Ashrama Origin
On 15 February 1897 when Swami Vivekananda was leaving for Calcutta from Madras after his triumphant return from the West, the local citizens requested him to stay back and start a centre. In reply, Swami Vivekananda said, “I shall send you one who is more orthodox than the most orthodox men of the South and who is at the
same time unique and unsurpassed in knowledge and devotion”. In March 1897 Swami Ramakrishnananda, a Gurubhai (brother disciple) of Swami Vivekananda, arrived at Madras.
Under the inspiration of Swami Ramakrishnananda, two devotees, Sri C. Ramaswami Iyengar and Sri Ramanujachariar, fondly remembered to this day as Ramu and Ramanuja, started a Students’ Home at Mylapore with two orphan children. This was, in a way, the starting of the Ramakrishna Mission in Madras.
As the message of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda spread, the activities started taking roots. On finding the need, a High School was started in T.Nagar on 13th June 1932. Later, in 1934, a Hostel was started for the benefit of the students of the School at Mangesh Street. It was shifted to “Lemon House” in Venkatnarayana Road (Present JYM Kalyana Mandapam) in 1935. In 1936 it was shifted to the present premises.
Over the years, the Institution grew in leaps and bounds. By 1976, the Ramakrishna Mission had – in addition to the Students’ Home at Mylapore consisting of a Residential High School and a Technical Institute – a number of boys’ and girls’ Schools at T.Nagar and Vivekananda College at Mylapore. For the sake of administrative convenience, the authorities at Belur Math divided it into 4 Centres as follows:
Students’ Home at Mylapore consisting of a Residential High School, a Technical Institute and a Primary School; and an estate at Malliankaranai, situated at about 80 kms from Chennai where there is a Primary School and a Hostel.
The estate at Malliankaranai has been made an independent centre in May 2000, with the name Ramakrishna Mission.
Vivekananda College and its Hostel at Mylapore, now known as Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith.
All the girls’ Schools, hostel and a working women’s Hostel at T.Nagar under the banner Ramakrishna Misison Sarada Vidyalaya, and
All the boys’ Schools and the Hostel at T.Nagar now known as Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama.
The phenomenal growth of the institution to the present stage is due to the untiring and dedicated work of a number of lay and monastic persons during the past 78 years, coupled with the grace of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda.
The Ashrama caters to the spiritual, educational and cultural needs of the citizens of the area. Its activities can be classified as under:
1. Spiritual & Cultural
2. Welfare Activities
3. Educational
I General
a) Library
b) Show room
II Schools
The Ashrama conducts two Higher Secondary Schools, one Matriculation School, two Primary Schools, and a Hostel. All the schools are located in different campuses within a radius of one kilometer from the Ashrama.
a) Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School (Main)
b) Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School(South)
c.) Ramakrishna Mission Matriculation School
d) Ramakrishna Mission Primary School
e) Ramakrishna Mission Tamil Medium School
f) Ramakrishna Mission Boys’ Hostel