Ramakrishna Mission

Location

179 Bartley Rd

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Established in 1928, Ramakrishna Mission Singapore focuses on advocating spirituality and social welfare. The mission purchased this site in 1941 to build a boys’ school. With the onset of World War II, the mission decided to construct a temporary wooden home for destitute and orphaned boys and by 1948, it was housing 77 children.

On 10 December 1948, Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia, Malcolm MacDonald laid the foundation stone for a new permanent building. The first storey of the building was completed in 1950 and declared open by then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru.

The mission’s compound also includes a temple which was built in 1952 with funds donated by philanthropist and businessman P. Govindasamy Pillai. blue and cream temple that was modelled after the mission’s main temple in West Bengal, India. It integrates architectural features and motifs from different religions such as Buddhism and Islam, and reflects the mission’s belief that all religions lead to the same goal of enlightenment. The compound also houses the Swami Vivekananda Centenary Memorial Building, which was officially opened by Minister for Foreign Affairs S. Rajaratnam in 1969. The building houses a library, a reading room, offices and living quarters.

Over the years, the mission has expanded its social welfare and development efforts. It established a kindergarten, opened a free clinic and offered counselling services in 1992, 1993 and 1995 respectively. Today, the mission continues to serve the vulnerable and needy in Singapore.

From National Monuments to memories of diverse communities who call Hougang home, these three thematic trails are designed to bring you on a journey of discovery. Explore Hougang beyond its modern housing estates, trace its stories through its built heritage, and get to know how it transformed from kampongs into the suburb it is today.