[vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]A Memorial Meeting held at Ramakrishna Mission, Delhi on 24th Sept. 2017 in honour of late Shri E.V.N. Chari (affectionately called as Chariji), devotee and volunteer of Delhi Ashrama for nearly 60 years, who passed away on 9th Sept. 2017.
The meet started with an introductory address by Shri Bhaskar Roy, followed by devotional songs by Shri Champak Chatterjee. Subsequently, six eminent speakers spoke glowingly about the extraordinary devotion and dedicated work done by Chariji starting with Most Revered Swami Ranganathanandaji, the then Secretary of Delhi Ashrama in the mid-1950s, and followed by with all Secretary Swamijis, ending with current Revered Secretary Maharaj. The speakers were: (1) Shri. Rajagopal Chari, younger brother of late Shri E.V.N. Chari, (2) Dr. Eswaran, ex-professor of Chemistry, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, (3) Dr. (Ms.) Lakshmi, (4) Mr. A.K. Vermani who had known Chariji closely for many years, (5) Mrs. Urvashi Sharma, and (6) Mr. L.N. Jhunjhunwala, President, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi. As the devotees in the audience were listening about the long and dedicated service that Chariji had rendered to Delhi Ashrama, they fondly remembered him as an ever helping, cheerful and smiling person even in his advanced age of nearly 80 years when he passed away suddenly.
The concluding address was delivered by Revered Swami Shantatmanandaji who spoke highly about the dedication that Chariji had shown while working with him in all the years since his coming to Delhi in 2007. Chariji would come to the Mission unfailingly, almost every evening, and stay until late as long as all the work was completed. He also highlighted the painstaking and strenuous effort Chariji had provided in setting up the 83 Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita Study Circles that have come up until now, always inspiring and guiding them as a beacon to continue with their endeavour to run their Study Circles with vigour. Maharaj also read out a condolence message that has been sent by Most Revered Swami Gautamanandaji Maharaj, Vice President, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, who knew Chariji almost from the very beginning since his coming to Delhi Ashrama in 1956.
Before concluding, Revered Secretary Maharaj proposed the setting up of an endowment to perpetuate the memory of late Shri Chari with a minimum corpus of Rs. 10 lakhs and which will be called “Chari memorial Fund”. The income from the endowment will be utilized for three activities which were very dear to Chariji:
- 1. Annual Initiated Devotees Meet.
- 2. Expenses related to the Study Circle activities, and
- 3. For activities and other expenses related to Delhi Ashrama’s volunteers.
Revered Maharaj requested all devotees to subscribe generously to building up of the corpus in the above endowment fund. The Meeting ended with the singing of “Ramakrishna Sharanam”.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Recording of the speech:
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]A few photos from this occasion:
