Swami Vivekananda's Ancestral House and Cultural Centre

• Just upon entering this historical building, we were met with an interesting anecdote. Although named as Swami Vivekananda's Ancestral House and Cultural Centre, it was the birthplace Narendranath Dutta. Upon being initiated into the monk order, Swami Vivekananda did not spend a single night here but came only to escort his mother to and from Calcutta High Court during the ongoing legal dispute among the heirs. 

The present building

The Entrance

Statue decorated on 12th January, Youth Day

Upliftment of Mankind

• At the entrance there is a bookshop housing several books on the lives, works and gospels of The Holy Trinity along with books on philosophy and self-improvement. 
• The staircase on either side of the life sized image of Swamiji seated in meditative posture leads to the first floor. 

Way to the first floor

• Pictures of the contemporary landmarks of Kolkata are displayed. 
• Here one comes across tabloids depicting stories of Swamiji’s life. A light and sound show on the origin of Vivekananda over ages depicts that Swamiji was an incarnation of one of the Saptarishis (seven divine hermits) as proclaimed by Ramakrishna Paramhansa. 
• As one enters the inner portions of the house, voice narratives enlighten the visitors about the illustrious Dutta family. Originally residents of Delitone in Kalna, Sri Ramchandra Dutta along with his sons migrated to and settled at the present day GPO area. From there the family moved to Shimla (Sutanuti) and at 1756 relocated to the present house at 3, Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street (a lane on Bidhan Sarani near Vivekanada Road crossing). 
• The elaborate family tree of the aristocratic family is displayed here. 
• Narendranath Dutta (Naren) was born on 12^th January 1863 during the Makar Sankranti festival to Vishwanath Datta (an attorney at the Calcutta High Court) Bhubaneswari Devi (a devout and pious housewife). The birthplace of Naren was a makeshift bamboo shelter. This place is a permanent structure now with a traditional wall clock set at the birth time of Naren.

Corridor leading to the birthplace 

Birthplace

Verandah

• The place where Bhubaneswari Devi used to bathe Naren as a child taking Lord Shiva’s name to pacify him is marked as well.
• The room where Narendranath’s grandmother Raghumani Basu stayed is meticulously preserved along with a replica of Ganga bhakti tarangini. 
• Next, one passes to Narendranath’s mother Shrimati Bhuvaneswari Devi’s room and the adjacent worship room where Lord Vireswara Shiva’s replica by whose grace Narendranath was born to Bhuvaneswari Devi is kept. 

Room of Bhuvaneshwari Devi

Worship room

Grandmother's room

Replica of Gangabhakti tarangini

• A photo gallery beautifully showcases 40 photographs of Swamiji taken at various parts of India and abroad. 
• One is mesmerized and awestruck by the huge canvas paintings done by Sri Sudhir Mohan Mirage, art director (animation films), illustrator, painter, Mumbai. The paintings narrate incidents of Vivekananda’s early days, Parliament of religion (1893), establishment of Baranagar Math, gospels, and divine revelations. 
• Other displays include the room of Narendranath’s elder sister Swarnamoyee Devi (a student of Bethune School), Viswanath Dutta (father), Mahendranath Dutta (younger brother), Bhupendranath Dutta (younger brother and freedom fighter).

Father's study room witnessing Naren's silent crusade against untouchability 

The room where Naren's grandfather lived shortly after he renounced family life  

Elder brother's room

The room where Sri Viswanath Dutta used to meet his clients

• Musical instruments and sports items used by Narendranath along with tabloids depicting incidents of his life at the sprawling thakurdalan are on exhibit as well. 

Instruments used by Narandranath

One of the life sized models depicting an incidence of Naren's spirituality at an young age

• A special attraction is the 3D animation movie show on the Parliament of Religion, Chicago. 

Before restoration

The majestic courtyard after restoration

• A separate room narrates the pictorially the story of the restoration of the national pride, chronology of restoration events, events during construction, inauguration, foundation day and notable visitors. The monumental decision for restoration of this building was taken by the Government of West Bengal on the eve of the Narendranath’s birth centenary in 1962. The dilapidated building housed as many as 143 families and small business centre. Land acquisition and restoration activities began according to the plan of action laid by Ramkrishna Mission. Finally after immense legal tussles and relocation of the inhabitants allover Kolkata the State Government acquired the house and a few adjacent plots (on the northern side of Gour Mohan Mukherjee Street) of land, and handed it to the Ramakrishna Mission on 26^th May 1999. The magnanimous restoration work took five years for completion by skilled workmanship with the technical assistance of the Archaeological Survey of India and the Development Consultants Pvt. Ltd. The builders of the original structure were from Myanmar, Mymensingha, Bankura, Uttarpara and Murshidabad. The same or similar materials as used in the original 18^thcentury construction have been used and some of the original building materials are on display. The original plan of the building was traced in the Archive of the High Court of Kolkata. It helped to identify the later addition which had almost concealed the original façade and interior. Notably, the Thakurdalan was concealed behind a three-storeyed building that was added to it by the occupants. A brick by brick removal of the added façade helped in locating its existence. 
• The restored ancestral house was proclaimed as a Heritage Building. The then Vice-President, Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, laid the foundation stone of the proposed Ramakrishna Mission Swami Vivekananda Memorial and Cultural Centre on 10^th  March 2001. The then General Secretary, Swami Smarananandaji inaugurated the newly built Monks’ Quarters adjacent to the Heritage Building on 17^th September 2004. On 26^th September 2004, Revered Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj, the 13^th President of the holy Order, officially opened the Ancestral House of Swami Vivekananda for public viewing. On 1^st October 2004, Dr. A P J Abdul kalam, the then President of India, inaugurated the Cultural Complex adjacent to Swamiji’s Ancestral House. Most Revered President Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj unveiled the 12.5 ft bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda at this Centre on 1^st January 2008.
• The Cultural Centre holds classes for development of soft skills including language, computer and value education courses. Other activities undertaken by the Centre includes relief, educational, cultural, medical, spiritual and youth services.  

References:

https://www.vivekanandahome.org/

https://mahendrajani.wordpress.com/tag/swami-vivekanandas-house/

All images taken from internet as photography and use of mobile phones is strictly prohibited within the premises

Date of visit: 29.04.2022 as a part of the Value and Ethics Certificate course for Undergraduate students of Bethune College