Cadre makes organisation

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji further talks about the cadre. He says :

A properly trained class of devoted workers who are suited to the maintenance, stability and progress of the organization has to be created. Eknathji brings out the simili of cement concrete structure for clarity. He says : In the cement concrete structure, the cement, sand and stones do not give the necessary strength. Iron bars are imbedded in the cement concrete so that it becomes reinforced cement concrete which is slightly stronger. The organization also requires such reinforcement for its strength and durability.

Such workers recruited with great care form proper human material for the work. These persons must measure up to the demands of the organization. In textile industry, even though the finished goods, namely, the cloth comes at the end, still it has to go through many processes. But initially there must be cotton which is the raw material. If the cotton is of a superior variety and of a long staple, the product will be equally superb. Thus, the persons selected must be capable of transformation through proper process. It is only copper wire that is useful as a good conductor of electricity. One cannot use ordinary iron wire or coir rope in its place for the reason that copper is costly. In every industry and production, the suitable raw material is of the utmost importance.

Smt Mahua Dhar tells..

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji himself was a man from cadre. And therefore, for the growth of the RSS where he was Pracharak, he created excellent atmosphere in every home he went. Smt Mahua Dhar, wife of Dr Sujit Dhar who was extremely close to Ekanthji tells "

"Eknathji came to meet me even as the talks of my marriage with Dr. Sujit were in progress. He said to me in a teasing manner, "Mind you dear, even I cannot handle this would-be husband of yours; I wonder how you will be able to do it!" I realized the truth in those jesting words after I got married. It was an extraordinary experience to run the household with all the extended family of the Pracharak circle who were constantly with us. But they were so full of the superb qualities of concern and attachment that not only was I able to run the household happily but could also give plenty of time to my work of the Sevika Samiti.

Once, for some reason, I returned from the session of the Samiti in a gloomy and disappointed state of mind. Eknathji had come to visit us. On seeing me, he asked, "What's wrong my dear?"  At first I tried to evade the question, saying, "Nothing is wrong; I am alright…!" But I failed in my attempt, and I broke down completely in spite of myself. Thereafter, Eknathji comforted me gently and said, "From now onwards, think of me as your father…Whatever may be your problem, you can speak to me without fear…!"  He nurtured this relationship till the end."

- From the archives of Sri Arun Karmarkar Ji.

Training of cadre

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji gives lot of importance to the proper selection of cadre for the progress of the organization. If the cadre is good and well trained and devoted to the cause of the organisation, the organisation would grow fast. Ekanthji says :
Persons who form the cadre of the organization not only propagate the noble thought and the ideology of the organization, but meticulously live and practice the principles they profess. They create the atmosphere and spread the ideology not only by words, but through their behaviour and conduct. In an ideologically motivated organization, the cadre must live the message which they want to deliver to the people.

Sri Ramakrishna Mission is such cadre based organisation. Sri Ramakrishna selected his cadre meticulously. Here is an anecdote which  Marie Louise Burke alias Sister Gargi writes in Swami Vivekananda in the West - The New Discoveries (Vol 5)

This "Little Cottage" in Ridgely Manor (afterward always called "Swamiji's Cottage" by Miss MacLeod) contained five small bedrooms on the second floor, all with pitched ceilings. On the ground floor were two small sitting rooms with fireplaces, a sizable dining room, a large kitchen, a small laundry, and a wide front porch. Almost certainly, Swamiji occupied one of the two front bedrooms and Swami Turiyananda the other. .. In connection with the Swamis' sleeping quarters a charming story was told in later years by Miss MacLeod to Swami Nikhilananda, who passed it on to me. Mrs. Leggett, coming to inspect the accommodations in the cottage, found Swami Turiananda's mattress and bedding on the floor of  his room. "What is the matter, Swami? she exclaimed. Is something wrong with the bed?" "No, no," he assured her; "the bed is fine. But, you see, I cannot bring myself to sleep on the same level with Swamiji - so I have put the mattress on the floor."
So great was the love and reverence that Swami Turiyananda always had for Swamiji and such mutual love and respect were the bonds that was the reason of the growth of Ramakrishna Mission.

What is a cadre?

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji discusses here what is a cadre. The cadre being very important, knowing it is important. Eknathji says :

The cadre in an organization is a class of people who provide the bone-structure to it to give it strength. These are specially trained and equipped for the work of the organization.

