Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi, Achhabal, Anantnag (Kashmir)

Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi, Achhabal, Anantnag (Kashmir).
Bhagwan Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi is located at a breathtaking beautiful and spiritually vibrant place in District Anantnag of Kashmir Valley. This Ashram was established by the disciples and devotees of Swami Ashokanandji Mahraj, an awakened soul, who donated land and property for the purpose. The Affair of the Ashram has since been run through voluntary donations of Hindu Community.
An idol of Bhagwan Shri Ramakrishna was installed in the premises of the Ashram and the place is known to the common folks as Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi.This Ashram has a spiritual tradition linking it to the spiritual message of the Great Masters of Indian Spiritually Sri Ramakrishna since Swami Ashokanandji was a disciple of Swami Satchitanadji, who in turn was one of the direct disciple of Sri Sri Shardha Mata.
Swami Ashokanandji Maharaj, the founder of the Ashram, left behind a WIL, DATED 6TH October 1970, duly registered. The object of the will is:
a. To make proper and suitable arrangements for Pooja, workship/Arti and Seva of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna in the temple at the Nagdandi Ashram daily and regularly
b. Running the Nagdandi Ashram as a training centre for self development of the aspirants devoted to furthering the ideology of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna as propounded by HE himself and by Swami Vivekananda.
c) Spread of Sanatan Vedic Culture and teachings and preaching of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna.
Swami Ashokanandji Maharaj entrusted five executors with the job of carrying out the mandate of the Will. It was the desire of Swami Ashokanandji that the day to day management of the Ashram should be conducted by the representative of Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam, Bellur Math ,Kolkatta.In the event of the Muth declining to shoulder such responsibility, Swami ji desired that Shri Eknathji, then the organizing Secretary of the Vivekand Memorial committee now known as Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, be approached to ensure the same. After Swami Ashokananda ji attained Nirvana, Sri Ramakrishna Mahasammelan,Bellur MUTH WAS APPROACHED BY THE EXECUTORS to take over the management of the Ashram but the former declined to shoulder the responsibility. Therefore, the executors approached Sh.Eknathji Ranade who readily agreed to take responsibility .Sri Eknathji on his own involved Vivekananda Rock Memorial Society in the management of the Nagdandi Ashram. Since then the daily management of Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi was looked after by the representatives of Vivekananda Rock Memorial while the executors kept a watch with regard to the functioning of the said Ashram.
In 1990 mass exodus of Hindus ok Kashmir took Place. The daily management of the Ashram continued to be looked after by the representative of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial/Vivekananda Kendra. Instead of managing the affairs of the Ashram Strictly according to its objectives, the manager assumed the role of a defacto owner of the ashram and indulged in activities which were illegal as well as a negation of the Will for which the Ashram was created. He allowed constructions funded by Govt.agencies over the property of the Ashram for the use by all communities. The most disturbing factor is that the proposed constructions are meant for use by the General Public and not for the Ashram and its believers i.e. Hindus.
Documentary evidence, obtained through RTI, reveals that one toilet complex and a children’s Play Area has been constructed/developed within the premises of the Ashram by the kokernag Development Authority. The authorization for utilization of the land of the Hindu Shrine has been given by “verbal orders of Shri Farooq Abdullah , Hon’ble Union Minister of Renewable Sources of Energy, Govt. of India. “.It is astonishing and highly disturbing that this Hindu Shrine is being described as “Ziyarat Sharief Nagdandi” in official communications if the state Government .Further, an All Community Hall has been constructed within the Ashram Premises at Nagdandi under Mission Sadbhavna of the Army for which D.C. Anantnag and the representative Rock Memorial/Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, have furnished NOCs. Tourist huts are also proposed to be constructed over the property of the Ashram by the kokernag Development Authority and Tourism Department.
All this is a testimony to the fact that properties belonging to this Hindu Shrine are being misused or taken-over, on one pretext or the other, by the state govt./anti –social/anti-national elements. The nature and character of the property of the Hindu Community is being changed so as to convert it into a tourist spot thus denying observance of the dictums as laid down in Sanatam Dharma. It paves the way for usurpation/grabbing /misuse of another Hindu property.
Neither Vivekananda Rock Memorial/Vivekananda Kendra nor the state Government is the owner of this Ashram at Nagdandi. Any consent, written or verbal, given by the state Govt. or any person, who is a non-state subject and has no authority for using the property of the Ashram at Nagdandi, is illegal and criminal.
The only living executor of the Will, Prof.A.K.Ogra, in order to deliver the trust respond in him by Shrimat Swami Ashokanandji Maharaj, the founder of the Ashram, tried his best to dissuade Vivekananda Rock Memorial Society/Vivekananda Kendra and its management as well as the state Govt. from indulging in the activities detrimental to the purpose and objectives of Shri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram, Nagdandi. In order to put a stop to the illegal activities within the premises of the Nagdandi Ashram and also to ensure that the objectives of the ashram are fulfilled, Prof.A.K.Ogra has formed a trust under the name of “Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna Mahasammelam Ashram Trust, Nagdandi” and the same stands registered.
The trust appeals to all Hindus to raise their voice against the illegal activities conducted within the premises of Nagdandi Ashram and to cooperate with the Trust so that proper functioning of the Ashram is restored for the purpose as laid down by the Testator for propagation of the teachings of Shri Ramakrishna Parmahans and as are in tune with Sanatan Dharma.

Posted by : Vipul Koul
 Edited by : Ashok Koul