Eknathji Reminiscences-2

This is a continuation of the Remeniscences of Mananeeya Eknath Ranade ji from the last issue of Vivekananda Kendra Patrika. This compilation of Reminiscences is written by nearly 90 eminent personalities who were associated with Eknathji for many years in the service of Bharatmata. There was a long felt need for a compilation of reminiscences not only from the Kendra Karyakartas and sympathisers of Kendra but also from many others who knew him very closely.

This compilation will enable all those who are part of the Kendra movement, to honour the multi - splendored personality of Shri Eknathji. He was an ordinary man who rose to extra - ordinary height by dint of hard work and absolute dedication.

I quote here what Mananeeya Shri P. Parameswaranji, President of Vivekananda Kendra, wrote in his foreward to the book “Eknathji”. “Born in an ordinary family under ordinary social circumstances but imbued with deep insight and keen observation, studious and hard working, physically strong, mentally agile and intellectually sharp, with an inborn spiritual instinct, uncompromisingly idealistic, ready to serve and sacrifice, eager and capable to imbibe every new knowledge and skill that his responsibility demanded, fully conscious of the great mission for which he was born, a great team builder and a wonderfull organizer and above all absolutely confident of own capacity and competence to fulfil his life mission.”

Eknathji was a good strategist thinker and performer. He humbled then Union Minister for Culture, Shri Humayun Kabir, for his devastating comments that the proposed Memorial to Swami Vivekananda at Kanyakumari would spoil the natural beauty of the place. He very intelligently negotiated with the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Shri Bhaktavatsalam who vehemently opposed the idea of construction of a memorial to Swamiji on the divine Rock. Mr Bhaktavalsalam even publicly anounced that he would never allow a memorial to Swamji on the Rock during his life time. It was Eknathji’s skilful handling of Shri Bhakthavatsalam that got final approval for the construction of the Memorial.

Eknathji was a Master negotiator. His art of negotiating and persuading the people in extremely difficult situation could be seen in the act of getting the signatures of 323 MPs in the Memorandum submitted to the then Prime Minister of India, Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. Eknathji was ably supported by Late Lai Bahadur Sastri, who was a Minister in the Central Cabinet, in getting Central government clearance for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Eknathji’s love for Bharateeya tradition and culture could be gauged from the remarkable design he got made for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Sree Devi Padam from Shri S. K. Achari, a Master Architect in Temple Architecture. Eknathji also prevailed upon Shri S. K. Achari to become the Chief Architect and gave him a free hand in the design making and construction work. To - day the memorial is being visited by millions of people from all over India and abroad. They all opined in one voice that this is a unique memorial and a pride place in the heart of all patriotic minded people of this great Bharat.

Eknathji’s commitment and absolute dedication for a task undertaken by him is laudable indeed! For him the word of Shri Guruji Golwalkar, the Sar Sangha chalak was an “Agnya”. He committed to the work assigned to him, facing all odds and successfully completed the task in a record time of 6 years.

Eknathji’s life was an example for all the Kendra Karyakarthas as he lived “One Life - One Mission”. The day he left his home as Sangha Pracharak, never he looked back to domestic life. For him this life is consigned at the feet of Bharat Mata and therefore his mantra was “Charaiveti - Charaiveti”

Eknathji was a person of “High thinking - and Austere living”. His simple and immaculate life style is worth following by all the Kendra Karyakartas and well wishers.

He sternly practised three vows of Purity, Disipline and Non-possession. He expected all the Kendra Jeevan Vratis to take oath and make these three principles part of their life.

He was a system builder - par excellent. He gave high importance for means than to the end. His often quoted words are “take care of means - then the end will take care of itself.

He was a true follower of Sree Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Once I accompanied him to Belur Math to meet Swami Veereswarandaji, President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Due to heavy traffic and pouring rain we got delayed and reached Belur math nearly one hour late. Near the main gate, a Swamiji was waiting to take Eknathji to the President Maharaj. As soon as Eknathji alighted from the car the Swamiji approached him and told that the President Maharaj is waiting for more than an hour and he is worried why you are so late? Eknathji very politely told the young Swamiji that first he would go to the Shrine of Sree Ramakrishna and do the Namaskar to Thakur, Ma - Sarada and Swamiji. Then only he would meet the President Maharaj. Jovially he told the Swamiji, “Let me meet the Bada Maharaj first before meeting the Chota Maharaj”.

Swami Chinmayananda used to describe Eknathji as “Hanuman”. Once Swamiji was conducting a Gita gyana yagna, in North Calcutta. He came to know from someone that Eknathji is camping in Calcutta. He sent a word through one of the Sangha Swayamsevaks expressing his desire to meet Eknathji. I accompanied Eknathji to the place where Swamiji was residing. When we reached that house, Swamiji was sitting with a large gathering of nearly 200 people. As soon as he saw Eknathji entering the hall, he immediately rushed forward to the midst of the audience and started shouting, Hanuman has come! Hanuman has come! Immediately Eknathji did Pranam to Swamiji, who lifted him up and took him to the dias. There was little commotion in the audience. Swamiji asked the audience to observe silence. He introduced Eknathji to the audience with glowing words and described that Eknathji is modern day Hanuman. Swamiji told the audience “Here is a superman, who is like Hanuman! For him, no task is impossible. He was capable of carrying the whole Himalayas to Kanyakumari!.

Eknathji while giving talks to the Trainees (Jeevan Vratis), used to say that the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a Memorial to Swamiji, constructed in granite stone on the hallowed spot where he meditated whereas the Vivekananda Kendra is a much more important memorial to Swamiji in “flesh and blood”, to carry and disseminate his message to the nook and corner of the globe.

Late Swami Ranganathananda the 13th President of Ramakrishna Mission was very close to Eknathji from earlier days. Eknathji used to meet him often and sought his advice on all matters concerning the construction of Vivekananda Rock Memorial and thereafter the setting up of Kendra. He described Eknathji in moving words thus:- “A man like Eknath Ranade is an asset to any movement in any country. I have known him very intimately, and I have admired his energy, his quiet dedication, his capacity for calm, silent, team - work and a rare capacity to influence favourably persons and every intractable circumstance! No difficulties can thwart him. Mountain - high obstacles he will face with a calmness and gentleness suffused with determination.”

Before I conclude, 1 must congratulate Shri Arun Karmarkar for collecting these reminiscences from various persons who had worked with Eknathji. These reminiscences will give lot of insight into Eknathji’s life and style of working. Shri Arun Karmarker has spent some precious time and spent valuable energy for this purposeful cause. I also thank all those very respectable persons who came forward to record their reminiscences which will be worth knowing for the future generation.

 

A.Balakrishnan

Vice - President

Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari