Swami Vivekananda at Kashmir

This picture has often been misidentified as “Annisquam” and as the first photo taken of Swamiji in the United States in August of 1893. However, in some correspondence between Mrs. Gertrude Emerson Sen, wife of Sri Boshi Sen, the famous scientist of Almora, and Swami Ashokananda, she wrote that this photo (as well as no. 73) were taken in Kashmir. 20 ❊ ❊ ❊ Entering one of the houseboats, Swamiji blessed those present saying: “No more ‘Hari Om!’ It is all ‘Mother’ now!” he said with a smile. We all sat silent. Had we tried to speak we should have failed, so tense was the spot with something that stilled thought. He opened his lips again. “All my patriotism is gone. Everything is gone. Now it’s only ‘Mother, Mother!’ ” (Master, 132)