“Secretive societies have always captured the public imagination, with their presence in literature and films. Novels like Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code to films such as Prithviraj’s Lucifer have fuelled discussions and conspiracy theories on groups such as the Priory of Sion and the Illuminati, and their mysterious powers. It may come as a surprise that a ‘secretive’ – or misunderstood, rather – group known as the Freemasons has been active in Kochi for the past 100 years, with its meeting place at an old building near Nazareth beach – Lodge Cochin.” “The fraternity came to India with the arrival of the British, and several luminaries – including Swami Vivekananda, J R D Tata and Motilal Nehru – had reportedly associated with it at various points of time. Lodge Cochin or Koder Hall, established in 1921, is a historic landmark in Fort Kochi. It has served as a meeting place for Masons in the city for over 100 years.”—”Lodge Cochin: ‘Secretive’ hub of Freemasons since 1921. Secretive societies have always captured the public imagination, with their presence in literature and films.”

Mentions, in passing, Swami Vivekananda.