The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement Impact on Indian Society and Politics 1893-1922 (With Special Reference to Bengal)- An Old and Rare Book

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The book discusses historically the origins and development of the Ramakrishna- Vivekananda Movement as well as its impact on Indian society and politics up to 1922. The movement is studied in the changing national perspectives of the social reform movements and anti-British political struggle. In the narrative portion some of the generally neglected characters connected with the movement, both monastic and lay, Indian and foreign, are brought to a focus. In the analytical part some progressive social ideas and political views of Vivekananda and others are thrown into bold relief. These ideas, along with the personal charisma of the pioneers of the movement, left a deep impress on many Indian personalities and groups in the early 20th century. The British suspicion towards the Ramakrishna Mission and the latter's constant attempt at self- defence posed a major problem for the movement in the period concerned.

Commenting on this work Dr. R. B. Rybakov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow, observes: 'Even if she stops here undertaking just the study of the influence of Ramakrishna- Vivekananda Movement on social thinking and social practice in India this work could be hailed as a work of importance. But the auther goes further. She scrutinises also the impact of this Movement on Indian polices-and here actually we find a sort of a pioneer work.

Born in Calcutta in 1962 Jayasree Mukherjee has a consistently bright academic career. She is a double first' in History, graduating from Presidency College (1983) and obtaining her M.A. degree (with gold medal) from Jadavpur University (1985). She was a Research Fellow of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Calcutta (1986- 88). She was awarded Ph. D. by Jadavpur University (1992) for her dissertation on the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement. Engaged in teaching for the last nine years she now holds the rank of an Asstt. Professor of History in the West Bengal Educational Service. She has a few research papers to her credit. The present book is her first major publication. Currently she is engaged in research into some aspects of modern Bengali culture and creativities.

The present work entitled "The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement: Impact on Indian Society and Politics (1893-1922)" has grown out of my doctoral dissertation on the subject. It is based on contemporary and later records. Printed and manuscript, both official and non-official. I started the work with a Fellowship granted by the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Gol Park, Calcutta and completed it while teaching at the Krishnan agar Govt. College. Although Bengal has been the principal focus of my attention, the all India perspectives of the movement have been duly highlighted at the appropriate stages. 1893 was the year of Swami Vivekananda's Chicago Addresses and the year 1922 which witnessed the passing away of Swami Brahmananda, the First President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, was highly important from the organizational point of view.

The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda movement was marvellous creation of modern India. Fundamentally a religious movement, it gradually took on social dimension and political complexion giving tremendous accession of strength to India's struggle for self-discovery and self- realization as a nation. It saved Hinduism both from internal rot and external attacks, and impregnated it with the loftiest ideals of a non-sectarian religion. Based on Vedantic tradition its concept of spiritual humanism created a liberal social awareness, while its man-making and nation-building messages gave a mighty fillip to India's anti-British struggle. In the international field, the central message of the movement was the proclamation of a doctrine of Indian equality and dignity with other races, and setting her afresh of her historic career of Charaiveti (march on and conquer), thereby adding a new laurel to the history of world culture. All this happened during India's political subjection to foreign rule.