
Achary, I reached Kanyakumari, visited the site and assured
myself that your useful suggestion to provide at least 10 feet wide
platform round the Dhyana Mandapam could quite conveniently
be implemented without necessitating any reduction of the
Mandapam dimensions shown in the selected plan.

Apart from that open Prakaram (with a short parapet wall or
railings round it) on the top it is also proposed to have on the
lower slopes a twelve feet wide pathway starting from the jetty
point and leading to the front and side entrances of the Dhyana
Mandapam. Such a pathway with railings would, besides
facilitating the transport of building material to the top, add
to the convenience of the visitors and also further ensure their
safety.

Pujyapada Acharya Swamigal has been very kind in advising
us on the important details of the plan of the Dhyana Mandapam.
I visited the Mutt twice after I met you last. As desired by him
I have met him day before yesterday along with the architect.
In that meeting Pujyapada Swamiji, while emphasising the
necessity to avoid the memorial structure getting confused with a
traditional temple of some Deity, gave very valuable suggestions
regarding what might be the appropriate and proper patterns
or designs for the Front Entrance Gate and the Dome of the
Mandapam. Accordingly, the architect has already begun the

29

work of preparing the final drawing. It is hoped that he would be
able to complete it by August 29 when our Managing Committee
is scheduled to meet primarily to adopt the final plan.

I propose to call on you on 29th morning hoping that you will
kindly grant me a few minutes of your valuable time. Besides
being able to show you the final drawing I would also get an
opportunity to receive from you further suggestions, if any,
prior to the Managing Committee Meeting taking place the same
evening.

I am sure the matter regarding the construction of the Jetties
at Kanyakumari has been engaging your urgent attention and
the final orders will be passed before long.

You will be pleased to learn that I availed of the opportunity of
Mananeeya Shri Jayachamaraja Wodayar’s visit to Kanyakumari
on August 5 and presented to him there an Album of Photographs
relating to the Vivekananda Rock. Though he looked a bit
embarrassed in the beginning he was satisfied when informed
about our latest meeting and about the plan of the Memorial
getting finalised soon. I look forward to secure his active co-
operation in the cause. However, a suitable reference in that
connection during one of your meetings with him will be very
much helpful in paving the way for it.

During my stay at Kanyakumari, I met the Devaswom Board
President, Shri Bhoothalingam Pillai. I showed him the plan and
discussed with him other relevant matters.

Similarly, I also thought it proper and useful to acquaint the
new Collector and the new S.P. with the latest situation and the
plan under finalisation. I could meet both of them and discuss
the matter at length.

I have not been able to write to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri after
we met last though I very much wanted to do so and apprise him
of the present progress regarding the finalisation of the plan. I,
however, hope that you might have had suitable opportunity to
refer to it during your recent meetings with him in the Capital.

30

I hope your wounded arm is getting healed up progressively.
I pray for its speedy recovery.

With regards,

Yours sincerely,

17.09.1964
Madras

Dear Shri S.K. Achary,

Received your letter dated 14.9.’64 and noted the contents. We
were anxiously waiting for the detailed estimate of expenditure
for the entire construction on the Rock from you. It is gratifying
to learn that you are now free from all pressing engagements that
kept you busy all these days. I hope that before you leave for
Kanyakumari to attend the ‘Unveiling of the Vivekananda statue’
function you will be able to dispatch here the estimate, together
with, if possible, your suggestions and recommendations
regarding the execution of the work and the preliminary
preparations for the same.

Shri Venkataraman has been at Kanyakumari since the 14th of
September. He will stay there for some time more. I am writing
to him today to stay there till your visit to the Cape. You may
utilise this visit to Kanyakumari to study in detail the work of
laying out the proposed pathway on the Rock so that you may
be able to prepare the necessary drawing which the Government
may demand from the Committee before according sanction to
the same.

Just as last time we had a trip to Mylady to procure a sample
of the stone obtained there it is better if some more quarries in
the vicinity are visited so that we may be able to select the proper
variety for our work.

Though the Chief Minister in his informal talk has approved
the plan, the formal written sanction from the State Government
has not reached our office as yet. I am trying to contact the

31

concerned officers and get the Government sanction expedited.
However, it is hoped that the necessary permission may be
obtained before long.

