1

Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre at Belur Math

Appeal

Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna MissionPO Belur Math, Dist Howrah, West Bengal, PIN 711202, India

+91-33-2654-5700 mail@rkmm.org belurmath.org

2

Swami Vivekananda founded Belur Math in 1898 to enshrine the sacred relics of his master Sri Ramakrishna. It has a magnificent temple dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, and three smaller temples dedicated to Holy Mother Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and Swami Brahmananda. Belur Math is also home to the headquarters of the world-wide Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. The place is well-known for its architectural elegance, clean environs, sacred associations and its spiritual atmosphere. Located on the western bank of the Ganga, it is a haven of peace, drawing thousands of people to it every day from all over the world.

There has been a long-felt need for a state-of-the-art auditorium in Belur Math. The authorities of Belur Math decided to fulfill this need on the significant occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Abhedananda.

Swami Abhedananda (1866 – 1939) was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and a brother disciple of Swami Vivekananda. Urged by Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda went to London in 1896 to spread Vedanta there. For the next 25 years he spread the message of Vedanta and the Indian culture in USA and Europe. His profundity of scholarship, incisive intellect and oratorical power elicited widespread admiration, and people thronged to listen to him. He was also a prolific writer, and his books Life Beyond Death etc are famous even to this day.

After his long and successful work in the West, Swami Abhedananda returned to India in 1923 and continued his work of spreading Vedanta until his passing away in 1939.

Swami Abhedananda

3

Considering the significance of Swami Abhedananda’s life and work, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, decided to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary and constituted a National Implementation Committee (NIC) in March 2016 for the purpose and also for the commemoration of the birth centenaries of some other great personalities.

4

LOBBY10370X11200

MULTI-PURPOSEHALL

28850X20250

2062

5

6625

STAGE10000X5000

+450

RAMP

±0±0

HALL

2775

+900

6625

1500

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

9150 9150

LIFT1650X1800

UP

2200

LIFT3050X2350

1225

0

Y

1800

RAMP

D1 D1

D1D1

D2 D2

D2 D2

D3

D1 D1

UP UP

14500

13500

13000

B

B

XX

A

A

4000

1850 4000

1575

1575

LOBBY6750X7925

18620

W1 W1 W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

4135

2050

950

SEC A-A

SEC A-A

SEC Y-YSEC Y-Y

SEC B-B

SEC B-B

3675

4100

2725

3425

1000

250

250

250

2375

750

3000

TOILET6500X4300

TOILET6500X4300

STORE1800X1775

YY

10925

6125

10925

6125

450

1800

450

1875

2175

1850

300

14000

11050

+2700

LOBBY10370X11200

MULTI-PURPOSEHALL

28850X20250

2062

5

6625

STAGE10000X5000

+2700

+450

RAMP

±0±0

2775-600

+900

6625

1500

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

9150 9150

LIFT1650X1800

UP

2200

LIFT3050X2350

1225

0

Y

1800

RAMP

D1 D1

D1D1

D2 D2

D2 D2

D3

D1 D1

UP UP

14500

13500

13000

25 EXPN. JT. 25 EXPN. JT.

B

B

XX

A

A

4000

1850 4000

1575

1575

LOBBY6750X7925

HALL

18620

W1 W1 W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

4135

2050

950

SEC A-A

SEC A-A

SEC Y-YSEC Y-Y

SEC B-B

SEC B-B

3675

4100

2725

3425

1000

GR. FL. PLANAREA-2184.56 Sq.M.

