India's Leftists Had Nearly Killed The Vivekananda Memorial Project

Let's go to the Vivekananda Memorial (even if vicariously)

Good evening, dear reader!

I've been to the Vivekananda memorial at Kanya Kumari where PM Modi will spend two days meditating.

• I distinctly remember the difficult short boat ride. But the experience on the rock itself was quite pleasant.

What I learnt today about the Vivekananda memorial's history though is not very pleasant.

• From Rajesh's story I understand that there was a mischievous attempt to claim the rock for another faith, obstacle after obstacle by the government back then to deny permission for the construction - using the excuse of aesthetics and natural beauty.

• Do read the section below to find out more!

What you must know about the Vivekananda Memorial

In 1962 a committee was formed in Kanya Kumari to organise Swami Vivekananda's birth centenary celebrations.

• The committee came up with the idea of building a memorial on the rock on which the monk meditated before going to the Parliament of World Religions of 1893.

Was it Vivekananda rock or St Xaviers? When a section of the local population heard about the plan for a memorial they came up with a counter-plan.

• Sections of the Christian community called the site St Xavier’s rock.

• They also put up a cross on the rock, which was visible from the shore.

• Thankfully a judicial probe was ordered and the mischievously placed cross was removed.

Enter a Congress Chief Minister and a Union Cabinet Minister: The memorial project also met with stiff resistance from then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Bhaktavatsalam and a union cabinet minister.

• In light of the Christian claim, the state government first denied permission for the project.

• Permission was granted only for a stone tablet to be placed and for pilgrims to visit.

• Even the stone tablet was mischievously removed and had to be reinstalled.

The memorial movement gets going. Following the opposition from proselytizing forces, an all India committee was formed for the memorial. Swami Chinmayananda made the first donation of Rs 10,000.

• In August 1963 former RSS Gen-Sec Eknath Ranade took over.

• It also becomes apparent that Union Minister For Culture Humayun Kabir opposed the project.

• Humayun Kabir's reason? The memorial would "spoil the natural beauty of the place"

Eknath Ranade's plan to bypass Humayun Kabir. A petition was launched and collected 300+ signatures amongst members of parliament.

• Lal Bahadur Shastri also gave his support.

• The petition reached Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1963, and finally the green light was given.

• Bhaktavatsalam however tried to push for a very small memorial instead of a grand one.

• His objections were overcome with the support of the Kanchi matha's seer Chandrashekarendra Saraswati.

The bottom line: There was a time in India where building a simple memorial for someone as great as Swami Vivekananda was a struggle.

• Tonight a man with the same first name as Vivekananda's will sit in meditation at the memorial to close out the election campaign of 2024.

• This Narendra's past election victories marked a shift away from the old Leftist ways.

• The same Leftist ways that threw up endless obstacles against building a simple memorial for the OG Narendra.

• It's almost poetic justice, isn't it?

- Amar Govindarajan