Spirit behind Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Vivekananda Kendra
When the whole country was busy enthusiastically preparing for the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Swami Vivekananda, Shri Eknathji Ranade compiled the book "Rousing Call to Hindu Nation" (which was published in January 1963) as his own personal homage to the great patriot-saint .
Chronology of Eknathji's Life
19.11.1914 – Born at Timtala, Amaravati District Maharastra.
1920 – Came to Nagpur: Had primary education in Pradanavispura School.
1926 - Joined RSS(Ratriya Swayam Sevak Sangh) as a Swayamsevak
1932 – Passed Matriculation examination from New English High School, Nagpur.
1938 – Passed B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy (equal to M.A.)
1938 – Became a Pracharak of RSS at Jabalpur.
1946 – Passed L.L.B. From LAW collage, Jabalpur. Prant Pracharak of Mahakoshal and Madhya Bharat.
1948 – Went underground during the ban on RSS. Also worked for lifting of the ban. Held negotiations with Saradar Vallabhbhai Patel and others.
1949 – Was in Jail for about a month.
1950 – Kshetra Pracharak for Poorvanchal Kshetra comprising Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. Did outstanding work for the refugees coming from Pakistan by establishing a very effective “Vastuhara Sahayata Samiti”.
1953 – Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh.
1955 – Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) of RSS.
1962 – All india Baudhik Pramukh of RSS.
17.01.1963 – Compiled “Rousing call to Hindu Nation” , containing the thoughts of Swami Vivekananda, on the eve of his birth centenary.
18.08.1963 – Organising Secretary of Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee.
1972 – Founded “Vivekananda Kendra”- a Spiritually Oriented Service Mission.
1973 – Founded Editor of “Yuva Bharati”, “Kendra Bharati”, “Vivekananda Kendra Patrika”. Editor of revived “Brahmavadin”.
28.05.1975 – General Secretary of Vivekananda Kendra.
1978 – President of Vivekananda Kendra.
1982 – President of Vivekananda Kendra International.
22.08.1982 – Nirvana at Madras.
23.08.1982 – Cremated at Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari.
"Freed from attachment, non-egoistic, endowed with courage and enthusiasm and unperturbed by success or failure, the worker is known as a pure (Sattvika) one. Four outstanding and essential qualities of a social worker are enunciated in the verse."
