History of Ramakrishna Mission, Kasundia
Near about 1916, Howrah Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram initiated its mission. Young lives of revolutionary Bengal embraced Swamiji’s idea of dedicating their lives to the service of humanity and spreading education inside the nation. Howrah Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram and Vivekananda Institution are the two glorified organizations established simultaneously.
At that time, few of such local young friends at Kasundia, Howrah engaged themselves in deep religious discussions and decided to join Belur Math leaving behind their families .They however returned to their homes, on the advice of Krishnalal Maharaj and Gyan Maharaj. But fortunately after sometime Gyan Maharaj met the young devotees and they started attending religious classes at Belur Math. Swami Premanandaji Maharaj (Baburam Maharaj) gave his verdict regarding Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita reading and advised them to read the books of Sri Sri Ramakrishna and Swamiji and apply it in their lives as much as possible.
One small library and arrangement of regular religious classes were established here. Some of the devotees presented books to the library. Among the books, we kept the few editions of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita and Sri Sri Ramakrishna Lilaprasanga. Initially name of Ashram was decided “Ramakrishna Ashram and Vivekananda Ashram” but finally it became “Ramakrishna Vivekananda Ashram”.
In 1918, Swami Nirvedanandaji Maharaj came to the religious classes frequently and gave various advices. It was agreed to setup night school as an Ashram activity and started Saraswati puja. Durga puja with this purpose was also started by many dignitaries among local people who intimated with Ashram activities.
In 1918, the worship of Sri Sri Ramakrishna was going on in ShashankaSekhar Bhattacharya’s house. At that time, Mrigendranath Mukhopadhyay (Badal Babu), Swami Nirvedanandaji Maharaj took active part in the Ashram’s functions. After that Gyan Maharaj started to preach Swami Vivekananda’s ideas of education among the young students for building human character and service towards mankind.
In mid of 1922, the Ashram was shifted from 39 Kasundia road to 69 Navin senapoti lane.
During this period, the primary school of Saraswati institution was in crisis and close to shutdown. School authorities requested the Ashram to take over the running of the institution. Ashram authorities discussed with Gyan Maharaj about it and final decision was taken by Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj who suggested that the school should run properly according to the inspiring ideas of Swamiji.
The Saraswati institution was changed to Vivekananda institution in 1923.The Ashram and educational institution were going on side by side from that time.
The disciples of Sri Sri Thakur and Swamiji – Swami Abhedanandaji Maharaj, Swami Nirmalanandaji Maharaj, and Swami Shuddhanandaji Maharaj visited the Ashram at that time.
In 1926, this organization established a charitable hospital for the poor people. The school was expanded and raised from class 5 to class 7 and was moved to 107, Khurut Road, Howrah.
In 1926, the school obtained required affiliation from the Calcutta University. The president of the Ashram at that time was Shashankashekar Bhattacharya and secretary was Keshablal Chattopadhyay, asst secretary was Indubhusan Chattopadhyay.
This Year was special because the Ashram obtained special recognition from Ramakrishna Math and Mission, Belur Math. Sometime later Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj came to Ashram at Khurut Road, Howrah.
After that Ashram was shifted to HemKunja at Naskar Para for a time span in between 1926 to 1934.
Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj was president of Ashram from 1928 till his death in 1934, 20th February.
Then they started to search for their own land for building the Ashram and found a suitable land towards the west side of HemKunja.
In early 1934, Ashram was shifted from HemKunja to this house. In spite of difficulties, Ashram became registered as an organization on 3rd December, 1937.
In the year 1939, the world war begun and in 1942 the famine, cyclone and flood had broken out and the members of Ashram helped the distressed people. At that time, the demise of poet Rabindranath Tagore was felt deeply by the Ashram members and many other dignitaries like poet Kazi Najrul Islam, Bibhutibhuson banerjee, Probodh kumar sanyal etc.
During 1944 to 1945, various functions at the Ashram were held and noted persons visited the Ashram such as Dr. Bhupendranath Dutta, Umapati Kumar, and Anupama Devi.
In 1952, Swami Omkaranandaji Maharaj came to Belur Math from Advaita Ashram. Ashram organized the Vivekananda institution which grew gradually to be one of the most renowned institutions with public support.
In 1955, birth ceremony of Maa Sarada Devi was celebrated by this Ashram.
In 1963, birth celebration of Swamiji was organized by this Ashram.
In 17th Jan, 1973 the Tithi Puja of Swamiji was organized by the Ashram and the school was decorated. Magazines were published and many people praised the publication of the writers like Dr. Asit Banerjee, Bijoy Krishna Bhattacharya, Dr. Nimai sadhan basu, Swami Nirmalananda etc.
In August, 2019 Belur Math adopted the Ramakrishna Mission, Kasundia, Howrah as Branch Centre of Ramakrishna Mission.
The organization in the name of Sri Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda had a past of 50 golden years on the service of mankind. The Ashram already organized its golden jubilee celebration. The organization spreads service to people without any return interest. Once Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj told to the Ashram members to keep moving forward and not to look behind at any failures. If we look behind at the long 50 years, it is meant for deriving good values from the past and not for lagging behind with failures in minds, as we know the blessings of great men is a symbol of advancement which is now our path to future.
Blessings from Swami Biresharanandaji Maharaj
Blessings from Swami Gambhiranandaji Maharaj
