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In 1901, Gandhi, often referred to as the father of the nation, journeyed to Belur Math to meet Swami Vivekananda, aiming to exchange perspectives on India's freedom movement. Regrettably, Swamiji was absent, receiving treatment in Kolkata. Instead, Gandhi encountered Nivedita, though their interaction was strained due to their differing ideologies—Gandhiji advocated non-violence while Nivedita leaned towards revolutionary methods. Tragically, Gandhi never met Swamiji, who passed away on July 4th, 1902.

Twenty years later, on January 30th, 1921, Gandhi revisited Belur Math accompanied by his wife, Kasturba Gandhi, along with notable figures like Motilal Nehru and Md. Ali Jinnah. Guided by Swami Shibananda, Gandhi was led to Swamiji's quarters, where he found solace in the insightful responses provided by Swami Shibananda. Expressing his admiration, Gandhi addressed a gathering at Belur Math, acknowledging Swamiji's writings and urging the youth to draw inspiration from Belur Math's soil to ignite the flames of patriotism within them, ultimately leading India to freedom.

Motivated by Swamiji's teachings, Gandhi embarked on visits to various branches of Belur Math, both within India and overseas. Reflecting on Swamiji's influence, Gandhi visited the Ramakrishna Math in Sri Lanka on November 13th, 1927, attributing to Swamiji a transformative power that galvanized Indians to fight for their motherland. Embracing Swamiji's legacy, Gandhi embraced two crucial initiatives: the abolition of untouchability and the alleviation of poverty, thereby becoming the torchbearer of Swamiji's ideals.

Source : Sudipta Sadhu, Contributor for CCRT.