It was 1982. More than eight hundred youth representatives attened to the trends of Sri Ramakrishna met for five days at the Eastern Region Youth Convention at the Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha, Belur Math. A few youths, among them a doctor from North Calcutta took part in the reading, discourses and speeches at the Convention on the life and teachings of Sri Ramakrishna-Swami Vivekananda and concluded with a firm determination.

What was that determination ? To work, work and work alone! "Let's start work, now and at once !" But what work ? "Service to man as worship to God"...."Let the poor and distressed Indians be our deity".

With this guiding principle, village after village and far off neglected corners of villages where thousands and millions pass their days half-starved, without a piece of loincloth and where even the rudimentary health care could not reach were to be visited at the outset, to serve at least once in a week (on Sundays or holidays) with free medicines from Calcutta; and above all, villagers themselves should be made conscious of their own health and hygienic condition around them.

Why villages, after all? Because eighty percent of the total population of the country still live in neglected villages and that too in precarious conditions. Swamiji's message was "Go from village to village".

The 'Mission' started in right earnest with limited resources, meagre arrangement but with undaunted spirit and courage and limitless self-confidence to go ahead. On the 17th of June, 1983, service started with a cluster of villages - Maharampur, Siptai, Khanpur, with a centre at Gurap within the District of Hooghly (West Bengal). Every Sunday, the sacred task of serving the sick, distressed and the needy in those far off neglected corners of the villages continued with free medicine by the Doctors and volunteers. As the service progressed, many Doctors and young men imbibed with this spirit of selfless services came forward voluntarily with their hands of co-operation and thus the second task of enlisting the support and services of willing hands started in full swing.

The second Centre started at Gangadharpur with yet other cluster of villages near Domjur in the District of Howrah (West Bengal)in February, 1984, and in March, 1985, a Centre in the village of Kalabaru near Canning in the District of South 24-Parganas (West Bengal) with a cluster of villages around it was started.

Why these villages, after all? Only because the services would be extended in villages districtwise, and in those villages particularly, as they were most backward in all respects with extreme ignorance and poverty but where some local young men voluntarily came forward to join hands with the Sangha.

The news of this selfless devotion spread far and at the appropriate time and place, came forward the chief architect of this Sangha - Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj of the Ramakrishna Order. It was owing to his personal effort and guidance a meeting was convened at the Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha, Belur Math on the 15th August, 1984. There, a good number of doctors, both male and female, and young men attended to take the oath to spread the motto of selfless services among doctors and extend its activities far and wide, more and more and enlist more doctors for this devoted work.

It was decided further to associate and seek advice and help from experienced and senior doctors. Their valuable advice and co-operation would be of great help to farther the activities of the Sangha. Many reputed and experienced doctors are now already engaged with us.

In another General Meeting in 1984 at the Ramakrishna Mission Saradapitha Belur Math, convened and guided by our most respected Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, this Sangha was born and christined as "VIVEKANANDA SWASTHYA SEVA SANGHA" with the mission and motto - 'Service to man as worship to God'. Adopted in that meeting the Rules and Regulations of its Constitution and also formed its first Executive Committee.

The news of this meeting somehow reached the then President of the Ramakrishna Order, Srimat Swami Vireswaranandaji Maharaj, at Belur Math who very kindly and generously called for and met in a discussion with the President and Secretary of the newly formed Committee of the Vivekananda Swasthya Seva Sangha, welcomed the formation of the Sangha and its proposed activities - did much more else for the Vivekananda Swasthya Seva Sangha - unknown to us! And the work moved on and on. . . . . .