Personalia
Revered President Maharaj will visit Kamarpukur and Jayrambati from 23 October to 2 November.
Swami Suhitanandaji is scheduled to visit Raipur, Bilaspur and Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) from 23 October to 1 November.
Swami Bhajananandaji is at Belur Math.
Swami Girishanandaji will visit Baghbazar Math from 16 to 19 October and Agartala from 25 October to 7 November.
Swami Divyanandaji is in Kamarpukur and will return to Cossipore on 2 October after visiting Jayrambati. Thereafter, he will visit Varanasi, Patna, Mumbai and Sakwar from 16 to 27 October.
Swami Vimalatmanandaji will visit Jammu from 24 to 26 October.
All of them are keeping well.
New Centres and Sub-centres
A new Mission centre has been started at Balurghat, West Bengal, following the takeover of Balurghat Shri Ramkrishna Ashrama in August. The centre’s address is
Ramakrishna Mission, Balurghat,
Hossenpur, P.O. Beltala Park,
Dist. Dakshin Dinajpur,
West Bengal 733103
Phone number: 80016 60953
email id: balurghat@rkmm.org
The Ashrama was founded in 1973.
Ghatal Sri Sri Ramakrishna Sevashram in Paschim Medinipur district was taken over and made a sub-centre of Kamarpukur Mission centre. Its address is
Ramakrishna Mission,
P.O. Ghatal,
Dist. Paschim Medinipur,
West Bengal 721212
Phone number: 98833 40119
The Sevashram was founded in 1910.
News of Branch Centres in India
Swami Suhitanandaji dedicated the new monks’ quarters, named Sarada Bhawan, at Bhopal centre on 24 August.
Revered President Maharaj inaugurated the extended prayer hall cum village empowerment centre at the rural unit of Thanjavur centre on 27 August. In this connection, the centre conducted a five‑day programme from 25 to 29 August, comprising special worship, homa, bhajans, musical recitals, cultural programmes, a devotees’ retreat, and programmes for youths. A statue of Swamiji was also unveiled during the programme.
The renovated temple at Salem ashrama was consecrated by Revered President Maharaj on 31 August. Special worship, homa, bhajans and cultural programmes formed part of the ceremony. About 100 monks and 15,000 devotees attended the various programmes held in this connection from 28 August to 11 September.
The new staff quarters building, named Adbhutananda Bhavan, at Lumdung centre was inaugurated on 11 September.
Sri Mansukh L Mandaviya, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, visited Rajkot centre on 11 September.
Revered President Maharaj launched the concluding function of the centenary celebrations (1924‑2024) of Sohra centre on 12 September. During this three-day concluding function, he unveiled a statue of Swami Vivekananda at the centre’s newly started college and installed new photos of the Holy Trio in the shrine of Shella sub-centre on 13 September. On 14 September, he released the second volume of The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna in Khasi language. A souvenir, a documentary, and a coffee-table book were also released to commemorate the occasion.
Swami Suhitanandaji inaugurated a new multipurpose hall, named Amrita Bhavan, at Mangaluru Mission centre on 14 September. He also released a brochure and a documentary on the centre in a public meeting held in commemoration of the 75th anniversary (1951-2026) of the centre.
The General Secretary opened the new kitchen cum dining hall at Bamunmura centre on 15 September, the sacred birthday of Swami Abhedanandaji Maharaj.
On 23 September, Swami Vimalatmanandaji inaugurated two new facilities at Bolpur centre: (i) a guest house for devotees, named Swami Gahanananda Memorial Guest House, and (ii) the centre’s second campus, which is located opposite the main campus.
The Education Department of the Government of West Bengal presented the Sera Vidyalaya Sammanana (Best School Award) to our four schools at Malda, Narendrapur, Purulia and Rahara on 5 September, Teachers’ Day. Each school received a trophy, a citation and a sum of one lakh rupees.
