Ananda Ashramas
Naktala
and Bonhoogly India
SRIMATA CHARUSHILA DEVI
founded the ashrama on February 20, 1931 in Dacca,
in the name of Swami Paramananda, as a branch of his Ananda
Ashramas in America. The inspiration to establish this organization
for the upliftment of India's women came from Swami Shivananda
Maharaj then President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission.
He encouraged Charushila Devi to be the pioneer
in combining secular education with spiritual principles.
The ashrama issued a call of welcome to women of all castes
and creeds, especially the poor and destitute, proclaiming
as its aim and object: "To find a loving shelter for
them all, to mould the character, to increase the strength
of mind, to expand the intellect and to make them stand on
their own feet."
In a three part program of spiritual, intellectual
and vocational training, the ashramas aimed to make women
self-reliant so that they could take their rightful place
in society.
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"I offer my humble prayer
that many others may feel the delight, inspiration and genuine
enthusiasm as I have during my visit to this beautiful ashrama,
so filled with pure idealism and practical fruition."
~ Swami Paramananda 1932 in India addressing a crowd of
3,000 at the second anniversary of the ashrama.
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