there need not be two Committees in the country having such an
identical purpose, and that it would be in the fullness of things
if your State Committee decides to get itself affiliated to the All
India Committee. I, therefore, request you to place my suggestion
before your Managing Committee for consideration.
I am to be here for about eight or ten days more. I propose to
leave for Bombay in the third week of this month.
Please convey my Respectful Pranams to all elders. Please
also convey my Saprema Namaskars to all co-workers.
Yours affectionately,
27-01-1967
Dear Shri R.N. Venkataraman, Kanyakumari
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your two separate letters, dated 24-1-’67 together
with enclosures. Earlier, I had received your letters dated 17th,
18th, 19th, 21st and 23rd and the accompanying enclosures.
I received the Maharashtra Government’s original letter
No. 731 (5) C, dated 16-1-’67 written in Marathi, together with
two copies of the form of the grant-in-aid bill, sent by you by
registered post.
In fact, you should have first consulted someone fully
conversant with the Government procedures and secured his
advice regarding the entries to be made in the grant-in-aid bill
form, and then sent to me the said communication along with
instructions thus obtained. Had you used your initiative in the
matter, the delay in this unnecessary correspondence between
me and the Madras Office over the same would have been
avoided. I am now sending back to you one of the copied forms
sent by you, so that you may fill it up in consultation with some
competent Government servant and send it back to me for my
guidance.
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Secondly, I have not carried with me here the various State
Governments’ file. It must be lying in the open shelf. The
Maharashtra Government’s present Marathi letter refers to their
communication No. RSI, 3966 U, dated 1-11-’66. As I do not have
that letter with me, I shall not be in a position to write a proper
covering letter for sending the forms duly filled up. I, therefore,
request you to send a copy of that letter as well as of other latest
letters from the Maharashtra Government which you might
consider to be having a bearing on the subject and, therefore,
useful.
Some of the important things I told Shri S. Venkataraman this
morning on phone are given below by way of confirmation.
(1) The truck and the trailer carrying the generator should
reach here as soon as a suitable driver and a mechanic for
transporting the same is availed of through Shri Avudiappa. A
regular driver for the truck will be employed locally.
(2) Two paper cuttings from ‘Hindu’ in which article on the
memorial project has appeared today is to be sent here.
(3) The four winches, chain pulley block, snatch block,
welding transformer (7KVA Capacity), hoist, chain links and
other materials, are to be transported to Kanyakumari separately
if the load of the generator itself is considered sufficient for the
truck and the trailer.
(4) The theodolite lying with Shri Avudiappa is to be tested
and, if found precise and accurate, is to be purchased and sent
here.
(5) You have to furnish more details, especially regarding the
accommodation available at Shri Daulatram’s house opposite
to Shri Viswanath’s residence offered to the Committee on the
monthly rent of Rs. 100/-. I am very much interested in that house.
(6) After apprising Shri T. Bhaskaran of Shri C. Sankunni’s
report to the Government, Shri Palaniappan may be contacted
again if Shri Bhaskaran considers it necessary.
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(7) I shall be here on 30th and 31st of January as, according to
Shri S. Venkataraman, Shri M.E. Hussain is expected to visit the
Cape on one of those days.
(8) Shri Bhaskaran may be informed that a barge as per his
directions and design would be ready in about 2 to 3 weeks. It is
being fabricated by M/s Kaveri structurals.
(9) I shall soon write to the Secretary to the Government of
Madras (P.W.D) regarding submarine cables, telephone cables,
jetty construction work etc.
(10) The fixed deposit of Rs. 1 lakh is due to mature in a day
or two. It is not to be renewed but put in the current account till
further instructions.
I am enclosing a copy of the letter I wrote to Shri Coil Pillai of
Tuticorin.
I am keen to visit Trivandrum, Tuticorin and Cochin, at the
earliest, for some urgent works. But the possibility of a second
visit by the Post Officer Shri C. Sankunni in company with Shri
T. Bhaskaran and others makes me hesitate to leave the place.
I, therefore, request you to see that I am immediately informed
when the contemplated visit by those officers is finally fixed up.
Works Sub-Committee meeting took place as scheduled, last
evening.
Shri Ramachandrarao was co-opted by the Committee as
one of its members in place of Shri S. Venkataraman. Shri
Ramachandrarao has been also made the Secretary of the Works
Sub-Committee.
During the last week the sea was very rough and the winds
also very high. No visitors or workers, therefore, could go to
the Rock, practically during the entire week. Since yesterday,
however, sea has become calm and the work as well as visitors’
trips have been resumed. To-day the sea was so calm that Shri
Ramachandrarao and myself, after doing our work on the Rock
in the morning, swam the distance to the shore very easily.
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We are all keeping perfectly fit and healthy. Dear Prabhu was
laid up with fever for two-three days. He has resumed his duties
to-day.
Yours affectionately,
13-2-1967
Kanyakumari
Dear Shri Virendra Agrawal,
Saprema Namaskar.
I received your telegram after reaching Trivandrum. I was
at Cochin on that day. I also received information from Madras
regarding your attempt to contact me at Madras on phone.
I hope you received my telegram conveying to you “Telegram
received, regret inability, letter follows.”
As you know me and my mental make-up, you hardly need
to be told that direct politics is not in my line, though I may have
very clear-cut views on politics as on various other aspects of our
national life. To participate in any electioneering work would,
therefore, be beyond my chosen sphere of activity.
The Memorial Project is now on the threshold of its next
important phase, namely, the transport of the building material,
in barges, to the Rock, across the sea, and the commencement of
the masonry work there. At present, therefore, I am extremely
busy with various preparatory works preliminary to the actual
transport and masonry operations. I hope to get some respite
from that work only after March. Though I would have very
much loved to be in Delhi and Rajasthan to witness the battle
Royal that is being fought at present, I am helpless for the reasons
mentioned above.
We, we, and none else, are responsible for what we
suffer.
--Swami Vivekananda
104
However, I hope to meet you and many other of my friends
duly crowned with success, soon.
Please convey my Sadar Pranams to Mananiya Brij Mohanji.
Yours affectionately,
02-04-1967
Nagpur
Dear Shri S.G. Padmanabhan,
Saprema Namaskar.
I reached here on 29th. I met Shri Ramchandrarao Buldeo the
subsequent day. I reported to him about the latest progress of the
work at Kanyakumari as I saw it on 25th of March.
Here some workers of the Maharashtra State Committee
met me to discuss their plan of collection-drive which the State
Committee proposes to launch after the cessation of rains,
sometime in September-October.
They seem to be planning the drive on a very big scale.
For that purpose, they have decided to prepare an attractive
multicoloured ‘one rupee donation folder.’ They have, therefore,
requested us to make available to them certain material useful
for designing and preparing the folder and other printed matter.
1) The first important thing which they immediately want is
two specimen stones of gray and reddish variety which we are
using for the Vivekananda Mandapam. They want to ascertain
the exact colours of the stones so that the perspective picture of
the Mandapam, under preparation at Bombay, could be drawn
in precisely the same identical colours.
I, therefore, request you to send two square pieces, 3 inches x
3 inches (with ½” depth), of dressed stones, one of each variety,
to Bombay, by air parcel, at the usual address of Shri Dattaram
Vaze. You have to specially take care that the pieces to be sent are
dressed to the same extent to which the stones in the Mandapam
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are to be finally dressed. I hope, you will be able to dispatch those
two pieces within two days of the receipt of this letter.
2) They have also requested for photographs (size 6”x8” –
glossy paper) of various designs carved on the stones.
3) They also want photographs of the sandalwood model
from various angles.
I would like to have the things referred to in No. 2 & 3
photographed by our Premier Studio Proprietor during my
next stay at Cape on 14th and 15th of April. It is most necessary,
therefore, that the sandal model as well as particular specimen
stones bearing various designs are given the necessary face-lift
and kept ready for being photographed on the 15th.
My further programme is as under:
Leaving for Vijayawada – 4th evening, by G.T.
Reaching Vijayawada and proceeding to the camping place
of H.H. Acharya Swami – 5th morning.
Leaving Vijayawada for Nagpur – 6th evening, by G.T.
Reaching Nagpur – 7th morning.
Leaving Nagpur for Madras – 11th evening, by G.T.
Reaching Madras – 12th evening.
Leaving for Kanyakumari – 13th evening, Tinneveli Exp.
Reaching Kanyakumari – 14th evening.
There is one more important thing which I have to mention
before closing this letter. It is this that you will have to immediately
put in a formal application, on behalf of the Works Sub-
Committee, to the concerned Government office, for procuring
stamp-papers of the necessary value, for registration of the deed
regarding the land under purchase from Shri Subramonian. You
will consult Shri S.G., if necessary, for calculating the value. (I
hope, copies of the land-documents have been sent to Shri S.G)
Unless Shri Subramonian (Meenakshi Bhavan) considers
it useful to postpone the registration to a later date (it may be
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advisable from the point of view of procuring adjacent lands at a
moderate rate), we shall register the deed on 15th of April.
