Mahasamadhi of Most Revered President Mataji

Most Revered President Mataji, Pravrajika Bhaktipranaji, age 102, entered Mahasamadhi at 11.24 pm on 11th December, 2022 at the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, where she had been admitted on the 5th of December.

Born in October 1920, Mataji had seen many of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Her previous name was Kalyani Banerjee. Her schooling was in Sri Sri Saradeswari Ashram and Hindu Girls’ School under Gouri Ma, disciple of Sri Ramakrishna. She had her nursing training in the Ramakrishna Mission Sishu Mangal (now known as Seva Pratishthan). After that, she lived in an Ashrama started on Swamiji’s ideal of renunciation and service till, in 1950, she along with other members of the Ashrama joined the Ramakrishna Mission as dedicated workers. At that time i.e. 1950 the Mission started Matribhavan, a maternity hospital where she was sent with others to serve.

She was an initiated disciple of Swami Vijnanananda Maharaj and received sannyasa from Swami Shankarananda in January 1959 along with seven senior members forming the first batch of Sannyasinis of the Ramakrishna Order. She became a Trustee and a member of the Governing Body of Sri Sarada Math and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in 1959 and 1960 respectively. Soon after the Ramakrishna Mission transferred the Matribhavan hospital to the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission in November 1961. Thereafter, she took charge as its Secretary and gave herself heart and soul for the service and development of the hospital.

In December 1998, she was elected Vice-President of Sri Sarada Math and the Ramakrishna Sarada Mission and in April 2009 she became the 4th President of the Order.

Her exemplary dedicated life and loving service to humanity will remain a sacred memory and inspiration for generations to come.

ॐ शांतिः शांतिः शांतिः।