The Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement: Impact on Indian Society and Politics, 1893-1922

The book discusses historically the origins and development of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement as well as its impact on Indian society and politics upto 1922. The movement is studied in the changing national perspectives of the social reform movements and anti-British political struggle. In the narrative portion some of the generally neglected characters connected with the movement, both monastic and lay, Indian and foreign, are brought to a focus. In the analytical part some progressive social ideas and political views of Vivekananda and others are thrown into bold relief. These ideas, along with the personal charisma of the pioneers of the movement, left a deep impress on many Indian personalities and groups in the early 20 century. The British suspicion towards the Ramakrishna Mission and the latter’s constant attempt at self-defence posed a major problem for the movement in the period concerned. Commenting on this work Dr. R.B. Rybakov, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Moscow, observes: ‘Even if she stops here undertaking just the study of the influence of Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Movement on social thinking and social practice in India this work could be hailed as a work of importance. But the author goes further. She scrutinises also the impact of this movement on Indian politics-and here actually we find a sort of a pioneer work……