To give the idea of cadre with a simile, we can say that as the body together with its muscles, blood, veins and arteries, various organs of sense perception and activity is held together by the bone-frame or the skeleton, so also the organization is held together by the cadre. Without the bone-structure, the body cannot sustain and maintain itself; so also without the equipped cadre, the organization cannot exist and cannot make any progress. In the skeleton, the backbone occupies a higher order. A noble thought is the very backbone of the organization. We call an individual without any principle, as a person without any backbone. The backbone provides strength to the whole structure. The other bones and muscles do exist, but the backbone is the nucleus of all.

The Ramakrishna Mission has a cadre of monks. Initially there were only 12 monks but as more people were attracted by the ideals and the work of the Mission, special care was taken to see that suitable persons only were admitted and that they were properly disciplined to build up the cadre. Thus recruiting, training and gradually transforming them into the properly disciplined monks for the organization, as the finished products was most essential. This cadre of disciplined monks can be deployed at different centers for the expansion of the work of the Mission. And therefore, the Ramakrishna Mission, for the time being, is not ready to open new centres in spite of the pressing demands of various places as they do not have properly trained cadre of monks to run the centres. The Communist Party of India which is a political party has its training project, for preparing the cadre according to their own ideology.

Types of organisations

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji initially draw a very wide picture of human life and the necessity of living the purposeful life. Then, in context with Bharat as we live here, the thought about the nation and need of organised efforts to fulfill the mission of the nation was explained. Then he brought out important changes that one needs to do in oneself while working in the organisation.

Now he comes to the frame of the organisation. And in it, the people who gave shape to organisation are discussed. He begins with the organisation and its types. He says :
The organization has for its centre a noble thought and people of the same noble thought come together for the fulfillment of the thought. Such an organization possesses certain features of its own and they must be understood in their proper perspective, because they form, as it were, the main pillars on which the organization is based and works in proper direction. One of the features of organization is whether it is a cadre-based organization or a cadre-less organization.

Our Vivekananda Kendra is a cadre-based organization. The Government of a country is a cadre-based organization, as the permanency of the Government depends upon the Government officers working in different cadres. The ministry may change, one party may be replaced by another, but the Government continues its working. The military is a cadre-based organization with a rigorous discipline and a hierarchy of officers. There are spiritual, social, political organizations. The Ramakrishna Mission is a spiritual organization while the RSS is a social organization. The different political parties in the country have their own organizations. All these are cadre-based.

Concern through letters

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji always used to take care of the people in a special way. When Sri S K Achari - Sthapathi ji was asked to go to various places and see the architectural styles, knowing fully well he was from Tamil Nadu and was not knowing any other language but Tamil, Eknathji's letter to Sri Pratap Narayan dated 13.10.1966 is a special one. It tells us as to how to create congenial atmosphere in the minds of the people so that the work moves ahead by leaps & bounds.
Eknathji writes :

Shri S.K. Achari, the Sthapati (architect and engineer) of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial under construction, is reaching Agra on the 16^th morning by Southern Express. He will be accompanied by Shri S.G. Padmanabhan, one of the Committee's whole timers, stationed at Kanyakumari to work as one of the members of the works sub committee appointed for supervising the day to day work there. Unfortunately, Shri Padmanabhan also, like Shri S.K. Achari, understand very little of Hindi. However, he, unlike Shri S.K. Achari, can freely talk in English. He will thus be able to help the Sthapati by interpreting to him in Tamil what he may gather from you people in English.

 

I request you to depute some one to guide or assist them. He should be able to explain things to Shri S.G. Padmanabhan in English. That will solve the difficulties, which they are likely to face in their present tour.

The sole purpose of Shri S.K. Achari's present visit to Agra is to study the motifs, designs and other architectural specialities in the Radha Swami Satsang Temple under construction there for the last over at least twenty years, if not more. You are, therefore, requested not to engage them in any programmes or meetings, formal or informal, and take their time, which is already limited. Apart from making their stay comfortable or, in other words, playing a good host – about which the Agra friends hardly need any advice or suggestions from any body – there is very little expected to be done by you during their stay. The Sthapati may also like to see the Taj and a few other works of some architectural value. As soon as their work at Agra is finished you will please arrange their further journey to Delhi and see that they get comfortable seats in the train. You are also requested to intimate to Shri Jyotiswarupji at Jhandewala in Delhi, regarding the train by which they will be reaching there.

