The Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission, a sister organisation of Ramakrishna Vedanta Math, is a charitable Mission having objectives similar to those of the well-known Ramakrishna Mission of India.

Background : Swami Abhedananda (Kali Maharaj) was one of the eleven disciples of Sri Sri Ramakrishnadeva, Swami Vivekananda (Naren) being the leader of the apostles. During Sri Sri Ramakrishna’s stay at Dakshineswar Temple, like his brother apostles, Kali then a young boy in his teens, used to visit the Master; the bond became stronger and stronger and all the apostles received Diksha from the Master.

After Master’s departure in mortal form, in 1896, the apostles moved to a derelict building, now known as Baranagar Math. They used to go deeper and deeper in spiritual journeys. It would be only relevant to quote from an article by Swami Jitatmananda in the Statesman, Calcutta of 23rd December, 2005. “Naren made the ambience vibrant with the study of scriptures, history and literature, Kali (Abhedananda) was virtually consumed by research and meditation and Latu (Adbhutananda), among others were intoxicated with the incessant chanting of God’s name”. Their object was in the universatality of God epitomised in the Master’s saying “Yato mat tato path”, but the aim is one, stressing upon the myriads of means leading to a common goal. The canonised Vedanta beyond the boundaries of any faith serving the humanity, lighting up realisation in every heart — as the Master has said to the lay followers “Toder chaitanya hok” (you all gain the true consciousness). At Baranagar, Vivekananda and the apostles embraced Sannyasa.

Kali, like all the brother apostles, travelled the length and breadth of India not only to know what other spiritual leaders say and preach but also to meet the people at grassroot level to gain a first hand knowledge of them, people of all faiths of all the linguistic and racial diversities that the country, India presents. The brother apostles gave Abhedananda the name of “Kali Tapasyi” (Kali the devout and austre ascetic).

Following the rousing welcome to Swami Vivekananda at the Chicago World Congress of Religion, in 1893, a landing had been made in the West to reveal the essential unity of Vedanta with all the human thoughts to further the doctrine of love into realms of self realisation strongly enough in the very citadel of modern capitalism and industrialisation. Abhedananda, following Vivekananda was to take charge of New York Vedanta Society in America, a mission entrusted to him by none other than Vivekananda himself calling Kali Maharaj to London in August 1896 for carrying on the Vedanta Movement already started by Swamiji.

His first lecture was before the Christo-Theosophical Society of London on the Vedanta Philosophy of Panchadasi. Before returning to India in 1897, Swami Vivekananda entrusted him with the full charge of conducting the classes on Vedanta and Raja Yoga. While in England he was introduced by Swami Vivekananda with Professor Max Muller and Paul Deussen, the two great authorities on Indian Philosophy in foreign land as also the renowned philosophers of that time. Thereafter, at the request of Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda went to U.S.A., for the first time, in 1897, at the age of 31, to take charge of the Vedanta Society in the city of New York. There, as demanded of him, he delivered ninety public lectures in six months before large audiences on Vedanta Philosophy and Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali. He also took regular classes at the Vedanta Society on Bhagvat Gita, Upanishads, Spirit and Matter, Knowledge of the Self, Immortality of the Self, Vedanta, Sankhya and Yoga Philosophy, etc.. He came to India in 1906 for a short stay of seven months only. He returned to America in the same year and continued preaching the messages of Sri Ramakrishna and the spirituality of India’s own. During his 25 years of spiritual ministration in the West he crossed the Pacific seventeen times. He finally returned to India in November, 1921. On his way return, he visited Honolulu, Japan, Shanghai, Hongkong, Canton, Manila, Singapore and Kuala-Lumpur in Malaya States. Everywhere he had to deliver series of lectures on various religions and philosophies including Vedanta Philosophy.

