Dear Brother,

    Swami Lokeswarananda Maharaj was a hope and an inspiration to many of our times. He carried the hope of Swami Vivekananda on his strong and capacious shoulder to the trouble-torn humanity. We, the lesser mortals, saw for the first time in our life time that the diverse cultures, religious faiths, spiritual traditions and human values could resonate in the person of Swami Lokeswarananda with a power and gentleness so exuded by Swamiji. His ideal was Swami Vivekananda all over and nothing else. He could live that message of Universality of Swamiji who inherited it from his Guru Sri Ramakrishna and who wanted all of us to be like Him. Swami Lokeswarananda, global as he was, became instrumental in transforming innumerable individuals by lighting the flame of love, service and sacrifice in their hearts.

    Born on April 19,1909 in Bangladesh, Revered Maharaj showed a pronounced tendency towards spiritual life even as a little boy. His Headmaster was a disciple of the Holy Mother who protected this seedling from the rough environment of materialism. He, Kanai as he was then popularly known, was thus fortified with the rarest of the blessings of the Mother indirectly - an event that any human being could so highly cherish! He came over to Calcutta for higher education and ultimately joined the Great Order of Ramakrishna after his graduation. He became the Headmaster of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar. He eventually received the grace of his Guru Swami Shivanandaji Maharaj and Sri Kanailal Bandyopadhyay was reborn as Swami Lokeswarananda. In course of time, he became the Head of the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home at Pathuriaghata, Calcutta. This Students' Home was later shifted to Narendrapur around 1956-57. Narendrapur was like the Bodhi Tree to him under the shade of which he did his penances and ultimately became illumined. The world experienced in him here only a great thinker, a great mover of men and women at home and abroad, a real guide to the hapless, homeless, a real visionary and a robust missionary. Thousands of students of Narendrapur remember him in tears and with gratitude and love. He founded this haven for us (and for those who would be coming in future) so that we might come and stay, stay and live, live and love, and love and get lost in the god of the world. Literally Lokeswarananda means the blissful Master of the world. He was to serve the world and he did and breathed his last joyfully. Much to our dismay, he was suddenly asked to move to the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, Golpark and take over its charge. Fortunately it is here at Golpark that we rediscovered Swami Lokeswarananda as an International Celebrity. He visited the globe several times and disseminated the message central to Swamiji: All life is divine and nobody is a sinner.

    He died on December 31, 1998 only to become immortal. We know a person who is otherwise an agnostic but who would carry his frail body to Golpark in order to have a final glimpse of the great Swami, lying lifeless and yet radiating effulgence. On being asked he answered: "The world mourns his demise. How can I shut myself indoors." And yet another man who could not be convinced to be present at his father's funeral, could spend hours together gazing at the serene countenance of the still body of our Maharaj. Yes, he was more than our fathers.

    He gave us shelter, care, honour and above all an inner eye to appreciate glory, the divine glory in us and in others as well. He served our body, mind, intellect and spirit. We gratefully remember this great savant of our times.

    His admirers are many but we, his children at Narendrapur, have decided to celebrate his Birth Centenary in our own humble way through a number of programmes in the year 2009.

    The programmes include :
    i) Display of Swami Lokeswaranandaji's works through the School Exhibitionfrom January 23 to January 26, 2009 on Narendrapur Vidyalaya premises,
    ii) Naranarayan Seva specially for the poor but aged persons of the locality on 18 April, 2009.
    iii)Meeting of the past and present students and staff of Narendrapur Ashrama including the admirers of Swami Lokeswaranandaji at 2.30 p.m. on 19 April, '09 at Nazrul Mancha, Southern Avenue, Kolkata-700 029.
    iv) National Seminar on 'Education Tomorrow' at Narendrapur on a suitable date.
    v) Bringing out a commemorative volume.
    vi) Publications of :
        a) A book containing Swami Lokeswaranandaji's articles in different magazines, periodicals, newspapers, lectures in Radio, TV, etc.
        b) A small book in Bengali on the life of Swami Lokeswaranandaji for distribution among the students of Narendrapur Ashrama.
    vii) Creation of Swami Lokeswarananda Endowment Fund to carry out the following programmes every year:
        a) Swami Lokeswarananda Memorial Lecture.
        b) Swami Lokeswarananda Scholarships for needy but meritorious students of neighbouring schools.
        c) Reprints of the book on the life of Swami Lokeswaranandaji when necessary.

    We earnestly request you to attend the different programmes. We believe that your active support and cooperation will go a long way in making our effort a grand success. Realisation of our programmes befitting the event will involve a huge expenditure. We, therefore, appeal to you for your generous donation and help in informing other ex-students and the admirers of Swami Lokeswaranandaji close to you about the event and collecting contributions from them.

    Donations may please be sent through cheque/draft/money order, payable to "Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur", along with a signed note stating that the contribution is meant for Swami Lokeswarananda Birth Centenary Celebrations.

    Love, Namaskar and best wishes.

    Prasanta Kr. Giri
    Secretary
    Swami Lokeswarananda Birth Centenary Celebration Committee