I request you to acknowledge the receipt of this letter and also
to post me with the latest progress, especially regarding Rock
jetty-widening work, sandle wood model preparation, further
land acquirement, laying of the rail-track on the Rock, shore-jetty
extension etc.
Please convey my Saprema Namaskars to all co-workers.
Yours affectionately,
18-05-1967
Poona
Dear Shri Ramachandrarao,
Saprema Namaskar.
I hope you could meet Shri A. Ramaiah at Coimbatore and
get the contemplated fabrication-work done there, with his help.
The meeting of the Managing Committee took place as
scheduled. There is nothing special to be communicated to you
in that regard.
The revised drawings of the cellar-structure as also of the
Main shikhara of the Mandapam must have been submitted to
the Government, yesterday, by Shri R.N. Venkataraman. I had
prepared the dispatch with a suitable covering letter and handed
over the same to Shri R.N. Venkataraman, before I left for Poona.
I propose to submit the drawings in respect of Devipadam
Mandapam during my next stay in Madras, that is, from 30th May
to 2nd June. As mutually settled between Shri Mahalingam and
myself, Shri Mahalingam is to meet me at Madras on the 31st, to
give me up to date report of the state of affairs at Kanyakumari,
especially with reference to (1) progress in land acquirement
and registration (2) progress in the erection of suitable platforms
107
on the shore, and at the Rock for providing direct boarding and
landing facilities, for the tug-boat passengers. (3) progress in
planting a suitable hand-winch on the shore for pulling up the
float (4) progress in raising the level of the bed-rock on the south
of the present landing platform, with a view to obstruct sheets of
water from jumping over the said rock and dashing against the
landing platform. (This work will become more difficult after the
south-west winds start blowing.) (5) Construction of a barricade
on the north of the Rock-crevice, to stop the waves from jumping
into it. (This work will also be more difficult to execute after the
onset of south-west winds).
I have asked Shri Mahalingam to request Shri S.K. Achari to
come to Madras on the 31st, to finish a small but long-pending
work of executing a supplementary agreement between him and
the Committee, as already settled. Please remind both about the
same.
I am writing this letter, however, with a special purpose. I
want you and the Sthapathi to fully ascertain that the height of
the proposed Devipadam-structure will not, in any way, obstruct
the view of the Vivekananda Mandapam, when viewed from the
shore, standing on the central line. I want you and the Sthapathy
to actually put up a post or some very temporary bamboo-
structure of the proposed height of the Devipadam-Mandapam,
at the said site, with similar suitable mark on the Rock denoting
the platform level of the Main Mandapam, and to view the whole
thing from various points on the shore, at varied elevations, and
to satisfy yourselves that the height we have proposed for the
Devipadam-Mandapam would, in no way, obstruct the view of
the main Mandapam, even if viewed from the P.W.D. hut on the
shore.
As I am to submit the Devipadam-Mandapam drawings to the
Government on the last of June, I want your firm observations by
31st of May. When Shri Mahalingam and the Sthapathi will be
at Madras on the 31st, as scheduled, I hope to get all the data, in
that regard, from them.
108
I came here this morning. I shall be reaching Bombay on
the 21st. Kanyakumari office already knows my further tour-
programme till, at least, the 31st May.
Brotherly Yours,
21-6-1967
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman, New Delhi
Suprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 18th June. I was immensely happy
to read the contents.
I would have been all the more happy, had you decided
to resume your former normal mode of life forthwith, and
without any ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ which only reflect reservations
within. However, your resolve to adopt the right course, though
postdated from the point of view of its implementation is
welcome and very assuring. I heartily congratulate you on your
success in arriving at the auspicious conclusion.
I learnt with great pleasure that the truck and trailer is ready
for its journey to Kanyakumari. I hope it will reach its destination
safely as you are yourself accompanying the vehicle to ensure its
careful handling by the driver, and his adherence to the proper
and convenient route.
I would request you not to overstay in Kanyakumari, as there
is a lot of work to be done at Madras. You will, of course, stay
there as long as necessary for the work entrusted to you. I hope
The highest of gifts is the giving of spiritual knowledge.
Realising my own real nature is the one goal of my life.
--Swami Vivekananda
109
you will appreciate that everybody has to stick to his post unless
otherwise imperative for the work.
I am here till the 25th. I shall leave for Calcutta on the 26th
where I shall stay till the 4th of July. I am scheduled to reach
Nagpur on the 5th of July.
Yours affectionately,
9-9-1967
Dear Shri Ramachandra Rao,
Saprema Namaskar.
We had a comfortable journey and reached here at the
scheduled time the next morning. At Tinneveli I could meet Shri
S.G. Subramanyam, and Shri Dinakarji of Madras who travelled
with us in the same train.
I hope the work at Kanyakumari will soon catch speed. I have
already given you a green signal regarding procurement of a
compressor, employment of additional labour and other such
facilities necessary for accelerating the pace of progress.
I met Shri M.E. Hussain here on the 7th. He had not, by that
time, received the estimate of the ‘hockey shaped shore-jetty
plan’ from Tinneveli. He, however, in my presence, asked his
assistant to write to Kanyakumari that they should not wait for
that formality but resume the work of extending the shore-jetty
platform without further delay.
Regarding the Rock-jetty work, he expressed surprise why his
engineers have not yet taken the compressor to the Rock, which
is already lying with them and tried to expedite the work.
I met the Revenue Secretary and also Shri V.R. Nedunchezian,
Minister for Religious Endowments. The Revenue Secretary
informed me about the proposal of the Devaswom Board that the
‘Shripada Mandapam’ should be handed over to the Board by the
Committee for its upkeep and maintenance, after its completion.
110
I communicated to him my views on the matter. I also discussed
the matter with Shri V.R. Nedunchezian. I also met Shri Shetty
and apprised him of the facts of the case.
Subsequently, we received a formal letter from the Revenue
Department about the said subject, enquiring from us whether
we are agreeable to the proposal made by the Devaswom Board,
and recommended by the Collector. I shall write a suitable
answer in a day or two.
Yesterday, I visited the Electricity Board Office and tried
to ascertain the exact position about the laying of underwater
cables. I got satisfactory clarifications and I shall write a reply,
within a day or two, to their communication, informing them
about our concurrence regarding the laying of the cables and our
willingness to bear the cost.
I hope your letter to the S.P., with a copy to the Collector,
regarding increasing activities of the fishermen in our yard and
the consequent difficulties we are being required to face, would
help greatly in setting the matters right. You should be very
careful that our workers are not provoked into any precipitated
action. It is only through the police that we should get the
matters straightened. If possible, leaders of the fishermen should
be informally, and in a friendly spirit, approached by someone
from amongst us like Shri Mahalingam, Parameswaran, Balan,
Laxmanan etc. and requested to restrict their activities to the
shore beyond the steps north of the Devaswom shore-wall. As
you know, we should be free to use the door at the north of the
Devaswom wall, for coming down to the said steps and the shore.
Shri S. Venkataraman must have reached there. I have sent
him there to collect authentic material for a feature article
on Kanyakumari. I have instructed him to reach here by 11th
evening, latest.
I am proposing to leave for Bombay on the 12th. But if I am
required to prolong my stay for completing some works in hand
I may leave on the 15th. I shall be able to decide about it only
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on the 11th after the arrival of Shri S. Venkataraman here. From
a copy sent here, of the letter written to the S.P., it appears that
some words are missing in that letter. I do not know whether
the missing words were replaced in the original copy and the
correction could not be carried out in the carbon copy sent here.
I enclose the copy of that letter with necessary corrections made
in it, for your perusal.
I request you to write to me every Monday about the progress
of the work at Kanyakumari referring specifically to PWD work
and our work at both the platforms, as also to other works
(including the repairs to the wells) we have listed during my stay
there. I also request Shri Mahalingam in this very letter to write
to me separately every Monday about all other works including
those which are being specially looked after by him.
Before I finish I seek a piece of information from you. There
is a ritual observed by the Kanyakumari Temple on Karthik
Poornima day every year. The ritual is to light a lamp before the
Deity in the temple and to take it to the Rock and place it there
on the elevated place. Please request Shri Parameswaran, or Shri
S. Venkataraman who may be there, to contact the temple Poojari
and know from him the exact procedure of the ritual, the time it
takes for its completion, the name of the ritual, if any, and the
Pauranic or spiritual significance of the same. The Poojari who
resides near our residence adjacent to the Meenakshi hotel may
be able to give us the authentic information.
