This album clearly shows who the Math authorities consider to be Sri Ramakrishna's direct monastic disciples. They apparently number 16 with Swami Nirmalananda being the notable exclusion from the list despite his person being mentioned in 'The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna' as a direct disciple of Thakur. Why this ought to be is unclear and it is time for the average devotee to overcome these organisational barriers and do justice to Tulsi Maharaj (Swami Nirmalananda) by taking up the study of his life and be inspired by it to do something worthwhile for society. So far as Swami Nirmalananda is concerned, it is high time as well to relocate him officially where he belongs as a satellite of the stellar personality of the Avatar of the age.
Despite the passage of over eight decades since the discord between Tulsi Maharaj and the Belur Math authorities over the governance of several Southern centres of the Math and Mission, this issue seems to be the cause of this neglect of Thakur's brilliant disciple in terms of recognition as such. But history is history and cannot be altered, and, as such, needs to be recorded as events have rolled out irrespective of personal or institutional preference. Thus, Swami Nirmalananda ought to be in all fairness accorded his rightful place among his brother disciples, Vivekananda, Brahmananda et al and this travesty of truth ought to be relegated to the wastebin of history. The world must not be thus deprived of the inspiration that Tulsi Maharaj still is, perhaps in dynamism second only to Swamiji, and his recognition as Sri Ramakrishna's direct disciple now the crying need of the hour when most of the erstwhile channels of inspiration are drying up. May Tulsi Maharaj get his due from the Math authorities and may he guide us towards a stronger commitment to man and his Master's Mission!
Jai Thakur! Jai Ma! Jai Swamiji! Jai Ramakrishna Sangha!
Written by Sugata Bose
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