250

250

2375

750

3000

TOILET6500X4300

TOILET6500X4300

STORE1800X1775

YY

10925 10925

6125

6125

450

1800

450

1875

2175

1850

300

14000

GREENROOM

6350X5050

11050

-600+150

+300

+300 +300

+750

GREENROOM

6350X5050

+2700 +2700

+2700+2700

+2500

+750

+900 +900

±00

+300

±00

+450

+900 +900

+900+900

-600

10000

3650

1500

UPUP UP

65256525

1500

3000

2125

3000 2125

+900

4135

3675

4135

3675

63756375

LIFTLIFT

Plan for the Ground Floor

4

5

LOBBY10370X11200

5500X4950

2062

5

LIGHTINGROOM4150X3875

5500X7075

LIGHTINGROOM4150X3875

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

A

ROOM4580X5000

ROOM4595X5000

TOILE

T2950X

1500TO

ILET

2925X1500

ROOM4580X5000 ROOM

4595X5000

TOILE

T2950X

1500TO

ILET

2925X1500

19120

LIFT1650X1800

UP

1225

2925

2760

2250 WIDE PASSAGE

W1 W1 W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

Y

Y

B

X

A

A

SEC Y-YSEC Y-Y

SEC A-A

SEC A-A

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

UP

B

X

UP

STORE1800X1775

154001100 1100

LOBBY6750X7925

TOILET6500X4300

TOILET6500X4300

LOBBY10370X11200

3200

5500X4950

2062

5

LIGHTINGROOM4150X3875

5500X7075

LIGHTINGROOM4150X3875

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

A

ROOM4580X5000

ROOM4595X5000

TOILE

T2950X

1500TO

ILET

2925X1500

ROOM4580X5000 ROOM

4595X5000

TOILE

T2950X

1500TO

ILET

2925X1500

19120

LIFT1650X1800

UP

1225

2925

2760

2250 WIDE PASSAGE

W1 W1 W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

W1

Y

Y

B

X

A

A

2ND FLOOR PLANAREA-2096.70 Sq.M.

SEC Y-YSEC Y-Y

SEC A-A

SEC A-A

LIFT3050X2350

3075

1225

0

UP

B

X

UP

STORE1800X1775

154001100 1100

LOBBY6750X7925

TOILET6500X4300

TOILET6500X4300

+10200

+10200+10200

+7400

+3600

+8100

+8100

+8100 +8100

+8100

28300

21500

22500

23500

26300

24500

UPUP UP

+10400 +10400

+11600+11600

27300

26000

25000

+11900

+11900

Plan for the Second Floor

5

6

Ramakrishna Mission submitted a few proposals to the NIC, including the construction of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre at Belur Math, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Abhedananda. The NIC sanctioned a grant of Rs. 5.2 crore to Ramakrishna Mission for the project.

Some important features of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre are as follows:

• Dimension of the site: 222’ x 103’• Height of the building: 80’• Total no. of floors: Ground + 4• Seating capacity of the main auditorium: 1400• A smaller auditorium on the ground floor with a seating capacity of 300• A multipurpose hall on the ground floor with a seating capacity of 500• Additional facilities: A large gallery, 2 lifts, 3 staircases, 3 green rooms,

sound control rooms, toilets, 12 living rooms for speakers, monks, etc.

The total estimated cost for the project is Rs. 21 crore.

CATWALK(1000X2100)

SIDE ELEVATION

G.L. ±0

CATWALK(1000X2100)

SIDE ELEVATION

G.L. ±0

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational & Research Institute, Belur Math

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira, Belur Math (An Autonomous Degree College)

Side Elevation

7

The Convention Centre will host the following programmes for the benefit of the general public, especially the youth, throughout the year:

1. Devotees’ Conventions / Spiritual Retreats2. Youths’ Conventions 3. Values Education Workshops4. Lectures and seminars on topics related to religion, philosophy and Indian

culture5. Cultural programmes6. Academic programmes of Ramakrishna Mission’s educational institutions

adjoining Belur Math: Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (a Deemed University), Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (a College of Arts and Science) and Ramakrishna Mission Sikshanamandira (a College of Teacher Education).

Further, the Convention Centre will also be used to hold the following events for the members of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission: Monastic Heads’ Conference, Monks’ Conference, General Body Meeting of Ramakrishna Mission, Foundation Day Celebration of Ramakrishna Mission, and other conventions.

Swami Vivekananda Swami Abhedananda

8

Being a charitable organization, Ramakrishna Mission depends mainly on donations from the generous public and financial support from the Government for running its varied service activities. In particular, successful completion of this project — construction of Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre — depends entirely on the availability of active support from our devotees, well-wishers and corporate houses.

We, therefore, earnestly request you to come forward and donate generously for this noble project which, we are sure, will help to perpetuate the memory of the great Swami Abhedananda for centuries to come.

Account payee cheques or bank drafts drawn in favour of “Ramakrishna Mission” may kindly be sent to the following address:

The General Secretary, Ramakrishna MissionBelur Math, Dist. Howrah, West Bengal - 711202

Kindly mention in the covering letter that the donation is for “Swami Abhedananda Convention Centre”.

All donations to Ramakrishna Mission are eligible for Income Tax exemption u/s 80G (5) (vi) of IT Act, 1961.

Online donations can be made through our website <donations.belurmath.org>.

Yours in service, Swami Suvirananda General Secretary