Please convey my Saprema Namaskars to all co-workers.
I hope Shri Vithalrao has been able to acclimatize himself to
Kanyakumari weather and food conditions and is feeling happy.
Brotherly yours,
God is a circle whose circumference is nowhere and whose
centre is everywhere.
--Swami Vivekananda
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1-11-1967
New Delhi
Dear Shri Dwarkanath,
Saprema Namaskar.
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter I received from one
Shri Bhagwandas Varma. The letter will speak for itself. May be,
you know the gentleman. If not, please instruct some one from
amongst our friends at Ambala to contact him and to see if his
services could be utilised for your State Committee’s campaign
office at Jagadhri, or at any other suitable place.
I hope, you have received 5,000 complimentary copies
allotted for your State Committee. Your representative took the
copies from here yesterday night. I am sure, those would be used
fruitfully and carefully.
I am leaving for Bombay tomorrow morning. I shall be
reaching back Delhi on the 5th evening and stay here up to the
8th evening, after which I shall leave for Nagpur to return to
Delhi again on the 14th.
The printing of time-table has been again upset due to Diwali
holidays and other such obstacles. I am afraid, you may not
be able to get your quota of folders before the 10th or even the
12th. In fact, I am going to Bombay to fix a firm time-schedule of
delivery of folders.
I learnt that you fell sick and that you were running high
temperature. You should learn to discipline your sickness that it
may think of approaching you only when you have some leisure
to spare for playing a host to it.
Pure Existence-Knowledge-and-Love is the goal; and Love
is God.
The greatness of a teacher consists in the simplicity of his
language.
--Swami Vivekananda
113
It will be useful if you meet me sometime during my stay here
between 5th evening and 8th evening.
I utilise this opportunity to request you to get your pamphlets
etc. printed in a good press, with proper attention given to
decency and accuracy.
With regards,
Yours affectionately,
1-11-1967
New Delhi
Dear Shri Mahalingam,
Saprema Namaskar.
I hope you have received my wire in connection with the
details of measurements required here for assessing the height
of the proposed statue.
The plan of the Mandapam and other details you sent were
duly received here. But, the details you wrote were a bit confusing.
It may be due to your use of vague words in describing the same.
I am enclosing a copy of the details as I understood them using,
of course, somewhat different terminology. Please check up that
enclosed copy with the help of the Sthapathi and also fill in the
details at one or two places left blank. Please also make necessary
additions, especially as per note given at the end. I shall await
your communication with the full details, at Delhi.
I am leaving for Bombay tomorrow morning by Frontier Mail
for some urgent work. I shall, however, return to Delhi on the 5th
evening by Frontier Mail. I shall leave Bombay on the 4th night.
I am to address a press-conference at Delhi on the 8th evening.
I would, naturally, like to equip myself with the details of the
latest position at Kanyakumari before I meet the press. I shall,
therefore, expect your detailed letter soon.
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Henceforward, in your Monday reports, I would expect your
office to make a specific mention of the number of dressed stones
utilised in the cellar-hall construction, as well as the number of
stones transported to the Rock and available for being used in
the construction work.
Similarly, I want more detailed report of the P.W.D. work,
both at the Rock and the shore end. I intend to send a weekly or
a fortnightly report to the Chief Engineer, Madras, with a copy
to the P.W.D. Minister. You please depute someone to maintain
a chart of daily work by the P.W.D. and the number of workmen
engaged at both ends. I shall be sending those charts to the
P.W.D. Head quarters at Madras with my covering letters. I want
you to maintain the chart from the 1st of November.
I hope all that has to be put in process in respect of the supply
of marine engines to M/s Bruntons, together with accessories of
description specified by them, has been done by us now. M/s J.N.
Marshall & Co. are in direct correspondence with Bruntons and I
hope the needful would be done by the former in the prescribed
time.
I am in receipt of your letter No. 815/51/67, dated 27-10-
’67 addressed to the Special Deputy Commercial Tax Officer,
Tirunelveli. I have not, however, received a copy of the letter you
originally received from that office. I want you to immediately
send the said copy, and also a copy of their further query, if any,
before sending your reply to the same.
I have recently sent a letter to Shri M.S. Hussain. I hope you
have received a copy of the same. I did not think it proper to send
a copy to Shri Dorairaj. But you do show your copy to him when
you get an occasion to meet him.
I want information on the following points.
1) What are the costs of gray and reddish granite stones used
for the memorial. I want the details: the cost per cubic foot (a) at
the quarry and (b) at the stone-dressing yard. (c) Similarly, the
stone-dressing (ordinary or rought) cost per cubic foot.
115
2) What is the population of Kanyakumari town? What is the
population of Hindus, Christians and others.
3) What is the population of Kanyakumari (a) Taluk (b) Dist.
Also give the community-wise break-up figures.
I shall be sending a letter to the Principal Officer, M.M.
Department, Madras, most probably tomorrow before leaving
for Bombay. A copy of the same will, of course, be sent to you.
I have already written to the concerned authorities for transfer
of ownership of the D.C.M. You must have received a copy of
the same.
I very much desire to announce our plan of ‘Shripada
Mandapam’ at the ensuing press conference. But we have not yet
received green signal from the Government. I do not understand
why should there be so much delay in according formal sanction
by the Government, especially when all the authorities concerned
have informally welcomed the idea and have approved the plan-
drawing.
With regards,
Yours affectionately,
20-12-1967
Dear Sardar Jagdish Singh,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 12-12-1967.
I quite appreciate your sentiments and feelings. However,
I request you to tolerate others who are found holding views,
different from yours on ‘memorials.’
I quite appreciate your view that spreading and acting up to
the message of Swamiji to serve the poor and the down-trodden
is the most important and valuable work for all those who
have devotion for the Swamiji. The Committee shall, therefore,
116
particularly remember your name when, in the fulness of time,
the Committee’s plans in respect of the said work would be
finalised and the people with genuine feeling for the depressed
would be called upon by the Committee to come forward to
serve them.
But, I sincerely feel that your disparaging remarks about those
engaged in putting up a physical memorial to the Swamiji, is
uncharitable and betray a lack of human understanding. I hope,
you will, in course of time develop charitable disposition and
soon learn that those who are enarmoured of more forms and
symbols also serve the society in a way. This understanding will
dawn on you earlier, if you shed your present apparent pose of
false self-righteousness.
Regarding the ‘big’ Vivekananda Memorial presently under
construction, I may assure you that it is destined to develop into an
equally big, or even bigger, centre of activities envisaged and preached
by the Swamiji.
I hope you would not mind giving this free vent to my reaction
to your letter.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
21-12-1967
Dear Shri Sudhir,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 14-11-’67, and read the contents
very closely.
Not only do I appreciate but also share your feelings and
sentiments. But I do not appreciate your intolerance for those
who are enarmoured of forms and physical symbols. It is useful
to remember that forms and symbols also help in the raising up
of the masses.
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I can assure you that this big Vivekananda Memorial is
destined to develop into an equally big, and even bigger, centre
of activities envisaged and preached by the Swamiji. We hope
you will offer your services to the Committee when, in the fulness
of time, the Committee’s plans in that regard, are finalised and
people of intense feeling and devotion like you are called upon
by the Committee to come forward to take up the work of serving
the poor and the downtrodden.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
22-12-1967
Dear Shri H.A. Desai,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 28-11-’67 and read the contents
with great interest.
I very much appreciate your view that raising a mere physical
memorial to Swami Vivekananda is not enough and that there
must also be a complementary plan to spread the Swamiji’s
message.
But for achieving that end, it is not at all necessary to cut short
the plan of the Swamiji’s memorial under construction. I may
assure you that this ‘big’ memorial is destined to develop into an
equally ‘big’, or even ‘bigger’, centre of activities preached and
envisaged by Swami Vivekananda. While making this statement,
I am not just indulging in some sort of wishful thinking. What I
have stated shall, in the fulness of time, become an actuality.
I sincerely thank you for the keen interest you have evinced
in the memorial project and for the frank expression of your
thoughts in the matter.
With regards, Brotherly yours,
118
24-1-1968
Dear Shri Pradip Ghosh,
I reached here yesterday evening. I duly received your letter
dated 22nd January, together with a copy of the report of the
General Body Meeting held on 17th January.
I was pained to find that you did not take proper care to use
correct English words and phrases while preparing the report.
People receiving letters from the Organising Secretary of West
Bengal would lose faith in his ability to handle English language,
if such mistakes were to be repeated in future. It would be better
if you showed your drafts to competent persons, before getting
them typed, finally.
I am anxious to know the result of Shri Mahabir Sharma’s talk
with Shri Ajoybabu regarding Shri Jyoti Basu’s joining our State
Committee as one of the Vice Presidents. If he has already given
his consent, I expect you to intimate to me about it on phone.
