should be sent to S. Venkataraman. After my reaching Madras
I shall see the corrected minutes myself and then put it in the
minute-book.
I intend to reach Madras on the 16th if I come via Nagpur or
on the 18th morning if I come directly from Bombay.
I hope the stone samples have been sent to Guindi and P.W.D.
Laboratories for test.
A copy of the estimates was one of the enclosures in today’s
cover. I hope you have already informed Shri Venkataraman
about the mistakes in totalling.
With the help of Shri Rajaram see that the repairs in the hall
and in my room as also the electrical work that has been left out
half finished is got completed by Shri Narayanrao Khataokar. At
least before I return to Madras I expect the work to be completed.
Please talk to Shri Shivarampant regarding the arrangements
to be done for the stay of the party from Poona and Bombay.
I may be required to go to Bombay along with the party. But I
am trying to avoid the same and visit Madurai instead.
Please request Shri Narayana of Triplicane to see that some-
one responsible and capable of hearing the telephone bell always
sleeps upstairs in the hall. I may try to contact Madras on phone
any time. Ordinarily I shall prefer to contact between 9.30 P.M.
and 11 P.M.
Yesterday I had made a personal call in the name of
Shivarampant. Instead of Shivrampant, Shri Dhanpal took the
phone and wasted my three minutes after which I asked the
Exchange to connect me with 85002. Instructions would be given
to the inmate of the Karyalaya that one should not take up the
phone when the call is in the name of somebody else.
Please read this letter to Shri Narayana of Triplicane and Shri
Shivarampant.
51
I had left Madras with a bad throat. The throat trouble has
only aggravated here.
Convey my Saprema Namaskars to all friends. I am sending a
copy of this letter to S. Venkataraman at Kanyakumari.
03-03-‘65
Mumbai
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your Express Delivery letter dated 1-3-65, together
with a copy of the estimate and two other enclosures. The estimate
sent seems to have been prepared by the Sthapathi in the very
initial stage and has, therefore, no relevance to the estimated
figure of Rs. Thirtyeight lacs reported to have been subsequently
calculated by the Sthapathi as per your letter dated 12-2-’65. I
infer that the Sthapathi had at no time given that astounding
figure which you communicated to me in the letter referred to
above. The substance of the information you gave last night on
phone also confirms that inference.
You do not seem to even imagine what stir and confusion your
absent-mindedness in the whole affair has caused in my mind.
I also fail to understand why you took more than a fortnight for
rectifying the mistake and the wrong impression you conveyed.
I take this opportunity to try to bring home to your mind the
necessity of observing utmost caution and precision on our part
in matters the Providence has presently called upon us to handle.
I hope you will utilize the visit of Shri Anil Pandya, Engineer,
and refer all the problems we are likely to face in the execution
of the work, to him.
I have met a number of experienced engineers here. Some of
them are likely to visit the site for survey. They propose that the
highest authorities in Engineering field should be approached
52
for finalizing once for all the devices to be used and modes of
operation to be adopted in executing the construction work at that
peculiarly situated spot. But even for doing so, they say, we must
have in possession full technical data having important bearing on
the items of work involved in the project. (1) We have to address
ourselves, therefore, to think out in detail and systematically the
different categories of the technical information necessary for
seeking expert advice (2) Secondly, we have to actually collect
the data with the help of the experts concerned with those
branches of data-collection. (3) With the help of the Sthapathi
we have also to prepare the details of the time-schedule and
the work-schedule with a special reference to the construction
work on the Rock, the total quantity of stone and other building
material to be transported to the Rock, the number of cut-
stones, beams, columns etc, involved in the entire construction
and their respective weights, number of heaviest single items
like KARNAKAL pillars, the average daily consumption of
water calculated, on the Rock, during construction work, the
average quantity of stone to be transported daily to the Rock,
construction-activity during rains, the type of scaffoldings the
Sthapathi proposes to use, the contrivances he proposes to press
into service for the purposes of hoisting the heavy stones during
construction work of the Mandapam and all other allied matters
pertaining to the construction operations on the Rock.
I started writing this letter with a view to hand it over to Shri
Anil Pandya for being carried to Kanyakumari. But just now I
learn that he is postponing his visit to the Cape. He informs that
some unavoidable work has sprung up all of a sudden and that
work will keep him busy here at least for a week.
From the approaches I have made to certain influential
quarters I have begun to feel that persons at the helm of affairs
in big Companies like ‘Hindusthan Construction’. ‘Gammons
Ltd’ etc can be persuaded to help the project in a big way. But
before requesting sympathetic influential circles for doing so it
is necessary that we have before us a clear picture of the nature
of the construction work in its entirety as also of the machinery
53
and equipment involved in its execution. Without any definite
understanding or a clear idea of the project in all its aspects as
mentioned above, it will be difficult to even suggest in concrete
terms what type of help the Committee would like the companies
to render to the project. This again means that we have to decide,
with the help of the senior engineers, upon the modus operandi
of the whole work, first. I hope you have understood the situation
and will/all that is needful in that connection. Even if Shri Pandya
may not be able to visit the Cape immediately, I have already
talked to one of the senior engineers of the ‘Gammons Ltd’ who
may willingly spend three four days at the Cape for studying
the site and collecting the necessary data with the help of local
Engineers like Shri Rengaswami, Shri Gopinath, Shri Shrinivasan
of Trivandrum, our honorary construction supervisor Shri
Kolappan (I hope I have not given an incorrect name), etc. I will
let you know definitely within the next few days.
We have yet to send copies of the approved plan (Remodified)
to the Collector, Kanyakumari. I shall send the copies from here.
If I know the latest situation regarding the permission for use of
the Government land near the present workspot at Kanyakumari,
I may mention about it in my covering letter to the Collector. I
shall write to the Collector after hearing from you.
Printing work of the pamphlet will be resumed after the
receipt of the promised copy of the estimate. I am expecting
your letter containing the figures you have communicated on
phone last night. Whatever I have heard on phone needs to be
confirmed by a letter as there is every likelihood of my having
misheard you on phone.
Convey my Saprema Namaskar to the Sthapathi and all other
co-workers.
54
[TRANSLATED LETTER]
05.04.1965
Bombay
Shraddheya Shri Jugalkishorji,
Sadar Pranam.
So many days have passed, I could not meet you. I was busy
with the work of Vivekananda Rock Memorial. In initial stage,
I had to run here and there to get the permission from Madras
Government. But last month we could get the permission from
Madras Government and we were busy in search of such a sculptor
whose design would be liked by the state government, means
ultimately by the Chief Minister Shri Bhaktavatsalam. After that,
I was busy for some time in making initial arrangements so as
to begin the work. By the grace of the God and best-wishes and
help of the so many well-wishers, the construction work of the
Memorial has started systematically after overcoming the initial
obstacles. I am also somewhat free to tour places other than
Kanyakumari and Madras.
We were thinking of publishing a small booklet - in Hindi
and in English, to give necessary information regarding the
construction work of the Memorial. The booklet in English is
ready and printing of the Hindi booklet is going on. I am sending
the English booklet for your information with this letter.
I met you in Delhi last year, some time in the month of March-
April. After that I could not visit Delhi. You were in Calcutta a few
days back, this information was passed on to me by our workers
from there. It is nearly a year that I could not visit even Calcutta. I
am planning to visit Delhi for a few days in the coming week and
then Calcutta. As soon as I reach Delhi, of course, I will contact
your residence and find out over phone, the convenient time to
meet you.
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
55
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
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 organised 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
to 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.
It is 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.
Rest when we meet.
With regards,
09-04-1965
Mumbai
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letters dated the 1st, 2nd and 3rd April. The
news of the demise of Shri Bhaskar Thondaman made me very
sad. We have been deprived of a great pious soul. The loss to
the Committee is also very great. I am writing to Shri V.K.C.
Natarajan to express my grief.
It is good that you have utilized your visit to Trivandrum and
met some important persons including Shri Vaidyanath Iyer. I
had already dispatched from here copies of the pamphlet to all
important persons with whom I came in contact in Trivandrum.
56
Now that you have talked to Shri Vaidyanath Iyer about the
necessity of the study of the Palace Records, it is better if you
pursue the matter and remind him when you get an opportunity.
As I am leaving for Delhi on the 11th you need not send the
corrected sketch (of the original prepared by Shri Nagarajarao)
at Bombay. Instead, you bring it to Madras when you come there
for the meeting. But see that everything and every relevant item
is correctly indicated in the sketch. I hope that at least this time
you do not fail to get the work completed.
I met Shri S.B. Joshi after his trip to the Cape. He looked happy.
We had a very good talk. He is proposing to send one of the
Rope-way Experts to the site. One Mr. Harvey, an Englishman,
who is working with S.B. Joshi & Co. may be deputed by him to
visit the site and prepare a plan and calculate the cost.
From what I have gathered from other sources, casually, Rope-
way may be feasible but it is very doubtful that it will be cheaper
too. Unless otherwise proved and established convincingly,
‘transport by barges’ seems to be the only alternative we shall be
required to handle. We should never lose sight of that important
point. Our mind should work only in that direction and should
not be allowed to wander in doubtful tracks. The jetty-platforms
are also to be designed with that end in view. While you get
opportunities to discuss the jetty-construction with the marine-
engineers you never forget to stress the necessity of designing
the same in such a manner that the platforms should not only
be of the requisite shape, size and pattern but should also be
strong enough to bear the strain of the loading and unloading of
the heavy stones and of the additional weight of the crane-like
machinery which might have to be pressed into service.