After ascertaining the position regarding the possibility
of getting the expected sanction soon I may myself reach
Kanyakumari on the 20th. But, at the moment, it is not certain.

The most important thing before us now is to form a
proper estimate of the plan. The press-announcement to be made
after the grant of permission by the Government should also
include the estimated expenditure on the project. That will also
help us in organising drive for collection of funds.

I hope this finds you and your family in sound health and
good spirits.

Yours,



23-10-1964

Shri M Bhaktavatsalam
Chief Minister of Madras
Fort St. George, Madras - 9

Dear Sir,

Following the grant of Government permission for the
construction of the Vivekananda Memorial on the Vivekananda
Rock the Committee addressed itself to the task of making
preliminary arrangements at Kanyakumari to start the
construction work as early as possible.

As the entire construction is to be in stone the laborious and
dexterous work of cutting and chiselling the stones to designed
shapes, forms an important preliminary part of the construction
work. For that purpose nearly a hundred artisans of requisite
skill will have to be pressed into service and this special labour
will have to be imported from all parts of Tamil Nadu.

32

This implies that a suitable plot of about five acres of land in the
vicinity of Kanyakumari—at the most a mile or two away from
the township—where amenities of power and water are readily
available is an urgent need. Such a spacious area is necessary for
making housing arrangements for the families of the imported
skilled labour and the staff of supervisors as also for erecting
spacious store houses and big worksheds for carrying on the
work unaffected and undisturbed in the sun and the rains and
for unloading the stone from the quarries.

As we shall have to make expenditure on the land procured for
the said purpose and to construct quarters and sheds over it, we are,
naturally, not in favour of securing it on any lease basis but are keen on
owning it so that after completion of the Memorial work we may be able
to use the premises for some suitable purpose in furtherance of the aims
and objects of the Committee.

We, therefore, approach you with a request that the
Government may kindly allot to the Committee requisite area
from poromboke lands, if available, or acquire it for us from
private holders at a reasonable price which, obviously, the
Committee is prepared to pay.

In this connection we have one more request to make. There
is a walled plot of Government land near the Kanyakumari bus
stand on the East of the road leading to Gandhi Mandapam
and south of the West-East road meeting the main road to the
Temple. We pray that the said vacant plot be made available
to us temporarily for facilitating the construction work on the
Rock, on any terms you deem fit. Being spacious and near the
proposed Jetty Point on the shore it will be of vital importance
to the entire work. Apart from its use as a place for depositing
the finished stones and storing other building materials before
their transportation to the Rock, it can be immediately utilised
for starting the stone cutting work by putting up temporary
worksheds over it, pending the finalisation of elaborate
arrangements under contemplation.

33

As our ambition is to complete the work by January, 1967,

we are anxious to make a beginning immediately. We are sure

you will appreciate our difficulties and consider our prayer

favourably.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

02-11-1964

Shri M Bhaktavatsalam
Chief Minister of Madras
Fort St. George, Madras - 9

Dear Sir,

Please refer to our application dated 23-10-’64. In that
application we had placed before you, for your favourable
consideration, some of our requirements necessary for carrying
on the construction work of the Vivekananda Memorial at
Kanyakumari. We hope the matter has been engaging your kind
attention.

As the necessary procedural formalities prior to the
Government decision regarding our request for the allotment of
Government land to the Committee, mentioned in the application,
are bound to take their own time we are approaching you with
a limited purpose of requesting you to grant us immediately the
use of the walled plot of Government land near the Kanyakumari
Bus Stand on the East of the road leading to Gandhi Mandapam
and South of the West-East road meeting the main road to the
Temple.

We are starting the preliminary work of the cutting and
chiselling of stones on November 6, that being an auspicious day
for that purpose. If we can get the Government sanction for the
use of the said plot within that date, we shall be able to start the
work on the scheduled dated quite conveniently.

