Memorial for Swami Vivekananda in Mysore

Mysore, Mar 29: A meeting of top officials and experts has decided to construct a memorial for Swami Vivekananda in the city at a cost of Rs five crore.

The decision was taken at a meeting, convened by Lok Sabha member C H Vijayashankar at the Palace Board to review the development of heritage structures and temples in the district.

The meeting directed Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) official C V Patil to prepare an estimate for the Swami Vivekananda Memorial Centre within 20 days.

Mr Vijayashankar announced that he would soon release Rs 50 lakhs from his MP's Local Area Development Fund for the purpose and assured to mobilise funds from various sources at the Centre. The 'National Memorial' would be a three-storeyed building with a library, an auditorium for cultural activities and a hall for prayer and meditation. This memorial would be an additional tourist spot in the city.

Swami Vivekananda, who visited the city in 1894 on the invitation from the then Maharaja Chamarajendra Wadiyar, stayed at a small Shiva temple, which was in a state of complete neglect now.

The meeting explored the need for a master plan for developing Chamundi Hills with all infrastructure facilities, on the lines of Vaishno Devi temple. It also discussed conservation of various monuments and heritage structures in and around Mysore.

Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar suggested that a comprehensive master plan be prepared for giving a facelift to all the heritage structures, including temples dating back to centuries.

Former ASI Director General M S Nagaraja Rao said there was no dearth of funds for taking up the work. Besides, financial assistance could be availed from national cultural funds.

UNI