My Nagpur programme scheduled for 28th, is postponed. I
shall, therefore, leave Madras for Calcutta as soon as my work
here is over. I may even decide to fly, to save time. You may
expect me there any moment.
Please convey my Saprema Namaskars to all co-workers.
We are eager to receive Shri Keshab Babu here by Janata, this
evening, as intimated by you to this office by wire. Dear Bholat
has returned to Madras today from Kanyakumari.
Brotherly yours,
Character is repeated habits, and repeated habits alone
can reform character.
It is character that cleaves its way through adamantine
walls of difficulties
--Swami Vivekananda
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24-01-1968
Dear Shri Bhanwar Singh,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 15-1-’68, and noted the contents.
Also received the list of addresses sent by you.
I am enclosing a letter received from a student of Tonk, by
name Shri Abid Hussain. If what he has written in his letter is
true, you should write to the persons concerned and see that
students are not, in any way, compelled by enthusiastic teachers
of Tonk to purchase one rupee donation folders.
My Nagpur programme, scheduled for 28th, is postponed. I
am, therefore, proposing to leave for Calcutta after three – four
days, as soon as my work here is over.
I hope all districts of Rajasthan have been, by now, equipped
with all necessary material, including folders, for conducting the
campaign.
I shall be eagerly watching the progress of the campaign.
Brotherly yours,
28-01-1968
Dear Shri Ramachandra Rao Buldeo,
Received your letter dated 12th, and 18th etc. together with
enclosures, including the work-report of the week, ending on
22nd January.
From the report it is evident that the work is not yet catching
speed. Though it is true that a whole sea of impediments is to
be faced by us there, we have to overcome the difficulties by our
resourcefulness as well as foresight and intelligent adjustments.
As I expressed before all our departmental heads in my last
visit, it is imperative for us to so organise our entire constructional
activity that the memorial construction work, by no means,
120
lingers further than the middle of 1969. I want you also to stress
this point again and again, and with emphasis, before the persons
in-charge of our various vital departments.
My whole attention remains riveted upon the masonry work
of the Vivekananda Mandapam in progress, on the Rock. Even as
I move from place to place had it been feasible, I would have very
much liked to know, before going to bed every night, the number
of stones that have gone into the walls of the Vivekananda
Mandapam. Being unable to keep trace of the daily work from
my moving camps, I eagerly await your weekly reports, to know
the number of stones or the cubic feet area covered by them.
When I get only a vague description of the work done, I feel very
much restless.
I, therefore, request you to always mention in your weekly
report, both the number of stones used, and the cubic feet area
of the masonry work covered by those stones, in that particular
week, together with a similar account of the total masonry work
of the Mandapam to date. Please show this letter, with its Tamil
rendering, to the Sthapathi and convey to him my anxiety.
Please convey my Saprema Namaskars to all co-workers.
Brotherly yours,
09-02-1968
Dear Shri Pradip,
Sasneha Namaskar.
I reached here half an hour before. I thought, my works here,
and at Bombay, would make me forget about the work at your
end. But it did not happen.
Though I know that you as well as other senior and active
workers there, are alert enough to look to all details of the
preparations of the ensuing campaign, I am enumerating
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below, for my own mental satisfaction, certain things that need
immediate attention.
1) All folders kept in the verandah of 76/2, Bidhan Sarani, are
to be immediately shifted to a proper place and kept carefully
under lock and key, after ascertaining the quantity and serial
numbers.
2) The new office at 60/2, Dharamtolla Street, must become
effective, and the real centre of our activities, forthwith.
3) A big size post-box with Samiti’s name painted on it is to be
fixed near the staircase on the ground floor of 60/2, Dharamtolla
Street.
4) A telegraphic address for the Samiti should be secured
from the postal department by paying the prescribed amount.
Telegraphic address of Madras, namely ‘VIVEKSHILA’, if
permitted by the postal department, may be adopted.
5) A letter under the signature of Dr. R.C. Majumdar addressed
to the Vice President, Shri V.V. Giri, inviting him to inaugurate
the campaign on 17th March (afternoon) should be dispatched
forthwith, if it has not been sent already.
6) Concerted efforts should be made to obtain the consent of
prominent persons representing big Commercial Houses like
(1) Bangurs (2) Bajorias (3) Singhanias (4) Thapars (5) Birlas (6)
Nopanis and of Sir Biren Mukherjee and Girdharlal Mehta for
their names being included in the General Body of the Committee.
7) A brief report of the Managing Committee, together with
a list of members of the Managing Committee, is to be sent to
members of the General Body, at the earliest. You may even
enclose a copy of the audited balance sheet in the report.
8) The pamphlet must be ready at the earliest. (a) Print only
6000 copies for the time being. We shall print more quantity after
about a week, with additions of names etc. incorporated into it.
(b) In the draft of the pamphlet Rs. 30 lakhs is mentioned as total
collections to date. But you have to make it Rs. 25 lakhs instead. I
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have already instructed Dr. Sujit Dhar about it. (c) The pamphlet
is to be dated 13-2-68 (d) You have to get the pamphlet translated
into Bengali and Hindi simultaneously, though printing may be
taken up along with the second print of the English pamphlet
(revised).
9) Experienced and technical persons are to be approached
for advice regarding cheap and strong packing to be used for
dispatching varying quantities of folders.
10) We have to make proper enquiries from the post office
regarding the expenses we shall have to incur on registered post
parcels of folders in varying quantities of 100-200-300-400 etc.
and the maximum weight or the number of folders we can send
by post.
11) A circular letter announcing a meeting of district (or Taluk,
if feasible) representatives from all over the State scheduled
on the 10th of March (at 9 A.M.) at Calcutta, for collecting
necessary campaign-material and receiving instructions, should
be prepared and sent to all the district (or Taluk) centres, at the
earliest. In that letter they are to be instructed (i) to fix meetings of
workers of various centres in their respective districts (or Taluks),
either on 13th or 14th, at district (or Taluk) centres. (ii) to avail
of Shri Keshab Babu’s tour programme and seek his assistance
in setting up Committees and preparing proper atmosphere for
the collection drive ahead and (iii) to furnish the Calcutta office
with detailed information in advance, about the (a) progress
of work of the nation in respect of district Committees, (b) the
establishment of centres of Taluks and even further in the interior
and (c) also the number of pamphlets (English, Hindi, Bengali),
folders etc. required for their districts.
12) To write to the State Committees’ office at Ludhiana
Jagadhri, Delhi, Jaipur and Kanpur, requesting them to send
at least five copies of the recommendatory circulars issued by
various Ministries (Education, Local Self Government, Co-
operative, Marketing Societies) or departments under them.
123
13) Preparation of slides for being exhibited in cinema houses,
and posters for being displayed in restaurants, shops, colleges ,
etc. is to be taken up immediately. You may enquire our Delhi
office regarding possibility of supply of posters (that they had
printed for themselves) from there to us, and also the slides or
their designs lying with them, if you approve of them and the
rates also are considered reasonable.
14) An office-in-charge who can draft suitable letters
and manage correspondence independently, as well as an
experienced typist with good knowledge of English are to be
procured immediately.
15) A competent accountant is also to be searched out to assist
the office-in-charge, though the latter may, till then, manage both
the works.
16) To prepare suitable formal applications addressed
to various ministries for being personally forwarded to the
respective Ministers or concerned officers to get the necessary
recommendatory circulars issued. Donation of Rs. 1 lakh
sanctioned by the Calcutta Corporation also needs special efforts
both at the Ministerial and Chief Ministerial level.
In this connection, help should be sought from our patrons
especially the Chief Justice.
All formal applications addressed to Government
Departments or various institutions and societies should go
under the signature of the General Secretary.
17) Folders meant for being sent to educational institutions, as
‘specimens’, or to sympathisers as ‘presents’ are to be stamped
‘complimentary’. This is a ‘must’ and should not be overlooked.
18) I am shortly sending a separate cover with useful forms
and other material prepared here, for conducting collection
campaign in Vidarbha area, especially to facilitate keeping
account of sale proceeds of folders and collections on receipt
books. That material may serve as guidelines for our drive in
West Bengal.
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19) I shall be expecting a copy of the press-release you are
supposed to issue today, at my address here, or at Bombay.
20) I shall also expect you to endorse to me, as a rule, copies
of letters or circulars you would be sending to various persons or
centres, from your office.
With affection,
Brotherly yours,
Camp: Bombay
14-02-‘68
Mananiya Shri Ali Khan Bahadur,
Respectful Pranams.
I believe, you are already aware of our Committee’s project
of putting up a grand memorial to Swami Vivekananda on the
famous Vivekananda Rock situated at the confluence of the three
seas, about 450 yards off the Kanyakumari shore, at the southern
extremity of our country.
