Swami Atmananda

Swami Atmananda was born in Chittur-Cochin, had his education in the Local High School and Government Victoria College, Palghat and Christian College, Madras and was in the educational service till 1930. Actively engaged in Congress work since 1919 he came into close contact with Gandhiji in 1916 at Madras. He was at the Vaikom Camp as Gandhiji's personal Assistant during his kerala tour. Similarly, he acted as Secretary to Malaviyaji during his Kerala tour in 1917. He participated in the Salt Satyagraha Movement launched by Gandhiji and suffered imprisonment. He was the President of the Cochin state Praja Mandal for many years. In that capacity he participated in the A.I.C.C. Meeting at Bombay in 1942 and was arrested on his return to his State. It was while in Jail that he arranged the thoughts of Sankara found scattered in Prathanatraya. He continued as President of the Praja Mandal till 1950. except for a short break. From August 1934 he was an honorary worker in the Madras Ramakrishna Mutt. At the end of 1950 he became a Sanyasin, a disciple of Swami Ramdas of Anand Asram, Kanhangad, Kerala. Since then, he is the Acharya of the Veda Sastra Patasala. Chittur-Cochin, where he has reorganized the Vedic Studies by adding to them instructions in modern subjects as well. He was the President of the Bharat Sadhu Samaj, Kerala Branch.