Sannyasi O Raja by Mukul Bandyopadhyay [Hardcover]

The wandering monk Swami Vivekananda spent the longest phase of his itinerant life in Rajasthan, particularly in Khetri. In fact, the seeds of his dream-vision—the Belur Ramakrishna Mission—were first sown in Khetri. It was from here that he embarked on his grand journey to conquer the world with his spiritual message. This distant land became his secretariat, and for both India and the world, his address was: Maharaja, Khetri, Rajasthan, India. Maharaja Ajit Singh Bahadur of Khetri was not just Swamiji’s devoted disciple; he became his closest friend, a confidant, a refuge in times of hardship, a financial supporter, a guardian figure, and a source of inspiration in moments of despair. Swamiji carried this deep gratitude in his heart throughout his life, once writing to the Maharaja: "Whatever I have been able to achieve in this world, it was only possible because of your support. You freed me from overwhelming anxiety and gave me the opportunity to stand before the world." This book unveils many lesser-known and multi-layered historical accounts of Swami Vivekananda’s time in Khetri. The author, a researcher based in Rajasthan, has meticulously examined the region’s archives, revealing astonishing details about Khetri state, Maharaja Ajit Singh, and Swamiji’s profound intellectual and emotional connection with this land. The book presents previously unpublished letters, official records, translations from the Waqiat Register of the royal court, and rare photographs—making it an invaluable addition to Vivekananda studies.