May 9: The governing body of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission would be making a departure from convention tomorrow when Swami Suvirananda takes over as the general secretary of a governing body that would now have five vice-presidents instead of three.

Mission representatives said the governing body had decided to bring in two more senior monks of the rank of vice-president since the institution's activities had grown over the years and more administrators were required to oversee diverse activities.

The three current vice-presidents are Swami Smaranananda, Swami Vagishananda and Swami Prabhananda. Joining them would be Swami Suhitananda, the serving general secretary of the Math and Mission, and Swami Gautamananda, president of the Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai.

"The number of branches of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission as well as sevashramas and educational institutions have grown manifold across India. New branches have been set up in other countries. The workload has increased and we need administrators," said a senior monk.

Swami Bhajanananda, senior assistant general secretary in the governing body, has decided to step down to make way for someone younger. Swami Tattwavidananda, who is in charge of Advaita Ashrama in Calcutta and Mayavati, Uttarakhand, would be stepping into Swami Bhajanananda's position. Joining Swami Tattwavidananda in the post of assistant general secretary would be Swami Abhiramananda from Coimbatore.

Sources said the Mission's choice of Swami Suvirananda as general secretary was not difficult given his experience in administrative roles, spanning 44 years. Swami Suvirananda had joined the order in 1973 and was posted at the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission in Along, Arunachal Pradesh, for more than 18 years. He was also the headmaster of Ramakrishna Mission Higher Secondary School in Rahara, and for a decade served as the secretary of Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith, Deoghar.

In 2006, Swami Suvirananda was elected member of the board of trustees in Belur. The next year, he was elected assistant secretary of the order.

"The thrust of my activity as general secretary of the order would be to carry forward the principle of Shiva Gyane Jeeva Seva - serving the living as Shiva himself," Swami Suvirananda told Metro. "I will carry forward the work done by my illustrious predecessors."