Monks seek Roy Villa repair, compensation

A vandalised room of the Roy Villa in Darjeeling

Kinsuk Basu, TT, Calcutta, Sept. 15: The Ramakrishna Math and Mission today sought proper restoration of the last abode of Sister Nivedita and adequate compensation for the damage caused to the heritage building in Darjeeling by vandals.

Roy Villa, where the disciple of Swami Vivekananda had breathed her last on October 13, 1911, had been found to be ransacked on Lebong Cart Road in Darjeeling yesterday morning.

An exhibition centre, prayer hall and the room where Sister Nivedita died were vandalised and around Rs 60,000 was stolen from a donation box. Diesel was sprinkled on the stairs of the four-storied building. Rare pictures and frames were also thrown on the floor.

Swami Suvirananda, the general secretary of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, expressed concern over the incident.

"We would like to appeal to both the Centre and the state government for proper restoration of the building and payment of adequate compensation. The Math and Mission sincerely prays that good senses dawn upon those who had desecrated the place," the monk told The Telegraph.

"The incident is shocking. There should be arrangements for the security of our monks and staff. We also appeal to the collective consciousness of the people of Darjeeling."

The vandalism at Roy Villa reportedly featured in a meeting at Belur Math today where senior monks, including Swami Suvirananda, were present. Since yesterday, Belur Math has been in touch with the monks at the Ramakrishna Mission Nivedita Educational and Cultural Centre which operates out of the Roy Villa.

Senior Darjeeling police officers today visited Roy Villa before setting up a strong police post around the building. Information reaching Belur Math suggested that a team of 12 policemen had been deployed around the building under a senior officer for 24x7 surveillance.

Sources said Swami Nityasatyananda, the centre-in-charge, had left Roy Villa with his team a few weeks ago apparently at the behest of the district police during the hill unrest. For several weeks, the building stood unguarded.