KOLKATA: Pravrajika Bhaktiprana, the 4th president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission Dakshineswar, passed away on Sunday night. She was 102. 

Senior Math officials reported that Pravrajika Bhaktiprana was put on a ventilator earlier in the day at the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan when her pulse weakened and her blood pressure began to decrease.

On December 5 morning, the "President Mataji," as she is affectionately known, was admitted to Seva Pratishthan with complaints of abdominal distention and cough. Her condition deteriorated and she had a high temperature on Saturday. Later, she was taken to the hospital's ICU.

Pravrajika Bhaktiprana was born in October 1920, say Math officials. She observed a large number of Sri Ramakrishna's immediate disciples. She used to go by the monastic name Kalyani Banerjee.

She began working for Matribhavan in 1950 as a devoted employee. Later, she was given charge of the institution by Ramakrishna Mission.

She was an initiated disciple of Swami Vijnanananda and received sannyas from Swami Shankarananda in January 1959 along with 7 senior pioneers. She was among the first group of nuns who received sannyas from Swami Shankarananda. 

In 1959 and 1960, respectively, Pravrajika Bhaktiprana was elected as a trustee and a member of the governing board.
On November 18, 1961, Ramakrishna Mission gave Matribhavan to Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. In 2009, Pravrajika Bhaktiprana assumed the position of secretary at Matribhavan Hospital and continued to lead a model life as a committed employee.
On December 20, 1998, she was named vice-president of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. She assumed the position of fourth president of the order on April 2, 2009.

Senior members of the Sri Sarada Math remarked that the generations to follow would be inspired by her life, which was devoted to a higher cause and loving devotion to humanity.

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