->Subhobrata Chakravorti at 16:57, 9 November 2021

2021-11-09T16:57:12Z

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{{other uses|Rudrananda (disambiguation)}}
{{Notability|Bio|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1901|04|11}}<ref name="srkv1">[http://www.chennaimath.org/category/media/magazines/sri-ramakrishna-vijayam Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam; November 2014 page 34]</ref>
| birth_place = Manalmedu village in [[Thanjavur]] district, [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| birth_name = Muthukrishnan
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|06|30|1901|04|11}}
| death_place = [[Fiji]]
| nationality =
| order = [[Ramakrishna Mission]]
| guru = [[Swami Shivananda]]
| disciple =
| philosophy = [[Vedanta]]
}}

'''Swami Rudrananda''' (11 March 1901 – 30 June 1985), born '''Muthukrishnan''', was an [[India]]n [[Hindus|Hindu]] [[monk]] and a disciple of the 19th-century Indian mystic, [[Swami Shivananda]], the direct disciple of [[Ramakrishna]].

==Early life==
Born into a wealthy family in the village of Manalmedu in [[Thanjavur]] district, he was the first son of Kothandaraman and Bhagyam.<ref name="srkv1" />

== Career ==
Swami Rudrananda's interests spanned social reform, the congress party of [[India]] and poetry by [[Subramanya Bharathi]]. He also followed the work of [[Swami Vivekananda]].<ref name="srkv1" />

In 1923, [[Mayavaram]] was flooded due to a heavy downpour. As a flood relief measure, [[Monk|Monks]] from Ramakrishna Mission travelled to the area. They needed a local contact person who could interact with people affected by the flood, to measure the severity of the flood. Muthukrishnan spoke [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[English language|English]], so he was well suited to help. This interaction led to a growing interest in the Ramakrishna Order, which he later joined at the age of 25, a decision supported by his mother. While his father was initially apprehensive of the idea, eventually he came around to support his son, influenced by the mother's support.<ref name="srkv1" />

[[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] was his childhood friend. To Kalki, his friend Muthukrishnan was a courageous boy who supported him when other boys threatened him.<ref name="srkv1" />

===Editor===
He worked as an editor for ''[[Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam]]'' magazine for some time. During that time, as per Swami Rudrananda's request, [[Kalki Krishnamurthy]] translated the book ''Our Mother Land'' by [[Swami Vivekananda]] into Tamil.<ref name=":0" />

===Fiji===
Rudrananda was sent to [[Fiji]] by the [[Ramakrishna Mission]] in 1939, as Swami Avinashananda moved to [[Sri Lanka]], to assist [[Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam|Then India Sanmarga Ikya (T.I.S.I.) Sangam]] in its religious and cultural activities. Swami Rudrananda consolidated and expanded the activities of T.I.S.I. Sangam based at Sangam Ashram in [[Nadi]].

Swami Rudrananda was fondly called a "SarkkariSami", as he was working for the betterment of sugar cane workers in Fiji.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chennaimath.org/category/media/magazines/sri-ramakrishna-vijayam|title=Ramakrishna Math Media Gallery {{!}} Sri Ramakrishna Vijayam - Chennaimath.Org|website=www.chennaimath.org|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref>

He implemented several measures, notably that Sangam work for all people instead of serving only south Indians. A saffron colored flag was designed for Sangam. Education and Temple constructions were considered as primary needs.<ref name=":0" />

Swami Rudrananda was the first to introduce multiracial and multicultural activities in Fiji to bring the ethnic groups together. He made sure that the Sangam schools and Sri Vivekananda High School were open to all ethnic groups. Swami Rudrananda also organised interfaith services.<ref name="indianweekender.co.nz">{{Cite news|url=http://www.indianweekender.co.nz/Pages/ArticleDetails/14/273/Fiji/And-now-Thirukkural-in-Fijian|title=And now, Thirukkural in Fijian|work=Indian Weekender|access-date=2018-03-19|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

He acquired properties for Sangam including freehold land at [[Savusavu]] (130 acres) and Madhuvani, [[Rakiraki]] (1037 acres). The Sangam Sarada Printing Press was started, on 15 August 1948, to address the educational needs of the community at large.

Publications like ''Sangam'' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]], ''Pacific Review'' in [[English language|English]], ''Jagriti'' in [[Hindi]], and ''Na Pacifica'' in [[Fijian language|Fijian]] were published and circulated to give voice to the Indian community.

Although Rudrananda initially refused to take part in union or political activities, he worked with [[A. D. Patel]] to help found the [[Maha Sangh]]. During the 1943 strike, the government restricted his movements amid calls for his deportation to India. He remained an active member of the [[National Federation Party|Federation Party]]. During the strike, he was sentenced to imprisonment with hard labor along with Patel.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/vision-change-speeches-and-writings-ad-patel-1929-1969/download|title=A Vision for Change: Speeches and Writings of AD Patel, 1929-1969|publisher=ANU Press|isbn=9781921862335|language=en}}</ref>

In 1951, Rudrananda attempted to amalgamate the Sangam and Ramakrishna Mission into a single organization. This was seen by some South Indians as an attempt by the mission to take over the assets of the Sangam. There was widespread protest, although the founder of the Sangam, [[Sadhu Kuppuswami]], supported Rudrananda. A compromise was reached when the Sri Vivekananda High School was transferred to the Mission and the Sangam ran its own schools.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

===Tirukkural in Fiji===
He got Dr. Berwick to translate the [[Tirukkuṛaḷ|''Thirukkural'']] into [[Fijian language|Fijian]].<ref name="indianweekender.co.nz"/>

== See also ==
* [[Ramakrishna Mission]]
* [[Fiji]]
* [[South Indians in Fiji]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* B.V. Lal, ''A Vision for Change: A.D. Patel and the Politics of Fiji'', Australian National University, 1997

==External links==
* [http://www.vedantastl.org/photo-gallery/ramakrishna-monks-1960-present/12137077 Swami Rudrananda with Swami Satprakashananada year 1973]
* http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/pambu/reels/manuscripts/PMB1152.rtf
* http://press.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/part02.pdf

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rudrananda, Swami}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:Indian emigrants to Fiji]]
[[Category:Fijian Hindus]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu missionaries]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu monks]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu spiritual teachers]]
[[Category:Fijian trade unionists]]
[[Category:Fiji sugar industry]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Fijian Tamils]]
[[Category:People from Nadi]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Monks of the Ramakrishna Mission]]

Swami Rudrananda - Revision history

->Subhobrata Chakravorti at 16:57, 9 November 2021