However, for your detailed information, I enclose a brochure
brought out by the Committee sometime back. Though published
about two years ago, it will give you useful information about
the location, history and the significance of the memorial-site
as well as about the salient features of the granite memorial
under construction. It will also provide a glimpse of the essential
preliminary work of stone-dressing that has been in progress on
the Kanyakumari shore for the last over three years.
The memorial is expected to be completed by the end of 1969
and its total cost, as per revised estimate, is about Rs. 50 lakhs.
About 250 artisans are at present working on the project.
Regarding the progress of the construction work to date, you
will be pleased to learn that the dressing of the bulk of stone
required for the entire memorial structure is now over and the
project has entered its next phase, namely, the transportation
of dressed stones to the Rock-island and commencement of the
masonry work there.
125
A humble beginning of the transport and masonry work was
made on the last Vijaya Dashmi day i.e. on October 12, 1967.
Transportation of building material to the Rock is being done
by means of pontoon barges towed by a tug-boat. Similarly, the
material unloaded at the foot of the Rock is being hauled up to
the memorial site, at an altitude of about 55 feet, by means of
a winch. A rail track has been laid on the gradual ascent of the
Rock to facilitate hauling-up operations.
Provisional platforms at the foot of the Rock and on the shore
are also put up for the convenience of loading and unloading
of building material. The transport work, however, will
gather momentum only after the pucca jetty-platforms, under
construction at present, get ready. I am enclosing, for your
perusal, two photographs, depicting transportation of building
material in barges to the Rock-island as also hauling-up of stone
to the top tableland of the Rock, for memorial construction work.
The total collections to date amount to about Rs. 25 lakhs.
The various State Governments are also coming forward to
contribute befittingly for this national monument. Uptill now,
the State Governments of West Bengal, Mysore, Maharashtra,
Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh have donated Rs. 1 lakh
each, and the State Government of U.P. has donated Rs. 1.5 lakhs.
In the funds that have been raised, uptill now, from the public,
sizable contributions have come from M/s Birla Brothers and M/s
Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works of Mysore, who have donated
Rs. 1 lakh each.
The Madras Government is helping the project in an important
way. It has undertaken the vital work of putting up pucca jetty
platforms, at an estimated cost of Rs. 3 lakhs. The State P.W.D.
has been executing that work which is expected to be completed
within the next few months.
The Committee has been receiving good response from
business firms and industrial concerns as also from wealthy
individuals and middle class gentry. Members of even other
sections of the population like students, labourers etc. having
126
very limited income are also participating in this noble venture
by making their one rupee offerings against copies of the ‘one-
rupee donation folder prepared by the Committee specially for
the convenience of common people.
I am enclosing, for your perusal, a complimentary copy of
the newly brought out Hindi-English edition of the ‘one-rupee
donation folder’ currently in use in the Hindi speaking States.
The folder, besides giving useful information about the Rock and
the proposed memorial, bears a photograph of the memorial-site
as well as photo pictures of the wooden model of the envisaged
memorial structure, with latest modifications incorporated into
it.
I very much desire to meet you and apprise you in person the
memorial project in all its details. I hope to be able to fulfil this
desire during my Rajasthan tour under contemplation. However,
in the meantime, I shall be expecting your good wishes for the
cause as also your suggestions in respect of its implementation.
With respects, Yours Sincerely,
Organising Secretary.
18-02-1968
Shrimati Indira Gandhi, Kanyakumari
Respectful Pranams.
You will be pleased to learn that our Committee is
contemplating to establish, alongside the physical symbol of
the Swamiji’s memory, in the form of a granite-memorial under
construction at Kanyakumari, a powerful centre of activities
preached and envisaged by Swami Vivekananda.
It is, however, considered necessary that eminent persons like
you, who have been working for the social uplift, are approached
127
for seeking their counsel in the matter, before finalising the plan.
With that end in view, particularly, I am reaching the Capital on
26th of February. I am to stay there till the 1st of March.
Naturally, I very much desire to meet you and seek your
advice in the matter. I, therefore, request you to spare some of
your valuable time on any day convenient to you during the
period.
The work on the project is progressing steadily, as per
schedule. I shall report to you in person about the progress of
work in all its aspects, when we meet.
I shall deem it a favour if your secretariate intimates to me at
my Madras address (no address is given here) the time and place
to be sought for meeting. Even otherwise, I shall, on my part,
contact your secretariate on phone after reaching Delhi on 26th
morning to ascertain your convenience.
With respects,
Yours sincerely,
12-03-1968
Dear Shri V. Mahalingam, Calcutta
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 9-3-’68, together with photographs
and negatives.
It is most disappointing that all the photographs sent here, are
useless, both in contents and quality, in so far they do not serve
the purpose for which they were asked for.
It seems that neither the photographer who took photographs
nor the person who directed him, could grasp the purpose for
which the photographs are required. I feel somewhat helpless
and, am at a loss to know what I should do. Because, I do not
128
think that any written instructions, howsoever descriptive and
elaborate, could convey to you what is exactly wanted here, if
there is none on the project who has the necessary insight or
imagination to grasp the requirements of effective publicity.
At present, I am using three earlier photographs for publicity
purposes. Even in my letters addressed to distinguished
persons I am enclosing these photographs to enable them to
have a glimpse of the transport arrangements and transport
operations. I am enclosing copies of these photographs to give
you an idea about the nature of requirements. In view of the
advance achieved, recently, in the construction work of the
breakwater-wall and jetty platforms etc. on the shore as well as
in the erection of landing platforms, crane etc. at the foot of the
Rock, these photographs have now become out of date. Besides,
I have been using one of these three photographs, namely, the
one depicting the arrangements at the foot of the Rock, with
great reluctance; and you know the reason. The reason is that it
presents an unhappy sight of the ugly cutting of the front portion
of the Rock. As the cut portion has been now given a proper and
natural shape with the help of suitable Rock-stones with original
surface, a new and revised photograph of the same spot may be
very much useful. Similarly, revised and up-to date photographs
of the arrangements depicted in other two photos enclosed, are
also considered very much useful.
I intend to publish an interim pictorial brochure (pending the
publication of an exhaustive one) under the title ‘From the stone
dressing yard to the memorial-site’ (the wording may undergo
some change).
To properly illustrate the subject of the contemplated
brochure I shall naturally need relevant photographs, besides
the new editions of the three indicated above, to fill in the gaps
and complete the chronological order.
The photographs needed might be of the following
descriptions:
129
1) Dressing of stones in progress, in work-sheds, on the shore
(as is depicted in photo-prints given on page Nos. 12, 13, 14, 15 &
16 of the old pictorial brochure).
2) Transport of stones to the shore-jetty by the approach road
(the view or the angle taken for the photo given on page 18 of
the old pictorial brochure may, with slight modifications, be
readopted, while depicting transportation of stones in handcart
or truck, by the approach road, to the shore-jetty). To cover the
above subject fully, you may be required to take atleast three
photographs, from such suitable points and angles as would
ensure the coverage of the transport vehicle, the approach road,
the breakwater wall and the jetty on the sea shore.
(3) The further successive transport operations, including the
loading, unloading (at the foot of the Rock) and hauling up of
stones should accordingly be photographed in a few shots.
Similarly, while photographing the transport operations and
the masonry work in progress, care must be taken to see that the
photographs convey, unmistakably, that the transport activity or
the construction work depicted therein are being conducted on
the Kanyakumari shore or on the Rock in the midst of the sea.
This implies that but for a few photographs which may have to
be rather ‘close views’, especially those depicting architectural
designs on stones in the work-sheds etc., all the photographs in
general, should cover as much view of the memorial site as is
feasible.
I shall expect the photographs and the negatives at the earliest,
so that the block-making and other necessary preliminary works
could be put in process.
I am scheduled to leave Calcutta for Nagpur on the 19th. If
feasible, I desire photos by the 17th. However, if it is difficult,
you may send the same to me at my Nagpur address. I am at
Nagpur from 20th to 23rd. If I get them at Nagpur, I shall prepare
a proper scheme there, and send it to Calcutta with some friends,
for being handed over to the press.
130
As you already know, I am to reach Madras on the 25th,
and, proceeding immediately by day train, reach Madurai the
same evening to catch the Tinneveli passenger which will reach
Tinneveli the next early morning. I shall, thus, reach Kanyakumari
on 26th morning.
The West Bengal Collection campaign was inaugurated here
by Shri Morarji Desai, Deputy Prime Minster on the 10th as
scheduled. The function was a grand success. I hope the Madras
papers also have given it proper publicity as the local papers
have done, here.
