Chennai: Shri Guruji narrated the story of Abu Ben Adam (based on a poem by Leigh Hunt) when Shri Seshadri and Shri Vaswanai of Vivekananda Kendra approached him for his message to the first volume of Vivekananda Kendra Patrika in 1972. (Incidentally, Abu'sname was included by an angel on top of the list of ?those who love the Lord?, because Abu described himself as ?one that loves his fellow-men?). This anecdote was shared by a chief guest with an audience at a function held here on July 29.
Thoughtfully enough, Vivekananda Kendra released Shri Guruji?A Living Example of Spiritual Nationalism on the auspicious occasion of Vyasa Poornima at the Mylapore Samskrita Bharati hall on July 29. It is the 70th issue of Vivekananda Kendra'sthematic half-yearly magazine Vivekana-nda Kendra Patrika. Releasing the book, Shri K. Suryanarayana Rao, Senior Pracharak of RSS and member of the all India working committee of RSS, recalled his presence at the release function of the first issue of the Patrika 35 years back. He said that issue had ?Serve Man, Serve God? for its theme. It was he who narrated the above anecdote attributed to Shri Guruji.
Earlier, Shri Bhanudas, general secretary, Vivekananda Kendra, in his keynote address, referred to Om as the Guru of the Kendra. Shri K. Suryanarayana Rao informed the audience, comprising young Kendra volunteers and the invited gentry, that saffron flag is the guru for RSS and Shri Guruji dedicated his entire life at the altar of the sublime values that the flag stands for. He recommended the book to be carefully read by all. It is an anthology of tributes to Shri Guruji by those who worked with him and those who knew him.
Shri Bala-subramaniam of the Prakashana Vibhag of the Kendra proposed a vote of thanks. The function camre to a close with the recital of Vande Mataram. (VSK Chennai)
