Fwd: Press report on Swami Divyananda of Ramakrishna Order

[swami Bodhamayananda]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: S Sudarshan <sdar...@isac.gov.in>
Date: Oct 8, 2007 11:57 AM
Subject: Press report on Swami Divyananda of Ramakrishna Order
To: undisclosed-recipients

Breaking free...


Posted online: Sunday , October 07, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Sunday , October 07, 2007 at 03:30:17

Swamiji, Maharaj or even Baba - is how the inmates of as many as 32
correctional homes often refer to Swami Divyananda. A monk of the
Ramakrishna Order, Amal Maharaj (as he's known widely) spends most of his
time with the prisoners, whom he calls his students or even his children.
Treading the path chosen by Swami Vivekananda, it is among these outcasts
that Divyananda finds solace.

In a letter to Alasinga Perumal, Swami Vivekananda had said, "...They don't
call it prison, but reformatory in America ... It is the grandest thing I
have seen here... How the inmates are benevolently treated, how they are
reformed and sent back as useful members of the society... You must see it
to believe! ..." These words, say Divyananda, helped him to set his goal.

Though a school teacher in his early life, Divyananda finds it more
rewarding when he sees that the transformed convicts have gone back to the
mainstream of life.

Recounting one such incident, he says, "I met one Pintu Mondal, who was once
a snatcher, the other day on a local train, selling potato chips. He asked
me whether I remembered who he was. When I said I did, Pintu was a little
surprised. He demanded to know where had I seen him. I couldn't bring myself
to tell the truth in front of everyone... I merely said... I saw you
inside."

This is how he feels about the inmates, most of whom are now coping with
their daily lives. Some are still serving their sentences; some have been
released.

Most inmates are used to being called tu, tui, or at best tumi, not the more
respectful aap, or aapni. And that is exactly how Swami Divyananda calls
them. Small wonder then that he commands such respect.

Swamiji had always been attracted to the correctional homes, long before he
joined the Ramakrishna order as a monk. After serving the mission as a
teacher for 27 years, he was sent to Tripura to work among the tribal.

Divyananda stayed there for the next three years. It was in August 2002,
that he heard about a school in the Malda District Jail, which had to be
closed down, as there was no teacher.

He went and met the ADM General, who was in charge, and sought permission to
begin work. From the very next day, he began teaching the 'inmates'. He did
not teach just from the books, but his aim was to bring an all-round
development.

"Initially I faced a lot of opposition - the convicts even asked me whether
I was being paid by the authorities. The authorities were no better. They
thought that I was one of those 'spiritual teachers' and was here to preach
sermons," recalls Divyananda.

But he was determined. Slowly, with love and compassion, he became the dear
Baba of the inmates.

A similar incident happened in Krishnagar. The superintendent of the
Krishnagar jail discouraged him from teaching the inmates, suspecting
Maharaj to be one of those preachers who had come here with a purpose.

But Divyananda's dedication and zeal soon convinced the superintendent that
he was no ordinary teacher. "I am teaching them the lesson of life," he had
said to the superintendent.

After some years, the Ramakrishna Mission recognised Divyananda's attempts
to bring about a change in the lives of these "outcasts".

His enthusiasm and compassion led the Mission to contribute generously in
his work.

Swamiji managed to provide educational facilities for both the prisoners and
their children back home. He has donated numerous books to the jail
libraries.

His effort has been to make the inmates feel at home once they return back
to the society. He has made them self-reliant, and inspired them to be
self-confident and later, even provided some with financial help to begin
small business firms.

Most of them, such as train dacoits Aftab and Mehmood, now have barber shops
of their own. Others manufacture incense sticks.

He even inspired a KLO member to shun his path of violence. The man from
Tufanganj was influenced by Divyananda's teachings and is now working with
the Mission for the upliftment of the poor.

He narrated one incident that involved an inmate of the Lalgola Open Air
jail. During the last years in the prison, he was given a rickshaw, which
fetched him a daily amount of Rs 250. One day, while returning from work,
the rickshaw-puller saw a little girl crying, standing near a school. She
said that she had no books and her parents were too poor to buy them for
her. He immediately went to a nearby bookshop and spent most of his day's
earnings on her books.

Men like Divyananda are rare, and since they prefer to stay away from the
spotlight, we remain unaware of what someone, touched by Swami Vivekananda's
life, can do on his own. Divyananda deserves to be lauded for the stellar
work he has been doing silently.


 

Breaking free...

Posted online: Sunday , October 07, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Sunday , October 07, 2007 at 03:30:17

Swamiji, Maharaj or even Baba — is how the inmates of as many as 32 correctional homes often refer to Swami Divyananda. A monk of the Ramakrishna order, Amal Maharaj (as he's known widely) spends most of his time with the prisoners, whom he calls his students or even his children. Treading the path chosen by Swami Vivekananda, it is among these outcasts that Divyananda finds solace.

In a letter to Alasinga Perumal, Swami Vivekananda had said, "...They don't call it prison, but reformatory in America ... It is the grandest thing I have seen here... How the inmates are benevolently treated, how they are reformed and sent back as useful members of the society... You must see it to believe! ..." These words, say Divyananda, helped him to set his goal.

Though a school teacher in his early life, Divyananda finds it more rewarding when he sees that the transformed convicts have gone back to the mainstream of life.

Recounting one such incident, he says, "I met one Pintu Mondal, who was once a snatcher, the other day on a local train, selling potato chips. He asked me whether I remembered who he was. When I said I did, Pintu was a little surprised. He demanded to know where had I seen him. I couldn't bring myself to tell the truth in front of everyone... I merely said... I saw you inside."

This is how he feels about the inmates, most of whom are now coping with their daily lives. Some are still serving their sentences; some have been released.

Most inmates are used to being called tu, tui, or at best tumi, not the more respectful aap, or aapni. And that is exactly how Swami Divyananda calls them. Small wonder then that he commands such respect.

Swamiji had always been attracted to the correctional homes, long before he joined the Ramakrishna order as a monk. After serving the mission as a teacher for 27 years, he was sent to Tripura to work among the tribal.

Divyananda stayed there for the next three years. It was in August 2002, that he heard about a school in the Malda District Jail, which had to be closed down, as there was no teacher.

He went and met the ADM General, who was in charge, and sought permission to begin work. From the very next day, he began teaching the 'inmates'. He did not teach just from the books, but his aim was to bring an all-round development.

"Initially I faced a lot of opposition — the convicts even asked me whether I was being paid by the authorities. The authorities were no better. They thought that I was one of those 'spiritual teachers' and was here to preach sermons," recalls Divyananda.

But he was determined. Slowly, with love and compassion, he became the dear Baba of the inmates.

A similar incident happened in Krishnagar. The superintendent of the Krishnagar jail discouraged him from teaching the inmates, suspecting Maharaj to be one of those preachers who had come here with a purpose.

But Divyananda's dedication and zeal soon convinced the superintendent that he was no ordinary teacher. "I am teaching them the lesson of life," he had said to the superintendent.

After some years, the Ramakrishna Mission recognised Divyananda's attempts to bring about a change in the lives of these "outcasts".

His enthusiasm and compassion led the Mission to contribute generously in his work.

Swamiji managed to provide educational facilities for both the prisoners and their children back home. He has donated numerous books to the jail libraries.

His effort has been to make the inmates feel at home once they return back to the society. He has made them self-reliant, and inspired them to be self-confident and later, even provided some with financial help to begin small business firms.

Most of them, such as train dacoits Aftab and Mehmood, now have barber shops of their own. Others manufacture incense sticks.

He even inspired a KLO member to shun his path of violence. The man from Tufanganj was influenced by Divyananda's teachings and is now working with the Mission for the upliftment of the poor.

He narrated one incident that involved an inmate of the Lalgola Open Air jail. During the last years in the prison, he was given a rickshaw, which fetched him a daily amount of Rs 250. One day, while returning from work, the rickshaw-puller saw a little girl crying, standing near a school. She said that she had no books and her parents were too poor to buy them for her. He immediately went to a nearby bookshop and spent most of his day's earnings on her books.

Men like Divyananda are rare, and since they prefer to stay away from the spotlight, we remain unaware of what someone, touched by Swami Vivekananda's life, can do on his own. Divyananda deserves to be lauded for the stellar work he has been doing silently.