A Glorious Background
‘Our boys get some sort of education now-a-days’, wrote Swami Ramakrishnananda in a letter dated 20 November 1906, ‘but girls are mostly neglected all over India. So our primary duty is to look after the education of our girls, the future mothers of India.’1
In the same year, in 1906, Swami Ramakrishnananda himself started a school in north Chennai—with just 3 girl students. Now called Sri Ramakrishna Math National School, situated in Mint, a locality in north Chennai, the school continues to flourish.
Swami Ramakrishnananda (1863-1911) was a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. Affectionately known as Shashi Maharaj among his brother-disciples and devotees, he was an amazing person, combining deep knowledge of Hindu scriptures as also scriptures of other religious traditions, an ardent devotion to Sri Ramakrishna and an unrelenting spirit of service and compassion for the needy. His passionate devotion drew the image of Hanuman in the minds of many devotees.
He was sent to Madras by Swami Vivekananda to carry on the message of their Master, Sri Ramakrishna. While Swami Vivekananda was taking leave of devotees sometimes in February 1897 when he came from the West and was given a rousing welcome by the people of Madras, he was requested by a devotee to send someone who could sustain the interest he had generated and carry on his noble work. To this request, Swamiji replied,
I will send you one who is more orthodox than the most orthodox Brahmins of the South and who is at the same time incomparable in performing worship, scriptural knowledge and meditation on God.2
And soon after going to Kolkata, Swamiji asked Swami Ramakrishnananda, who had been spending a quiet life of mediation, worship and service at Baranagor Math in Kolkata, to proceed to Madras (now called Chennai). Obviously, Swamiji had Shashi Maharaj in mind while promising to send someone for the Madras work.
Arriving at Madras in April 1897, Swami Ramakrishnananda, facing many challenges and hardships, founded Sri Ramakrishna Math in Chennai. Moved by the plight of some orphan boys, he also founded Ramakrishna Mission Students’ Home at Mylapore and worked tirelessly for starting centres at Basavanagudi and Ulsoor in Bangalore. He travelled extensively in different parts of south India and spoke to different audiences about religious and cultural issues. He was a profound thinker and one can get a glimpse of it in the three volume The Complete Works of Swami Ramakrishnananda, published by Chennai Math.
Starting of the School
Shashi Maharaj had a soft heart and was especially interested in educating the poor and the destitute children. With this idea of educating the deprived sections of society, Shashi Maharaj would walk from Chintadaripet to George Town, a residential area in north Madras, with a wooden box (called Hundi in south India) in his hands, appealing for funds for starting the school. Whatever funds he would thus collect, he would deposit in the newly opened account of the school at the local post office. Thus, through his untiring efforts the school for children coming from poorer sections of society was started—with only three girl students.
The school was started in a Choultry (rest house—Dharmashala or Sarai in Hindi) of the Kannika Parameshwari temple. It was a rented house at No. 4, Krishnappa-naiken Aghraharam in north Madras.3 When Swami Abhedananda, another direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, came to Madras in 1906 he visited the newly started institution. The institution has, of course, been relocated to another location.
The wooden Hundi which Shashi Maharaj used for collection of funds is now preserved as a sacred relic and a symbol of commitment and devotion at the inner shrine of the universal temple of Sri Ramakrishna at Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.
The school functioned for several years as a private institution. In 1917, six years after the passing away of Swami Ramakrishnananda, the British Government formally recognized the school. The school records show that it was recognized on 20 October 1917.
In 1978, the Government of Tamilnadu gifted the present site where the school is functioning. The then Local Administration Minister Shri K. Kalimuthu laid the foundation stone for a new school building. The foundation-laying function was presided over by Swami Tapasyananda, the President of Chennai Math and later a Vice President of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. The building was inaugurated on 3 October 1980 by the Governor of Tamil Nadu Sri Prabhudas Patwari in the presence of Swami Bhuteshananda, Vice President, and later the President, of Ramakrishna Order.
The school is officially called Sri Ramakrishna Math National School, Basin Bridge Road, Mint, Chennai. It is situated some two kilometers from the Chennai Central Railway Station. The term ‘Mint’ refers to the coinminting unit that used to function in this area when the British ruled the country.
Over the years, many senior and eminent monks of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission who have guided the school over the years include: The valuable guidance of Swami Sharvananda, Swami Yatiswarananda, Swami Amriteswarananda, Swami Saswatananda, Swami Kailasananda, Swami Tapasyananda, Swami Smaranananda, and, presently, Swami Gautamananda.
Starting of a Sister Institution
In 1963, the centenary of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated on a grand scale all over the world. At Madras, to mark the event, among other celebrations, a demand was made by the general people that Sri Ramakrishna Math should start a High School for girls.
In response to the earnest request by the locals, Swami Kailasananda, the Head of Chennai Math then, took initiative and thus was started in 1962 Sri Ramakrishna Math Vivekananda Centenary Girls’ Higher Secondary School at Mint in north Chennai. The land for the schools was purchased with much difficulty and after great efforts the place was cleared of encroachments. To begin with the school had classes 6 to 10. In 2008, the school was upgraded as a Higher Secondary School (which means addition of classes 11 and 12).
Both the institutions are situated in the same area and now cater to the needs of thousands of girl students. Housed in two-storey buildings, the schools provide all the basic needs of the students.
The Institutions at Present
Run by Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore, Chennai, both the schools are committed to the goal of educating the girl students, especially hailing from the underprivileged sections of society.
Now both the schools are quite sought after schools in the Mint area. About 85% of the students studying in these schools belong to underprivileged sections of the society. Students hail from families having low income, with many of their parents engaged as daily wage labourers, drivers, washer men, coolies and so on. Many of the students come from scheduled classes and tribes as enlisted in the Indian Constitution. The institutions have around 1500 students on roll. Providing computer literacy, special coaching for the students who need more attention, prayers and so on is conducted.
We must mention here that Sri Ramakrishna Math National School is the second educational institution started by a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. The other one being the school (orphanage) started by Swami Akhandananda, another direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, at Sargachhi in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
From the view point of administration, Sri Ramakrishna Math Vivekananda Centenary Girls’ High School is the only girls’ school in India run by the Ramakrishna Math directly—other educational institutions are run by Ramakrishna Mission. Though there are drop-outs—for various personal and social reasons—the noble task of education continues. The pass percentage of both schools is quite good given all the odds they face—95% students clear the exams.
Conclusion
Swami Vivekananda, the great prophet of modern times and a profound thinker on education, rightly said,
The education which does not help the common mass of people to equip themselves for the struggle for life, which does not bring out strength of character, a spirit of philanthropy, and the courage of a lion—is it worth the name? Real education is that which enables one to stand on one’s own legs.4
Indeed putting into practice Swami Vivekananda’s vision of ‘man-making education all round’ is the true solution to the personal and social issues that we face today. The institutions such as these have been trying to materialise these ideas in their own sincere and humble way over the last so many decades.
Swami Ramakrishnananda’s school is a shining example of how service and dedication, despite all obstacles, can help spread this message of man-making among the masses.
For more details about the schools, please visit the websites: www.rkmns.edu.in; www.rkmvcs.edu.in
References
- Swami Ramakrishnananda, The Apostle of Sri Ramakrishna to the South, Swami Tapasyananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, p.264
- Vivekanandar Illam—the Birthplace of Ramakrishna Movement in South India, p. 67
- Swami Ramakrishnananda—A Portrait in Pictures by Swami Atmashraddhananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai. Pp. 67
- CW, 7.148
Source : Vedanta Kesari, May, 2015
