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The
Glorious Past
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Swami
Vivekananda had drawn attention to the need of publication
of literature for the dissemination of the message of Sri
Ramakrishna. He added, 'I want to leave behind some books
which would act as foundation to my work even after I am gone.'
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Swami
Vivekananda returned to Calcutta from the West in February
1897. That very year, on May 1, he established the Ramakrishna
Mission.
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Towards
the end of 1898, Udbodhan Office was started with the setting
up of a printing press in Girindra Lal Basak's house which
was at 14, Ramchandra Maitra Lane, Kambuliatola, north Calcutta.
The press was named 'Udbodhan Press'. On January 14, 1899
(BS 1305, 1 Magh ) the fortnightly journal 'Udbodhan' was
brought out for the first time from here under the editorship
of Swami Trigunatitananda, one of the direct disciples of
Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Trigunatitananda was the editor of
the journal as well as the manager of the Udbodhan Press and
the office. His assistant. Swami Shuddhananda kept on translating
in Bengali and publishing in Udbodhan the lectures and writings
of Swami Vivekananda. Later these were brought out in book
form by the Udbodhan Office. Subsequently innumerable works
on Sri Ramakrishna and other religious topics by Swami Brahmananda,
Swami Saradanandal and other monks as well as lay disciples
and devotees of Sri Ramakrishna and other litterateurs were
brought out. Thus through the pens of great ones Udbodhan
became one of the most important centres for the spread of
the message of Sri Ramakrishna - Vivekananda.
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Swami
Trigunatitananda was the first editor of the journal, as well
as the manager and publisher of the Udbodhan Office. His departure
for America in 1903 created sort of a crisis for the journal
and the fear of closing down the magazine became imminent.
The crisis could be averted only with Swami Brahmananda's
strong wish and Swami Saradananda's effort. They put the responsibility
of editing and publishing the journal on the shoulders of
Swami Shuddhananda. The publication of Udbodhan could continue
without a hitch only because of Swami Shuddhananda's own sacrifice,
sincerity, dexterity and constant effort. Since this period,
Swami Saradananda got involved with the magazine deeply.
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From
the first number of the first year to the eighteenth
number of the fourth year, the magazine was printed
at its own press, after which the press had to be sold
off for various reasons. Since then the magazine has
been printed at different presses.
Initially,
Udbodhan Office was situated in the house of Mr. Girindra
Lal Basak, at 14, Ramachandra Maitra Lane. After his
passing away, the Office was shifted to 30, Bose Para
Lane in November 1906. A couple of years later, in 1908,
it was finally shifted to the newly built house of its
own at 12 & 13, Gopal Chandra Neogy Lane. On the other
side of the house was Mukherjee Lane. Later, this Mukherjee
Lane was renamed as Udbodhan Lane.
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The
Udbodhan magazine enters its lO3th year of service to the
humanity in 1998, trying to fulfil its aim in its own humble
way. Though born as a fortnightly magazine, it became a monthly
from its tenth year of publication and has been continuing
to be so.
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