News from Branch Centres

The closing ceremony of the year-long celebration of 125 years of Sister Nivedita’s arrival in India and Holy Mother’s inauguration Puja of the School :

In this connection, the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita Heritage Museum and Knowledge Centre organized a programme on 8th May 2024 from 5 pm to 8 pm at Mohit Maitro Manch, Paikpara. Revered Pravrajika Jnanadapranaji presided over the function and addressed the audience of about 630. Pravrajika Atandraprana, General Secretary also expressed her views and released the Souvenir ‘India Shall Ring With Her.’ Six meritorious students from Gangarampore and Shihore (out of the 8 rural centres) received a scholarship. There were other eminent speakers who gave inspiring talks. The programme closed with a cultural programme of dance, recitation, drama etc. Food packets were served to all.

Results

The results of our branch centres’ schools were again good this year as per details given below :

73 candidates of Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Matribhavan appeared at the West Bengal Nursing Council Examination G.N.M. 2024. All passed; 1 got Distinction, 40 passed in 1st Division while 29 in 2nd Division.

News from Abroad

Pravrajika Bhavaniprana and Pravrajika Divyanandaprana were invited to conduct retreats by Sri Sarada Mahila Samiti, California. They reached San Franscisco on 7th May 2024 and conducted 2 retreats at the Mercy Centre, Auburn. On 1st June, both spoke at the Unitarian Church at Oakland and also gave parlour talks at different places. On 4th June, Pravrajika Bhavaniprana returned to India. On 6th June, Divyanandaprana proceeded to Asilomar, where she spoke at an international conference and conducted a retreat organized by the Vedanta Society of Southern California. She returned to Delhi on 15th June 2024.

Pravrajika Divyanandaprana travelled to Japan from 4th to 24th April, 2024 as she had been invited by the University of Tokyo to present a paper on “The study of Consciousness in Indian Philosophies”. She also addressed the students on “Vedanta and Bhagavad Gita”. Her talks were well received. During her stay she could visit Hiroshima and the cultural city of Kyoto.

Obituaries

Pravrajika Sushantaprana

With deep sorrow we record the passing away of Pravrajika Sushantaprana (Purnima), age 72, at a Govt. Hospital in Colombo on 8th June 2024 at 5.45 am due to cardiac arrest.

A disciple of Swami Vireswarananda, she joined the Order at the headquarters in 1974. She received Brahmacharya in 1980 and was initiated into Sannyasa in 1986 by Pravrajika Mokshaprana. At different time she served at the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Sister Nivedita girls’ School, Vivekananda Vidyabhavan, Khonsa Centre and New Delhi Centre. From 1983 she stayed at Chennai Math till 2005, when she was sent to Colombo. In 2006 she was appointed President of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission (Lanka Branch).

Simple, considerate, adjusting and kind hearted, Pravrajika Sushantaprana will be remembered by many for her intense dedication to the spiritual ideal. May her soul rest in peace!

Pravrajika Bhaswaraprana

With deep sorrow we record the passing away of Pravrajika Bhaswaraprana (Nandita), age 80, at the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vivekananda Vidyabhavan on Tuesday, 14th May 2024 at 7.44 am due to oesophageal carcinoma. The end was peaceful.

In November 2023, she was diagnosed with oesophageal carcinoma (stage 4) and was given palliative treatment.

A disciple of Swami Vireshwarananda, she joined the Order in 1970 at Vivekananda Vidyabhavan. She was transferred to the headquarters in December 1971 where she stayed up to June 1973. Initiated into Brahmacharya in 1975, she received Sannyasa in 1980 from Pravrajika Mokshaprana. In July 1973, she was again sent to Vivekananda Vidyabhavan where she remained till the end. She was appointed Principal of the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Vivekananda Vidyabhavan in 2000 which responsibility she retained till December 2020, when she resigned due to health problems.

Her complete dedication for the improvement of the College and the all-round facilities for the education of the students will certainly be remembered. But she will also ever live in the memory of those who have known her as a joyful, humorous, energetic, and brilliant person. May her soul rest in peace!

Pravrajika Avyayaprana

With deep sorrow we record the passing away of Pravrajika Avyayaprana (Padmaja), age 82, in the hospital at Ernakulam on 9th February, 2024 at 6.11 a.m. due to kidney failure and other complications.

A disciple of Swami Yatishwarananda, she joined the Order at Sri Sarada Math, Thrissur in 1968. Soon after she was sent to the headquarters for two years. She was initiated into Brahmacharya in 1972 by Pravrajika Bharatipranaji, the first President of Sri Sarada Math and received Sannyasa from Pravrajika Mokshaprana in 1978. From 1972 to 1984 she served in the Math centre at Thrissur and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in Trivandrum which was started in 1973. In 1985 she was transferred to the newly started Math unit in Ernakulam and in 1988 was appointed President of Sri Sarada Math, Ernakulam, which office she retained till the end.

Unassuming, and considerate towards all, she verily reflected Mother’s patience and loving kindness. May her soul rest in peace!