Dear Shri Gopinath should be asked to spend his vacation at
Kanyakumari. We should not miss this opportunity. I am soon
writing to Shri Bhaskarrao about the urgency of the matter.
You, on your own, should also write to Shri Bhaskararao. Shri
Anantrao Deshpande is also proposing to spend a few days at
the Cape in the 2nd week and 3rd week of May. He is proposing
57
to go there with his family. Every year he gets facilities of travel
(air or train), in company with his family, to any part of the
country, on behalf of his company. This time he intends to utilise
the same in spending some time at the Cape.
Regarding purchase of the necessary instruments Shri
Deshpande also was telling me that it would be convenient if we
have our own instruments. I quite agree. But as we are in a tight
corner at present let us postpone it to a later date. I may be able
to give you a green signal when we meet at Madras.
My further programme is as under: Leaving for Delhi by
Frontier Mail 11th night.
Reaching Delhi 12th evening.
Leaving Delhi for Calcutta by Howrah Express 16th night
Reaching Calcutta 18th morning.
Leaving Calcutta for Madras by Madras Mail 22nd.
I have sent letters to Electricity Board Authorities, both at
Madras and Tirunelveli. I am enclosing copies of the letters for
your information.
I am thinking of visiting Tirunelveli and the Cape after the
General Body Meeting at Madras. If possible I may also visit
Trivandrum. We shall take a decision about the same at Madras.
If the C.M. visits the Cape, as per reports reaching me here,
efforts should be made to take him round the work-centres. At
least he should visit the main Centre. About his visit to the Rock
we should not insist at present. Looking to his age, it is better we
request him to visit the Rock after the construction of the jetty-
platforms. Because, even if the sea be calm, you will not be able to
avoid the ‘jumping business’ at the time of landing on the Rock.
Test everything, try everything, and then believe it, and if
you find it for the good of many, give it to all.
--Swami Vivekananda
58
You should reach Madras positively on the 24th. I am also
reaching there on 24th morning. Entrust all matters to Shri
Parameshwaran and Shri Padmanabhan.
We should try to get some geologist visit the site. May be,
get some expert at Madras or Trivandrum. We should be on the
look out. It is better to have someone from the surrounding area
rather than ask somebody from far away to visit the place.
I hope you have with you my Delhi and Calcutta address.
However, I am giving below the said addresses:
C/o Chamanlalji, 76/2, Bidhan Sarani
Jhandewala Mandir, Flat No. X-12,
New Delhi –1 Calcutta - 6
(Tele: 54287) (Tele: 557069)
Syt. Anant Deshpande,
14-Shankar Darshan, 15th Road, Chembur
Bombay –71 Phone 522430
If you need any technical help or information or material from
Bombay, please write to Shri Deshpande, directly.
Yours affectionately,
23-05-1965
Revered Swamiji,
Received your kind letter dated nil after I reached Madras on
the 20th.
We are happy to learn that you are generously making available
to us some more books by way of donation to Vivekananda Rock
Memorial Fund. I am writing to Shri Kalidas Basu, advocate,
(5-A, Sukea Street, Calcutta –9; phone No. 35-6586), Calcutta to
collect the copies from your office on our Committee’s behalf.
He is a member of our All India Committee and a Joint Secretary
of our West Bengal State Unit. Even previously, he has received
59
copies of the Centenary Memorial Volume on behalf of our All
India Committee.
I hope you are in receipt of my letter dated 18.5.1965
despatched from Nagpur. I am reaching Bombay on the 27th
morning where I shall stay for a day and fly to Rajkot to return to
Bombay on 31st. I am giving below my Bombay address for the
information of your office.
With regards,
Yours affectionately,
01-06-1965
Mananiya Shri Bhaktavatsalam,
Respectful Pranams.
I am writing to you after a long interval. I have been
practically out of Madras for the last several months. At present I
am moving from State to State helping local sympathisers in the
formation of State Committees and setting up organization for
collection of funds. Leaders in public and even commercial field
are enthusiastically joining the Committee in the implementation
of the Rock-Memorial Plan. The response is very much assuring
and it is hoped that, by December, Committees will be formed
in all the States down to the district level, and even locally in
big Cities, and the stage will be well set for a simultaneous and
concerted drive for general collections throughout the country.
However, to provide, in the meantime, for the steadily
mounting recurring expenses incurred on the preliminary work
of stone-procuring and stone-dressing work, now in progress,
some States where the Committees have already started
functioning in some measure, have undertaken to send their
quotas of monthly remittances which, together, would meet the
requirements at Kanyakumari.
I was extremely happy when I learnt about your visit to one of
our stone-dressing yards at Kanyakumari. Your visit and the kind
60
enquiries you made have generated a new vigour and impetus
among both the Committee workers and artisans employed in
the construction work. The desire you expressed about the early
completion of the work has also produced a very wholesome
effect upon their minds and has intensified their sense of urgency
and responsibility in that regard.
I take this opportunity of heartily thanking on behalf of our
Committee both the State Government of Madras and your
goodself personally, for issuing necessary orders to make
available to us the Government land near the bus-stand at
Kanyakumari, for our temporary use during the construction
work. We also acknowledge gratefully the cooperation and help
extended by the State Government to our Committee by their
finally deciding to undertake the jetty-construction work at
Kanyakumari and issuing orders to that effect.
I must confess, however, that my ardent hope that the State
Government would kindly consider my request expressed
in the last paragraph of my letter dated 10th December, 1964,
addressed to Shri C.P. Kelu Erady, I.A.S., Joint Secretary
to Government fervently appealing to the Government to
waive the Committee’s offer to contribute to the extent of Rs.
50,000/- towards the cost of jetty-construction work graciously
undertaken by the Government and thus help us by not only
reducing our financial burden but also producing a desirable
psychological effect in the country conducive to our collection-
campaign, was, to my great disappointment, belied when I went
through the copy of the G.O.Ms.No. 1248 dated the 29th April
1965, issued in that connection. I, therefore, appeal to you as the
Chief Minister to kindly reconsider my request and generously
free the Committee from its liability to contribute towards the
cost of jetty-construction work.
I understand, on the basis of the Chief Engineer Shri Pandyan’s
talk with one of our Committee’s representatives, that the actual
jetty-construction work may not start for another two months
which might be necessary for completing detailed surveying,
61
planning and estimating etc. In this connection I humbly suggest
that while efforts should be made to reduce the intervening
gap to the necessary bare minimum, the said period should be
utilized in constructing approach-road to the shore-jetty. As
the construction of approach-road itself is bound to take some
time it is but proper that part of the work, at least, is undertaken
forthwith so that further delay in the jetty-construction work
may be avoided. I am sure you appreciate that all our efforts to
expedite the work and accomplish its early completion would
be of some consequence only if the jetty platforms are put up in
time to facilitate the operation of the transport-service which is,
virtually, the life-line of the entire project.
I am naturally eager to meet you and report to you in person
about the details of the progress of work. I hope to be in Madras
at the end of July. But I may avail of some opportunity to meet
you in Delhi during one of your visits to the Capital.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
07-06-1965
Camp: Delhi
Mananiya Shri V.V. Giri,
Respectful Pranams.
I hope you remember I had written to you some time back
in connection with the Committee’s plan of putting up a
Memorial to Swami Vivekananda on the Vivekananda Rock at
Kanyakumari when the Committee’s negotiations with the State
Government of Madras for obtaining their permission for the
same, were passing through a very critical stage. By the grace of
God and good wishes of all men of light and leading like you the
negotiations terminated happily and the necessary permission
for the construction of the memorial on the Vivekananda Rock
was granted to the Committee by the State Government of
Madras towards the end of September, 1964.
62
I am sure you have been following up, through press reports, all
the happy developments since then and also about the final shape
of the memorial plan that has emerged out of the deliberations
between the Committee and the Madras Government. However,
for your fuller information, I am enclosing herewith a copy of
a brochure, recently published by the Committee, which gives
in a nutshell the salient features of the Memorial Scheme and
also describes the nature of the entire construction work at that
extraordinary site in the midst of the sea.
You will be happy to learn that the State Government of
Madras have kindly undertaken to put up, mainly at their cost,
jetty-platforms, both at the foot of the Rock and the shore, to
facilitate the transport of building material as well as the ferrying
of visitors to the Rock.
Regional Committees are being formed in the various States,
down to district and local level, to facilitate collection of funds.
Such Committees are under formation in Mysore State also and
distinguished persons connected with the Committee’s work
in the State would naturally meet you to seek your help and
cooperation in the implementation of this national project. I am
sure the work will receive not only your blessings but also your
active support and guidance for its furtherance.
I am, at present, moving from State to State helping the
workers in the formation of Regional Committees and setting
up organisation for a country-wide collection-drive. I propose
to visit Mysore shortly with a special purpose to meet you
and report to you in person about the progress of work up-to-
date and seek your advice regarding the ways and means to
be devised for organising requisite financial support from the
Civilisation, true civilisation, should mean the power of
taking the animal-man out of his sense-life.
