The Damodar river flows down to meet the Ganga making its way through Bardhaman and Bankura Districts of the State of West Bengal (in India). For most part of the year one does not get any visible impression that it has much water in its bed. But come monsoons, it assumes a furious form. Then one hardly sees the other side of the river - it is water and water everywhere. Even within that a place is uniquely beautiful where a small river, the Shali river, meets with the river Damodar. In such a natural graceful surroundings stands a village on the bank of the river in the village which is rich with green trees and foliage stands a very ancient Shiva temple - Someswar Shiva. The village gets its name after the name of Someswar Shiva - SOMSAR. If one moves around the village he shall find a number of Shiva temples - small and big - besides numerous worshipping places of different kinds of deities. If one looks around standing at the old house of the local Muslim Zaminder (Chaudhurys') near the bank of the Damodar river, he shall be charmed at the superb beauty of nature. The descendents of once a famous Chandpal family live at one side the village while common mass of Bengali householders live at its other side. By and large it is a happy village where people live in joy. The village's cultural milieu is charmingly vibrant through observing several fares and festivals - Pous Sankranti, Lord Shiva's fare, Janmastami, Id festival etc.

In the village with such a graceful natural surrounding was born in a pious Brahmin family, Bijoy Krishna Roy who later became the Twelfth President of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. He was born in September 1901 AD. Many of his childhood days' memories were associated with this village. He had his early education here and his journey to the spiritual world also had its initiation from here. More than one hundred years ago - the village had no school or any organized arrangement for learning. That is why after completing studies up to Class IV in village 'Pathshala' (village school) and specially because of intense desire of his mother Charushila Devi, he moved to Baghbazar area in Kolkata, his maternal uncle's place. Though he began his formal studies at Kolkata school his mind would always fly to his village Somsar where existed his dear mango gardens, Shiva temple, the river Damodar and outlying cremation ground, and of course his childhood days' playmates who played on the sand bank of the river. So whenever there was vacation in his school at Baghbazar he would rush back to Somsar drawn by the attraction of his mother and the village.

Even today if we seriously contemplate after reaching Somsar, we may visualize the same mango gardens, the same Shiva temple, that old river Damodar with outlying cremation ground.

Many a memory of childhood days of the revered Maharaj were associated centering around their family Shiva temple [Buro Shiva]. Some of the devotees came to know about that Shiva temple accidentally in the context of some discussions [with the Maharaj]. They felt like going there to see the Shiva temple for themselves. But when they reached the village they faced a piteous scene - as if, the Shiva temple was going to be crumbled to pieces any day. They took a hurried decision to repair and renovate the temple as decently as possible through their own efforts and resources. The work was started most cautiously and secretly in the year 1995 A.D., when the revered Maharaj was at Belur as President of the Ramakrishna Order. Maharaj's irresistible attraction and daily discourses on the Gospel and other scriptures used to gravitate all his disciples, devotees to Belur. Who would care to go to Somsar? Even under such circumstances the renovation of the temple was completed within time. On a special day the newly renovated temple was duly consecrated with worshipping Lord Shiva. The task was complete and the devotees were about to call it a day.

In the meanwhile a revolutionary thought swept through the minds of the villagers. And thus began a new chapter of the SOMSAR TALES. A thought tormented the minds of the residents of the village that gave birth to the Twelfth President of the Ramakrishna Order. Should all our efforts come to an end simply by renovating a derelict Shiva temple? Let a Ramakrishna temple be raised here. The living mantra we have heard from his mouth - Serve people as representation of God - let that mantra inspire us to worship the living God all around through that new temple. What is that we need? What indeed is our weakness? Truly that was the day when SOMSAR SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA MANDIR came into being. Of course in due course a new organization drawing inspiration from Ramakrishna-Vivekananda ideals had its formal birth in the village - SOMSAR SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA MANDIR. It was to look after the development of village Somsar and other ten villages around following the ideals of service of Ramakrishna- Vivekananda.

