Sir,
This has reference to Dr. K. N. Pandita’s write-up ‘Spiritual journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari’ published in Sunday Magazine of 10th Aug, 2014.
There is no denying the fact that Dr. K. N. Pandit is a scholar of very high repute. However, his write-up about Nagdandi Ashram is full of factual inaccuracies. Such ham-handed treatment to the subject by Dr. Pandit has raised many an eyebrow amongst the direct disciples of Swami Ashokanandji Maharaj.
Swamiji was not a monk from Sri Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math. He was initiated by Shrimad Swami Sachitanada who was a direct disciple of Mata Sharda. It is altogether a different order of monks following Sri Ramakrishna’s philosophy and approach to Sanatan Dharma. Contrary to Dr. Pandita’s contention, Swami Ashokanandji Maharaj did not ‘spend all his lifetime in the Ashram’. Swamiji came to Kashmir in 1932 and first stayed in Kathlishwar Temple, Srinagar. In 1934, he moved to Nandkeshwar Temple, Sumbal, and left that place in 1939 on a Yatra to Kishen Ganga. Nothing was known about his whereabouts until his reappearance in Nagdandi in 1941.
It is surprising that Dr. Pandita restricts Swamiji’s spiritual appeal and his devotees to the Kashmiri Pandits of Anantnag. Needless to say, a large number of families from Srinagar, namely Ogras, Dhars, Tarozdars, Kathjoos to name a few, were already ardent devotees of Swamiji from 1932 onwards and they revered him much before his appearance in Nagdandi. His devotees also included Barrister Narinderjit Singh, Smt. Sushila Narinderjit Singh (from Dewan family of Srinagar/Jammu), Dr. Shivji and Dr. Karan Singh. Furthermore, the land for establishment of the Ashram was donated by Kashmiri Pandits from Acchabal, Anantag and Srinagar. Large tracts of land at Nagdandi and Chatragul (Kangan) were donated to the Ashram by Late K.L.Kathjoo’s family from Srinagar. Restricting the research to geographical area of Anantnag smacks of a subtle sponsorship and trampling of reverence of those outside of the area.
The property of the Ashram vests in the Deity Sri Ramakrishna. WILL of Swamiji did propose absolute management rights to Ramakrishna Mission, Belure Math, but no provision exists in the WILL which confers similar rights to Vivekanand Kendra. The WILL is explicit in content and intent wherein it mentions an option to handover the management to the person of Sri Eknathji Ranade and not to Vivekanand Shila Samark/Vivekananda Kendra. It is a mute point as to how the author inferred otherwise. Least he could have done was to seek views of the only living executor of the WILL of Swamiji who was a witness and a participant in the history of Ashram.
Dr. Pandit would have done his reputation a lot of good if he had interpreted the WILL objectively and not got carried away by material not based on facts. He has also glossed over the fact that a legally constituted Trust exists to take care of the Ashram against whom Vivekananda Kendra has moved the court. It is baffling why he chose to ignore this aspect. He has also conveniently ignored the fact that Vivekananda Kendra has alienated large portion of Ashram assets for use by faiths other than those from Sanatan Dharama. Nowhere in his article does he question who gave this sordid right to Vivekanad Kendra.
Lastly, the tradition has it that Nag Panchami day is celebrated as Sthapna Divas at the Nagdandi Ashram and this celebration is not a continuation of a practice from ‘hoary past’ as claimed by the author. Dr. Pandita would do well to revisit the subject and come out with an objective write-up without any bias whatsoever so that true picture is presented to readers. That is expected of a scholar of his standing.
Yours etc….
Yoginder Kandhari
Jammu
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