Eknath Ranade spent decades as a full-time organiser before taking on the work for which he is best remembered: building a memorial to Swami Vivekananda on the rock off Kanyakumari where the young monk had meditated in 1892. He raised support from every state and from lakhs of ordinary citizens, and then founded Vivekananda Kendra to carry Vivekananda's message into service.
Life
- 1914Born on 19 November at Timal in Amravati district, Maharashtra.
- 1938Becomes a full-time worker; works in the Mahakoshal region (present Madhya Pradesh).
- 1948–49Plays a leading role in the organisation's efforts and negotiations during the ban.
- 1956–62Serves as the organisation's general secretary (Sarkaryavah).
- 1963Compiles "Rousing Call to Hindu Nation", a selection of Vivekananda's words, for the birth centenary.
- 1963–70Leads the building of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- 1970The memorial is opened by President V. V. Giri on 2 September.
- 1972Founds Vivekananda Kendra, a service and spiritual mission.
- 1982Dies in Madras on 22 August.
The Rock Memorial
The proposal to build a memorial on the rock met objections at first. Ranade built a broad national consensus: he gathered signatures of hundreds of Members of Parliament from different parties in support, secured contributions from the governments of nearly every state, and invited ordinary citizens to give small amounts — lakhs of people took part. The memorial, built in a blend of Indian temple architecture, was completed in about six years.
Vivekananda Kendra
Ranade believed a memorial of stone must be matched by a living memorial of service. Vivekananda Kendra, founded in 1972, trains life-workers who run schools, health programmes and rural development work, especially in the north-east and in tribal areas, and publishes Vivekananda's ideas.
Legacy
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is one of India's most visited monuments and a symbol of national unity at the southern tip of the country. Ranade is remembered as an organiser who could bring together people of every party and region for a shared cause.
Read more
Frequently asked questions
Who built the Vivekananda Rock Memorial?
The memorial at Kanyakumari was built under the leadership of Eknath Ranade between 1963 and 1970, with contributions from state governments and lakhs of citizens.
When was Vivekananda Kendra founded?
In 1972, by Eknath Ranade.
Found this useful?
Light a diya, add a note, or share it with others.
Read nextBalasaheb DeorasSources & copyright status
- Vivekananda Kendra, history of the Rock Memorial — facts
- Eknath Ranade (comp.), Rousing Call to Hindu Nation (1963) — compilation of Vivekananda's words; cited by title
- Historical facts: not subject to copyright.
- Commentary and translations on this page: original to The Hindu Book. © The Hindu Book, all rights reserved.
The Hindu Book is an independent educational platform. It is not affiliated with any political party, religious organisation or movement, and nothing here implies endorsement by any organisation. This page is published for education and review. If you hold rights in any material quoted here, or believe a source is misrepresented, please write to [email protected].