Intro: The initiation of the Life Worker Order to propagate the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda was the next logical step of Eknathji’s mission and today we find hundreds of such dedicated youth working in the remote areas of the country serving the poor, the neglected and the downtrodden taking them to be
their Gods.
“The late Eknath Ranade with sheer dint of his industriousness, determination, courage, intellect, strength and all inclusive attitude presented the best role model for the countrymen to emulate and follow”, said RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri Mohan Bhagwat.
He was delivering Eknath Ranade Centenary Memorial lecture organised by New English High School Association at Nagpur on December 30 on the topic, “Late Eknathji Ranade—Personality and Work”. RSS Sarkaryavah Shri Bhaiyaji Joshi, Association President Dr A W Vyavahare and Vivekananda Kendra Regional Coordinatior Shri Vishwas Lapalkar also shared the dais.
Late Eknath Ranade, who was a student of New English High School, was the founder of Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari and Vivekananda Kendra, an order of dedicated life workers. The Lecture was thus organised by the New Enghish High School Association as a tribute to the past student Shri Bhagwat said the qualities in Eknath Ranade’s personality were further sharpened and honed properly under the guidance of RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and his immediate successor the late MS Golwalkar. Emulating his example and following them in our life would be the best tribute to him, the RSS chief said.
Sharing his views with the large attendance that gathered at the open ground of New English High School in Congress Nagar braving the biting cold, Bhagwat narrated a number of incidents from the life of Ranadeji.
Unfolding the history of Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the efforts the late Eknath Ranade took to accomplish this very difficult task, the RSS chief said that Eknath Ranade managed to convince leaders of all the political parties including the then Union Minister Humayun Kabir and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Bhaktvat-salam who had shown strong opposition to such a memorial of Swami Vivekananda in the southern sea.
Ameliorating the condition of the people standing at the end of the social ladder was the core of thoughts and actions of Swami Vivekananda and Ekanth Ranade. This same thought is practiced by RSS on a wider canvass, he said. Ekanth Ranade conceived, and planned construction of rock memorial and completed it with full determination. The initiation of the Life Worker Order to propagate the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda was the next logical step of his mission and today we find hundreds of such dedicated youth working in the remote areas of the country serving the poor, the neglected and the downtrodden taking them to be their Gods.
Shri Bhagwat dwelt at length on various aspects of Eknath Ranade’s life as a student at Hislop College, as a swayamsevak, as a Pracarak and as a Sarkaryvah of RSS till he was entrusted with the responsibility of Rock Memorial in 1962 to highlight the best of his qualities and principles of life.
Strong resolve, working with dedication and determination accompanied with hard work, bravery and systematic bent of mind he was able to translate his dreams into reality.
Having full faith in serving those who are in need, helping them to become self-reliant, grooming them to serve others and dominate the society with such dedicated persons was the dream Ekanth Ranade cherished in his heart and worked relentlessly for its realisation.
Earlier Dr Vyavahare introduced the guests and honoured them with bouquet and replica of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Prior to the lecture Dr Bahgwat released five volumes of thoughts of Eknath Ranade published by Vivekananda Kendra. —Virag Pachpore in Nagpur