--Swami Vivekananda
63
people of the State as well as other matters in connection with
the implementation of the memorial scheme. However, if, in the
meantime, you have any suggestions to make, they would be
welcomed with great eagerness and pleasure.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Organising Secretary.
12-07-1965
Nagpur
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 8-7-’65 together with the enclosures.
I read your letter addressed to Dr. B.C. Roy of Calcutta. In
that letter you need not have referred to your willingness to bear
the expenses of to and fro passage of one who might be deputed
by him to survey the site. The reference was totally unnecessary
and uncalled for. That gives the impression that the Committee
has abundant funds under its control. In a way, it runs counter to
your earlier request to him to do the survey work free of charge.
Sometimes you are over-enthusiastic.
In the circumstances I would suggest you to write a letter to
Shri Kalidas Basu, Advocate, of Calcutta who is one of the Joint
Secretaries of the West Bengal unit of our All India Committee.
You should send to Shri Kalidas Basu a copy of the letter you
addressed to Dr. B.C. Roy requesting him to contact the latter
personally on the Committee’s behalf and see that some expert
Geologist from one of their centers nearest to Kanyakumari is
deputed to survey the site and an expensive trip by some one
from Calcutta is avoided. I believe you remember Shri Kalidas
Basu who visited Kanyakumari a few months back. His postal
address is: Shri Kalidas Basu, Advocate, 5-A, Sukea Street,
Calcutta; residential phone: 35-6586)
64
By now we have received a number of reports of tests of stone-
specimens we had sent to various laboratories for ascertaining
their quality. It is necessary that the reports are read by experts
in the profession and we are enlightened on the question of
suitability or otherwise of the various quarries or the stones we
have selected for different parts of our construction work or
the precautions necessary to be taken while using them. All the
reports you had sent could convey nothing to me as I am not
expected to understand the meaning of the technical jargon used
therein. I would like to know the reaction of the engineers to
whom you must have referred the test-reports for eliciting their
official expert opinion.
I hope Shri R. Shankaran must have sent his artist long back
to Kanyakumari for preparing a plastic model of the memorial
under the guidance of our Sthapathi. I am very much anxious to
know the progress. It is now the right stage to exhibit the model
in press-conferences and on other such occasions.
We have to display a Model of the Memorial together with
the surrounding terrain and the proposed jetties in the ‘Kumbh
Mela’ at Prayag in January 1966. We shall avail of the opportunity
to publicise our project on that occasion. Moreover, ‘Vishwa
Hindu Parishad’ is also holding a rally and an exhibition during
the Kumbh period. I am in correspondence with Shri S.S. Apte,
the General Secretary of the Parishad and I am trying to reserve
a suitable stall in the exhibition for our purposes.
I had a mind to visit Madras and Kanyakumari in this month.
But work elsewhere is more pressing. I have therefore postponed
my tour of the South to a later date sometime in the month of
September.
I am leaving for Bhopal on the 14th by G.T. Express. Halting
there for a couple of days I shall reach Gwalior on 17th morning.
Staying there for another two days I am scheduled to reach Delhi
on the 19th morning. There I propose to stay till the end of this
month. I hope to receive your letter at least during my stay in
65
Delhi. However, for your information, I am giving below my
Bhopal and Gwalior addresses also.
I received the copy of the detailed estimate and the ‘abstract’
sent by you. I would like to know from the Sthapathi through
you whether the estimates prepared before the work had not
actually started are proving to be fairly correct on the basis of the
actual data and experience gathered uptill now.
I am also anxious to know the test results of the Mysore stone
and the extra expenditure we shall have to incur if we finally
select the same stone for our Shikharam and Pravesh Dwaram.
Last but not the least is the question of finding out the authentic
dates of Swami Vivekananda’s stay in Kanyakumari, collecting
the authentic details of his visit to the Rock, his association of
the Rock with the temple or the Pauranik story of Devi Kumari’s
penance for obtaining the hand of Shiva, and other allied matters.
I would like you to make a special effort in that direction and meet
the persons who might have with them valuable information or
documents in that connection. You should find some time for
visiting Trivandrum and other such places in the South where
you might get some important clues useful for building up an
authentic version. The proposed multicoloured pamphlet is to
include all about the ‘Rock’, ‘Swamiji’s visit’ to the place and the
significance of his ‘transformation’ there written in all details
with due authenticity. In this connection I would request you
to put all the collected information in black and white and even
obtain from the contacted dignitaries their signatures below the
information supplied by them.
The General Secretary of the Ramakrishna Mission and Mutt
Swami Shri Vireshwarananda is likely to visit Kanyakumari
sometime in September. I am thinking of synchronising my visit
at the same time.
Addresses:
1) C/o. Shri Uttam Chand Israni,
Pleader, House No. 19-20, Sindhi Colony,
Berasia Road, Bhopal. (M.P)
66
2) C/o. R.S.S. Karyalaya,
Daji Vitthal’s Wada,Opp. High Court,
Inderganj, Lashkar (Gwalior) M.P.
Yours affectionately,
01-09-1965
Indian Oxygen Ltd.
48/1, Diamond Harbour Rd.
Calcutta - 27
Dear Sirs,
You are already aware of the Committee’s project of putting
up a grand memorial to Swami Vivekananda on the famous Rock
known as the Vivekananda Rock, situated at the confluence of
the three seas, about 450 yards off the Kanyakumari shore.
As is well known, that historic site occupies a unique place
in the life of that great patriot-saint. Because, it was here that, at
the end of his country-wide travels as a Parivrajak, he is known
to have received divine light and discovered the mission of his
life. It was again here that while meditating on the poverty-
stricken condition of the teeming millions of his country-men,
downtrodden and groaning under the heel of a foreign rule, a
solution for the country’s ills struck his consciousness. In a letter
addressed to one of his disciples, later, he himself referred to the
event in the following words.
“My brother, in view of all this, specially of the (country’s)
poverty and ignorance, I had no sleep. At Cape Comorin sitting
in Mother Kumari’s temple, sitting on the last bit of Indian Rock
– I hit upon a plan”
His biographers in the book ‘Life of Swami Vivekananda by
his Eastern and Western Disciples’ describe the same event as
under:
67
“The Swami next journeyed on to Kanyakumari, the
southernmost extremity of India . . . He was eager as a child to
see the Mother; reaching the shrine he fell prostrate in ecstasy
before Her image. Worship finished, he crossed to a rock which
was separate from the mainland. About him the ocean tossed
and stormed, but in his mind there was even a greater tempest.
“And there, sitting on the last stone of India he passed into a
deep meditation upon the present and future of his country. He
sought for the root of her downfall, and with the vision of a seer
he understood why India had been thrown from the pinnacle of
glory to the depths of degradation .
“Most vividly did he realize in the silence of his heart, ‘India
shall rise only through a renewal and restoration of that highest
spiritual consciousness which has made of India, at all times, the
cradle of the nations and the cradle of the Faith’. He saw her
greatness and her weaknesses as well, the central evil of which
was that the nation had lost its individuality.
“The simple monk was transformed into a great reformer, a
great organizer and a great master builder of the nation.”
It is in the fitness of things, therefore, that in memory of that
great occasion in Swamiji’s life, the people of this country which
received tremendous inspiration and strength from him should
endeavour to put up at that spot a magnificent monument which
would be an abiding source of inspiration to posterity.
As mentioned at the outset, our Committee has undertaken
to organize this effort and has received the blessings and
cooperation of eminent men in all walks of life. The brochure
enclosed herewith, apart from furnishing necessary information
about the Committee and its objects, spells out the salient
features of the memorial as envisaged, and provides a glimpse
of the construction work in progress.
Preliminary estimates place the total cost of the project at Rs.
31.5 lakhs. If, however, an adequate amount to provide for the
68
regular maintenance of the memorial after its completion is also
to be taken into account, the entire venture may ultimately cost
in the neighbourhood of Rs. 40 lakhs.
But besides the raising of this Memorial which will, verily,
stand as a sacred symbol commemorating Swamiji’s divine
transformation there, it is but meet that the basic nation-building
activities which that great prophet-patriot envisaged for the
restoration of the nation’s lost individuality and for the raising
of the masses to which he consecrated his life from that moment,
should be spearheaded upwards from this Southern end of our
country.
In this connection, the twin tasks of training and moulding of
missionaries on the one hand and, by deploying an ever increasing
band of such workers into the field, awakening our countrymen to
their great heritage and mission through instruction, publication
and service, on the other, present themselves before us as the
most fundamental works of supreme importance Swamiji lived
and died for.
If the above mentioned works are to be given a concrete
form and are to be institutionalized at the Kanyakumari shore
and at other centers for their proper implementation, you will
appreciate that an additional colossal amount of funds would
be necessary. But the committee sincerely feels that should not
deter us from thinking and emerging in that direction. Because,
the raising of a magnificent monument of Swamiji on that sacred
rock, though a most befitting and timely undertaking by itself,
might rightly be viewed as insufficient unless its complementary
or the operational part in the form of the above mentioned
comprehensive scheme for a massive movement of thought
which the great Swami preached to the people is not taken up
side by side.