A teacher of our Malda school was awarded Shiksha-ratna Sammanana award on 5 September.
At Hatamuniguda school, a fitness-cum-amusement park for children was inaugurated on 3 September, and the newly set-up STEM Lab on 24 September. (STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Revered President Maharaj flagged off the yearlong celebrations organized by Guwahati Ashrama to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic visit to Kamakhya temple and Assam in 1901, in a public meeting held on 19 September on the temple premises.
RKMVERI conducted Akhanda Sri Durga Saptashati Parayanam (complete and uninterrupted recitation of the Durga Saptashati) at Belur Math on 21 September, the sacred Mahalaya, in which 900 people took part. Swami Bhajananandaji delivered a short benedictory address.
Students from our Hatamuniguda school participated in the All India Swachh Bharat Art Competition, conducted by the National Education and Human Resource Development Organization, Mumbai, in August. They secured 8 gold medals and 13 trophies.
Students of the Jhargram school emerged as champions by bagging 27 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze medals at the Inter-EMRS State Level Sports Meet held in Kolkata on 17 September.
Two faculties of RKMVERI have been recognized as among the Top 2% Scientists in the World for the year 2025 by Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier, a global information analytics company.
News of Branch Centres Outside India
As a part of its 125th anniversary, San Francisco centre, USA, hosted a full-day programme comprising talks, devotional music, guided meditation and interactive sessions at a theatre in Cupertino, California, on 31 August.
Universal Brotherhood Day (11 September) Celebrations
(Commemoration of Swami Vivekananda’s First Address
at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, USA, in 1893)
The following centres observed Universal Brotherhood Day with different events:
Aalo: A programme comprising talks, bhajans and extempore speeches on 11 September, which was attended by 600 people.
Almora: A public meeting on 10 September at a nearby school, in which 250 people took part.
Chandigarh: An essay-writing contest and group discussions, in which 56 students from 19 local colleges participated. The prize-giving ceremony was held on 11 September, in which 150 students were in attendance.
Chennai Math: A public meeting on 11 September, which was attended by 333 people.
Chennai Students’ Home: Cultural competitions, in which 500 students participated. The prize‑giving ceremony was held on 11 September.
Coimbatore Mission: (i) An oratorical competition, both in online and offline modes, on 11 September, in which a total of 475 students participated. (ii) An online quiz competition on the same day, in which 195 people took part.
Davanagere: A speech competition on 11 September, in which 435 students participated.
Haripad: Two values education programmes on 11 and 12 September at two nearby schools, in which a total of 401 students took part.
Hatamuniguda: A public meeting, cultural programmes, and a drama performance on 11 September, with an attendance of 730 people.
Hyderabad: A public meeting on 11 September, which was attended by 350 people.
Jammu: A public meeting in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu, on the campus of the Institute on 11 September, in which 250 students took part.
Jhargram: District-level cultural competitions from August to September, in which a total of 1102 students from 86 schools all over the district participated. The prize-distribution ceremony was held on 11 September.
Kadapa: An oratorical competition and talks at local schools on 11 September, in which a total of 700 students took part.
Kalyani: A cultural competition on 11 September in association with Gol Parkcentre, Kolkata, on 11 September, in which 120 people participated.
Madurai: An elocution competition, in which 120 students from 5 local colleges took part.
Mangaluru: Three symposiums––for students of postgraduate courses on 11 September, for teachers on 12 September, and for students of professional courses on 13 September. In all, 2250 youths participated in these symposiums. Swami Suhitanandaji participated in the symposium held on 13 September.
Mumbai: (i) A public meeting on 11 September, attended by 290 persons. (ii) A values education workshop on 12 September, in which 198 college students participated. (iii) A three-day residential youths’ camp from 12 to 14 September, in which 40 students from 14 colleges took part.
Narottam Nagar: A procession and a public meeting on 11 September.
