Ashokananda, Swami (1893-1969)—Distinguished monk of the Order. Pre-monastic name Jogesh Chandra Datta, born in Durgapur village of Sylhet district. Joined the Order at Bhubaneswar Math (1920), ordained into sannyasa by Swami Shivananda (1923). After stints as Editor of Prabuddha Bharata and Vedanta Kesari, departed for America from Belur Math (15.5.1931). Minister-in-Charge at San Francisco Vedanta Centre for 37 years. Set up Shanti Ashrama at Lake Tahoe (?) (1938). Founded Vedanta Society at Berkeley (1939) and Sacramento Vedanta Society (1949). Also founded a monastery and a convent. Purchased 2000 acres of land in the hilly region of Olema to set up a Shanti Ashrama (?). A powerful personality, an outstanding writer and speaker, forceful exponent of Vedanta. Inspired Marie Louis Burke, one of his numerous disciples, to take up writing. Burke authored Swami Vivekananda in the West—New Discoveries, a monumental work in six volumes. In his early life had devoted himself to the uplift of the cobbler community at Habigunj in Sylhet. Died on 13.12.1969 at the age of 77. Works: Spiritual Practice and translation of Dattatreya’s Avadhuta Gita into English. Collections of his talks and articles.