Chronology of Vivekananda Rock Memorial -1

CHRONOLOGY OF THE

VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL

 

(The idea of erecting a Memorial for Swamiji was mooted way back in 1962, considering the Birth Centenary of Swami

Vivekananda to follow in 1963.  The further developments are chronicled hereunder).

04.04.1962  Local fishermen erected a cross on the Vivekananda Rock

01.08.1962  Unregistered Committee started functioning.

31.08.1962  The Kanyakumari District Swami Vivekananda Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, Nagercoil, sent an application

                    to the President, Kanyakumari Devaswom Board, Suchindram, requesting permission to start a ferry service from

                    Temple premises to Vivekananda Rock.

09.09.1962  Shri A.V. Balan and Shri P. Lakshmanan arrived at Kanyakumari

15.09.1962  First Ad hoc Committee meeting was held at Madras.  The names of persons present in the Ad hoc committee meeting

                    held on 15.09.1962 at 12, Pillaiyar Koil Street, Triplicane, Madras – 600 005.

                     1.  Sri M. Nanjappa (Convenor)

                     2.  Sri R. Annamalai

                     3.  Sri P. Mahadevan

                     4.  Sri S. Sampath Kumar

                     5.  Sri R. Sankaran

                     6.  Sri Harbhagwan Das

                     7.  Sri P. Ethirajulu

                     8.  Sri R. Gopalan

                     9.  Sri N. Viswanathan

                     10.  Sri B. Govindarajan

                     11.  Sri Dattaji Didolkar

                     12.  Sri R. Navaneetha Krishnan

                     13.  Sri R. Srinivasan

                     14.  Sri R.N. Venkataraman

                     15.  Sri K.V. Srinivasan

                     16.  Sri M.M. Damodaran

                     17.  Sri T.V. Sivakolundu

                     18.  Sri Narayan Khatavkar

                     19.  Sri K. Ramachandra Rao

                     20.  Sri B. Venugopalan

                     21.  Sri Lalaji Dawey

                     22.  Sri P.N. Subramania Rao

 

                19.09.1962  Permission granted by the Devaswom Board, Suchindram vide order RC. No. 1495/62/B dated 19.09.1962 to start boat

                    service from Cape to Vivekananda Rock and back.

                     19.09.1962  2 Rowing boats  bought at Cochin were brought by road. Sri

                    A.V. Balan and Sri P. Lakshmanan came along with

                    the boat accompanied by 15 persons.

                    19.09.1962  Boat service started in the evening.

                    19.09.1962  The District Committee sent an application to the Chief

                        Minister, Government of Madras, requesting permission to

                    construct a statue of Swami Vivekananda and a pedestrian bridge.

29.09.1962  The Cross was removed in the night.

30.09.1962  A stone Cross was again erected at the same spot.

02.10.1962  Again the Cross was removed in the early morning.

02.10.1962  The Government promulgated 144 in Kanyakumari.  Armed Police guards were planted at the Rock.

10.10.1962  Devaswom Board, Suchindram granted permission to construct a statue of Swami Vivekananda on the Vivekananda Rock

                    and a bridge.

11.11.1962  Members of the Executive Committee of the All India Committee elected.

                                President           -  Sri Mannath Padmanabhan

                               Vice-Presidents       -  Sri V. Ragopalachari

                                                                          Dr. V. Raghavan

                                                                   Sri Narendrajit Singh

                                                                   Sri Lala Hansraj Gupta

                                                                   Sri Lingayya Choudhury

 

                             Treasurer          - Sri M. Nanjappa

                             Secretary           - Sri P. Mahadevan

                             Joint Secretary - Sri R. Sankaran

                                                 
The committee has been empowered to co-opt members.

27-11-1962          Sri M Najappa, Treasurer meets the Chief Minister of Madras

The chronology during 1963 will follow......