Swami Vivekananda, a legendary spiritual leader who influenced the world with new thought about religion and life was born in a renowned Dutta family at Simla Palli in North Calcutta (Kolkata, West Bengal, India) on 12 January, 1863. The house was built 300 years ago by Narendranath’s (pre-monastic name of Swami Vivekananda) great grandfather Rammohan Dutta 300 years ago. The house has been transformed into a Museum.
During Swamiji’s time the house had a garden. There was large open space adjacent to the house. In later years, overcrowding of buildings has made the approach road a narrow a lane now known as Gour Mohon Mukherjee Street.
Many relatives of the Dutta family claimed parts of the house after the death of Narendranath’s father. The dispute went to court. the property was divided in ten parts. With the passage of time the house had come to a dilapidated condition and there were occupants in it. Ultimately, the Ramkrishna Mission took the enormous task of restoring the ancestral house of Swami vivekananda, the founder of the world renowned Ramkrishna Math and Ramkrishna Mission.
The house has been restored without changing any of its architectural features. Great precision was required to get the work done. And Ramkrishna mission has completed it successfully with the technical assistance of Archaeological Survey of India and Development Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
The Ancestral House of Swami Vivekananda was consecreted by the then President of the Swami Ranganathandaji Maharaj in 2004. The house has been declared a Grade-1 Heritage Building by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The heritage building is now a museum under the nomenclature of Vivekananda Museum. It was inagurated on 1 October, 2004 by the then President of India Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
The Museum houses Swamiji’s room, his birthplace, rooms of his parents, brothers, grandmother and grand father, family tree, rare photographs, paintings, pieces of handwritings. The grand staircase of the house with its architectural facet will draw your sight. There are meditation room, music room, exercise room, book stall and many more. 3D Movey and Light and sound shows are arrenged in the museum.
Address: Vivekananda Museum (Swami Vivekananda’s Ancestral house and Cultural Centre): 105, Vivekananda Road, Kolkata-700 006, West Bengal, India. Phone: (033) 2257 0213, 70442 42941, 94759 70453.
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday the museum remains open from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm. The Museum remains closed on Mondays.
Photo courtsey: Journey in this life, mahendrajani, Wikimedia Commons –
