June 25, 1899 |
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On Sunday morning the pier was crowded with an eager throng of spectators anxious to see the Swami Vivekananda, who was on his way to England by the S.S. Golconda. But to their disappointment they were told that the vessel having arrived from Calcutta , an inflicted port, was under quarantine, and that the Swami would not, be allowed to land. The numerous people who had gathered together, of all ranks and ages, had therefore to go away considerably vexed. Some there were who determined to have a glimpse at least of the Swami, and with that view they went in boats alongside the vessel, from whose deck the Swami was accorded a distant but cheerful welcome by his friends and admirers. Some days before, a public meeting was held in Castle Kernan under the presidency of Hon'ble Mr. P. Ananda Charlu, at which it was resolved to address Government praying that the Swami Vivekananda be permitted to land at Madras , and stop there for a few hours before embarking again. Message after message was despatched to the Blue Heights , but the Swami's friends and admirers got only some vague replies, but no sanction was wired to the Port Health Officer and the result was that the Health Officer could not allow him to land....
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- www.vivekananda.net edited by Frank Parlato Jr.