COMMEMORATIONS
from the RAMAKRISHNA ORDER
FROM
THE REVERED SWAMIS AT THE VIVEKANANDA RETREAT, RIDGELY:
“Sister
Gargi will be forever in our memory for her contribution
to the development of the Vivekananda Retreat at Ridgely.
As its first president, she gave generously of her
knowledge of Swami Vivekananda and of her energies
to help create the retreat as a place for serious
spiritual practice.”
—Swami
Swahananda, Head of the Vedanta Society of Southern
California and of the Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely.
|
“’Many
are called, but few are chosen.’ Sister Gargi
was chosen by the Divine to dedicate her life to Swami
Vivekananda and his work. Her painstaking research
on Swami Vivekananda in newspapers and other sources
produced magnificent fruit: the six massive volumes
on Swamiji’s work in the West. Students of Swami
Vivekananda and of universal religion will remain
ever in deep gratitude. May her soul rest in peace.”
—Swami
Tathagatananda, Head of the Vedanta Society
of New York |
"In the passing of Sister Gargi, we have lost
more than a warm friend and a wise elder sister, more
even than an inspired writer who brought our sacred
history to life—for Sister Gargi was, in the
best sense, an institution: she bridged cultures and
continents, connected generations past and present,
and preserved traditions and sacred memories. Yet
in the midst of it all, we knew Sister Gargi as a
wonderful personality who, in her own life, combined
serious spiritual training with cultivation, sophistication,
and spontaneous fun; her company was always a joy
as well as a blessing.”
—Swami
Atmarupananda, Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely
|
"What a rare soul Gargi was, and what a monumental
loss her passing is."
—Swami
Atmajnanananda, Vedanta Center of Greater Washington,
D.C. |
FROM
THE REVERED SWAMIS IN INDIA AND AROUND THE WORLD:
"Indeed,
we have lost a great divine manifestation in the form
of Gargi. She must have now reached Vivekananda's
parlour and enjoying Divine Bliss. But our loss is
irreparable. What to do! May the Lord's will be fulfilled."
—Swami
Atmasthananda, vice-president, Ramakrishna Math
and Ramakrishna Mission
|
I felt sad at the news of the demise of Sister Gargi,
though I consider the way she left the world as a
wonderful one. She left for the abode of Sri Ramakrishna,
Holy Mother and Swamiji, `free of pain or any major
discomfort' and it was on the campus of Gurumaharaj
viz. the Convent of the Vedanta Society of Northern
California. How wonderful! I am reminded of a proverb
in Telugu (from Andhra Pradesh, India): “Manchi
Vaalliki Maranamey Saksi” —“The
kind of Death that proves the holiness of a good person!”
I first saw her at Bombay in 1970s. We all were invited
to Mr.Ganjawalla's (joint family) house for lunch
on that day. The late Swami Niramoyanandaji, the head
of Bombay Centre, myself, Sister Gargi and some devotees
went to South Bombay where Ganjawalla stayed. On the
way (nearly 10 kms.), I started conversing with Sister
Gargi about some topic connected with Swamiji. I could
see her eyes suddenly widen and flash with a keen
interest and light which was uncommon. Later I found
her that way whenever I discussed Swamiji or Thakur
with her. I thought that she looked so young for her
age because of her constant thoughts about the eternally
young Guru, Swamiji.
I
later on met her practically every year she visited
Belur Math and she would feel glad to greet me and
we would exchange a few sentences. I
heard her first speech at Belur Math, on the evening
of Holy Mother's Birthday
of 1993,1994 or 1995. She referred to Holy Mother's
special grace and power
to her which helped her to overcome a personal problem
that even Sri Ramakrishna,
she jokingly said, had not given solution over years!
Later I learned
more specific details of the “personal problem.”
Even
as the writing of Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna by M inspired
many scholars and devotees to take up writing similar
works, Sister Gargi's new line
of literary research to produce six volumes of Swami
Vivekananda in the West:
New Discoveries has inspired many young scholars
in India to take up similar research.
Professor Sankari Prasad Basu’s several volumes
on Swami Vivekananda in India provide one
example of such important work, and his books about
Sister Nivedita are another. There is no doubt that
Sister Gargi has left an indelible mark on the literature
concerning Sri Ramakrishna, Holy Mother, Vivekananda,
and Neo-Vedanta. I convey my prayers for her eternal
peace to Sri Ramakrishna,
Holy Mother and Swamiji.
—Swami
Gautamananda, president of the Ramakrishna Math,
Chennai,India
|
“I am so sorry to hear of Sister’s passing
away. She will be ever remembered as a sterling disciple
of Swami Ashokanandaji and for her immense contribution
to Ramakrishna-Vivekananda literature. It was divinely
ordained that she could implicitly follow her guru’s
instruction to write about him after being done with
all her other works. My humble prayers to Thakur and
Ma on behalf of the great soul, who will continue
to be an inspiration to many.”
—Swami
Yuktatmananda, editor of Prabuddha Bharata,
Advaita Ashrama, Mayavati,
India |
"The
devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda
would always be in Sister Gargi's debt for her stupendous
contribution. I am convinced she was one brought by
Swami Vivekananda for just such a task. Sister Gargi
will always be an inspiration to all future writers
and workers. Strangely I feel there is no need to
pray for her; for Swami Vivekananda would have take
care of her. Yet from a human point of view I offer
my heartfelt prayers on her behalf. May Sri Ramakrishna,
Holy Mother and Swami Vivekananda bestow their Blessings
on their beloved child."
—Swami
Dayatmananda, head of the Ramakrishna Vedanta
Centre, England |