Even when the SEVA MANDIR was just a newborn child the members of the Roy families belonging to the pre-sannyasa household clan of the revered Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj jointly appealed that they were most eager to voluntarily surrender their homes and heart to the SEVA MANDIR. And it was acted upon within a short time. In the early part of 1996 all the household properties of the Roy family including the paternal house together with .land of the respected Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj were ceded to the SEVA MANDIR. A Committee of members drawn from Kolkata devotees as much from Somsar village had just started its limited service activities when disaster struck. On August 10, 1998, the most revered Maharaj entered Mahasamadhi. The devotees were naturally struck with deep sense of sorrow and lost all senses of direction at the loss of their most dear 'Gurudeva'. None of them was in proper frame of mind to be able to devote on service activities.

In such a state a spectacular scef1e was presented at village Somsar. Hundreds of devotees started pouring in overnight at the village. There was no proper commutable road, no temple where to worship. Even there was no place to sit for a while, whereas streams of devotees from Kolkata often kept on reaching the village on road in their cars. May be, observing the desperate situation the authorities of the SEVA MANDIR soon felt the need of raising a temple. By the Master's benign wishes and on the auspicious day of 'Snanyatra' in 1998, foundation stone of the temple was laid on the birthplace of the revered Maharaj. And beyond all expectations, Swami Gahananandaji Maharaj, Vice President, Ramakrishna Math and Mission took the decision that on December 4th of the same year, 1998, the temple would be inaugurated. Looking back the entire episode, till now, appears like a dream. But dreams come true at times and it did happen in case of Somsar. On December 4, 1998, in the presence of hundreds of monks and brahmacharis and thousands of devotees SOMSAR SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA MANDIR was formally inaugurated. An unforgettable event indeed! The day is one of the bright examples how a tumultuous sea of devotees inebriated with spontaneous divine joy could make it possible to complete the inaugural ceremony throughout the day in a tiny, insignificant village. In due course the SEVA MANDIR was affiliated to 'Ramakrishna- Vivekananda Bhavaprachar Parishad'. Then arrived the revered Swami Atmasthanandaji Maharaj, Vice President, Ramakrishna Math and Mission. He stayed at the SEVA MANDIR for four days - 'Dikhsha' (initiation) ceremonies were held for two days followed by more important work - inauguration of the Rehabilitation project for ten members of the Roy family. In the meanwhile came forward the authorities of the 'Vivekananda Swasthya Seva Sangha', that followed introduction of health-care programmes which kept improving as the days passed by. By this time, the year 2001 AD. stepped in - the birth centenary year of Srimat Swami Bhuteshanandaji Maharaj. In their efforts to pay proper homage and respect to the most revered Maharaj on his birth centenary year the authorities of the SEVA MANDIR received unstinted help and support from the monks of the Ramakrishna Order. Following their advice a General Committee comprising members drawn from several countries, India and abroad, was constituted, and through well-thought out plans the programmes of paying respects to the most revered Maharaj on the birth centenary year were executed by holding 4 [four] specific functions.

In due time all the functions of centenary celebrations were performed with deep reverence and joy. It was indeed an incomparable event in the entire Ramakrishna-Vivekananda movement. Assemblage of so many monks, nuns and devotees - everything set a new example. All these things were possible to be successfully performed because of the loving attraction of Swami Bhuteshananadaji Maharaj. Somsar village became richer with the inauguration by the respected Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj - new pathway with an Arch of welcome, new School building and Guest House. Two unique and authoritative books were pub1ished - 'Swami Bhuteshananada - A Pictorial Biography' and 'Swami Bhuteshananda Satabarshiki Sraddhanjali'.

SOMSAR SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA MANDIR could gain very valuable experiences through all these happenings over the years. With a view to making the village young men and women self sufficient several training camps on different trades and several other Self-employment programmes were also conducted enabling a number of them to stand on their legs.

Above activities of SOMSAR SRI RAMAKRISHNA SEVA MANDIR are insignificant compared to its scope of work - it is like a drop of water in the sea. But the SEVA MANDIR is also very tender, just five years' old. Within this time span we have been able to achieve this only. So we pray from the core of our heart : Come forward you all with your sympathy and join your hands with us and we shall certainly reach the goal.