 

The Sthapati, though almost unsurpassable by any body in his specialized art, he is most unassuming and of very simple habits. You may arrange his stay at Shri Shoharansinghji's place or at any of our workers' residence. You will understand the truth of my above description about Shri S.K. Achari at the very first sight of his, when you will find him alighting from the 'Sleeper Coach' of the Southern Express, at the Agra Station.

congenial atmosphere

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji is asking each one in the organisation to contribute for congenial atmosphere if not at least do not spoil the atmosphere. It is the responsibility of each one. There could be some vighnasantoshi people who would like to put hurdles in creating such atmosphere. To them Eknathji cautions saying

Conscientious and organized efforts lead to a collective feeling. Such an effort on the part of every individual surcharges the whole atmosphere with a sense of collectivity and contributes to the success of the programme. The concerted effort of all gives force and beauty to the whole programme. It is of the utmost importance that every one should strive to build up a most favourable and congenial environment for the healthy growth of the organization. No one should ever be party to create a discordant note and to spoil the atmosphere. If you cannot contribute at least remain silent. "They also serve who only stand and wait." The co-operative effort of all results in a collective energy which is most essential for the successful progress towards the goal of the organization.

Need of congenial atmosphere

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji now takes the topic the need of Congenial Atmosphere. We need cleanliness of place, calm, quiet atmosphere in office & work place, free from mosquitoes, proper light and ventilation, etc These outside things and part of vyavastha helps in having better effect on the people who work. But along with that internal aspect also needs to be taken care which keeps mind calm & serene and helps to do work in a better manner. 

Eknathji says : Every programme has its congenial atmosphere. The nature of the atmosphere varies according to the programme. We have noticed that a wholesome set-up invariably adds to the success of a programme and does not mar its charm. The participants as well as the spectators derive pleasure from it. It is essential to see that nothing happens to disturb the harmony of the performance. The marriage ceremony, the religious discourses or sermons, the bhajans and such other programs are pleasantly conducted if the right atmosphere prevails. Even for the growth of a child or a plant, it is essential to provide a congenial atmosphere, in the absence of which the plant or the child suffers in its growth. Some factors are congenial while some others are detrimental.

Therefore, if a congenial atmosphere could not be provided, at least the detrimental features should be meticulously avoided. If one cannot contribute to the agreeability of the programme, one should take care to see that one does not spoil the performance by one's conduct. Maintaining a congenial atmosphere and not disturbing its harmony in any way is a sign of good culture.

Purposeful life is disciplined life

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya Eknathji again clearly says that there is Necessity of discipline in one form or other is in every type
of organization and the Disciplined life is the most sacred life as it leads one to success of one's mission

The fear that people have about the freedom and curtailment of freedom is more illusory or an escape route to follow certain norms. When the mind-body-soul is yoked to the organisation's goal and its fulfillment becomes the mission of life, all these aspects have really speaking no much meaning. Still, the doubt could be in the minds of the people, hence, Eknathji makes it very clear. He says : But curtailment of the personal liberty is a myth. Bondage remains a bondage in one form or another, wherever one goes. The particular norms of one's family life are also bondage. But one must always remember that, a disciplined life will always be bondage for some people and not for one who aspires to lead a purposeful life. For a man of mission, a disciplined life is the most sacred life showering abundant delight and at the same time leading him to the success of his mission.

International Yoga Day

|| योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् ||

Mananeeya P Parameswaranji - President of Vivekananda Kendra gives message for International Yoga Day. It is :

Yoga is a way of life for the integral development of human personality. It has been Bharat's unique contribution to humanity. Yoga is not merely a physical exercise. The spirit of Yoga should pervade every action in all aspects of our lives. The International Yoga Day should inspire all to understand and follow the true meaning of Yoga.

It is really a Golden Letter day for all of us. The vision of Jagat Guru Bharat  of Swami Vivekananda and the mission that was taken up by Mananeeya Eknathji is coming true.

Yoga relates to wholesome approach and thereby  distinctly tells about the Laws of Existence :

1.           The whole existence is  Inter-CONNECTED , Inter – RELATED , Inter - DEPENDENT

2.           Each Part of the whole existence is UNIQUE. It has a PURPOSE to fulfill, a FUNCTION to perform and a ROLE to play

3.           The part can survive only if it is related to the WHOLE