Ramakrishna Sharanam. Another wave of Sri Ramakrishna Bhavaganga across the world has hit the remote village of North Rowail in Mirzapur Upazila of Tangail district in South Bengal, Bangladesh. Shriman Prakash Chakraborty is a beloved devotee of Revered Swami Aksharanandaji Maharaj, the incumbent Principal of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka. Under the umbrella of Revered Swami Aksharanandaji Maharaj, he modeled himself on Swamiji. Later Prakash Chakraborty went to New York in distant America with the blessing of revered Maharaj.
Even after leaving the motherland, the burning flame of Swamiji's ideals, which he kept in his heart, ignited in America as well. Prakash Chakraborty established the "Vivekananda Study and Philanthropic Center of New York" with a vow of service there. Service activities were spread in different centers of Bangladesh as well as in America, India, South Africa, Zambia & Nepal.
Even though he is in distant America, his sense of duty to serve the motherland was awakened. On March 9, 2019, he established the "North Rowail Ramkrishna Sevashram" on 23.76 Decimal land with the help of the villagers. The place for establishing the ashram was not found easily. Even after telling many people, they could not be persuaded for the place of the temple. At that time, Shriman Prakash Chakraborty's mother, Mrs. Suhasini Devi, pointed her fingers towards a abandoned pond and said, "Why are you waiting for the place of the temple? Do we lack space? As Sri Ma Sarada Devi's role in solving any of Swamiji's problems is his mother's role in solving his wishes and problems.
On the basis of this proposal of Mrs. Suhasini Devi, Mr. Prakash Chakraborty's great uncle Sri Bhavesh Chakraborty and second uncle Sri Meghlal Chakraborty (he is currently serving as the president of the board of directors of the ashram) called all the owners of abandoned pond and offered to establish the ashram and everyone happily agreed to give space. Later it was registered in the name of "Ramakrishna Sevashram, Uttar Rowail, Mirzapur, Tangail" whose total land area was 23.76 decimals. At present the amount of land has increased to 53.39 decimals.
Brahmachari Vivek Maharaj worshiped Sri Sri Thakur, Sri Sri Maa and Swamiji, filling the soil with the help of everyone and setting up a permanent pandal for the first time on day of auspicious Mahalaya, the arrival of Durga Devi in 2019. Later, a tin temple was built with 17 cubits of paved floor. On that day, the formal pot of Sri Thakur Sri Sri Ma Sarada Devi and Swamiji was established. On that day the daily Puja and Sandhyarati began. Weekly reading and discussion of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita, Sri Sri Holy Mother's messages, Swamiji's Bani and writings and Srimad Bhagavat Gita and other scriptures. Among the annual festivals, Kalpataru Utsav of Sri Thakur is celebrated, the birth anniversary of Sri Sri Thakur, Sri Srima, Swamiji and other great persons. Apart from Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Lakshi Puja, Saraswati Puja, Shiv Chaturdashi, Gurupurnima, Mission Foundation Day, Krishna Janmashtami, Dolapurnima etc. are also observed. In addition to various festivals, financial assistance, clothing and medical care are provided to the backward people in the society by holding Jivaseva and Vrat in Shivjnana.
"Swami Swahananda Free Coaching Center" was established for the distribution of relief materials and students during the Corona period, services were also provided to disabled and distressed children and "Sarda-Nivedita Shishu Niketan" was established for the Vedic education of children as well as for young boys and girls to practice Swamiji's philosophy. "Vivekananda Study Circle" was established for spreading Swami Vivekananda's ideals and messages to the youth and for their practices. Apart from this, by establishing "Sarda Sangh" with the rural women of the region, we are helping to bring prosperity to women through sewing training.
In all these matters, Shriman Prakash Chakraborty, founder and president of Vivekananda Study and Philanthropic Center, is being advised and financially supported by Venerable Swami Chentanandaji Maharaj, Principal, Vedanta Society of St. Louis, Missouri, USA, Revered Swami Sarvadevanandaji Maharaj, Principal, Vedanta Society of Holywood, Revered Swami Atmajnyananandaji Maharaj, Minister-in-charge, Vedanta Society of Washington DC, Swami Sarvapriyanandaji Maharaj, President, New York Vedanta Society. Besides Dr. Rupal Saha, Janak Patel, Dr. Malay Das, Mrs. Vani Pal, Dr. Animita Saha, Dr. Dhananjay Saha, Engineer Malay Chatterjee and Shweta Chatterjee, Jana Go Swami, Shefali, and Ranjit Das and other devotees of Ramakrishna Mission in America. For the overall planning and success of this Ashram, the Principal of Dhaka Ramakrishna Mission and Guru Maharaj Param Pujyapad Swami Purnatmanandaji Maharaj of Bangladesh has visited this Ashram twice and is providing all the guidance. Srimat Swami Saktinathanandaji Maharaj, Worshipful Principal of Chittagong Ramakrishna Mission, has been tirelessly advising and supervising the construction of the Ashram's new temple and other projects. Shri Rameshwar Chowdhury Babu, an ardent devotee of Chittagong Ashram and Engineer, has been assisting Engineer Pandit Babu in all kinds of engineering work and planning from distant Chittagong once a month. Apart from this, other venerable Sannyas including the principals of Comilla, Mymensingh, Bagerhat, Faridpur, Dinajpur, Baliati and Habiganj Ramakrishna Mission are already visiting this ashram and giving them valuable and important advice.
The responsibility for the construction of this new temple has been entrusted to Engineer Sri Dipankar Pandit. Meanwhile, a two-storied hermitage called 'Swami Aksharananda Bhavan' has been constructed under the supervision of engineer Dipankar Pandit in the Ashram. 127 people have been initiated in this ashram."Ramakrishna Sevashram Road" has been constructed under LGED Department of Hon'ble Government of Bangladesh to facilitate the arrival of devotees and residents of the Ashram, with the special support of Engineer Shri Swapan Kanti Paul. Brahmachari Vivek is working tirelessly in the overall management and management of the Ashram. This is our faith and vow to bring welfare to all the people of the region. Jai Sri Ramakrishna.
