On 25^th evening the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri Basavaraj Bommai along with district Minister Sri S T Somashekar and Member of Parliament Sri Pratap Simha, made a courtesy visit to Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysuru in response to our earlier invitation.He came at about 7.15pm and left around 8.15pm after visiting the shrine.In an informal meeting he was felicitated by Swami Muktidananda, Adyaksha of the Ashrama and presented a set of books on behalf of all the assembled devotees and well-wishers.The Chief Minister also paid his respects to the Adyaksha of the Ashrama by offering garland and fruits.

The Chief Minister mentioned about his study of the inspiring books of Swami Vivekananda right from his early boyhood days. He said when he was in class 8 he studied a book covering the topic Life and Death and beyond by Swami Vivekananda. Having seen the topic of the book his mother told him that he will be able to understand it after 20 years. Further, he said birth and death are the two pillars of life and the most influential factors. Quoting Swami Vivekananda, he said “For a spiritual seeker Death is not the end he can continue to exist in subtle form even after the death”.

Then he visited the main temple shrine of the Ashrama and offered his pranams to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. After coming out of the shrine he said he has been an voracious reader and his pet subjects were philosophy and economics. He tried to apply the concept of “Paapa and Punya” to economicsmeaning the right and wrong indicating ethical aspects and emphasis of philosophy which needs to be applied to economics though it appears contradictory. Similarly, the “profit and loss” concept of economics has to be applied to philosophy there by utilitarian and transforming aspect of religion and philosophy is to be practiced and unnecessary secondary details of philosophy and religion are to be dealt differently.

The model of Vivekananda Cultural Youth Center- Viveka Smarak was shown to him. He mentioned that there is need for such institution to train youth which add values and strengthen and guide the future youth based on inspiring higher ideas like that of Swami Vivekananda.