We, therefore, approach you for contributing liberally to the
committee for the implementation of the Rock-Memorial project
and other allied schemes under contemplation. We hope that a
princely and a really phenomenal donation fully commensurate
69
both with the magnitude and worthiness of the object and the
great name of your Company would be forthcoming.
The donation may be sent at the above address, by cheque
or draft drawn in favour of ‘The Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Fund’, that being the title under which the Committee has its
account in the Canara Bank at Madras.
We are also enclosing a copy of the Committee’s Memorandum
of Association and Rules for your perusal and record.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours faithfully
22-09-1965
Calcutta
Dear Shri R. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Find enclosed copies of letters I sent during the last few days.
I hope you have received my letter dated 17th. I am expecting
from your end papers about which I had instructed you on phone
yesterday morning. Even if you have not sent those papers, it
does not matter. Because, there is no necessity of the papers now.
I am expecting a donation of Rs. 1 lakh from the State
Government of West Bengal, in the immediate future. However,
I shall inform you about it only when the probability becomes an
actuality. You may even get the news from the press.
I hope Shri Agashe must have reached Madras yesterday
and, as per scheduled programme, must have proceeded to
Kanyakumari.
I am sure you have passed on to Shri S. Venkataraman, all the
instructions I gave you on phone yesterday. In his last letter Shri
S. Venkataraman had proposed to reduce the number of skilled
workers by nearly half. He wanted to dismiss all these workers
70
who had gone on strike in spite of exhortations and appeal to
them by the authorities against doing so. I, therefore, wanted
to tell him that he should not make such retrenchment on any
ground. Because that would affect our time-schedule adversely.
Going a step further, I would suggest that Rs. 5/- should be given
to all the wage-earners by way of extra-payment in order to
somewhat compensate for the inconvenience they had to suffer
on account of inordinate delay in the payment of weekly wages.
I hope you have sent separate official receipts issued in the
name of particular Birla concerns as per instructions received
from Shri J.K. Birla. From the copy you have sent to me of Shri
J.K. Birla’s covering letter accompanying the cheques, it is evident
that those separate receipts are to be sent to Shri J.K. Birla’s
address, at Delhi. I am sure you might have already done all that
is needful in the matter. I expect that the remaining cheques of
the value of Rs. 10000/- would be sent by Birlas within the next
few days.
I am expecting your letter tomorrow. You already know that I
am flying to Delhi on 25th noon. Shri R.C. Prabhu is leaving for
Delhi by Express tomorrow, in advance.
Yours affectionately,
06-10-1965
New Delhi-1
C/o.Shri Chamanlal
Jhundewala Mandir Estate
Dear Shri Y.V. Lawande,
Saprema Namaskar.
It is more than a month ago that I had the privilege to meet
you and others connected with the Vivekananda Society of Goa.
After my return to Bombay on the 4th Sept. war clouds were
seen gathering very fast and our country soon found itself in full
grip of an undeclared bloody war with Pakistan. I then moved to
71
Calcutta and stayed there till the announcement of cease-fire. I
came here on 25th Sept.
The preceding month was thus not only very much eventful but
it brought about a sea-change in the entire mental and emotional
make-up of our people. The nation has rudely been shaken out of
its stupor of centuries. Indeed, we took a very long time and paid
a very high price to learn certain important lessons which we did
not care even to look into, in the past. It is gratifying, however,
that at long last, the great truth has ultimately dawned upon us
and everybody today realises that the might is indispensable to
establish the right, in this world.
Following the Pakistani attack, the country automatically
switched on to all-out defence preparations, throwing all other
issues and works into the background. Our Memorial Project
also suffered a set-back as all our plans for launching a general
collection drive in big cities like Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, etc. in
the month of September had to be abandoned for the time being.
Though the situation is getting slowly normalised and the next
round of hostilities may take quite some time to break out, yet it is
difficult to foretell in what measure the collection work could be
organised before the recrudescence of a fresh flare up. In any case
we have to catch the time by the forelock and restart and expedite
the suspended collection work. Because, it is inconceivable that
the construction work in progress at Kanyakumari, involving
a monthly expenditure of 40 to 50 thousand rupees may be
required to be suspended for want of regular supply of funds.
Even from the point of view of maintaining the morale of the
people, it is necessary that the work on our important projects
and undertakings should continue uninterrupted and without
any drastic change in the time-schedule. It was for these very
The power of concentration is the only key to the trea-
sure-house of knowledge.
--Swami Vivekananda
72
considerations that the West-Bengal Government decided to
donate Rs. 1 lakh to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Fund (I
believe you have read about it in the newspapers). In fact the
Chief Minister and the Finance Minister of West Bengal, whom I
met on 20th September, took the decision at a time when a battle
royal was being fought at the outskirts of Lahore.
I hope you and your colleagues in the Vivekananda Society
will also agree with me in this matter and decide to do your best
at your end. I, therefore, request you to pursue the subject in
right earnest and take all necessary steps we had decided upon
during our talks last month, but, which obviously, owing to the
intervening circumstances could not be taken by you so far. Firstly,
your Executive Committee is expected to adopt resolution to take
up the work of raising funds for Vivekananda Rock Memorial
and approach our committee for seeking its formal approval
and sanction. Secondly, you have to send a communication to
the Madras Committee about the same, enclosing a copy of the
relevant resolution duly signed by the President.
I, on my part, shall see that the subsequent formalities of
placing your communication before our Managing Committee
for its formal approval and the dispatch of the formal letter to
your society to that effect are completed in the least possible time.
During our informal talk last month you had also expressed
that prominent members of your Society were thinking of
donating to the Rock Memorial Fund some amount from out of
the existing funds with the Society. I am naturally eager to learn
about the Society’s decision in this regard.
I am leaving for Calcutta on the 7th. I shall stay there for a
few days. I shall leave Calcutta on the 14th night. After visiting
Patna, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Delhi, Bhopal and Nagpur I hope
to reach Bombay by the 1st week of November. However, you
may send your letter at my Madras address from where all my
letters are redirected to me while I am on tour.
73
Please convey my respectful pranams to Mananiya Shri
K.R.Damle and Mananiya Shri D.B. Bandodkar, the patron and
the President of the society. Please also convey my respectful
Pranams to Shri P.S. Angle, Shri Nagesh Naik, Shri S.S. Kinaikar,
Shri Vaikunth Rao Dhempe and others connected with the
Society.
Yours sincerely,
Copy to 1) The Patron
2) The President
21-10-’65
Camp : New Delhi
Messrs Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works,
Santhepet,
Mysore-1.
Dear Sirs,
It was the most pleasant and meaningful experience I ever had
in my life when I hit upon a news-item in ‘Jugantar’, a Bengali
Daily, about the gracious donation of Rs.1 lakh made by your
Firm to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Fund.
It was pleasant for most obvious reasons. As an Organising
Secretary of the Memorial Committee what can be more pleasant
to me than a handsome donation to the cause? But the experience
was something more than mere pleasant. While it gave me great
comfort it also renewed and revitalized my faith in God and gave
me immense strength.
That morning I had got up from my bed somewhat fatigued
on account of almost a sleepless night spent in brooding over
the tight financial position of the Committee, the contemplated
time-schedule of the Memorial Project and the prevailing
disturbed atmosphere in the country threatening to upset the
Committee’s plans for general collection of funds necessary
for the implementation of the memorial plan. In fact it was the
culmination of my prolonged ruminating and worrying during
74
the whole previous fortnight. That morning, however, when,
after saying my morning prayers, I was alone with myself, I
succeeded in recomposing myself when I realised that all things
would be accomplished by His grace and that my over-worrying
about one of His works only meant arrogating to myself a greater
role than what a mere instrument was entitled to claim for itself.
It was, thus, with that particular frame of mind that, on that
memorable day, I casually took up a newspaper to read. You
can well imagine the pleasant surprise the news of your Firm’s
contribution must have sprung upon me. Whoever or whatever
factors may have been, therefore, instrumental in making you
arrive at this noble decision, I believe from the core of my being
that it was only His promptings that have been carried out by
your firm.
While thanking your Firm, therefore, for your kind
contribution I pray Lord Ganesh to bless your firm and to shower
wisdom and prosperity on all the partners of the Firm so that it
may continue to serve in a still bigger way all benevolent causes.
When I shall visit Mysore State I shall try to visit your City
and meet the proprietors of the firm personally.
With regards, Yours sincerely,
(EKNATH RANADE)
Organising Secretary.
He who sees Shiva in the poor, in the weak, and in the dis-
eased, really worships Shiva.
The only religion that ought to be taught is the religion of
fearlessness.
--Swami Vivekananda
75
14-11-1965
Calcutta
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Multi purpose planner
Saprema Namaskar.
Immediately after dispatching to you my letter dated 7-11-’65,
it came to my notice that the enclosures of that letter were left
out. The same, therefore, were dispatched in a separate cover an
hour later.
Received your letter dated 9-11-’65 together with enclosures.
Among those enclosures there are statements of receipts and
payments account under the signature of Shri Perumal for the
months of September and October ’65. Apart from unnecessarily
several copies of the two Statements, I found some discrepancies
in the Statements which I request you to check up and report
to me in your next communication. It may also be that the
discrepancies are only apparent and not real.
