The founder of Kanpur, "Ramakrishna Seva Sadan" (now known as Ram Krishna mission Ashram) was Nepal Maharaj, known as Nepalda alias "Master Moshai".

Nepal Maharaj was an initiated disciple of Holy Mother Shri Sarada Devi, got his Mantra Diksha from her in 1918 at Varanasi.

Around 1920-21 Nepaleshwar Banerjee attracted local youth through his personality and knowledge and together they formed a group and started doing physical exercises, meditation, prayer and study of literature of Swami Vivekananda, Sister Nivedita, Subhash Chandra Bose etc.

The initial program of Sewa Sadan included celebration of Shri Ramakrishna's appearance day, daily morning and evening prayer and singing of bhajan.

By 1924 the activities of Sewa Sadan expanded so much that the need of an advisory committee was felt and it was constituted including prominent personalities and officials of Kanpur.

During this time the Ashram changed its location to several places like Raja Manzil, Karachi Khana, Afeem Kothi, Anwarganj etc.

A group photograph of Swani Vijnananda was taken at the railway station along with members of welcome committee and prominent people of Kanpur City.

A separate building for charitable hospital was inaugurated in 1937 by Prime minister of United Province Pandit Govind Vallabh Pant, which was constructed with the help of Lala Padampat Singhania who donated Rs.

Swami Nityananda (Nepaleshwar Banerjee) left this mortal body in 1943 at Ramakrishna Mission Sewashrama at Kankhal Haridwar.