Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama
P.O. : Manasadwip (Sagar Island)
South 24 Parganas (West Bengal) 743 390
Tel: 03210-42656

An Appeal

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Manasadwip, in the Sunderbans near Gangasagar is a branch centre of the well-known philanthrophic and religious organization, Ramakrishna Mission, whose Headquarters is at Belur Math, District Howrah, West Bengal.

The Ashrama has been rendering service to the poor and the needy in the remotest rural areas for more than 70 years. The Sunderban area is periodically ravaged by flood and cyclone almost every year for which we are also required to conduct relief work of various types to the afflicted people. In fact, this is the only organization to spread the light of education among the villagers of Sagardwip and other islands.

Though these islands are near Calcutta, the villagers have been isolated from the culture and education of the city due to lack of communication.

A Sannyasin of the Ramakrishna Order started this Ashrama in 1928 to serve in all respects the inhabitants of this vast island, in the spirit of Swami Vivekananda's message "To serve man is to serve God Himself." Following him in his footsteps, many dedicated Sannyasins of the Order have served and have been serving to uplift the masses silently to the best of their capacity.

The Ashrama is conducting the following activities:

  • A high school
  • A primary school for boys
  • A primary school for girls
  • A vocational training centre (weaving and tailoring for girls and carpentry for boys)
  • A boys hostel for 60 boys, either completely or partially free to some of the occupants
  • 34 free coaching centres at different places
  • Total development work with education to the children of Sabar (ST) community.
  • A regular charitable dispensary where medical camps are also conducted on a monthly basis.
  • Help to poor patients and poor students
  • Service to the pilgrims at the Gangasagar Mela
  • A cowshed (to supply milk to the hostel boys, local children, poor patients and workers at the Ashrama).
To run all these activities, the Ashrama needs financial help. We depend on donations from the generous public and/or organizations, whether in cash or in kind. We have been meeting our needs to the extent possible; however, we are falling short of our needs day by day. We are extremely concerned about the present situation.

Our immediate needs are as follows:

  • Fund for working among the Sabar (ST) community.
  • Construction of a work-shed for the vocational training center
  • Boundary wall to protect the Ashrama properly
  • Construction of a shed for Gangasagar pilgrims
  • Monks quarters for Sadhu workers of the Ashrama
  • Reconstruction of the old diary
It is our earnest request to all our well wishers to extend their helping hand through donations in cash or kind so as to enable the dedicated monks of the Ashrama to serve the villagers and pilgrims of this remote and backward region.

We take this opportunity to quote Swami Vivekananda's words which we have placed as our ideal: "This is the gist of all worship - to be pure, and to do good to others. He who sees Shiva (God) in the poor, in the weak and in the diseased, really worships Shiva (God)."

Thanking you in anticipation.
Yours in the Lord,

Swami Santidananda
Secretary.

Note:
Approximate cost for supplying 2 light meals and 1 noonday meal for 12 poor boys in the neighborhood who study in the day-time and/or the night-time school conducted by the Ashrama is Rs. 72,000 (Rs. 500 per month x 12 boys x 12 months).