We, therefore, pray that the permission for the use of the

above mentioned Government land be immediately granted to

34

the Committee so that the work may be started forthwith by

putting up temporary worksheds over it. After the construction

work of the memorial is over, the said plot would be handed

over to the Government in its original condition.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

08-11-1964

Dear Shri S.Venkataraman,

To my great relief I reached Tirunelveli just in time to catch
the train. However, my plan to meet Shri Natarajan, Collector of
Kanyakumari, could not materialise for want of time. Instead,
hurriedly I wrote to him a small letter and handed it over to Shri
Seshagiri for personally handing it to him. Shri S.G. and Shri
Ambi were at the Station. I could not talk to them and make
necessary enquiries.

I handed over your letter addressed to the Canara Bank
Manager to Shri Venkatesh Pai as Shri Haridas was out for
sightseeing with his relatives. I also handed over the container
brought from Kanyakumari to Shri Rajaram who would take it
to the laboratory tomorrow along with the letter, today being a
holiday.

Yesterday morning at Nagercoil I paid Rs. 200/- to Shri
Subramaniyam, Proprietor of Meenakshi Bhavan, as an advance
rent of two months for the three houses we had seen the previous
night. As that amount has not been paid from the Committee’s
account you will please add that amount to the amount of Rs.
2,000/- already received by you as a loan obtained through me
to the Committee and repay the amount of Rs. 2,200/- (including
the amount of Rs. 200/-) in the manner explained to you, when
you receive the money from the Head Office.

Shri Shankarnarayanan has shown me two more houses at
Kanyakumari yesterday morning. The rent of the bigger one out
of the two is Rs. 40/- and that of the other is Rs. 20/-. As later,

35

we may not get the houses to be required for the supervisors
and other members of the Staff, I think it is advisable to book
them and take them into our possession from now. But if Shri
Shankarnarayanan is confident that the houses would not be
given to anybody without our being approached beforehand we
may put it off for the time being. When I come there at the end of
this month we may finalise the decision.

About the allotment of quarters I have already discussed with
you. The Sthapati may be asked to occupy one of the two adjacent
flats for the time being. Other flats may remain vacant or may be
used for storing materials (especially the one near the Panchayat
Office) if necessary. These are only stop-gap arrangements and
we shall be in a better position to take proper decisions when we
meet next.

After reaching here I received a copy of the letter addressed to
the Collector of Kanyakumari by Shri C.P. Kelu Eradi, Jt. Secretary
to the Government. I am sending a copy of the same to you for
your information. I am also sending to you a copy of the letter I
had written to the Chief Minister on November 2, as that letter
has been referred to in the above mentioned communication to
the Collector by Shri C.P. Kelu Eradi.

Today I received a letter addressed to you by Shri Nagarajan
of Nagpur. I am sending copy of that letter to you. I do not know
what can be done in such a short time, regarding the request in
the letter. At the most I can take the album of photographs to
Nagpur. I doubt it would be of any use.

I am very much anxious about the supply of stone. I know
that Sthapati and yourself are already seized of the matter. But a
regular flow of supply must be effected without delay. I am sure
with the assistance of other sub-committee members a solution
would be found out before long.

I had a very useful and hopeful talk with the Meenakshi
Bhavan Proprietor. I would pursue my talks with him when I
return. I hope that we might get at a cheap price a few acres of
land from the big area he owns at the Tirunelveli – Nagercoil

36

Road junction. I found the gentleman very much helpful and
enlightened.

The letter has already become a long one. But I would like to
mention one important thing before I close. I feel that the success
of our work at Kanyakumari very much depends upon the ability
of the members of the work sub-committee (and the Sthapati)
to think and work as one man. Every one of the sub-committee
must have vivid perception and a feeling that he is very much
in the stream and not simply a spectator on the bank. You being
placed in the position of a Secretary have a special responsibility
in this matter. I am sure you have the potentiality to bring about
that concerted action. I am also sure that in the coming days that
potentiality becomes an actuality.

This letter has been typed by Shri R.N. Venkataraman. He has
resigned his old job a few days back in order to make his services
available to the Committee. Though he has not as yet joined his
new duties, he will be able to do so in about a month’s time, that
being the period of due notice given to his old employer.

Yours,

20-11-1964

Dear Shri S.Venkataraman,

I reached Madras on the 18th as previously decided. The same
evening I went to Kancheepuram to meet Acharya Swami. After
meeting him and receiving his blessings I returned to Madras
yesterday evening.

