Loksamparka through Letters

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji used LETTERS for Loksamparka very effectively.

Since he took charge as Organising Secretary of Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee in 1963 till his death in 1982, he wrote over 25,000 letters! This number excludes the 12,000 letters written for the Commemoration Volume - 'India's Contribution to World Thought and Culture'. Even with the stereotype letters, he was so careful that every one who received the letter felt that it was specially typed for him. The letter would be printed but the names of the recipients would be typed taking care that the ink matched the print colour. If the ribbon was worn out and the colour did not match, then the ribbon would be changed. If his Secretary failed in matching this colour of the lettering, then he had to do it all over again as Eknathji would refuse to sign that letter. He used to choose the words just as a mother chooses the right type of food for her child. He used to say, "The sublime thoughts should be expressed in a befitting language if you want those thoughts to touch the hearts of the people". For Eknathji, letter writing was like the circulatory system in the body, with which he provided the needed inspiration, motivation, persuasion and guidance to all.

Now, when one reads his letters, one is caught in the force of the History, which created the grand Vivekananda Rock Memorial. His correspondence was with the Presidents, Prime Ministers, scholars, writers, social workers, Spiritual heads, and sportsmen like Mihir Sen who swam across the English Channel and even criminals condemned to death. He wrote to all with the same warmth, sincerity and care. For example, while addressing the dignitaries of the Dravida Kazhagam Party in Tamil Nadu, he used the word Thiru instead of Sri. The Swayamsevak in him was revealed when he addressed Sri Balasaheb as Param Poojaneeya after he became Sarsanghachalak of RSS in 1973. Eknathji never told that he was instrumental in changing the postal name 'Cape Comorin' to 'Kanyakumari'. Only from his letters, it was known later. Eknathji successfully created an atmosphere in the country, for supporting the Rock Memorial. So much so, that he could subtly 'persuade' the State Governments to donate Rs. one lakh each for the Memorial. How did he do that? One gets a glimpse by reading his letters.

Eknathji would awaken the support for the memorial in the hearts of apparent opponents by his proper use of words. Eknathji would write- 'I came to expedite your decision' and not that he went there to persuade them, 'I came to report about the work of the Memorial', implying that the man addressed was interested and Eknathji was just executing his wishes.

We get all these important methods that Mananeeya Eknathji used in widening his Loksamparka.