Kolkata, March 10 – Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, on Tuesday morning broke out of his bureaucratic shell as he interacted with the monks of Belur Math in Belur, Howrah, which is the international headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda.
On Tuesday morning, Kumar started his day early by visiting Belur Math to experience the serene spiritual atmosphere of the place. There, he was seen interacting freely with the monks of this iconic institution.
Inspired by the teachings of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and blessed by the affection of his wife and spiritual companion, Sarada Devi, Swamiji founded Belur Math and said, "The pure and unadulterated essence of this place will enlighten the entire world and transform human thought processes."
Since then, Belur Math and the monks associated with it have remained dedicated to Swamiji's teachings of "Service to humanity is service to God."
From Belur Math, the CEC visited the nearby iconic Kali temple at Dakshineswar, famous for Shri Ramakrishna, Sarada Devi, Swamiji, and the temple's founder and the great Indian philanthropist, Rani Rashmoni.
In fact, Swamiji received his "Brahmagyan (spiritual lesson to dedicate life for human service)" from Shri Ramakrishna at this temple. It is widely believed by the followers of Shri Ramakrishna and Swamiji worldwide that the association between Goddess Kali and Shri Ramakrishna was not that of a goddess and her priest, but rather that of a mother and her son.
To recall, on Monday, Kumar visited another iconic Kali Temple at Kalighat in South Kolkata, which is very close to the residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. There, he was shown black flags and "go back" posters by Trinamool Congress activists.
Later on Tuesday, the CEC, along with other members of the ECI's full Bench, is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with top bureaucrats and senior police officers of the state government, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and the state's acting Director General of Police Peeyush Pandey. The meeting is scheduled to start around 10 A.M.
This will be followed by a press conference to be addressed by the CEC. The Commission's full Bench will return to Delhi later in the day today.
