Wednesday, January 12 2005 19:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kolkata: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Jan 12, 2005) visited the ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda in Simulia area in Kolkata to pay homage to the saint on his birthday, being observed as 'National Youth Day' in the country.

The Prime Minister, who arrived at the place around 14:20 hrs (IST) accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur, was received by Ramakrishna Mission general secretary Swami Smaranananda, the monk-in-charge of the centre Swami Bishokananda and some other senior monks of the Mission.

During his 20-minute visit to the centre, Singh went around the property, visiting the text book library set up by the Mission and offering floral tributes at the spot where Swami Vivekananda was born.

The Ramakrishna Mission centre on Swami Vivekananda's ancestral property was inaugurated last October by President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Swami Smaranananda said the Prime Minister was given a presentation on the textbook library. A concept paper on the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, recently accorded deemed university status by the Centre, was also handed over to him.

''We wanted to discuss some matters with him but he was pressed for time. We had arranged for green coconut water and tea, but he declined both,'' the Smaranananda said.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi and State Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and former MP Sudip Bandopadhyay were also present at the venue.