Regarding the visit of King Mahendra of Nepal to Kanyakumari
I have written to the Indian Embassy at Khatmandu to-day. I am
enclosing a copy of the same for your information.
Regarding your suggestion to purchase another boat necessary
for ferrying the King’s party to the Rock, I have to say that if we
can hire for that day one or two of the diesel boats belonging to
the Kanyakumari fishermen and if that can serve our purpose
we need not go in for a purchase of another ordinary boat which,
otherwise, we do not need at the moment. However, if there is
some difficulty about securing fishermen’s diesel boats on hire
or any practical difficulty regarding boarding or landing from
such diesel boats without jetty platforms at both ends, you
may immediately make arrangements for the purchase of an
additional boat from Cochin or elsewhere.
I am enclosing a letter addressed to the Superintending
Engineer Tirunelveli Electricity System. About the meeting of
76
the representatives of the Devaswom Board, Electricity Board
and the Committee, suggested by me in that letter, you may fix
up such meeting on the subsequent day of King Mahendra’s visit
to Kanyakumari. That will enable me also to be present in the
said meeting. Because, it may be presumed as certain that I shall
be present at Kanyakumari at the time of the King’s visit and
shall continue my stay for at least two days. You may fix up the
meeting even a day later so that the subsequent day of the King’s
visit is kept free for our mutual deliberations.
About designing the D.P. structures artistically to make them
harmonise with the surroundings, you are requested to talk the
matter to the Stapathi and request him on my behalf to apply his
mind to the subject.
One more important matter for your consideration. A number
of distinguished visitors of Kanyakumari whom I happened to
meet during the last couple of months, enthusiastically informed
me that they donated to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Fund
while they visited the place. But, when, after a casual examination
of their receipts for the donations made, they were told by me
that they, in fact, donated to the Vivekananda Library and not
to the Memorial, they felt greatly disappointed. I request you to
think over this matter and suggest a solution. Those who want to
donate to Vivekananda Library should certainly do so. But this
unhappy phenomenon that visitors wanting to help the Rock
Memorial are somehow prompted to donate to the Vivekananda
Library under a wrong impression that the latter is identical with
the former or that the Library is run by the Memorial Committee,
must be properly looked into and an effective remedy found
out without, of course, any detriment to the interests of the
Vivekananda Library.
I am reaching Bombay via Nagpur on the 18th. I shall let you
know about my further programme from Bombay.
Yours affectionately,
77
21-12-‘65
Camp: 7A/75 Navayug Niwas,
Opp. Minarva Cinema,
Lamington Road, Bombay – 7.
(Phone. 71593)
Man. Shri Bhupen Babu,
Sadar Pranams.
I returned to Bombay from Kanyakumari and Madras, this
morning. I hope you are already in receipt of my circular letter
sent from Madras a couple of days before.
After writing to Mananiya Shri A.N. Khosla on 06-12-’65 I
received a letter from Madras office communicating to me that
they were in receipt of a communication from Cuttack conveying
the Governor’s acceptance of the Committee’s request to be the
patron of the State Committee. It is, indeed, a happy augury and
will give great impetus to our work in the State.
While going through the office files at Madras I found that there
was no communication from the State-Committee to the Central
Office requesting grant of affiliation. As it is necessary that all
the Committees that have been formed in the various States for
the collection of funds necessary for the implementation of the
memorial plan, are formally affiliated to the Central Committee,
I request you to take necessary steps in the matter and expedite
the necessary formal application to the Central Committee. As
the application will have to be accompanied by the managing
committee’s resolution to that effect, I also request you to include
the subject in the agenda of the next meeting. I hope you may be
able to complete all the formalities in this regard within the next
fortnight and send to the Central Committee the necessary letter
of request accompanied by a copy of the relevant resolution duly
signed by the President or the Vice President.
I am also anxious to know the result of your meeting with the
Chief Minister whom you must have met long back to personally
forward the formal application addressed by me on behalf of the
78
Committee to the State Government of Orissa, through the Chief
Minister.
I am anxiously awaiting your communication at my Bombay
address given above. I am scheduled to stay here for about a
week at a stretch. Even during the next fortnight I shall be, for
most of the time, in Bombay, though I am likely to visit some
places like Poona, Goa, Ahmedabad in the vicinity during that
period of my stay.
I hope you must have received a communication from Shri
S. Venkataraman, Secretary of the Works Sub-Committee of
the Memorial Project. He is accompanying our Chief Architect
and Engineer Shri S.K. Achary to Calcutta as the latter wants to
have a close look at the main dome of the Ramakrishna Temple
at Belur before finally undertaking the design of the same. I
have suggested to Shri S.K. Achary that he should avail of the
opportunity to study the architectural designs of the temples at
Bhubaneswar and Puri also. They have, therefore, decided to
break their journey, at Cuttack for two days on their way back to
Madras. I am sure they will be given all the facilities for going to
Puri and Bhubaneswar where the Sthapathy might like to spend
some time to copy down some designs he might deem useful
for his purpose. It goes without saying that you will depute
somebody to guide them and look after their convenience.
It would be better if someone from amongst the workers
attends the Express train on 28th evening and discusses with
them and finalises the details of their programme at Puri and
Bhubaneswar.
It should not be difficult for the friends at Cuttack to identify
Shri S. Venkataraman. To help recognise him, I may inform that in
one of the photographs sent to ‘Rashtradeep’ from Kanyakumari
last week, a gentleman with board, near the right corner, is Shri
S. Venkataraman himself.
Brotherly yours,
79
[TRANSLATED LETTER] 26/12/65
A-75, Navyug Niwas,
Opp. Minerva Talkies,
Lamington Road, Bombay – 7.
Phone: 71593)
Sriyut Vasudeorao Bhide,
Sashtang Namaskar Vinanti Vishesh
I was fortunate to get an opportunity to meet Smt. Sucheta
Kripalani and then you in the first week of December on 5th at
Lucknow. The discussions with both of you being fruitful, I was
reassured. So, on that day I happily left Lucknow.
You must have read in the newspapers that King of Nepal
Sri Mahendra and the Queen who are on their tour to India for
visiting famous places had come to Kanyakumari and also visited
the site of stone cutting shed of the Memorial. That programme
went on very well. It appeared from his talk that he was attracted
by many things. There is a possibility that he would be motivated
to donate for Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
At present, spacious and fast ferry service, befitting the
stature of the Royal Guests is not yet available at the site and
so Vivekananda Rock was shown to the King of Nepal from the
sea-shore only. To compensate that to some extent at least, we
presented him an attractive and decorated photo album . I am
sending two photographs of this visit of the Royal Family just for
your information.
I came here 3-4 days back. You already know that I am trying
to get a donation of Rs. 2 lakhs from Maharashtra Government.
I have decided to stay here up to 15th January for doing proper
follow up of this work and shall endeavour to meet all the
concerned important people so as to get the desired Government
decision announced at the earliest.
80
I feel, my work here will be very easy if meanwhile one
thing is achieved; i.e. Uttar Pradesh Government can do an
announcement regarding its donation.
Though it has become easier to appeal to other State
Governments because Bengal Government has donated Rs. 1
lakh, still the example of Bengal Government’s donation is not
that useful to give boost to my efforts here. Because I am trying
to get donation of Rs. 2 lakhs from Maharashtra Government and
so an example of Bengal Government donating Rs 1 lakh may
not give sufficient inspiration to Maharashtra Government and
secondly by chance Swami Vivekananda being Bengali by birth,
there is a possibility that the donation from Bengal government
may be connected to the provincial loyalty. Thinking about
above-mentioned two points, it is beyond doubt that receipt or
the announcement of Rs 2 lakhs of donation by Uttar Pradesh
Government will have more impact.
Though it was very clear during my meeting with Smt
Sucheta Kripalani that she desires from heart that Uttar Pradesh
Government should donate Rs 2 lakhs for Vivekananda Rock
Memorial. Still looking at the little bit of abnormal situation at
present, she feels that you are the only person who can find the
way out. And, hence, it is clear that ultimately you only have to
take this responsibility to fulfil this task. You can just imagine
as to how much helpful it will be for me if you are successful in
doing that within these 8-10 days.
I pray Almighty for your success in this and the unhindered
and speedy work of getting donations for Vivekananda Rock
Memorial from the prominent State Governments.
Namaskar to all the family members and Ashiravad to the
younger ones.
Yours,
81
29-12-1965
A-75 Navyug Niwas
Opp.Minerva Cinema
Lamington Road, Mumbai -7
Dear Shri Balakrishna,
Sadar Pranams.
Received your long letter dated 26-12-65 and the enclosed
report, this morning. I went through the papers closely, twice. I
am very much thankful to you for placing before me quite a large
and a valuable data you have been able to collect after a close
and objective study of men and matters concerning the work
entrusted to you.
I am simply struck with pleasant surprise to find how you
have been able to totally merge yourself in the Committee within
days of your joining it. Your having been able to start functioning
with such a feeling of identity and oneness with the cause leads
me to the irresistible conclusion that your present assignment
had already been planned for you by providence and that you
have come to Kanyakumari only for its fulfilment. I have also an
intense feeling that with your feet firmly and effectively planted
in the work-site office, my movements in the country might yield
results still more useful and lasting.
