Celebrating 130 Years of the Ramakrishna Mission

By - RKM GURUGRAM
31.05.26 08:39 PM

On this special occasion of the 130th year of the foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission, we invited our readers to share their personal journey and unique story about how they first connected with the Ramakrishna Mission. Our readers have shared that they learnt immensely from coming in contact with the RKM Ashramas and the spiritual teachings of the Holy Trio. Many draw inspiration from the monks of the order and everyone agrees (as we all do) that the welfare/service activities of the mission is its most magnificent aspect.   

A Svarat-2026, session in progress. Revered Swami Shantatmananda interacts with the participants

Serendipity - My Connection with Ramakrishna Mission
​- By Vandana Kochhar (Gurugram) 

Do you believe that some things are meant to be? Or that they were engineered to happen when they did? the way they did? I have always known about Ramakrishna Mission but it was always Out There. Six months ago while attending a youth program in Chennai, I got introduced to RKM as an NGO that works in multiple social sectors including senior citizen wellness. Upon my return, I contacted Arpita Sud from VIVA, RKM Gurgaon for a potential collab on senior citizen engagement with my venture 'engagebuddies'. 

The Mission is across the road from my home and I didn't know about it. I mentioned it to my friend and partner Shalini and she was very well connected to their philosophy via Dharmendra Pandey ji (Sr. Resource Person and Management Committee Member, VIVA). We decided to meet at the mission and just present our ideas and it immediately snowballed into Svarat 2026 - VIVA's program for senior citizens. 

Interacting with Revered Swami Shantatmananda Maharaj and the VIVA team is awe-inspiring. The abundance of intellect and gravitas makes you want to be a better person. Having voluntarily retired last year to pursue a difficult dream, I was in a place of uncertainty and low energy. The experience of preparing, conducting and attending the sessions not only gave me a second wind but answered questions I did not know I needed answered. Maharaj ji told us, "Charge a reasonable amount when you are starting and once you are established - do the sessions for free. Don't burn yourself to the ground doing charity right now." How did he know that I was struggling with this very question - the money I had kept aside for year one was all but gone doing free sessions.

This is not the advice of a marketing guru, who would suggest freebies to sell, but of a mentor, a philosopher, a wise pragmatist. His words reminded me to "value" and not "sell". It boosted my confidence that He believed that someone would / should pay good money for our services. 

The sessions by DP sir, Nandini Ma'am and Ramesh Dwivedee ji continued to unfold wisdom from Hindu philosophies and our ancient scriptures. They nourished body, mind and soul. The participants themselves were an evolved lot of high achievers intent in giving back to society and an inspiration in lifelong learning. 

My Connection with the Ramakrishna Mission

Our contributor Debashish Chakraborty says that he visited the Ramakrishna Mission Delhi Ashrama in 2024. There he attended a few discourses and classes on the Bhagavad Gita. He found it informative and has since been drawn to the mission and set firmly on the path of his spiritual journey.

Nandita Lahiri has for many years served as a volunteer in the value education programs of VIVA. She has been associated with RKM since her childhood. Four members of her family have served as senior monks of the Ramakrishna Order. She has continuously found inspiration and strength from the spiritual teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, the Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda. 

Nandini Seshadri writes - "I was about 14 years old and was visiting my uncle at Bangalore during the holidays. While strolling one evening with family we walked into the Basavanagudi ashram and Ram naam sankirtan was going on. That music even today rings in my ear. It was as if Thakur had bought me to his fold that very day." 

Our reader Shilpi Sharma shares how she dived straight into the mission, as though by invitation of the Holy Trio themselves: 
​
In 2018, we moved to Gurugram, renting a ground-floor house. The floor above was the place where the Gurgaon Study Circle (for the study of the teachings of the Holy Trio) would meet. From my floor I would hear the divine Saturday Sandhya Aarti floating into the house bringing blissful feelings; its heart-touching music was like nothing I’d ever heard. The words "Kripa Hi Kevalam" echoed constantly. Later, the devotees would come to share the prasad with me. I felt like I belonged. Soon, I felt like offering some service for the shrine above. The devotees would leave the keys behind with me and I offered to have the shrine cleaned. This responsibility gave me immense satisfaction as I would get darshan of the Holy Trio everyday. After evening aarti, I read 'Maa Ki Baatein' and 'Bhakt Malika'. By God's grace, He protected me. Seeing Thakur, Maa, and Swamiji, I felt and continue to feel this is my life's destination and path.

Arun Kumar Chatterjee goes down memory lane to share his journey with the mission:


"My association with the Ramakrishna Mission began as a child in Rourkela in the early 70s. My paternal grandparents were initiated by Swami Abhedananda. My grandmother used to take me to the pathachakra regularly organized at the residence of a devotee (a direct disciple of Holy Mother) and I was fortunate to receive his blessings. Following the transfer of my father to Kolkata in 1976, I used to frequently visit the Ramakrishna Vedanta Math. I got initiated by Revered Swami Atmasthanandaji in December 1998 along with my spouse Arpita at Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi. We remain associated with the Ramakrishna Mission at Gurugram."  

Arpita Chatterjee reminisces joyfully of her connection and writes:


"I have been visiting the Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, since childhood. I still remember getting a packet of batasha from Swamiji after offering my pronam which was a moment of great joy for me. After my marriage in 1994, my visits to the New Delhi Ramakrishna Mission continued. In 1998, both my husband and I had the grace of Thakur and were initiated by Revered Swami Atmasthanandaji in New Delhi Ramakrishna Mission. Till today, we continue our journey with the Ramakrishna Mission, now in Gurugram."

Chhandita Sensharma recalls from her childhood days, its imprint on her mind and its continuous impact:


"As a student, I participated in competitions organised by RKM. My childhood memories are of visiting the mission with my mother on various occasions including Jagaddhatri Puja. On special occasions, the mission was fully packed with devotees and melodious bhajans were sung. Few senior citizens of our neighborhood met every evening for Kathamrita classes. It was play time for me and my friends. One day we noticed that most of the Dadus (grandfathers) had great difficulty in reading due to eye problems. Two of us decided to read for them every evening. Although my understanding was very less, I still recollect and now can relate a bit why most of the listeners couldn't hold back their tears while we read 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna'."

RKM GURUGRAM

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