Rajamahendravaram: (i) An online values education programme on 11 September, in which 1,04,695 students and 5078 teachers from 467 government schools participated. (ii) A public meeting on 11 September, which was attended by 120 students.
Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair): A public meeting at a local college, in which 350 people took part.
Thanjavur: Four values education programmes for students from 11 to 17 September, and a drawing competition on 12 September. A total of 1150 students participated in all these events held at the ashrama and nearby schools and colleges.
Visakhapatnam: An essay-writing competition for college students, in which 3500 students from 9 districts took part. The prize-giving ceremony was held on 11 September.
Viveknagar, Agartala: A special programme on 11 September, which was attended by a large number of students, teachers, monks and devotees.
The following centres held youths’ conventions:
| Centre | Participants |
| Belagavi | 700 |
| Chandipur | 110 |
| Contai | 450 |
| Dhaleswar, Agartala | 1000 |
| Jhargram | 400 |
| Kalyani | 270 |
| Madurai | 300 |
| Medinipur | 120 |
| Pune | 225 |
| Rajamahendravaram | 400 |
| Rajkot | 500 |
| Sakwar | 400 |
| Vadodara | 150 |
Communication Addresses
Website: Srinagar centre has launched a website with the address srinagar.rkmm.org
Values Education and Youth Programmes
The following centres held programmes mentioned against their names:
Adipur: Five values education programmes in and around the centre from 5 to 8 August, in which a total of 615 students were in attendance.
Almora: A special lecture for youths, in association with another organization, at a nearby college on 4 August, in which 250 students took part.
Basavanagudi, Bengaluru: (i) Two values education workshops for teachers on 30 August and 20 September, in which altogether 90 teachers took part. (ii) Three programmes for youths from 6 to 20 September, in which a total of 830 students participated.
Chennai Math: A three-day residential youths’ camp from 29 to 31 August, which was attended by 52 students from 8 colleges.
Gurugram: (i) Fifty-five values education programmes for teachers, 28 in offline mode and 27 in online mode, from 25 August to 27 September, in which altogether 1779 teachers from different parts of the country took part. (ii) Two orientation programmes for principals on 15 and 17 September, where, in all, 84 principals participated.
Hyderabad: (i) Forty-two values education programmes in and around the ashrama in August, in which a total of 10,265 students, youths and teachers took part. (ii) A youths’ convention on 10 September, in which 2000 youths were in attendance.
Kanpur: A talk for students on 6 September, which was attended by 120 school students.
Patna: A youths’ convention on 6 September, in which 500 youths took part. Sri Arif Mohammed Khan, Governor of Bihar, and the General Secretary participated in the convention.
Raipur: Three personality development camps at three schools in Gariaband district on 13 September, attended by 1170 students and 30 teachers, in all.
Rajkot: (i) Twenty values education programmes from 22 August to 23 September, in which altogether 1558 students participated. (ii) Seven drug awareness programmes for youths, in and around the centre on 21 September, in which a total of 1296 youths took part.
Ranchi Sanatorium: A youths’ convention on 8 September, which was attended by 150 students.
Silchar: Two youths’ conferences on 6 and 8 September, in which a total of 774 students and 106 teachers were in attendance.
Thanjavur: Two values education programmes on 29 August, attended by a total of 500 students.
Yadadri Bhuvanagiri: Two values education programmes at two educational institutions on 29 August and 16 September, in which altogether 570 students took part.
Eye Camps and other Healthcare Services
The following centres conducted medical camps. A summary of the services provided by them is given below.
India
Adipur: (i) An eye camp on 3 August, in which 89 patients were checked and 43 were given spectacles. Subsequently, 4 of them underwent cataract surgery at an eye hospital in Bhuj. (ii) Five medical camps in and around Adipur from 3 to 31 August, in which a total of 359 patients were treated.
Antpur: An eye operation camp on 24 August in association with an eye hospital: 45 people underwent surgery.