This morning Shri Haridas showed me the communication
from the Post and Telegraph Department which was received
here a week back. It is in connection with the telephone
installations at Kanyakumari and Nagercoil. I am enclosing a
copy of the communication for your information and guidance.
I am also enclosing the Demand Note in triplicate sent to us by
the Post and Telegraph Department. Please read the instructions,

37

especially the third one, mentioned below the Demand Note and
remit, accordingly, the amount of Rs. 290/- to the Post Master,
Kanyakumari, at your earliest (the last date is 17-10-’64) and
obtain a receipt for the payment along with a copy of the Demand
Note.

The declaration form sent by the Department, I am with-
holding here. I shall send it to you tomorrow, duly filled up
and signed by me along with the ‘authority’ to sign the same
on behalf of the Committee. After receiving it please send the
same together with a copy of the paid Demand Note (returned
by the Post Master, Kanyakumari) to the Sub divisional Officer,
Telephone, Tirunelveli.

While attending to the matter mentioned above, it came to my
notice that there was no copy of that application addressed to the
Telephone Department here in the Central Office. Please send a
copy of that letter, therefore, for file and record here. Please also
see that copies of all communications addressed to Government
Departments as well as to other important parties are sent to the
Head Office as a rule.

Before leaving for Nagpur I wanted to select a few photographs
and negatives for being carried with me for getting them enlarged
and being lent to Shri Nagaraj for the purposes of exhibition he
and his friends had proposed to plan. I searched all the almirahs
but could not find any negatives. May I know where have you
kept them?

I had planned in my mind to reach Kanyakumari on 21st. But
from your letter dated 15-11-’64 it is evident that the meeting
of the sub-committee is already over. In the circumstances, I
need not make hurry now. Instead, I now intend to finish some
important works here before starting for Kanyakumari.

In none of your letters there is a mention about the situation
regarding the work of stone-cutting which was a matter of great
anxiety for us when I left Kanyakumari a few days back. I hope
the supply of stones has been regular and abundant since then

38

and there is sufficient work for the present batch of artisans and
also for the new additional batches expected within the course of
the next few days.

The Sthapati had undertaken to prepare within fifteen days
the time schedule for the different stages of work, planning it in
such a way that the entire work of construction is completed by
the beginning of January 1967. If he has done so please intimate
to us accordingly so that we may fix up the date for the next
meeting of the Managing Committee before which it is to be
submitted.

I think it would be better if it could be so managed that when
you come here for the meeting of the Managing Committee
you proceed to Vijayawada, Bangalore, Ajanta and Karla along
with the Sthapati for examining the marble stone at Vijayawada,
granite stone at Bangalore (red granite under contemplation)
and for studying the designs at Ajantha and Karla caves. The
sooner you are able to do it the better it is. Of course, it depends
upon the satisfactory arrangements made by the Sthapati at
Kanyakumari for the execution of the work during his absence
of a couple of weeks.

The Sthapati’s tour of the places mentioned above is very
urgent as the new pamphlet necessary for the collection of funds
has to carry the picture of the plan redrawn after incorporating
the changes which he may deem necessary as a result of his
observations. The collection drive is proposed to be taken in the
month of January next. The pamphlet, therefore, must be ready
for dispatch by the end of December.

If the Sthapati is able to commence his tour on the 3rd or 4th
of December, latest, it would be possible for him to finish it up
and return to Madras before 20th and redraw the plan for being
incorporated into the pamphlet within a week. If the Sthapati
approves of the above mentioned proposal please intimate to
me immediately so that the date of the Managing Committee
meeting may be fixed up accordingly, preferably the 1st or the
2nd, and train reservations for your journey may be made in

39

time. If you okay the above proposals I shall reach Kanyakumari
on 26th and return to Madras on 30th November.

