AN OPEN LETTER TO MANOJ SIVAN, THAT LONE CRUSADER FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE STATUS OF DIRECT DISCIPLESHIP OF THAT DENIED DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA, SWAMI NIRMALANANDA (TULSI MAHARAJ)

AN OPEN LETTER TO MANOJ SIVAN, THAT LONE CRUSADER FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE STATUS OF DIRECT DISCIPLESHIP OF THAT DENIED DISCIPLE OF SRI RAMAKRISHNA, SWAMI NIRMALANANDA (TULSI MAHARAJ)

Dear Manoj Sivan,

Yours is a lone battle against organisational odds. If you look at some of the comments you will see how unconcerned, utterly apathetic people are to the content of a post and in consequence to the content of the case itself. At best it is a curiosity in some to get a casual glimpse into something that would pass the idle hour with some juicy gossip-stuff. Few, alas, few are genuinely interested in going deeper into the implications of the subject, far fewer in pursuing it thereafter, spending time and energy to undo the historical heresy thus far perpetrated by organisational self-interest! It has done damage to the movement and grave injustice to this seminal son of Sri Ramakrishna whose commitment to his divine Master was second to none and whose own contribution to the propagation of his ideals, energy and message was almost unequalled.

And yet this distortion of history in broad daylight! Why? Because devotees lack in character and support those who perpetuate lies, being stationed in the realm of lies themselves. There aren't men enough in this world of falsity, which is dubbed the diocese of devotion, to counter corruption when it comes from supposedly spiritual people. And this ascription can be laid against almost all but the very best such as Sri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Rash Behari Bose, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the like. All others are masquerading as messiahs when they are mischievous in their means of raising money, pretending piety while resorting to perverse pecuniary practices. So, as the old adage in Bengal goes, "Thhog baachhtey gnaa ujaar." ("In picking the cheat from a host of village-folk, there remains none left who is honest.")

Anyhow, to reiterate the opening remark, public apathy consequent on pervasive ignorance is the cause of much of the prevailing corruption in individuals and in organisations. Character, indeed, is missing in most, be they among the laity or among the renunciates. One may, however, refuse to entertain such individuals or organisations in one's life's dealings and maintain morality and propriety of living on the personal front whose gradual cumulative effect could make significant changes in the character of the polity in the fullness of time.

Thanking you for your ceaseless crusade for the cause and joining hands with you,

Yours in Ramakrishna-Vivekananda,

Sugata Bose