Ramakrishna Mission’s Udbodhan Magazine turns 125 – founded by Swami Vivekananda and the legacy continues
By Suman Munshi
15th January 2023, Bagbazar, Kolkata:
The ultimate source of spiritual and cultural knowledge springs from the Ramakrishna Mission, carrying the legacy of the spiritual and cultural guidelines laid down by Swami Vivekananda and his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
At Girish Mancha on 15th January 2023, Ramakrishna Mission celebrated the 125th year of the foundation of this spiritual fountain of knowledge.
Legendary author Sanjeeb Chatterjee and the Subirananda Ji Maharaj along with the Ramakrishna Mission’s past editors and present editors are present at the occasion.
A collectible book of 125 years of literary works was published also in the special edition of the 125th-year Udbodhan Magazine released by the dignitaries.
Udbodhan is the only Bengali publication of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, started by Vivekananda in January 1899, with Trigunatitananda as its founding editor Over the years, it also grew into a publishing house, and remained one of the leading publishers of literature of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda.
Library facilities, reading, and lending books are available at Udbodhan office. The collection varies from history, culture, the Vedas, and the Upanishads to adventures.
Before the publication of Udbodhan, the Brahmavadin and Prabuddha Bharata were being published from Madras under Vivekananda’s inspiration, but these were not the official journals of the Ramakrishna Order. It was only later that the Prabuddha Bharata was taken over by Ramakrishna Mission and published first from Almora, then from Mayavati, and now from Kolkata.
The construction of the present building was started by Saradananda, the then editor, in 1907. Subsequently, the magazine shifted to the ground floor of the building while Sarada Devi, wife of Ramakrishna, lived on the upper floor.
Editors in chronological order
Trigunatitananda, founding editor
Saradananda
Ritananda
Swami krishnanathananda- Present editor