Chennai Math: Two eye camps in Chengalpattu district, with the help of Chengalpattu centre, on 17 August and 24 September, in which a total of 195 patients were screened; subsequently, 109 were given spectacles and 18 underwent cataract surgery at an eye hospital in Chennai.
Digboi: A medical camp on 31 August, in which 26 patients were treated.
Gurap: (i) Four medical camps from 1 to 19 September in nearby villages, where a total of 153 patients were treated. (ii) An eye camp on 9 September, in which 53 patients were checked; later, 12 of them underwent cataract surgery at an eye hospital in Howrah.
Hatamuniguda: An eye camp on 17 September, in which 50 patients were checked and 24 were given spectacles; later on, 4 underwent surgery in an eye hospital.
Jammu: Two medical camps on 23 August and 13 September, in which a total of 692 patients benefitted.
Lucknow: Eye camps in August: 4268 patients were examined, of whom 91 underwent surgery and received spectacles.
Madurai: An eye camp on 20 September: 156 patients were screened; subsequently, 54 of them were operated on for cataract in a local eye hospital, and 39 were given spectacles.
Malda: A cleft lip and palate camp in association with another organization on 8 September, in which 126 patients were examined.
Porbandar: An eye camp on 12 September, where 24 patients were checked; later on, 12 of them were operated on for cataract in an eye hospital.
Prayagraj: A medical camp on 14 September, benefiting 114 patients.
Rahara, Kolkata: A medical camp at Gosaba block, South 24 Parganas district, on 17 August, in which 495 patients were treated.
Rajamahendravaram: A medical camp at Rampachodavaram in Alluri Sitaramaraju district on 21 September, in which 600 patients were treated.
Silchar: An eye camp at a nearby village, Barjalenga, on 28 August, in which 101 patients were treated; subsequently, 16 of them underwent cataract surgery at an eye hospital.
Sribhumi (Karimganj): A blood donation camp in association with another organization on 31 August, in which 23 people donated blood.
Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair): A blood donation camp in association with a local hospital on 30 August, in which 39 people donated blood.
Thanjavur: A medical camp on 7 September, in which 85 patients were treated.
Varanasi Home of Service: Medical camps in Sonbhadra and Udham Singh Nagar districts in August, benefiting a total of 1294 patients.
Outside India: Phoenix, South Africa: A medical camp in Tongaat on 14 September, in which 1834 patients were treated.
Obituary
We record with sorrow the passing away of two of our brother monks.
Swami Bhuvananandaji (Balai Maharaj) passed away at our Mumbai hospital on 4 September at 8.40 pm. He was 87. Initiated by Swami Vireshwaranandaji Maharaj, he joined the order in 1965 at Delhi centre and received sannyasa diksha from his guru in 1976. He rendered services at Delhi, Khetri, Vrindavan, Rajamahendravaram, Visakhapatnam, Shyamla Tal, Pune and Mumbai centres. He had been living a retired life at Mumbai centre for eleven years. The swami was known for his simplicity and jovial nature and was punctual in his duties.
Swami Lokanathanandaji (Sujit Maharaj) breathed his last at Seva Pratishthan, Kolkata, on 27 September at 7.30 am. He was 88. An initiated disciple of Swami Shankaranandaji Maharaj, he joined the order in 1958 at Kankhal centre and received sannyasa diksha from Swami Vireshwaranandaji Maharaj in 1968. He served at Kankhal, Shillong, Seva Pratishthan, Itanagar, Vrindavan, Kanpur and Lucknow centres as an assistant and at Jamtara, Jalpaiguri and Barisha centres as the head. He was the monk‑in-charge of Arogya Bhavan at Belur Math for five years. He also had the privilege to serve Swami Dayanandaji Maharaj and a few other monastic disciples of the Holy Mother. He had been living a retired life at Belur Math for the last 15 years. The swami was amiable and cheerful. Many devotees, young and old, lost a well‑wisher in him.