Regarding the observations and suggestions you have made,
I have to request you to continue to study the whole situation
more closely and for a couple of months more, while trying at the
same time to slowly usher in more discipline, systematisation,
economisation, and collective thinking among the existing team
of workers both by introducing useful systems of work or rules
of conduct and also by handling them individually with fatherly
care and firmness based on the useful assumption that no one
of them is essentially incorrigible or intractable. I am sure, you
will receive full cooperation from Shri S. Venkataraman, Shri
Padmanabhan, Shri Parameswaran Pillai, the Sthapathi and other
seniors in all the steps you may propose to take for tightening up
and improving the entire accounts and office-administration.
82
I, on my part, shall take the first opportunity to come to
Kanyakumari to join my forces with you. I think I should be
able to come there sometime in February when we shall have
ample time and opportunities to compare notes and decide
upon, if necessary, further steps, to streamline the administrative
machinery and make it absolutely faultless and efficient to be
worthy of the noble cause it has been called upon to serve.
Shri Padmanabhan has written to me expressing his desire to
go to Prayag to participate in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. He
has specially mentioned in his letter that he does not want the
Committee to incur any expenses on that account and that he
was proposing to go to Prayag on his own. I am writing back to
him to avail himself the opportunity to visit Prayag. As you are
expected to return from Madras on the 16th, I think there will
not be much difficulty if he leaves the Cape about that date, or, a
day later or even earlier. Shri S. Venkataraman also will be back
in the 2nd week of January to participate in Swamiji’s birth-day
celebration.
I am scheduled to stay almost in Bombay till the 17th of
January. I may take short trips to nearby places like Poona, Nasik,
Goa, Ahmedabad etc., if found necessary and feasible. I shall be
leaving for Prayag along with dear Prabhu on the 18th evening.
Yours affectionately,
14-01-‘66
Camp: Bombay
Dear Shri S. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
I hope you have received my letter dated 12th January.
To-day I received a letter from Shri Ambi. It was partly in
reply to my communication sent to him on 31-12-’65 enquiring
about, among other things, the expenditure sanctioned by you
for decorating the entrance gate of the exhibition.
83
From his letter it appears that about Rs. 3,000/- are being
spent on the said item. The figure is really staggering, especially
in view of altogether a different talk we had when we met at
Kanyakumari last month. This only provides a concrete instance
of the point which I tried to stress in my yesterday’s letter. I
request you to ponder seriously over that point in all its aspects.
One more important suggestion I want to make. I request you
to devote sufficient number of days, at a stretch, at Kanyakumari
for going through all the office-files and papers which you might
not have been able to peruse personally for the last several
months on account of your incessant touring in and outside the
state, and out-door activity while at Kanyakumari.
I want you to do that, because, it may enable you to assess
properly the observations made by Shri Balakrishnan and also
study the recommendations made by him for tightening up the
whole Accounts and Office administration.
Kanyakumari work-site is our base. Because, it is the place
to which the funds that are being raised all over the country
would ultimately flow and where they would be expected to
be purposefully spent in the implementation of the memorial
project. We have, therefore, to be very conscious in every little
expenditure that we make.
The people’s complete faith in not only the integrity but also
in the wisdom and alertness of the men who are at the helm
of affairs of the Committee and who are on the spot to execute
the whole work, is really the guarantee of the success of the
collection-drive in the country. Similarly, it is also true that, that
kind of faith alone will ensure continued corruption-lessness,
honesty and diligence from the present fine team of our workmen
and Karmacharies who, in the present vicious atmosphere of the
country all around, might, otherwise, be degenerated into mere
mercenaries or, even, self-seekers.
I am sure, you are aware that in any organisation, while a
particular virtue in a very high degree, at the top, tends to trickle
down only in a very small measure in the lower strata of the
84
organisation, even a little dilution of the same - nay, even an
appearance of a dilution - at the top, descends down to the lower
rungs in a form and degree, ten times degenerated. All of us,
therefore, who are heading different wings of this great project,
at Madras, Kanyakumari or elsewhere, have to be meticulously
careful while taking decisions or conducting ourselves on behalf
of the Committee.
There is one more important thing that we the workers have
always to keep in mind. It is that, while, one, completely absorbed
in carrying out his duty, and thus fully possessed of the very spirit
of the work itself, goes on taking decisions and behaving in the
manner he deems fit in his absolute discretion, oblivious to the
critical eyes all around, he lands himself in enormous difficulties,
in spite of the best of his motives, and great physical hardships
he might suffer in their implementation. This is the reason why a
queer sounding dictum has been prescribed for workers by great
organisers and social leaders for being obeyed in toto. The maxim
is: Not only should you be – honest, conscientious, frugal, un-
arbitrary and undictatorial etc. but should also appear to be so.
I am proposing to go to Calcutta from Prayag. I am scheduled
to leave Prayag for Calcutta on the 25th. My further programme
has not been finalised. I shall do so after receiving your letter.
Yours affectionately,
06-03-1966
Delhi
Dear Shri R.N. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 1st and 2nd March, together with
enclosures. It seems that you have not properly understood
my instruction, mentioned in my letter dated 22nd February,
regarding the necessity of your sending to me originals of such
important letters, instead of their copies, as are likely to enthuse
and influence prominent people whom I may meet in search
85
of help, financial and otherwise, for our Committee’s cause.
For example, the original letter of Shri C.B. Gupta sent by you
was, indeed, of great use to me. Similarly, Shrimati Sucheta
Kripalani’s letter which I received here today will also be of
immense help. In my letter dated 22-2-’66 I had requested you
to send originals of such letters only and not formal or ordinary
letters of acknowledgement received, even from notable persons.
I am, therefore, sending back to you such of the original letters as
I need not carry with me.
My trips to Simla and Chandigarh have been very successful
and we have every reason to hope that, both at the Governmental
and the popular level, the Committee would receive befitting
amount from these States. In Himachal Pradesh, an independent
State Committee is soon to be formed and the Chief Minister has
kindly given his consent to head that State Committee himself.
As I have to chalk out my further tour programme, I am
anxious to know the approximate dates or period when the
General Body Meeting is likely to be called. Unless I get some
inkling about it from your end, I shall not be able to fix up
my further programme of visiting J & K State, Nepal, Assam,
Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland and the southern States of Mysore,
Kerala and Andhra.
You will find, among other enclosures, copies of Shri R.C.
Prabhu’s statements of expenses incurred in the months of
January and February together with the relevant vouchers. I
request you to send the amount when you send to him his salary
for the month of February. I have to bring to your notice that you
have forgotten to send to him the amount for the expenses he has
incurred for the Committee’s work in the month of December ‘65
was duly sent to you along with my letter dated 5-2-’66.
As per provisional arrangement he has been asked by me to
meet all the expenses on postage, stationery, occasional taxi-fare
or railway-fare etc, from his own pocket, with an assurance from
me that the amount thus spent would be subsequently reimbursed
to him by the central office after the account is submitted. This
86
provisional arrangement can be continued even further, if our
auditors have no objection. You please discuss the matter with
them and ascertain whether they approve of the arrangement or
suggest some other alternative for being followed by us.
I take this opportunity to remind you that when you issue
a notice of the General Body Meeting to all the Committee
Members you have to also politely and humbly mention in that
letter of notice about the annual subscription of Rs. 5/-if due from
any of them.
I take this opportunity to propose an amendment to our
Memorandum of Association for being placed before the next
General Body Meeting. The amendment is as under:
1) On page 1 under article 2 (1), while the present clause be
numbered as 2 (1)a, with an addition of the words ‘Instruction,
service and’ inserted in between ‘through’ and ‘Publication of
books, periodicals and otherwise’, another clause given below be
added and numbered as 2 (1) b:-
2) To undertake, sponsor, or aid such nation-building or
man-building activities as had been preached and envisaged by
Swami Vivekananda.
In fact, I wanted to discuss these amendments with Shri
V.R. But as there will be no opportunity to meet him before the
meeting you please convey my mind to him by showing this
letter.
Regarding the Memorandum of Association and Rules, I
have also to suggest that it would be better if the international
numerals are used for the articles and Roman numerical figures
for sub-articles, to clearly distinguish them from one another.
Please find enclosed copies of letters sent from here during
the last week.
Yours affectionately,
Encl: (as one separate list attached herewith)
87
13-07-1966
C/o.Shri Chamanlalji
Jhandewala Mandir
New Delhi-1
Dear Shri Shamsher Singh,
Saprema Namaskar.
From a copy you kindly sent to me of your letter addressed to
Mananiya Shri Biswanath Das I came to know about your State
Committee’s plan to organise the staging of the Sanskrit drama
‘Bharat Vivekam’ at Lucknow, Kanpur and Agra. I wish a grand
success to the project under contemplation.
I reached Delhi day before yesterday. I am to stay here at
least till 20th. I am proposing to proceed to Calcutta from here
in the last week of this month. I shall let Shri Sethiji and yourself
know about the exact date and train of my departure, when the
programme is finalised, so that I may be able to get a first hand
report of the progress of the State Committee’s work from Shri
Ashokji or Shri Sethiji at the Kanpur station.