Swami Abhedananda (also known as Swamiji Maharaj) founded the first institution in Mechuabazar Street and this was one of the first institutions in Calcutta established by the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva. The building was completed in March, 1937, the choice of the site was perhaps inspired by the fact that the area was sanctified by the visits of Sri Sri Ramakrishna. Due to its proximity to the city it drew many great men and women from India and abroad drawn by the fame and fragrance of Sri Sri Ramakrishna world over and also personal contacts with Swamiji Maharaj. However, being situated in the built up part of the city and lack of resources, the growth was stalled and was limited to its present precints. But the centres established by Swamiji Maharaj in Darjeling and subsequently in other places as Ramakrishna Vedanta Math continued to grow in the fields of education, health care, relief works, orphanages, awareness programme and other welfare activities and community services.

Swami Prajnanananda, most intimate disciple of Swamiji Maharaj, who succeeded his preceptor was great exponent of philosophy, musicology and culture. The silence of meditation and philosophical research was now balanced by the resonant musical rendition in the tradition of both Indian and Western Classical music. Prajnanananda was accepted as the leading scholar of music and authored several volumes on the history and development of music.

To enlarge the activities in the current context Ramakrishna Abhedananda Mission was founded in the spirit of ‘ Shivajnane Jivaseva’ (‘Service to man is Service to God’). The objectives are :

1) To impart, promote and propagate the study and practice of all the phases of Vedanta and its principles as propounded and practically illustrated by Bhagawan Sri Ramakrishna Deva, and its Apostles Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda etc. among the humanity at large irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion.

2) To impart and promote spiritual, artistic, physical, vocational training.

3) To carry on educational work among the people in general and specially among the masses.

4) To remove untouchability and other prejudices and to cultivate brotherly feeling among all.

5) To help the sick, the needy and the distressed.

6) To impart, promote and cultivate the study of comparative philosophy, history, literature, arts, science, industries, agriculture and other subjects like health, hygiene, social services and the like.

7) To train teachers in all branches of knowledge mentioned above and enable them to apply and disseminate such knowledge for the benefit of the masses.

8) To help financially or otherwise any other association or institutions for carrying on their philanthropic and charitable objects.

9) To establish, organise, maintain, carry on, amalgamate and assist Colleges, Lectures, Laboratories, Workshops, Orphanages, Homes for Students, Hospitals, Dispensaries, Public Health Institutions, Homes for the aged, the infirm, the invalid and the afflicted, Relief Works and other Educational, Charitable, Philanthropic and Public welfare activities, and Institutions of a like nature.

10) To purchase, take on lease or in exchange, hire or otherwise acquire property, movable or immovable, and any rights or privileges which may be deemed necessary or convenient for the purposes of Society and to improve, develop, manage, sell, lease, mortgage, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property of the Association.

11) To construct, maintain or alter any house, buildings or works necessary or convenient for the purposes of the Association.

12) To do all such things as are incidental, necessary or conducive to the attainment of the objects aforesaid or any of them.

The idea is to give education and cultivating the ideas of Sri Sri Ramakrishna creating a fusion of the material with the spiritual. The idea will be to give young minds the essence of the noble tradition of humanity to train the young and unprivileged students and handicapped persons below poverty level, so that they could come out of the deep morass of poverty having a modicum of living with confidence in their hearts in these days of globalisation, whereby the basic principles of Sri Ramakrishna Deva’s teachings to his householder followers would continue.

Recently our missionary activities have been extended to cover vocational training courses, essential computer courses, medical transcription courses, etc. as also running classes for learning Spoken English, Sanskrit etc. for the handicapped and the persons below poverty level.

Considering the extent of activities as outlined above, the Mission requires to extend their existing centre at the above address at an estimated cost of rupees 9.0 crores approximately.

We earnestly appeal to all concerned to come forward and take the opportunity of active participation in this venture by liberal donations or grants/subsidy and enjoy exemption from income-tax u/s 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. This Mission is registered for accepting foreign contributions u/s 6(1)(a) of the FC (R) Act 1976. Commemorative marble slabs for donation of Rs.50,000/- and above will be arranged after purchase of the property.