With affection,
Brotherly yours,
14-03-1968
Dear Shri Sharda Charan Joshi,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received a copy of your letter dated 1-2-’68 forwarded to our
office by Shri K.L. Sethi, Secretary, Vivekananda Shila Smarak
Samiti, U.P.
Regarding the proposal made by the members of the
Vivekananda Shila Smarak Samiti, Almora, that our Committee
should take up the work of raising another memorial to Swami
Vivekananda at Almora which has also been intimately connected
with the Swamiji’s life, I wish to state below our Committee’s
view in the matter.
At the outset, I wish to inform you that letters, similar to the
one received from you, have been reaching our office for the last
two years, from various places intimately connected, in one way
or the other, with the Swamiji’s life, with proposals to raise, at
those places, suitable memorials to the Swamiji’s memory. These
communications provided us an opportunity to consider the
question in all its aspects and take a decision, once and for all,
in the matter.
131
Similarly, our Committee has been, from the very beginning
of our project, receiving several letters suggesting to us that our
Committee which has undertaken to erect a magnificent granite
structure on the Vivekananda Rock to perpetuate the Swamiji’s
memory, should also adopt an equally grand scheme, if not a
grander one, for conducting man-building or nation-building
activities preached and envisaged by the Swamiji, to honour his
memory, and should undertake to establish a powerful centre at
Kanyakumari for that purpose.
Our Committee has, after considering all the pros and cons,
of the various suggestions, mentioned above, ultimately decided
that the Committee should, as soon as the fund position and other
circumstances permit, address itself to the task of setting up a
Centre for conducting suitable activities, prescribed by Swami
Vivekananda, rather than utilise existing funds or seek additional
funds for putting up further memorials at other significant spots
vitally connected with the Swamiji’s life.
I hope you will appreciate the above-mentioned decision of
the Committee.
With best wishes, Yours sincerely,
Copy to Shri K.L. Sethi, Secretary, Vivekananda Shila Smarak
Samiti, Uttar Pradesh, Kanpur.
Camp: Calcutta,
25-04-‘68
Revered Swami Vishwesha Tirtha Padangal,
Respectful Pranams.
This is to apprise you of the further progress of the Committee’s
work both from the point of view of construction activity at
Kanyakumari as well as the collection of funds in the various
States, for the memorial project.
The ‘brief report’ enclosed herewith will furnish you with
useful details of the progress.
132
Also find enclosed a few relevant photographs depicting
transport of dressed stones and other building material to the
Rock and the construction work on the memorial site there. The
description of each photograph is given on its back.
From the report of the campaign in various States and the
enthusiastic response we are getting from all over the country
there are clear indications that we shall exceed the target figure
of Rs. 65 lakhs – Rs. 50 lakhs earmarked for its upkeep and the
maintenance of a regular, motor-launch service to and fro the
Rock. The Committee’s aspiration to establish alongside this
granite memorial at Kanyakumari, a powerful centre of activities
preached and envisaged by the Swamiji seems, therefore, feasible
of fulfilment.
The Committee has therefore, started thinking in that
direction. Soon the draft plan of activities will be ready for being
circulated among eminent persons in the country, to seek their
opinion and guidance in the matter. I shall send a copy of the
same to you as soon as it is ready.
With respects, Yours Sincerely,
Organising Secretary.
29-4-1968
Calcutta
Mananiya Shri S.A. Dange,
Respectful Pranams.
This is to apprise you of the further progress of the Committee’s
work both from the point of view of construction activity at
Kanyakumari as well as the collection of funds in the various
States, for the memorial project.
The ‘brief report’ enclosed herewith will furnish you with
useful details of the progress.
133
Also find enclosed a few relevant photographs depicting
transport of dressed stones and other building material to the
Rock and the construction work on the memorial site there. The
description of each photograph is given on its back.
From the encouraging reports we are getting from the States
where the campaigns are in progress and a similar enthusiastic
response we are expected to get from the remaining State-
campaigns which are to follow suit, we feel confident that we
can exceed the target figure of Rs.65 lakhs Rs. 50 lakhs for the
memorial structure and a reserve fund of Rs. 15 lakhs earmarked
for its upkeep and for the maintenance of a regular motor-launch
service to and fro the Rock. It is time, therefore, that we formulate
our plans regarding the setting up of, besides the Memorial, a
powerful center of activities preached and envisaged by Swami
Vivekananda.
The Committee has, therefore, started thinking in that
direction. Soon the draft plan of activities together with its
financial implications will be ready for being circulated among
eminent persons in the country, to seek their opinion and
guidance in the matter. I shall send a copy of the same to you as
soon as it is ready.
With respects, Yours Sincerely,
30-06-1968
Dear Shri Pradip Ghosh,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter, dated 26-6-’68, and was somewhat
relieved to read the contents.
Shri Sunil Paul left for Calcutta yesterday. His visit to
Kanyakumari was of great help to the project. He made some
very useful recommendations.
Shri Manik Pande will reach Madras after visiting Madurai
and Rameshwaram. He intends to visit a few more places in
134
Madras State and reach Bombay on 7th July. From there he will
proceed to Calcutta. He may visit Nagpur on the way.
I read your suggestion about announcing in papers regarding
the closure of the West Bengal Campaign. I think we should not
commit that blunder. We should, instead, write to all Committee
offices for making suitable preparations to wind up the present
mass campaign by the end of July or, at the utmost, middle of
August, and to submit all receipt books, folders etc., before that
date. But they should be simultaneously instructed that the
district committees and other units would continue to function
even after that date, for pursuing our applications for funds,
pending with various organisations, such as co-operatives, trusts,
companies, factories, municipalities, tea gardens, collieries, etc.
which are bound to take their own time for the consideration of
the same.
An exhaustive circular letter with instructions in unequivocal
terms to all units districts, Taluks and others will be sufficient
to have the desired effect. Statement or announcement in
newspapers, which the papers cannot give, for want of space,
in details, and in terms desired by us, should be particularly
avoided at this stage.
I reached Madras this morning. I am leaving for Nagpur on
3rd July night.
With regards, Brotherly yours,
Test everything, try everything, and then believe it, and if
you find it for the good of many, give it to all.
There is no higher virtue than charity.
--Swami Vivekananda
135
22-7-1968
Shri K.L. Chowdhary
Chairman
Indian Foundary Assn.
India Exchange Place,
Calcutta-1
Sir,
Sub: Donation for Vivekananda Rock Memorial Project,
Kanyakumari-request for.
You are, we believe, already aware of our All India
Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee’s project of putting
up a grand memorial to Swami Vivekananda on the famous
Vivekananda Rock at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of our
country. The Rock is situated at the confluence of the three seas,
about two and half furlongs off the Kanyakumari shore.
The Committee also aspires to establish alongside this
physical symbol of the Swamiji’s memory, a powerful center
for conducting nation building activities preached by Swami
Vivekananda.
The pamphlet enclosed will provide you in a nutshell with
the salient features of the two-fold memorial scheme mentioned
above. Besides, it will also apprise you of the present stage of the
memorial-construction at Kanyakumari as well as the collection
work in progress in the various States.
The estimated cost of the memorial-structure alone is Rs.
65 lakhs, including Rs. 15 lakhs to be kept as a reserve fund
earmarked for its maintenance and for the upkeep of a regular
motor-launch service to and fro the Rock. The memorial is
expected to be completed by the end of 1969.
To implement the other part of the two-fold memorial plan,
namely, the setting up of a Centre for carrying out the Swamiji’s
Mission, additional huge funds are necessary. Collections over
and above the total estimated cost of the memorial-structure
136
would, however, form the nucleus of funds necessary for
establishing and running such a Centre.
Regional Committees have been formed in almost all the States
for collection of funds from the public and State-wide collection
campaigns are in progress in various States. As a result, funds are
steadily pouring in at the Committee’s Central office at Madras.
The total collections to date amount to about Rs. 35 lakhs.
The national memorial has rightly emerged as a joint
endeavour of the people and the Government. Uptill now, eight
State Governments have donated Rs. 1 lakh each, minimum, for
the cause. Remaining State Governments are also expected to
follow suit soon.
In the implementation of this great venture we look to your
Association with high expectations for help. Particularly, we
appeal to you to recommend this cause to the member-bodies
of your august organisation for liberal financial help. We trust,
the total contributions that may thus be made by members of
your esteemed body would amount to a really handsome figure
commensurate with the worthiness of the cause as well as the
great name of your Association.
We may further add that our Committee is a Registered Society
and donations made to it are entitled to the benefit of exemption
under section 88(1) of Income-tax Act. We are enclosing for your
file and record a copy of the Committee’s Memorandum of
Association and Rules.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Chastity is the corner-stone of all morality and of all
religion.
--Swami Vivekananda
137
13-08’1968
Calcutta
Dear Shri S.M. Pandit,
Saprema Namaskar.