In the majority of the States plans are afoot to launch collection
drives at convenient times between September and November.
Even in the States where a general drive is not considered feasible
during the current year, a systematic and planned effort to
approach industrial establishments, commercial houses, trusts,
corporations, Municipalities, Zila Parishads, Manufacturers’
and Producers’ Associations and similar other bodies as well as
persons of top income groups, throughout the State, would be
advisable. We have not as yet learnt anything about your State
Committee’s mind in the matter. But you will agree with me that
it is high time your State Committee takes a decision in the matter
and communicate it to the Central Committee, before long.
You must have already learnt that the Mysore Government’s
donation of Rs. 1 lakh to the Committee’s cause. I had released
that news to the press a couple of weeks back. I hope the local
papers of Lucknow had given due publicity to it. However, I am
88
sending a copy of the statement I had issued in that connection,
for your fuller information.
I had the good fortune of meeting Shri Rajendra Singh at
Nagpur. I have discussed with him the imperative need to organise
and promote the work of the State Committee by finding and
deputing at least a few active workers at all important centres.
He agreed with me that our work has, indeed, now reached a
stage when some people at least shall have to attend to it with
single minded devotion. I shall eagerly watch what shape our
work in the State takes during the coming months.
I hope this finds you and all co-workers in the best of health
and spirits.
Yours affectionately,
31-07-1966
Calcutta
Mananiya Shri Kailash Prakash,
Respectful Pranams.
I learnt with great pleasure that the staging of a Sanskrit
Drama “Bharata Vivekam’ has been organised by the U.P. State
Committee with a view to propagate Swamiji’s life and mission
and to augment, at the same time, our Committee’s funds. The
venture, verily, combines in one all three purposes, namely,
education, recreation and fund-collection. I congratulate the
Committee on having devised such a useful programme.
I was all the more glad when I came to know that the drama
performance scheduled to be held at Lucknow on August 4 is to
be inaugurated by your good self. That will, indeed, enhance the
grace and dignity of the occasion.
Latest reports from Kanyakumari reveal that the dressing of
nearly two-third of the stone required for the entire structure has
been over. To put it in terms of stone-masonry, the dressing of
stones in the first 18 courses has been completed and the dressing
89
work has now reached the 19th course, a course below the beam
level. This work is being conducted on the Kanyakumari shore,
and not at the Vivekananda Rock, the memorial site.
Preliminary work prior to the actual erection work ahead, has
already started on the Rock-island. When, in about another six to
eight months, the jetty platforms will get ready, the transport of
the dressed stone to the Rock and the stone masonry work there,
will begin. The Madras P.W.D. has undertaken that work and,
by now, the construction of approach road to the proposed shore
jetty has been completed by them.
For your information I may add that granite stone of gray
shade is being used for the structure up to the beam level and
that of reddish shade, procured from quarries near Tuticorin, is
to be used for the Shikharam and the Entrance Arch.
Regarding our collections, the latest donation of Rs. 1 lakh
by the Mysore Government (the third State Government to
contribute to the cause uptill now) brings the total to Rs. 10
lakhs, i.e. one fourth of the estimated cost of the entire venture.
The present situation, I quite appreciate, is not ideally suited
for a general collection-drive for this cause. However, the work
demands that some selective effort i.e. a systematic approach
to persons in the higher strata of the society, is made to ensure
the construction activity go on uninterrupted. From that point
of view I sincerely welcome the present programme your
committee has undertaken. I am sure the State Committee will
continue its efforts in that direction, pending a general collection
drive which, probably, you may be in a position to launch some
time during the latter part of the next year.
Last time when I had met you, you had just recovered from
your illness and were convalescing. I hope this finds you in your
normal good health and spirits.
With respects.
Sincerely yours,
90
02-08-1966
Calcutta
Dear Shri R.N. Venkataraman,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 29th July, together with enclosures.
There is, no doubt, an urgent necessity of preparing a detailed
estimate, and rearranging, if necessary, all the items of expenditure
under proper heads and sub-heads. We should, therefore, start
the work immediately with the help of some expert. But, I do
not think that the whole work could be accomplished to our
satisfaction within the prescribed period of a month, i.e. before
the General Body Meeting. Whomsoever you may select for this
job, he has to consult our Sthapathi also in the matter.
It may also be necessary to revise the estimate, not only on
account of rising prices but also due to many other factors. But,
we should do it a little later. The mode of transport of the stone to
the Rock island is yet to be finalised. Even the jetty construction
work is still hanging fire and we do not know how much more
financial burden we shall have to bear on that account. The stage,
therefore, has yet to come when we shall be able to form a fairly
correct idea about the estimate of the ultimate cost.
In any case I do not consider it possible or even desirable to
discuss the matter in the ensuing General Body Meeting. The
report of the General Body Meeting is to be subsequently sent to
the members all over the country. I do not think it wise to spread
an unnecessary scare among our workers all over the country
about a possible rise in our present estimate which is considered
already heavy, by bringing the subject for discussion in the
meeting. If, after properly collecting all the necessary data and
calculating the costs on its basis, at a later date, any increase in
the present estimate is considered unavoidable we shall certainly
apprise all our workers of the same at that stage. My personal
feeling is, other things being equal, our estimate is not likely to
rise on account of rising prices. We had already kept a margin
for such a probable rise in prices, while preparing the budget. I,
91
therefore, feel that neither should we include the subject in the
agenda nor should we think of bringing it for discussion in the
ensuing General Body Meeting. If found necessary, we can bring
the subject in the General Body Meeting of 1967.
I have dispatched to you yesterday by registered post, the draft
sent by you for my signature. I have signed it as per instructions
given in your letter.
I went through the letter of Shri Sampathkumar. In view of
the opinion expressed by him, we need not think of suggesting
any amendment to clause 2 (8) of the Memorandum.
Please convey my respectful Pranams to all elders.
Yours affectionately,
05-08-1966
Calcutta
Dear Shri Chamanlal,
I had been thinking of writing to you since I came here. Some
telepathy, it seems, worked between us. Because, your letter
which satisfies all the queries in my mind shows that you could
understand my anxiety even without my writing to you about it.
I am very happy to note quite a contented and cheerful tone
of your letter. That shows you have mentally adjusted yourself
with the present compulsory rest your physical health has forced
upon you. It is, indeed, no mean an achievement on your part.
It is, by itself, a clear symptom of your improving health. This
attitude of cooperation on your part, accompanied by proper
medical treatment as well as Poojaniya Shri Guruji’s personal
care and attention, would surely bring you in fine form and
spirits in no time.
I came here on 31st of July. I am to proceed to Madras on
August 15, breaking my journey at Cuttack for a couple of days.
I shall be in Madras till the end of the month.
92
I could meet Shri Ratanlal Joshi during my stay in Delhi.
We had a long chit-chat. He said he talked about Vivekananda
Memorial to many of our countrymen whom he met during his
tour abroad. I met Shri Lalaji also. He was a bit free from his
heavy routine that day. I could, therefore, apprise him of the
progress of the Committee’s work in detail.
Taking advantage of the Chief Minister’s conference recently
held in the capital, I tried to meet some of them with a view
to expedite State donations to our project. My meetings only
revealed that even those states which had promised handsome
donations would not be able to do anything in the matter, at
least during the current financial year. The ‘Cut’ in expenditure
recommended by the Centre as a follow-up action after
devaluation, is put forward as the reason. The coming months,
therefore, might prove trying and difficult. But, this unfortunate
development may be considered as a boon in disguise. This will
make the Committee strive hard to tap other effective sources
without losing time. Let us see. In any case, one thing is certain.
The work at Kanyakumari would go on uninterrupted and
without slackening its present pace of progress.
Dear Prabhu and Ajit Biswas send their Sadar Namaskars to
you.
Please convey my Sashtang Namaskars to Poojaniya Shri
Guruji and other elders.
Yours affectionately,
Never forget that a man is made great and perfect as much
by his faults as by his virtues.
--Swami Vivekananda
93
19-08-66
This is to authorize Shri N.G. Joshi, 10, Chandrabhaga
Bhuvan, D.L. Vaidya Road, Dadar, Bombay-28, to represent
our All India Committee for purchasing photographic articles
as well as obtaining laboratory services from ‘Spectrum and
Tricolour Laboratories’, 9, Mistry Chambers, Colaba, Bombay-5.
All the bills for such purchases made or the laboratory services
obtained from the firm, from time to time, would be cleared by
our Committee’s Central Office at Madras.
Organising Secretary
19-08-1966
M/s Spectrum and Tricolour Laboratories
9, Mistry Chambers, opp. Strand Cinema
Colaba, Bombay-5
Dear Sirs,
We thank you very much for your favourable response to the
request made by us in our letter No. OS/646/B, dated 4-8-’66.
We are grateful to your firm for offering us generous concession
by way of 20% discount on all orders carried out by your Firm.
Above all, the good wishes sent by you for the Vivekananda Rock
Memorial Project have positively added to our enthusiasm and
vigour. When my tours take me to Bombay I shall avail myself
of that opportunity to visit your office and express my feeling of
gratitude in person.
For conveniently conveying to you, from time to time, the
requirements of the Committee and expediting the work, we
are appointing Shri N.G. Joshi (10, Chandrabhaga Bhuvan, D.L.
