Sri Ramakrishna Mission

By Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman written on 2004-03-10
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

A branch of the Ramakrishna Order of India, a worldwide spiritual and welfare organisation, the Sri Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore is located off Bartley Road. Well-known for its services to the needy and poor, the Mission strives for human spiritual elevation and upliftment of the underprivileged.

History
The first Mission, set up in India in 1897, drew its inspiration from the teachings of one man, Sri Ramakrishna (b. 1836 - d. 1886). Sri Ramakrishna taught the path towards enlightenment and self-realisation. Upon his death in 1886, his disciples concentrated under the leadership of Narendranath and took vows of life-long celibacy and service to mankind, starting a monastic order known as the Ramakrishna Math.

The greatest disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, Narendranath (b. 1863, Calcutta - d. 1902) brought the Order to great heights. Famously known as Swami Vivekananda, he made an impact on the West when he gave a milestone speech to the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, opening the Western mind to Hindu thoughts. On 1 May 1897, a few months after his return to India, he established the Ramakrishna Mission. The name "Ramakrishna Mission" is loosely used to mean both the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission. Although both are involved in charitable and philanthropic activities, the emphasis of the former is on spiritual development while the latter on welfare work.

On his way to Chicago for the speech, Swami Vivekananda stopped at Singapore, in June 1893. The devotees in Singapore and Malaya were further delighted by a visit to Singapore by Swami Sharvananda, President of the Mission Centre at Madras, in 1913. But it was only in 1928 that the Singapore branch of the mission was set up, headed by Swami Adyananda.

Description
The Ramakrishna Mission Singapore is now housed in Bartley Road, operating a range of community services from counselling, kindergarten, boys' home and dormitory to spiritual and cultural activities, yoga classes and homeopathy. To sustain its counselling and educational services for needy children under their care, the Mission receives partial grants from the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS) and relies on public donation to finance the remaining cost.

Timeline
1893 : Swami Vivekananda visited Singapore on his way to Chicago to address the Parliament of Religions.
7 Aug 1928 : Ramakrishna Mission Singapore set up with Swami Adyananda as the head.
1930 : Mission occupied its first premises at No. 9 Norris Road.
1932 : Started a Tamil school for boys and girls.
1941 : Spacious land at Bartley Road purchased.
1942 : Mission gave shelter to WWII victims. Started an orphange, later converted into the present Rmakrishna Mission boys' Home.
1942 - 1945 : Started a temporary hospital with eighty beds and dispensaries to help the sick and wounded during the Japanese Occupation.
End of 1945 : Temporary dormitories for boys.
1949: Ramakrishna School, a kindergarten, was opened for boys below seven years old.
1950 : Mr Jawaharlal Nehru , Prime Minister of India, opened the Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home permanent building (completed only in 1959).
1952 : Temple of Sri Ramakrishna, sponsored by local philanthropist, P Govindasamy Pillai, completed.
17 Jan 1963 : Vivekananda centenary celebrations inaugurated by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara at the Victoria Theatre.
1964 : Foundation laid for the Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Building.
18 Apr 1965 : Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore, addressed the birthday celebrations of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda.
1969 : Opening of Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Building, costing about S$300,000, by S. Rajaratnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
1997: A new kindergarten, replacing an existing one, built at a cost of $ 1.4 million, triple in capacity.
19 October 2002: Opening of the Mission's new S$1.8 million building.

Address
179, Bartley Road
Singapore 539784

 

Author
Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman

 

References
Bhalla, S. T. (1997, July 5). From wartime help to homes for orphans and boys. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 3.

Hindu mission to start kindergarten. (1992, June 7). The Straits Times, p. 20.

Krishnan, S. V. (1989, February 3). One mans lifelong service to mankind. The Straits Times, section 2, p. 5.

Mission to celebrate founder's 125th birthday. (1989, April 10). The Straits Times, p. 16.

Room for 500 kids with new building extension; Ramakrishna Mission will be able to take in more pre-school children with new building that also houses a gym and computer room. (2002, October 21). The Straits Times.

Tan, S. E. (2001, March 3). Want to groove to a tabla beat? The Straits Times, Life!, p. 6.

Ramakrishna Mission Singapore. (n.d.). Ramakrishna Mission Singapore. Retrieved January 28, 2004, from http://www.ramakrishna.org.sg/

The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture. (2000). Activities of Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Retrieved May 7, 2004, from www.sriramakrishna.org/activity.htm

Further reading
Singapore. Preservation of Monuments Board. (1972-1973).  Report. Singapore :  Preservation of Monuments Board, p. 12.
(Call no.: RCLOS 722.4095957 PMBSR


The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.



Subject
Organisations>>Associations
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Religious Buildings
Community organization--Singapore
Krishna(Hindu deity)
People and communities>>Social groups and communities
Philosophy, psychology and religion>>Religion>>Other religions



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