We assure that all contributions will be thankfully acknowledged and printed receipts will be issued to the donors, we as duty bound shall ever pray for long and peaceful life for all donors to be.

PROJECT :
	Cost of acquisition :	Rs.4,00,00,000.00
	Cost of building :	Rs.3,25,54,873.00
	Cost of Equipment :	Rs.99,00,000.00
	Running Cost :	Rs.85,20,000.00
	TOTAL :	Rs.9,09,74,873.00

Strata of Courses :
Technical Courses to be offered :

(i)	Training ( One year Certificate Course)
	(a)	Mechanical Engineering
	(b)	Electrical Engineering
	(c)	Civil Engineering
	(d)	Electronic Engineering
(ii)	Vocational Education ( 6 months Certificate Course)
	(a)	Welding
	(b)	Motor Mechanism
	(c)	Lathe
	(d)	Carpentry
	(e)	Motor Driving
	(f)	Toy Making
	(g)	Type Writing
(iii)	Computer Training ( 1½ years Course)
(iv)	Paramedical Training for (a) Radiographers, (b) Laboratory Technicians, (c) E.C.G. & E.E.G. technicians & (d) Physiotherapy personnel ( one year certificate course).

Total no. of courses : 17 types.

The finance and accounts are transparent and regularly audited by Chartered Accountants. For all donors the Mission undertakes

1) to have the cost audited and the progress of the Project reported by an independent audit committee annually. 2) To report on the programme implementation and advancement from an experts committee.

We hope that the Mission would receive your support in this venture and with the Blessings of Sri Ramakrishna the onward march will reach its destination.

We welcome you all to join this great philanthropic work with the spirit of “Service to Man is Service to God”.

Introduction : This organisation is a registered Society under Society Registration Act working in West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura. For our charitable and social welfare works we depend on public donation and Govt. grants. We have implemented public co-operation projects of CAPART, Govt. of India, in collaboration and co-operation with Gram Panchayet and Municipality. We have recently successfully completed installation of 27 Nos of tubewells and 100 Nos of low cost latrines in the most rural areas of Bilkanda II Gram Panchayet under Barrackpore II Development Block of North 24 Parganas and New Barrackpore Municipality, West Bengal. We undertake relief works during natural calamities. We have Mobile Medical Services.

                      We have 15 Branch centres working in West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura.

                      Now, we propose to undertake intensive health care projects in the rural and slum areas under our branch centres. Detailed estimates are submitted herewith for a total sum of Rs.21,61,42,300/- (Rupees twenty-one crore sixty one lakh forty-two thousand three hundred only) for improvement of poor health condition of people belonging to below poverty line.

                      We earnestly appeal to all concerned to come forward and take the opportunity of active participation in this venture by liberal donations or grants/subsidy and enjoy exemption from income-tax u/s 80G of the Indian Income Tax Act. This Mission is registered for accepting foreign contributions u/s 6(1)(a) of the FC (R) Act 1976.

                      Estimates for the entire project are submitted herewith:

                         THE HEADWISE ESTIMATES OF HEALTH CARE PROJECT

NON-RECURRING

1.	Low Cost Latrines :
	To make the most rural areas of Barrackpore II block pollution free. The areas require 2500 Nos of Low cost Latrines.
	Cost of 2500 Nos @ Rs.20,000/- per set.	Rs.5, 00, 00,000.00
2.	Low Cost Houses :
	The houses will be provided to the poor people belonging to below poverty line in Barrackpore II Block, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. We propose to construct 400 Nos of Low Cost Houses with a set of Low Cost Latrine to each House to be constructed @ Rs.1,00,000/- per unit
	400 X 100000.00	Rs.4, 00, 00,000.00
3.	Ambulances :
	To provide Emergency services to the ailing people of the villagers. Total Nos of Ambulances to be purchased 8 Nos Namely 1. Sodepur 2. Hotar 3. Prosadpur 4. Bhalia 5. Kolkata-6 6. Apurba Nagar 7. Atharokhai 8. Kumarghat
	@Rs.6, 00,000.00	Rs. 48, 00,000.00
4.	Staff Van 1 No
	Required by our supervising branch, Abhedananda Nagar, New Barrackpore, 24 Parganas (North)
	@Rs.6, 00, 000.00	Rs. 6, 00,000.00
5.	Equipments and Accessories
	To provide easy availability of Pathological Tests for the poor rural people of the rural areas of West Bengal
	@ Rs.15, 00,000.00 X 10 units	Rs.1, 50, 00,000.00
6.	Developments of Lands
	For 4 units as follows:
	1. Abhedananda Nagar     20, 00, 000 2. Sodepur                      10, 00, 000 3. Hotar                          30, 00, 000 4. Kolkata-6                1, 00, 00, 000	Rs.1, 60, 00,000.00
7.	Construction of Buildings
	@Rs.15,00,000.00 X 10 units	Rs.1, 50, 00,000.00
		Rs.14, 14, 00,000.00
8.	Supervision cost
	10% of 14, 14, 00,000.00	Rs. 1, 41, 40,000.00
		Rs.15, 55, 40,000.00
9.	Administrative cost
	10% of 15, 55, 40,000	Rs. 1, 55, 54,000.00
		Rs.17, 10, 94,000.00

RECURRING for 5 years

1.	Doctor's Honorarium Regular (Homeopathy) @ 2500.00 per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 22, 50,000.00
2.	Doctor’s Honorarium Regular (Alopathy) @ 2500.00 per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 22, 50,000.00
3.	Expert Doctor – once a week (Homeo) Honorarium @ 5000.00 per month X 12 months X 7 units namely :- 1.  Abhedananda Nagar 2.  Sodepur 3.  Hotar 4.  Kolkata 5.  Apurbanagar 6.  Atharokhai 7.  Kumarghat
	X 5 years	Rs. 4, 20,000.00
4.	Expert Doctor (Alopathy) Honorarium @ Rs.5,00,000/- per month X 12 months X 7 units X 5 years	Rs. 4, 20,000.00
5.	Medicines (Homeo) @ Rs. 2000.00 per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 18, 00,000.00
6.	Medicines (Alopathy) @ Rs. 5000.00 per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years. In addition, free samples will be collected by our volunteers	Rs. 45, 00,000.00
7.	Drivers @ Rs. 3000.00 per month X 12 months X 8 units X 5 years	Rs. 14, 40,000.00
8.	Fuel @ Rs.10, 000.00 per month X 12 months X 10 units X 5 years	Rs. 60, 00,000.00
9.	Pharmacist @ Rs.3000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 27, 00,000.00
10.	Night Guards @ Rs.2000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 18, 00,000.00
11.	Cleaners @ Rs.1000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 9, 00,000.00
12.	Maintenance (Repairs, Replacements) @ Rs.5000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 45, 00,000.00
13.	Accountant, Caretaker and Supervisor – 3 Nos @ Rs.2000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 54, 00,000.00
14.	Legal & Corporate Taxes Electricity, Water and Panchayet Tax @ Rs.2000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 18, 00,000.00
15.	Auditor @ Rs.2, 000.00 per year X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 1, 50,000.00
16.	Miscellaneous (printing, stationeries, conveyance etc.) @ Rs.1000/- per month X 12 months X 15 units X 5 years	Rs. 9, 00,000.00
		Rs. 3, 72, 30,000.00
17.	Supervision cost @ Rs.10% of the amount 3, 72, 30,000/-	Rs. 37, 23,000.00
		Rs. 4, 09, 53,000.00
18.	Administrative cost 10% of 4, 09, 53,000/-	Rs. 40, 95,300.00

A.

Non Recurring Total

Rs.17, 10, 94,000.00

B.

Recurring Total

Rs.4, 50, 48,300.00

Rs.21, 61, 42,300.00

(Rupees Twentyone crore sixty one lakh forty two thousand and three hundred only)