I happened to meet a famous Sculptor today. I showed to him
a photo-copy of the Swamiji’s portrait recently prepared by you.
While he highly praised the drapery treatment as also the
facial resemblance and expression, he observed a small defect in
the position of the legs. He said that in the particular posture the
Swamiji was standing in the picture, his left foot could never be
so near his right foot. Even the right foot should be, according to
him, a little to the left.
Similarly, a lighter sky-background, in his opinion, would
have been more effective. This is only for your information and
consideration, if regarded useful.
As scheduled, I shall reach Bombay on 21st morning, by
Frontier Mail. If the train reaches in time, I shall call on you the
same morning.
More when we meet, I am leaving for Delhi this evening.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
02-09-1968
His Highness Shri Chittira Tirunal Balarama Varma Maharaj,
Respectful Pranams.
During my recent four day-visit to Kanyakumari last week,
I very much wanted to spend sometime in your enlightening
company. But various works in connection with the memorial
project kept me busy for three consecutive days. On the last day,
I thought of snatching some time and coming to Trivandrum to
meet you. But, I learnt from my Trivandrum friends who were
138
requested to contact the Palace to ascertain your convenience,
that your time was already booked for that evening.
However, as I am to visit Kanyakumari again, in the latter part
of October, I shall seek another opportunity then, to meet you.
During the last two months, I was, for the most part, in the
north-eastern region of our country and visited Sikkim, Tripura,
Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, to mobilise public support, both
financial and otherwise, for the Committee’s cause. I am pleased
to report to you that the response was very promising wherever
I went. I am planning to visit Nepal and Bhutan also, shortly.
I utilise this opportunity to request you to kindly bestow your
personal attention, this time, to the question of selecting your
nominee to the Kanyakumari Devaswom Board, as the time
for fresh nominations, I understand, is nearing. If the nominee
chosen, this time, is someone really dedicated to the cause which
the Devaswom Board is called upon to serve, it would, in turn,
help us and immensely strengthen our hands in the execution of
the sacred task we have undertaken. I would not have ventured
to draw your personal attention to this small matter. But, today,
unfortunately, the times are so difficult that all our endeavours,
unless they are co-ordinated and complementary to one another,
are not likely to succeed in any appreciable measure. You will
kindly excuse me, therefore, for making the aforesaid humble
suggestion.
The work at Kanyakumari, you will be pleased to learn, is
progressing quite satisfactorily. The Meditation hall, at the rear
of the Main Mandapam, is expected to be completed by the end
of coming December and the entire Memorial will be ready by
1969 end.
I hope this finds you in the best of health and spirits.
With respects,
Yours sincerely,
139
18-10-1968
Calcutta
Dear Shri Shrikant,
Saprema Namaskar.
After completing my scheduled programme at Agartala, I
reached Calcutta on 17th evening by the scheduled flight. I faced
no difficulties at Agartala in obtaining seat in the plane. I had
developed a severe headache and also some temperature that
night at Agartala. But, by God’s grace the temperature came
down the next morning, though the head-ache persisted. I am
feeling normal today and am quite fit for my further journey to
Nagpur this evening.
Please find enclosed copies of draft-letters meant for
being addressed, both to old and prospective members of the
Committee.
Please attend to the following instructions regarding the
dispatch of the said letters and other allied matters.
1. You should not cyclostyle the letters. But, you should have
the letters, addressed to different persons, separately typed.
2. You should have atleast two copies extra of each letter. One
copy should be kept in the file and the other should be sent to our
active workers at the respective places to enable them to follow
up the matter with the persons concerned.
3. The typing should be got done from an efficient typist and
every letter should be checked up closely before dispatch.
4. The letters should be typed on the old letter-heads of the
Committee.
5. You should send specimen copies of those letters to me at
my Madras address to enable me to see how decent and correct
has the typing been done.
6. As promised, I have arranged to dispatch by air, 125 copies
140
of the recent pamphlet of the All India Committee. You may get
the intimation of the consignment atmost immediately.
7. You should make it a point to see that all walks of life and
groups are represented in the Committee. Similarly, you should
also not forget to include a few influential ladies in the State
Committee.
8. The total number of members of the General Body may be
hundred, maximum. I think, even seventy-five would, perhaps,
be sufficient. There need not be, however, any rigidity about the
number.
9. It would be advisable to try if one of the three Ministers,
who have kindly consented to become Vice-Presidents, could be
persuaded to attend the ensuing meeting of the General Body.
10. You should be able to find out suitable active workers for
holding the Offices of the Secretary and two Jt. Secretaries before
the ensuing meeting of the General Body. Similarly, you should
also be able to fix an influential person to act as Treasurer.
I shall expect your letter at my Madras address about the
progress made. I am to reach Madras on 27th October.
You may, in consultation with other colleagues in the
Committee, finalise about the inauguration of the campaign on
the Swamiji’s next birthday. Next birthday, I think, falls on 12th
January 1969.
I am also sending a copy of the minutes of the last General
Body Meeting held on 11th August, by separate post.
With affection. Brotherly yours,
Civilisation is the manifestation of that divinity in man.
--Swami Vivekananda
141
22-11-1968
Indore
Dear Shri Sujit Dhar,
Saprema Namaskar.
After returning from Ujjain last night, I received a telegram
sent by Shri Jyotsna asking me to contact Calcutta office on phone
at my earliest. Accordingly, I rang up our Committee Karyalaya
this morning. Shri Pradip was on the line.
Shri Pradip sought my views regarding whether the next set
of Yatra-programmes, scheduled to be held in the 1st week of
December, should be carried out or abandoned.
I was simply amazed to find the Committee workers in a
wavering state of mind at this late stage. I was earlier told that the
decision to hold the programmes was arrived at by a unanimous
opinion in its favour. When the programmes are scheduled to
be held just after a week, this wavering on the part of workers is not
only unfortunate but fraught with great dangers also. I told him that
whatever might be your reasons for reconsidering your earlier
decision, I cannot, from here, be expected to opine on the matter
and evaluate the pros and cons of the case in question, and that
too on phone. The workers on the spot are the proper persons to
take decisions.
Though, in the absence of full data, I am unable to give you my
opinion, either in favour or against the holding of the scheduled
programmes. I give below some guidelines, which, I hope, may
be useful to you in arriving at the correct decision.
When, in spite of the previous failure, all of you took a
unanimous decision to hold the Yatra-programmes for the second
time, it was done, evidently, after proper evaluation of all factors
in all seriousness, and not in a playful and adventurist mood.
If you are still convinced that, this time, the whole programme
is bound to bear good fruits, and if you are prepared to devote
sufficient time and take requisite pains to make it a success,
nothing should deter you from carrying out the programmes.
If some people’s apprehensions regarding its success, are the
142
only reason for your present wavering, I may say that your
cancellation of the programme on that account, after having
already spent a large amount on preparations, would expose
you to a more serious charge.
Assuming that no unforeseen difficulty of some magnitude
has cropped up all of a sudden, endangering the success of the
programmes, I see, at this late stage, no other alternative is left
to you than to unwaveringly stick to the scheduled programmes
and move heaven and earth to achieve success, so that the old
loss is wiped out and substantial gains earned. You should not
forget that the whole reputation of all of you as conscientious
and competent public workers and organisers is at stake. You
should accept the challenge and vindicate your fair name and
honour.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
23-11-1968
Indore
Dear Shri Ramachandra Rao,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 16-11-’68, together with a copy
of your letter addressed to the Collector in connection with the
hand-grenade incident. I have also received from Madras, a
copy of the letter written by Shri V. Rajagopalachari to the I.G.
of Police, Madras.
It is good that we have immediately apprised the Government,
both at the local and State level, of the whole incident, and about
our apprehensions in that regard.
I am equally happy to note that the incident has not been
given undue publicity by newspapers. If it is presumed that some
mischief-monger planted the hand-grenade at that place, it must
have been with a sinister purpose of creating an artificial tension
143
in our project-area and creating commotion in the country. I am
glad that both these purposes stand totally defeated. Some wicked
mind or minds, jealous of the ideal atmosphere of harmony and
enthusiasm prevailing at present among Kanyakumari people,
irrespective of communal or group loyalties, may have planted
that object with a calculated move to sow seeds of suspicion
and dissensions, and arrest the present trend of happy fusion of
groups and communities. I trust, we have been able to maintain
the general atmosphere of suspiciounlessness, while vigorously
striving, at the same time, to locate the mischief, if any.
In this connection, I would like to reiterate my old suggestion
to arrange to send some one responsible every evening, by turn,
to the Rock for night-stay there. I think, that may inject in our
watchmen on the Rock, more vigilance and alertness.
Regarding your enquiry about Gurkha ‘Watchmen’ in your
letter addressed to Shri Deshpande, I think, we can procure good
watchmen even locally.