By coincidence I met Shri M.G. Dixit, Engineer, (who executed
the construction work of the Smriti Mandir at Nagpur) at Nagpur.
We had a long talk about the Rock Memorial. He has advised us
to send specimens of the Rockstone as well as of the stones we
are using and are proposing to use for the construction work of
the Memorial to the Research institutes at Roorki and Delhi for
test. I request you, therefore, to procure six pieces of each variety
(cubes of six inches diameter) and keep them ready before I
reach Kanyakumari. Regarding the testing of the Vivekananda
Rock stone he has advised us to have trial borings on the rock
to the depth of about 15 to 20 feet, especially on the four corners
of the main table land. This test is of vital importance to detect
cavities or crevices, if any, in the bowels of the table land rock
upon which the entire granite structure is to stand. Pieces of
cylindrical stones which would come out of the Rock as a result
of the trial borings could serve the purpose of specimens to be
sent to Roorki and Delhi. You please inquire from our engineer
friends there, whether there are contractors or experts doing the
work of taking trial bores and keep the information ready by the
time I reach there.

I read your report about the availability of water in plenty
on the Rock. I doubt the veracity of your optimistic conclusions.
I advise you to keep such observations strictly to yourself and
to the limited circle of our colleagues and not to make it public
till the time all expert reports reach our hands and present
convincing proofs.

I did not like the idea of the local people forming a committee
and creating a fanfare regarding the traditional lighting of the
Rock on the Kartick Poornima Day. I would have preferred the
ritual to have been performed by the Devaswom Board in the
way any other customary function is celebrated as a matter of
course.

40

Please acknowledge this letter and also the receipt of the
enclosures. I did receive your letter dated 12-11-’64 at Nagpur.

Please intimate to Shri R. Ramakrishnan that Shri Yadavrao
Joshi and his colleagues have dropped the idea of purchasing
his plot of land at Bangalore as they are getting a big plot of land
at a very cheap price in the same vicinity, However, they have
promised to render all help in securing a good customer for the
land when he visits Bangalore.

Since yesterday we are having very heavy rains here.

Yours,

Encl: 1,2 and 3 sheets of the Demand Note from the P. & T.
Department.

4. A copy of the letter from the P. & T. Department.

24-11-1964
Dear Sri S.D. Sathe,

Received your letter dated 10-11-1964 at Nagpur. I returned to
Madras on the 18th. As I was busy with some pressing matters I
could not attend to your communication earlier.

There seems to have been some misunderstanding in
your mind. I had been consistently telling you since the very
beginning, if you remember correctly, that you should try to
apply your mind in right earnest to prepare and keep ready
some alternative models of the proposed statue, so that when
the negotiations with the Government get materialised and the
form of the memorial finally adopted, you might be in a position
to submit a suitable model to the satisfaction of the members of
the Committee. Even in my letter written to you as far back as 18-
2-1964, I had written to you in the following unequivocal words:-

41

“As the chances of the Rock Project are becoming brighter,
enquiries regarding the Committee’s selection of a sculptor for
the preparation of Statue are gradually mounting. As before, I
have been consistently and frankly telling all such enquirers that
as soon as the Committee gets the line clear from the Government
and the final plan is ready the Committee will give opportunity to
all interested sculptors to present their models and that the final
decision regarding the choice of sculptor will depend mainly
upon the production of a satisfactory model of the contemplated
statue, the form of which will be decided only after knowing the
Government’s mind on the subject.

I hope you will agree with me that you will have to work hard
in preparing the model to the satisfaction of all concerned. I am
sure that you will apply your mind to the subject in right earnest
and engage yourself in preparing alternative models for being
submitted to the Committee when such opportunity presents
itself. You have a decided advantage over other probable
competitors in the field in so far as you have been associated
with the Committee as its advisor and designer from the very
beginning and as such your conscious and subconscious mind
has been already working upon the idea for the past more than
a year.”

The above cited exhortation to you was quite natural on my
part as I wanted, and still want, that the model to be prepared
by you should satisfy all the quarters concerned and the choice
should ultimately fall on you. My repeated requests to you in this
regard were necessitated for the simple reason that the models
prepared by you and shown to some of us earlier were not found
fully satisfactory. However, your capacity to make the necessary
improvements and produce the same satisfactorily was never
doubted in the least and, with full confidence in you, you were

Character is repeated habits, and repeated habits alone
can reform character.

