1936: Birth Centenary year of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna is celebrated with great enthusiasm. A conference of all Religions is the highlight.

1936 was the Birth Centenary year of Bhagawan Shri Ramakrishna. This Birth Centenary was celebrated all over the world. The Nagpur Ashrama also celebrated this Centenary. Various programmes like Kirtan, Bhajan and religious discourses were held for about two weeks. The chief attraction of the Centenary Celebrations was the conference of all Religions. The following speakers belonging to various religions were invited from different parts of India.

Prof. G.R. Malkani delivered one more speech on "Relation of Self to Knowledge" (In the light of the philosophy of Shri Shankaracharya). This Conference was held on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd March 1936, and Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya of Karavir Peeth (Dr. Kurtakkoti, M.A. Ph.D.) presided over the Conference on all those three days.

1. "Hindusim" - Prof. G.R. Malkarni, MA (Indian Institute of Philosophy, Amalner)
2. "Buddhism" - Prof. N.K. Bhagwat, MA (Fellow, Bombay University)
3. "Jainism" - Prof. Hiralal Jain, MA, L.L.B., (Amaraoti)
4. "Sikhism" - Prof. Tej Singh, MA (Khalsa College, Amritsar, - Prof. Dilip Singh Virdi, MA City College, Nagpur)
5. "Islam" - Shri L.A. Haidary (Madrasat-ul-Baiizin, Lucknow)
6. "Christianity" - Rev. T.W. Gardiner, MA O.B.E. (Nagpur)
7. "Zoroastrianism" - Shri F.J. Jinwala (Bombay)
8. "Theosophy" - Shri W.L. Chiplunkar, Advocate (Akola)
9. "Vaishnavism of Shri Chaitanyadev" - Shri Kumudabandhu Sen, Puri

Swami Bhaskareshwarananda

On the last day, Swami Bhaskareshwarananda gave a speech on "Shri Ramakrishna and Universal Religion". He explained to the audience the significance of the harmony of religions preached by Shri Ramakrishna. His speech was greatly appreciated by the audience. The President of the Conference Jagadguru Shri Shankaracharya also was impressed by this speech. The celebrations were attended by Shri Vinayakbuva Masurkar of Masurashram, Bombay, along with his disciples. He delivered two lectures. There were Bhajans of Shri Tukdoji Maharaj, a renowned saint from Vidarbha, on two days.

A special programme of one day was held for women only. It was presided over by Smt. Parvatibai Patwardhan, wife of Shri Shivajirao Patwardhan of Amaravati.

One more feature of the Centenary Celebrations was the beginning of Publication of books under the title "Shri Ramakrishna - Shivananda - Smriti - Grantha-Mala", 'Shri Ramakrishna Vaksudha' (Marathi) was the first book in this series. Two more books, "Short biography of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahansa Deva' (Marathi) and 'Premyoga' (Hindi), were published in the same year. The Ashrama also got the publication rights and all copies of the Marathi book, 'Biography of Shri Ramakrishna' by Late Shri N.R. Paranjape.

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