Vivekananda statue to adorn city square soon

Vivekananda statue to adorn city square soon
BY RAJANI HEGDE AND SUDHA HEGDE
BENGALURU


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Exactly 114 years ago, a spiritual soul met the Maharaja and Dewan of Mysore and influenced them towards spirituality.

His charismatic personality soon drew the attention of people, and he was accorded the status of a state guest by the then Maharaja of Mysore, Chamarajendra Wadiyar.

The valiant monk also visited Bengaluru and stayed for sometime.

Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Mysore region and his subsequent stay in Bengaluru during which he mesmerised people with his oratory skills and interpretation of Vedanta philosophy and its importance in national reconstruction continue to hold relevance even to this day.

Taking Vivekanada’s message to the masses, Vishwamanava Swami Vivekananda Pratima Pratisthapana Samiti Trust, under the guidance of Ramakrishna Math, Basavanagudi, will soon install a statue of Vivekananda at Ramakrishna square.

The statue will stand 9.5 feet tall and will weigh nearly 1,000 kg.

Former governor of Karnataka T.N.Chaturvedi had laid the foundation stone. The plan, estimated at Rs 25 lakh, involves a pedestal and mantap around the bronze statue of the monk.

The work began two and a half months ago with the patronage of Swami Harshanandji Maharaj of Ramakrishna Math.

“Fifty per cent of the project has been completed and now the granite work has to begin. The bronze statue has arrived from Kolkata and is awaiting installation,” said Swami Shantimayananda of the Ramakrishna math.

“Ramakrishna square is one of the important junctions of Bengaluru. It connects Gandhi Bazar, Basavanagudi and Chamarajpet and has been an important hub for the citizens of Basavanagudi,’’ he added.