Kolkata, November 18: The Ramakrishna Mission today conferred the Vivekananda Award to eminent educationist and social worker Prof Brij Nath Kaul who pioneered the Ramakrishna Vivekananda movement in Kashmir Valley.
The award was conferred on Kaul by West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi at a function held at Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture here.
Receiving the award, Kaul spoke about the development of Kashmiri thought which culminated in the philosophy of “Shaiva Advaida”.
“Buddhism and Islam also had an influence, making Kashmir the melting pot of various philosophies and cultures,” he said.
Vivekananda visited Kashmir in the 19th century during the rule of Maharaja Pratap Singh, Kaul said, adding that the people of the valley could relate to the thoughts of Swamiji and his guru Sri Ramakrishna as they were embodiments of thousands of years of spiritual heritage.
–Agencies