Vaidya Road, Dadar, Bombay – 28) as our representative in
Bombay for placing orders with your Firm on our behalf. I am,
enclosing a copy of the Committee’s letter of authority issued in
his favour, for your file and record.
94
Shortly, Shri N.G. Joshi will call on you and place orders on
behalf of the Committee.
Regarding the manner of payment, I have to request you to
send to our Central office at Madras your bills for the purchases
made or for the laboratory work done. The bills will be cleared
within a week from the date of their receipt. In cases where your
rules require the customer to make advance payment, in full or in
part, our office will do so after receiving from you the necessary
intimation about it.
Thanking you again for the kind cooperation extended to us
by your Firm. Yours sincerely,
2-9-1966
Dear Shri Naresh,
Sasneha Namaskar.
Your letter was a pleasant surprise. Pleasant: because it gave
me a feeling of enjoying, at least for a few moments, your happy
company. Surprise: because I did not expect you to write to me
from such a far off land.
It is well known that a child begins to know something about
itself only through its experience of others. There were similar
examples of persons who could know their motherland and
their people more intimately and vividly only on a foreign soil.
There is no wonder, therefore, if you start experiencing a sort
of a transformation of your own self, and your ideas about this
country, as a result of your sojourning abroad for some time. The
only thing that will help accelerating this useful realisation is the
spirit of curiosity, research and scholarship that will not stop half
way but strive hard to reach the very roots or the fundamentals
of the things you may come across during your stay abroad.
You have, indeed, a great future. I am not saying this on
the basis of any knowledge about stars which are supposed to
95
influence human affairs. I say this because God has endowed you
with wonderful talents and potentialities which, if developed –
and not dissipated -, would make you a man with a capital M.
Do not, therefore, waste your time and energies in unnecessary
brooding over things which are, at present, beyond your control.
Utilise the time fully and dive deep into the subjects of your
study, both academic and otherwise, realising fully well that
the present opportunity is, in fact, a sacred duty which the kind
destiny has called upon you to fulfil so that you get yourself
properly equipped to shoulder greater responsibilities ahead.
I am fully engrossed in the implementation of the Vivekananda
Rock Memorial Project, Kanyakumari. It will keep me so engaged
for at least two and half years more.
I hope this finds you in good health and spirits.
Yours affectionately,
Madras,
2-09-1966.
Dear Shri Vasantrao Dixit,
Saprema Namaskar.
During my last visit to Bombay in July last you told me that
the total income received by the Maharashtra Committee from
the Premier Show of the film ‘Suraj’ would be shortly remitted to
Madras. It is nearly five months since the show was screened. I
am, naturally, anxious to know the cause of the delay. I hope the
delay is not due to non-completion of the accounts concerning
the film show.
I hope Shri Godse, Charity Commissioner, has fully restored
his health and is attending to his normal duties. Please convey
my Sadar Pranams to him.
There is a likelihood of my visiting Bombay, though for a
very short time, in the last week of this month. I shall inform you
about it if the programme gets finalised.
96
I am enclosing a copy of the letter I recently sent to Shri
Jamsaheb. That will give you useful information, if Shri Jamsaheb
has not already shown the letter to you.
Yours affectionately,
13-10-1966
Dear Shri Pratap Narayan,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 22-09-66, redirected to my Madras
address from Delhi.
When I did not see any one of you at the Agra station on that
morning, I had rightly inferred that the telegram must not have
reached you in time.
Shri S.K. Achari, the Sthapathi (architect and engineer) of the
Vivekananda Rock Memorial under construction, is reaching
Agra on the 16th morning by Southern Express. He will be
accompanied by Shri S.G. Padmanabhan, one of the Committee’s
whole timers, stationed at Kanyakumari to work as one of the
members of the works sub-committee appointed for supervising
the day to day work there. Unfortunately, Shri Padmanabhan
also, like Shri S.K. Achari, understand very little of Hindi.
However, he, unlike Shri S.K. Achari, can freely talk in English.
He will thus be able to help the Sthapathi by interpreting to him
in Tamil what he may gather from you people in English.
I request you to depute someone to guide or assist them. He
should be able to explain things to Shri S.G. Padmanabhan in
English. That will solve the difficulties, which they are likely to
face in their present tour.
The sole purpose of Shri S.K. Achari’s present visit to Agra is
to study the motifs, designs and other architectural specialities in
the Radha Swami Satsang Temple under construction there for
the last over at least twenty years, if not more. You are, therefore,
97
requested not to engage them in any programmes or meetings,
formal or informal, and take their time, which is already limited.
Apart from making their stay comfortable or, in other words,
playing a good host – about which the Agra friends hardly need
any advice or suggestions from anybody – there is very little
expected to be done by you during their stay. The Sthapati may
also like to see the Taj and a few other works of some architectural
value. As soon as their work at Agra is finished you will please
arrange their further journey to Delhi and see that they get
comfortable seats in the train. You are also requested to intimate
to Shri Jyotiswarupji at Jhandewala in Delhi, regarding the train
by which they will be reaching there.
The Sthapathi, though almost unsurpassable by any body
in his specialized art, is most unassuming and of very simple
habits. You may arrange his stay at Shri Shoharansinghji’s place
or at any of our workers’ residence. You will understand the truth
of my above description about Shri S.K. Achari at the very first
sight of his, when you will find him alighting from the ‘Sleeper
Coach’ of the Southern Express, at the Agra Station.
I am scheduled to stay here for at least another week. I shall
expect your letter at my Madras address, after Shri S.K. Achari
leaves Agra for Delhi.
Yours affectionately,
4-11-1966
Dear Shri Arkali Narayan,
Saprema Namaskar.
Received your letter dated 22nd October. I had duly received
your earlier letter dated October 10, also.
The contents of your letter amply justify and confirm my
repeated assertion that the public response to your collection-
drive will be far more than your expections. Because, the idea of
raising a grand memorial to the great Swami at that hallowed spot
98
where he discovered the mission of his life, does, undoubtedly,
fascinate every Indian Soul.
But, all the same, it cannot be gainsaid that the response could
not have been what it is, but for the superb organisational skill
as well as deep sense of devotion on the part of the organisers.
Because, it is a common experience that even the noblest cause, if
it has to get the success it deserves, has to wait for the right type
of person coming forward and taking it up. By ‘right type’ I mean
persons who have not only faith in the cause but possess requisite
organisational skill and efficiency as well as imagination.
Our project is now on the threshold of its most important
phase, namely, the transport of dressed-stones and other
building material to the Rock-island and the commencement of
masonry-work on the memorial site. The jetty-construction work
taken up by the State P.W.D. is progressing very satisfactorily
and is expected to be completed by this December-end. I am
enclosing a photograph of the shore-jetty under construction. The
Photograph shows that but for the caisson which is to be sunk at
the jetty-mount, the rest of the shore-jetty platform, about 300
feet in length, has been already put up in the sea. The caisson,
you will be pleased to learn, is ready at the Madras P.W.D.
workshop and arrangements are being made by the department
to transport it to Kanyakumari soon.
The Committee is planning to start the transport and masonry
operations at the beginning of January, ’67, following the
completion of jetties at both ends. Consultations with eminent
civil and marine engineers are in progress here to finalise the
plan of transporting heavy dressed-stones (some of which
weigh, singly, upto 15 tons) to the Rock in barges, across the sea,
and hauling them up to the memorial site about 55 feet above the
sea-level. I have been camping here for about the last one month
mainly with a view to expedite the preparation of its blueprint or
the finalisation of the course of action in that regard. That would
take another week or so, at the most.
99
From the discussions in progress here, it is clear that the
next phase is calculated to involve not only considerable capital
expenditure over machinery and equipment, immediately,
but also recurring monthly expenditure to the tune of over Rs.
60,000/-.
But, unfortunately, at this very juncture when the Committee,
from now onwards, will be in need of a considerable and regular
inflow of funds to meet adequately the requirements at the work-
site, the prospects of pushing up collection-work in the country,
through various State Committees, are very bleak. Because,
from the communications received here from the various State
Committees it is gathered that they do not consider the present
times, and another about six months ahead, as congenial for
any collection-work, probably, due the election-fever which is
spreading fast and enveloping all walks of life.
The Committee, therefore, shall have to rely for its sustenance
during this period, mainly upon the funds your State Committee
will be able to remit as well as on some amounts which the Kerala
Committee (which also is presently engaged in a collection-
drive) may be able to send. We know for certain that the Mysore
Committee will not consider it a burden but a privilege to be thus
in the forefront at this critical phase of the project just as it had
the honour to be in the vanguard even at the initial stage.
Before I finish I would like to repeat one suggestion which
I had made to your Committee some time back. You may be
aware that all the regional Committees which have been formed
in almost all the States in country, for the purpose of collecting
funds for the implementation of Vivekananda Rock Memorial
project, have sought affiliation with the All India Committee at
Madras, and are duly affiliated to it, the only exception being the
Mysore State Committee. Though I admit that by seeking and
obtaining such affiliation no material advantage is going to be
accrued either to the All India Committee at Madras, or to the
State Committee of Mysore, or to the cause both of them have
come into being to serve. But all the same I sincerely feel that
100
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