Chennai Times

Responsible communication in public life is one of the many lessons we can learn from Gandhiji . Here is quote, 'I have completed reading Rolland’s books on Ramakrishna and Vivekananda. I always had reverence for Ramakrishna I had read little about him. But as I had heard several things about him from his devotees, that feeling had sprung up. I cannot say that Rolland’s books have added to it. In fact both the books of Rolland are meant for Westerners. I will not say that we can derive nothing from these books. But I for one have derived very little benefit. The things which had influenced me are also to be found in Rolland’s books. The additional matter which it contains has not added to the impression. It did not appear to me that Vivekananda was as much a devotee as Ramakrishna. Vivekananda’s love was great. He was full of feeling and used to be carried away by it. It was like the golden covering for his knowledge. The distinction which he made between religion and politics was...

This afternoon's assertion from the CM on the floor of the assembly sets to rest the four day old drama on the fate of Vivekananda Illam, I should confess driving past the Illam this morning I was looking out for some kind of government seal and battalion of police men outside the gate. None were there and the place looked as peaceful as before. 'Tamilnadu Chief Minister has dismissed reports about plans to demolish Vivekananda House near Marina beach in Chennai. He said the government had no plans to build a Tamil cultural centre in its place as reported in the news media. Replying to a special call attention motion in the Assembly, he said some were trying to create a conflict between the government and samiyars by spreading malicious news that the memorial of Swami Vivekananda would be razed down. ‘We don’t have any problem with Swami Vivekananda. His preachings were almost similar to those of our leaders Periyar and Anna,’ said the Chief Minister....' (read full news ...

Since my post yesterday on this issue there have been further developments. This morning's dailies all carried news on the DMK's bid to take over the Vivekananda Illam obviously each with its own twist to it. (image below: yesterday's Indian Express Lead) The Dinamani which broke the story yesterday through front page lead articles, gave responses from people who oppose the issue - Jayalalitha, Cho Ramaswami, Pe Su Mani, Sarath Kumar among others . The Dinamani carried an interview with Swami Gautamananda, the President of Ramakrishna Math, Chennai along with the protest from Jayalalitha. The Hindu characteristic of itself, made the Math sound like some kind of pavement squatter to be permitted and evicted by the Government at will . Other News items: AIADMK, BJP against TN Govt's 'move' to vacate Vivekanandar Illam Chennai, April 22: The Opposition All India Anna DMK (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Jana...

The majestic looking Vivekananda House on the beach road in Chennai must have caught the eye of some of our politicians too frequently. Read this morning's tamil news and English one here The 'Ice House' as it was called earlier was handed over to the Ramakrishna Math on lease to establish an exhibition for Indian Heritage about 13 years back. The Math has historic connections to this building too. Swami Vivekananda on his return from the famous Western travel gave a series of lectures starting at Colombo and finally reaching then Calcutta and beyond. Some of the most powerful lectures (link to Madras lectures) were delivered in the then Madras in the year 1897. He was given one of the best welcomes in Chennai at Egmore station and taken in a procession to the Ice House, then known as 'Castle Kernan' and owned by a prominent lawyer Bilagiri Iyengar. He is reported to have stayed there for 9 days during this trip and later the Ramakrishna Math was formally start...