I am reaching Delhi on 27th. I am to stay there for a few days
and reach Calcutta on the 6th. I may be able to reach the south by
the middle of December, earliest.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
11-12-1968
Nagpur
Shrimati Mira Basu,
Respectful Pranams.
After our meeting on Monday evening, I could not, during
my stay in Calcutta, get time to draft a suitably worded letter for
being addressed to the Secretary, Royal Calcutta Turf Club. The
next evening I had to leave for Nagpur, as scheduled. I could,
however, apply my mind to the subject and prepare a draft while
144
sitting in Bombay Mail today. I am enclosing a copy of the said
‘draft-letter’ for your perusal and approval. After, alterations,
if found necessary, you may send the letter to the Club at your
earliest. I am also enclosing a copy of the whole correspondence
for your ready reference.
I am sending instructions to Shri Pradip Ghosh not to forward
to our bank, for the present, the cheque of Rs. 5,000/- received
from the Club. I have advised him to watch the reactions of
your said letter for three-four days and then send it to our bank
for encashment. The formal stamped receipt may also be sent
thereafter.
I am leaving for Bombay tomorrow. Staying there for a couple
of days, I shall proceed to Cochin en route Kanyakumari.
The other day, you were wondering how I could constantly
remain on tour with my health intact. I may tell you the
secret. Besides the sacred cause which is the abiding source
of my energy and inspiration, the feeling that I am not alone
but hundreds of brothers and sisters all over the country
are working ardently and selflessly for the cause not only
multiplies that energy but also brings immense charm into the
work.
With regards, Brotherly yours,
15-12-1968
Mumbai
Dear Shri V.N. Nadkarni,
Saprema Namaskar.
The intensive mass campaign for collections in aid of the
Vivekananda Rock Memorial Project, Kanyakumari, is in
progress all over Madhya Pradesh. This mass campaign has
now entered its last phase and will soon be wound up, as per
programmes earlier chalked out. Collection work of selective
145
nature would, of course, continue even after the close of this
mass contact programme. But, the all-out and concerted effort
by our workers at all levels will soon be over.
At this juncture, I am addressing this appeal to you, and
through you to all workers of the Committee. You are already
aware of the grand plan of a ‘Non-Monastic (or Non-Sannyasi)
Order’ of Social and spiritual workers proposed to be established
by our All India Committee, in addition to the erection of the
envisaged memorial-structure on the Vivekananda Rock. You
are also aware that it was at Indore at a function held in ‘Indore
Christian College’ on 20th November that the proposed plan was
first publicly announced. Besides, ‘Swadesh’, ‘Yugadharma’,
‘Panchajanya’ and a few other papers which have given due
publicity to the plan, the ‘Organiser’ Delhi, has also, subsequently,
carried the news of the said function, highlighting the plan.
As aspired, this unique and significant work of initiating a
Non-Sannyasi Brotherhood of Social and Spiritual Workers
could certainly be taken up by the Committee. To enable the
Committee to move in a big way towards the implementation of
this grand plan, your share of burden and responsibility is only
to see that the collection-target fixed for your city and district is
exceeded.
I trust you and your colleagues in the Committee would rally
their total energy during this last phase of the present mass
collection-drive and successfully endeavour not only to reach
the target, but also to go far ahead of it.
The newly announced plan in its rudimentary form is given in
our All India pamphlet on page No. 3. For your ready reference,
I am enclosing a copy of the said pamphlet.
With respects,
Brotherly yours,
146
18-1-1969
Mumbai
Dear Shri V. Mahalingam,
Saprem Namaskar.
Received your hand-written inland letter, dated 8th January.
I shall meet the persons concerned during my next visit to
Kanyakumari. You need not get unnecessarily perturbed over
what ill-informed people say, in ignorance, about men and
matters. Their misunderstandings are bound to disappear like
mist when truth will dawn, sooner or later, upon them. Without
getting perturbed, therefore, you should continue to take every
care to see that each action of yours is above board and can be
conclusively proved as such, if necessity arises, and leave the rest
to higher authorities.
With affection,
Brotherly yours,
27-3-1969
Mumbai
Dear Shri Devdutt,
Saprema Namaskars.
A search for your article (on Vivekananda Memorial), which,
as per one of your previous communications, was to appear in
Dharmayug, took me to Shri Dharmavir Bharati, editor of that
esteemed magazine.
I learnt from him that the article was returned to you for being
recast on certain lines and made still shorter. Shri Dharmavirji
said that it would be published as soon as it was received.
It seems that you had, in the article, referred to the attitude of
antagonism and hostility shown initially by a section of catholic
Christians towards the memorial project. In that connection, I am
147
of the opinion that it will serve no useful purpose to rake up
the memories of those incidents or antecedents, especially in the
present context of all round cooperation and good will for the
project, at Kanyakumari and elsewhere.
Shri Dharmavir Bharati was praising the coloured photographs
that accompanied the article. I would very much like to have
those photographs, if they were really good, for being included
in our new pictorial brochure under contemplation.
I am reaching Madras on the 3rd of April and shall stay there
till the 7th evening. If feasible, why not come to Madras for a day
with those photographs and negatives as also the recast article?
I am reaching Kanyakumari on 29th. I shall be staying there
till I board Tirunelveli-Madras Express on the 2nd of April.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
13-04-1969
Dear Shri Mihir Sen,
Received your kind letter in reply to my earlier communication.
Let me, at the outset, try to remove a somewhat wrong
impression you seem to have formed about me. I am not an expert
in fund-raising. In fact, I never raised funds in my life before.
Nor can I say that I have, in course of the past few years of my
present work, struck an effective modus operandi for acquiring
funds. To tell you the truth, it is essentially the magic name of
Swami Vivekananda, and not any science or art of organising
funds, that attracts the funds which we happen to collect.
Our people are essentially of grateful nature. It is that feeling
of gratitude for all that the Swamiji has given to them that they,
irrespective of their party affiliations and their thought patterns,
are coming forward to help raising a befitting memorial to him
148
on that majestic Rock, at the confluence of three seas. Because,
it is on that Rock that he is known to have, in deep meditation,
received Light of truth, which he, in the rest of his life, tried to
impart to his people and to the world at large.
Swamiji taught us to be men with capital M. and that too at
a time when we were considered by the entire world, and by
ourselves too, as chattels. The people are making their offerings
in aid of the memorial project with an aspiration that this
memorial will not only perpetuate his sacred memory but might
also, in the fullness of time, inspire our nation to rise equal to his
teaching and expectations. This is the secret I have discovered
during these years and am disclosing it to you.
Regarding your mission and activities, every alert countryman
like me is watching your achievements with feeling of pride.
If the Swamiji was the embodiment of quest for truth, passion
for service and love for adventure rolled into one, you are
undoubtedly on the same path following his footsteps.
I shall, during my next visit to Calcutta, try to meet you in
person – if no new adventure, in the meantime, takes you
elsewhere-to have exchange of views on subjects of common
interest.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
21-04-1969
Mumbai
Dear Shri S.D. Sathe,
Saprema Namaskars.
Received your letter dated 16th April.
The sum-total of the contents of your letter seems to be that,
according to you, the model that has emerged after days and days
of your concentrated thought and labour, is the embodiment of
your skill at its best and that there is no scope for making any
improvement whatsoever in the form you have chosen for it.
149
I totally differ with you here and maintain that you are still
capable of taking your mind out of the groove into which it
has stuck up and of thinking afresh. But, it is no use merely my
having faith in you, unless you too have it in yourself.
The full-size clay models (of the desired height of about
8½ feet) under preparation by sculptors, are proposed to be
examined for final approval towards the end of June, beyond
which there is little scope for extending the period. I fervently
hope, you will avail of the opportunity and not reject it.
With regards,
Brotherly yours,
2-8-1969
Mumbai
Revered Swami Ranganathananda,
Respectful Pranams.
Please find enclosed a copy of an informatory pamphlet
regarding Vivekananda Commemoration Volume to be published
on the occasion of the memorial-inauguration expected to be
celebrated sometime in 1970.
You may be knowing Dr. Lokesh Chandra, the son of the late
Dr. Raghuvir. This publication venture which needs international
contacts for its success, could not have been undertaken without
the initiative and active participation of Dr. Lokesh Chandra
who is the editor-in-charge of the volume. He had in his letter
addressed to you on 3-4-’69, requested you to grace the volume
with your learned article on Vivekananda. The subject he had
suggested to you was: “Vivekananda the Emissary of India’s
Culture.” I learn that he had sent that letter to your Calcutta
address. It seems that the letter did not reach your hands.
I request you to write a paper on the above mentioned subject
for being included in the volume. As yours is to be the main
150
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