Now let us make an analysis of Sri Rantidev Sengupta's original post, dated 12 September, 2018, which has created such a furore on facebook and other social media.
TEXT OF ORIGINAL POST (FIRST PERSON BENGALI) OF RANTIDEV SENGUPTA RENDERED INTO ENGLISH IN THIRD PERSON BY SUGATA BOSE (Sugata Bose). THE SECOND INSTALMENT FOLLOWS :
Sri Rantidev Sengupta feels aggrieved at any deviation from original principle by the century-old institution that had been established by Swami Vivekananda. The proceedings and affairs of the Ramakrishna Mission over the last few years was increasing his distress and sorrow. What chanced yesterday at the memorial meeting of Swamiji's Chicago Address has necessitated this public declaration of his distress, he reckons. The Ramakrishna Mission would never get involved politically in any way was the instruction of Swami Vivekananda. Following this instruction the Ramakrishna Mission had never involved in politics. But the Ramakrishna Mission of Swami Suhitananda, Swami Suvirananda and the like has gradually drifted from the observance of that instruction. Deviation from original principle has taken place.
ANALYSIS :
Sri Rantidev Sengupta is seemingly upset by what he views as deviation of the Ramakrishna Mission from its avowed original principle of organisational being. He has been increasingly aggrieved by the Mission's activities over the last few years. He thought it was his moral duty as a citizen and an initiated disciple of the Ramakrishna Mission to express his distress about the organisation's functioning, especially in the light of what chanced at the memorial meeting at Belur Math of the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Address of Swamiji. That Ramakrishna Mission would not get politically involved in any way ever was to his reckoning the standing instruction of Swamiji. And so has the Mission observed their founder's instruction scrupulously thus far and abstained from political involvement absolutely till a few years back --- this is what Sri Sengupta reckons. But the Ramakrishna Mission run by the likes of Swami Suhitananda and Swami Suvirananda has gradually drifted from the observance of that instruction, so Sri Sengupta feels. A marked deviation from the original principle enunciated by Swamiji has been taking place according to him which is why Belur Math could be utilised as a political platform by the Chief Minister.
The question arises --- what are the concrete cases of such deviation that Sri Sengupta can cite by way of evidence to substantiate his allegation? Mere opinion does not count for much, for personal perceptions are highly subjective, conditioned by external circumstances and internal states of mind, and, so, prone to error and alteration with the passage of time, altered circumstances and evolution of the being. What may seem to be true today may seem utterly to have been an aberration of the mind later on. But concrete cases of deflection from the ideal on the part of the Ramakrishna Mission in so far as allying itself with the corridors of political power in an unseemly way will have to be substantiated with inviolable evidence. Otherwise, the allegations will fall flat for want of foundation. Sri Sengupta, it must be said however, has cited later on in his post some such instances and they need careful scrutiny for both their veracity and their analytical derivatives as posited by him.
Written by Sugata Bose
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