PARIVRAJAKA SWAMI VIVEKANANDA IN AJMER (Apr )
By SHYAMALI CHOWDHURY
Summary
Swami Vivekananda visited Ajmer during his parivrajaka (wandering) period in April 1891, staying at the house of Modan Gopal Dey Biswas in 'Ghoshi Mahalla' for four days. Modan Gopal and his wife, known for their religious hospitality, hosted Swamiji after meeting him en route to Pushkar. The couple’s family history in Ajmer dates back to 1818, with Modan Gopal’s grandfather, Lakshmi Narayan Dey Biswas, serving in the British military. The house later passed to Surajmal Basantilal after the Dey Biswas family relocated post-1944. Research in 2016, aided by family descendants like Sri Nishith Dey Biswas and Sri Pradip Dey Biswas, confirmed the site through oral histories and physical evidence, including two original rooms. Swamiji’s stay included visits to Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra, where he reflected on its historical significance as a blend of Hindu and Islamic architecture. The Dey Biswas family later facilitated the construction of a Bengali Dharamshala in Ajmer, established in 1920. Documentation of Swamiji’s stay appeared in Hindi publications like *Vivek Shikha* (1991) and *Vivek Jyoti* (2005). The house, now a jewelry shop, retains partial historical structure, with renovations altering its original layout. Swamiji’s interactions, including a warning about Pushkar’s crocodiles and his comments on education, underscore his engagement with local history and culture during his travels.
Conclusion
This research underscores the historical significance of Ajmer's 'Ghoshi-Mahalla' as a site of Swami Vivekananda's sojourn during his parivrajaka life, revealing how his brief stay left an enduring spiritual imprint. The identification of Modan Gopal Dey Biswas’s house through familial oral histories and corroborating testimonies, including Smt. Nandita Bhargav Chatterjee’s accounts and Sri Pradip Dey Biswas’s eye-witness recollections, solidifies the site’s sanctity. Swamiji’s discourse on Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra’s contested history reflects his penchant for unraveling truth, aligning with his broader mission of cultural synthesis. The establishment of the Bengali Dharamshala in Ajmer, inspired by Swamiji’s visit, further highlights the ripple effects of his interactions. By reconstructing this forgotten chapter, the study not only preserves a marginalized narrative but also emphasizes the importance of preserving historical landmarks as living testaments to India’s spiritual heritage.