Swami Prabhananda : Life Sketch (English)

Swami Prabhananda :This is a short life-sketch of Most Rev. Vice President Swami Prabhanandaji Maharaj published by Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math on 13th April 2023 in connection with the Mahasamadhi of Rev. Maharaj.

Swami Prabhanandaji was born in Akhaura, district Tipperah (now in Bangladesh), on 17 October 1931. An initiated disciple of Swami Shankaranandaji Maharaj, he joined the order at Narendrapur centre in 1958 and received sannyasa diksha from Swami Vireshwaranandaji Maharaj in 1966.

He served the order at Narendrapur, Saradapitha and Seva Pratishthan centres as an assistant, and Purulia Vidyapith and the Institute of Culture, Gol Park, as the head. At Narendrapur centre, he served as the Director of the Institute of Social Education and Recreation (later known as Ramakrishna Mission Lokashiksha Parishad) for two years. He was the Headmaster of the Secondary and Higher Secondary schools at Narendrapur and the Principal of Vidyamandira College at Saradapitha. He served as an Assistant Secretary of Seva Pratishthan for three years.

Swami Prabhanandaji was appointed a Trustee of the Ramakrishna Math and a Member of the Governing Body of the Ramakrishna Mission in April 1983. In 1984, he was elected an Assistant Secretary of the twin organizations in which capacity he served for eleven years. He became the General Secretary of the Math and Mission in 2007 and continued in that post until 2012 when he became a Vice-President of the order.

Revered Maharaj has several books in Bengali and English to his credit, notable among which are: Sri Ramakrishner Antyalila (Last days of Sri Ramakrishna’s Divine play), Brahmananda Charit (Comprehensive life of Swami Brahmananda), Saradananda Charit (Comprehensive life of Swami Saradananda), First Meetings with Sri Ramakrishna and Early History of Ramakrishna Movement. He also wrote a good number of learned articles in English and Bengali in the periodicals of our order and other reputed journals. His talks at various national and international seminars bear the stamp of deep thinking and scholarship.

Ramakrishna Samgraha Mandir (Museum and Archives) at Belur Math is the standing monument to his laborious efforts in preserving various articles and artefacts associated with the founders of the Ramakrishna Movement.

Swami Prabhanandaji was known for his erudition, keen interest in academic pursuits and research work. He was meticulous in his daily routine and thorough in his work. Revered Maharaj was respected by all for his austere habits, scholarship and dedication to the ideal.