--Swami Vivekananda

42

asked to make a fresh effort, advancing to you at the same time
some amount, in anticipation of a model which would receive
the approval of the Committee.

Though thereafter the whole project had to face inclement
weather and the matter was, for the time being relegated to
the background we have now, by the grace of God come out
successful through the ordeal and are today in a position to
resume our work.

I am, therefore, renewing the old request to you to furnish us
with some alternative models for the perusal of the Committee. In
the circumstances, it is in the fitness of things, that the Committee
should ask other renowned sculptors also to do the same, though
we would very much like your work to be proved superior to
that of all other competitors in the field because of your close
association with the Committee from the very beginning, leaving
aside the material factor of the Committee’s financial transaction
with you on that account.

I hope this will help you in removing all doubts from your
mind. Please address yourself now to the task of preparing a
suitable model or some alternative models with enthusiasm
and vigour the work deserves. I am intending to write to Shri
Karmarker, Shri Debi Prasad Roy Chowdry, Shri Phadke and a
few other sculptors very soon. It is true that the facial identity and
the facial expression natural to Swamiji in his powerful standing
Parivrajak posture are the vital points which need proper
depiction in the model. The Swami’s popular picture underlined
“Wandering Monk” may be used for reference though the
drapery shown in the picture may be suitably modified, if found
necessary, to the requirements of the statue in bronze.

I am looking ahead to hear from you soon.

Yours affectionately,

43

13-12-1964

Shri S.Venkataraman,

I hope, you have received my letter dated 11-12-’64.

I received your Express Delivery letter written on 10-12-’64,
today the 13th.

I had a talk with you on telephone on the 7th night. Since then
I have been eagerly waiting for the negatives and photographs.
Your letter written on the 10th now tells me that the negatives
are being sent separately. To add irritation to exasperation, your
letter says that you were waiting for my detailed letter. It is all
amazing.

Your letter also informs me that Engineer Shri Subramaniyam’s
report also is being sent in a separate cover and that the report
needs retyping by the Madras Office as it contains lot of mistakes.
I do not understand why you should not have sent the original
report immediately and posted the head office with the valuable
recommendations made by the said Engineer without losing time,
if there was to be such an inordinate delay in getting the report
typed and the typed report was again required to be retyped at
Madras. Though Kanyakumari is the work-site and as such it has
its own importance, yet, you should not forget that Madras still
continues to be our headquarters deserving immediate delivery
of valuable papers and prompt reporting of important matters
by the work-site Office. I think that the copy of the said report
would have been very much useful in my recent discussion on
the subject with Shri K.R. Ramaswami, Superintendent Engineer,
Marine Circle, under whose supervision the jetty construction
work is finally going to be executed.

I have not been able to meet Shri Somnath Iyer whose name
Shri Rengaswami had suggested some time back. However, I am
scheduled to meet him on Tuesday at 7 P.M. with Shri Kailash.
I shall meet Shri R.K. Srinivasan and Shri Nagabhushan, about
whom there is a mention in your letter, when Shri Rengaswami
comes here. Because except the names, you have given no other

44

particulars. I propose to invite Shri Rengaswami to Madras
towards the end of this month. I shall fix up the date when I meet
him in person at Tirunelveli on the 19th.

I am reaching the Cape on the 19th evening with Swami
Sambuddhananda. In my previous letter dated 11-12-’64 I have
already given the details of his programme.

I would have preferred a meeting of the Sub-Committee on
the 19th night at Kanyakumari. But as Swami Shankaracharya’s
programme is expected to take place on the 19th or 20th at
Tirunelveli nothing can be decided at this stage. This time I want
Shri S.G. and Shri Rengaswami also to attend the meeting.

You must have received a copy of the water analysis report
sent to you last week. The report clearly says that the water is
undrinkable. In the light of that report we should postpone for
the time being the erection of the wall at the spring.

You have not mentioned about what has been done regarding
the stone-cubes to be sent to the laboratory for test. Treat that work
as urgent and of first priority and get the cubes of stones from all
the quarries concerned, ready for being sent for laboratory test.
If nothing has been done uptill now, and if it is not feasible to
procure the samples immediately, at least keep them ready by
the time I reach there.

Similarly, the work of taking trial borings in the rock is also of
equal importance. I hope you are pursuing the matter with the
urgency it deserves. I have already referred to it in my previous
letter dated 11-12-’64.

Please inform Shri Shankarnarayan and Shri Subramaniam
that I would like to finalise the land transaction during my next
short visit. I propose to be in that region till the 21st. I would like
to catch the Madras Express at Tirunelveli on 22nd or 23rd.

As soon as you receive some information about the final date
of Swami Shankaracharya’s visit to Tirunelveli, please contact
me on phone so that I shall be able to fix up the date for the

45

sub-committee meeting and let you know then and there on the
phone.

Instruct your typist not to use the letterheads for
supplementary sheets. Also instruct him to use even the back
side of sheets. Similarly, instruct him to leave only single space
while typing long letters. There are other things for which
instructions alone would not help much; so I desist.

As a rule you should send negatives of all photographs with
a photo copy of each to Madras, unless otherwise told. Similarly,
you should, as a rule, send to the head office, copies of all
communications sent from that office. While typing the matter,
care should always be taken to type an extra copy for being sent
to Madras. Likewise, copies of all important communications
received at that end should be sent to Madras.

Monthly Accounts for the months of July & August have not
been sent. Also Account (Full) for the month of November has
not yet reached the head office. I would like to go through it
before I leave Madras on the 18th.

The meeting of the Managing Committee can conveniently be
held some time in the last week of December. We shall be able to
finalise the exact date during my stay at Kanyakumari. It is better
if we fix up the date after calculating the time the Sthapati would
take to re-draw the plan drawings which shall have to be placed
before the Managing Committee. As has been communicated in
my previous letter, the Sthapati is returning to the Cape on the
18th.

General Body Meeting is scheduled to take place during the

end of January ’65. As soon as the year ends the accounts are to

be kept ready for being sent to the Auditor. Naturally, you have

to be careful from now to expedite the work of completing the

accounts upto date.

Yours,

46

09-01-65
Mumbai

Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,

Saprema Namaskar.

I hope this finds you in your normal vigour and health and
that you are now completely free from your erstwhile ailment.
In my case, however, old throat trouble has cropped up again,
though it is yet under control.

I may return to Madras directly from Bombay on the 18th. If
at all I go to Nagpur I hope to reach Madras from there on the
16th.

I am trying to take a team of experts to Kanyakumari very
soon. Up till now Shri Dixit and Shri U. Apte have agreed to
reach Madras on the 20th and starting the next day by Tirunelveli
Express, they will reach Kanyakumari on 22nd evening to be on
the Rock sufficiently well before the sunset. One expert water-
finder is also expected to accompany Shri Dixit and Apte. One
renowned architect from Bombay is also being sounded and
it is likely that he may agree to devote some time and take a
trip to the Cape. Three reservations have been already booked
in the Madras Express. Of course, I shall reach Madras earlier.
Naturally, I shall accompany the party to the Cape.

The modified plan has been shown to a number of prominent
persons and also to some in the profession. Though none has
anything to comment on the dome section, almost all have
opined that the Entrance has become unproportionately bigger
in size and will obstruct the view of the Dome and mar its
grandeur. In the side elevation the elaborate decorations in
the upper half of the Entrance including the peacock are not
considered in keeping with comparatively simple designs either
on the dome or elsewhere. On the whole they have preferred
the original pattern of the Entrance Gate, especially the upper
half. The consensus of opinion is that the entrance designs up
to the beam level were good but the entire frontage need not be

47

extended above the beam level. The typical Ajanta arch by itself
would be enough there.

Please convey these opinions to our Sthapathi and see if he
agrees with the critics. If he does, he may prepare an alternative
design for the Entrance gate, keeping in view the useful out of
the suggestions made.

Assuming that I am reaching Madras on the 16th the accurate
and to the scale sketch drawing of the cellar must reach Madras
before that time. Most probably I shall see the Chief Minister
the same day or at the most, the next day. Please remind the
Sthapathi about the same and get it prepared and send it to the
Head Office without delay.

When I meet the Chief Minister I shall also report to him
about the opinions expressed by the architects here and seek his
advice. I shall also inform him about the possible alterations in
the modified design of the Entrance gate after the visit of experts
to the Cape.

Please contact Shri Subramaniyam of the Meenakshi Bhavan
and request him to find suitable land for the Committee and keep
some alternative proposals ready for finalisation when I visit the
place next.

I have not been able to contact anybody from the Cementation
Company. However, I shall try to do so in the next few days.

Now that we have got phone in our office at Kanyakumari it
should be easy to get an extension in your residence. I say this
because if I want to contact you on phone it will not be possible
easily as you stay quite at a distance from the office. Fix up your
residence finally and apply for an extension there.

I hope the written permission for the Kottaram land has been
obtained and permission for the Government land near the bus
stand is also on the way.

I am very much anxious to know when the accounts from
Kanyakumari would reach Madras. Because the Managing

48

Committee meeting date is to be fixed accordingly. I am sure the
accounts would reach Madras and Poona.

Just now I had a telephonic talk with Nagpur. As a result my
trip to Nagpur has been cancelled. Now I shall leave Bombay for
Madras by Madras Mail on the 16th which reaches Madras on
18th Morning.

If necessary you may write to me on Bombay address.

Please convey my Saprema namaskars to Shri Achari, Shri

Parameswaran, Shri Shankarnarayan Chettiar, Shri Kalyan

Subramaniyam, Shri Kolappan, Shri Balan and all other co-

workers.

Yours,

09-01-1965

Dear Shri R. Venkataraman,

Saprema Namaskar.

Received your letters dated Jan. 6th and 8th yesterday and
today respectively. The letter I had written to Shivaray Telang
from Madras reached him only yesterday.

As the Chief Minister is expected to reach Madras on the 11th
I propose to write to him tomorrow so that he may receive my
letter after his arrival. I shall send a copy of that letter to you and
also to Venkataraman at Kanyakumari.

The scheduled meeting took place here today with Pt.
Shivasharma in the Chair. The meeting elected Shri Rama Batra,
an industrialist, as the Organising Secretary and entrusted him
with the task of doing all that is necessary for the formation of the
Executive Committee of the Vivekananda Shila Smarak Samiti.

I am trying to meet some reputed Architects, Sculptors, and
Engineers here. I am meeting some prospective donors also. One
gentleman has promised to donate Rs. 15000/- in two instalments.

49

I am trying to take a team of experts to Kanyakumari within
the next few days. One Engineer, one Architect and one water-
finder and one or two more experts in allied matters are expected
to reach Madras on the 20th and proceed to the Cape the next day.
Last night I had telephoned to Shivarampant’s phone number
first, and then to 85002 where I could contact Shri Annamalai.
I have instructed him to book two first class reservations in the
name Shri Dixit and one in the name of Shri Apte in the Bombay
Express of 24th January for Poona. I have also instructed him
to book 1st class reservations for them in Tirunelveli Express
of 21st evening. I have also instructed him to intimate to Shri
S.G. Subramaniyam of Tirunelveli accordingly and direct him to
secure reservations for them for their return journey to Madras
from Tirunelveli in the Madras Express of 23rd. As I am to
accompany the party to Kanyakumari one reservation for me
also is to be done. It is for you to see that the needful is done.
As I expect still two more persons to accompany the party, from
Bombay, I think it useful to have two more extra reservations in
my name for Tirunelveli from Madras. If the expected visitors do
not turn up we shall cancel the reservations at the eleventh hour.
You need not make further reservations for the above indicated
expected visitors because, even if they come they may not return
to Madras from the Cape along with the other party and they
may prefer to proceed to Trivandrum instead. However, about
their extra-reservation you should move only after I write to you
again finally.

I am trying to talk to Nagpur on phone tonight. I am thinking
of reaching Madras directly from Bombay and not via Nagpur.
The album prepared by Shri Vishwanathan may not be necessary
for Nagpur now. The album should be retained at Madras.

Please request Shri Annamalai to take the typed copy of the
proceedings of the last meeting to Shri V. Rajagopalachari and
get it corrected. The extract necessary for being sent to the Bank
at Nagarkoil should be typed and with signatures of Shri V.R.,

50