Swami Atmasthananda Maharaj, president of the Belur-headquartered Ramakrishna Math and Mission, died of age-related ailments in Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan on 18
th June 2017. He was 98.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the demise a personal loss.
Swami Atmasthananda had arrived in Rajkot in 1966 to head the RKM Ashram there. It was in Rajkot that a young Modi, inspired by Swami Vivekananda, reached the Ashram to take refuge.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who visited the ailing Maharaj hours before his death, condoled the passing away of the revered monk.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi also condoled the death.
Born on the holy Buddha Purnima day in May 1919 at Sabajpur near Dhaka, the Swamiji joined the Ramakrishna Order at Belur Math on January 3, 1941 at the age of 22 years.
