'Service Before Self'

Tamil Nadu police department information

2017-09-06T07:24:00.003-07:00

மலரும் நினைவுகள் – டாக்டர் K.S. செங்கோட்டையன் ஜி

2017-08-23T01:27:00.000-07:00

written by சுந்தர் லக்ஷ்மணன்

காங்கிரஸ் ஆதரவாளரான பெரிய குடும்பத்தை சார்ந்த டாக்டர். K.S. செங்கோட்டையன்.

அவர்கள் முழு நேரமாக சேவை பணியாற்வதர்க்காக ராமேஸ்வரம் வந்தபோது திரு கோவிந்தன் நாடார் அவர்கள் வீட்டில் தங்குவதற்கு ஏற்பாடு செய்தோம். பெரிய பங்களாவில் தங்கி வாழ்ந்து வந்த அவர் சாதாரண வசதிகளுடன் தங்குவதற்கு தயார் ஆனார். கிராமம் கிராமமாக கால்நடையாகவும், மிதிவண்டியில் பின்னால் அமர்ந்தும் மருத்துவ சேவைக்கு ராமேஸ்வரம் தீவிலும் ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டத்திலும் சென்று வந்தார். அவருடைய சேவையை பார்த்து என் ஆர் ஐ நன்கொடையாளர் மூலம் ஒரு டெம்போ ட்ராக்ஸ் ஏற்பாடு செய்து அதன் மூலம் மேலும் பல கிராமங்கள் செல்ல கூடிய ஏற்ப்பாடு செய்தோம்.

மருத்துவ சேவைக்கு உதவியாளராக துவக்க காலத்திலிருந்தே திரு ஷண்முகசாமி அவர்கள் தொடர்ந்து பணியாற்றி வந்தார்கள். சின்ன ஏர்வாடி பக்கமுள்ள கிராமங்களில் சேவா வ்ரதி செல்வி லதா அவர்கள் மருத்துவ முகாமிற்கு ஏற்பாடுகள் செய்து வந்தார்கள். ஏர்வாடி மெயின் ரோடிலிருந்து ஆதம்சேரி செல்வதற்க்கு சரியான சாலை வசதி இல்லாத நிலையை பார்த்து டாக்டர் செங்கோட்டையன் ஜி அவருடைய நண்பர் திரு மலைசாமி எம் பி மூலம் சாலை வசதி ஏற்பாடு செய்து கொடுத்தார். அவருடைய அனுபவ மருத்துவ முறையினால் பலன் பெற்றோர் ஏராளம்.

சில உதாரணங்கள்:-

ராமநாதபுரத்தில் நம்மிடம் தையல் டீச்சராக இருந்த முத்துலட்சுமி மகளுக்கு மதுரை ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனையில் ஹார்ட் ஆப்பரேசனுக்காக முதலமைச்சர் உதவிதொகைக்காக மனு அனுப்பி இதய அறுவை சிகிச்சை முடிவாகி இருந்தது. டாக்டர் ரிப்போர்ட் பார்த்தார் கவலைபடவேண்டாம், நான் மருந்து கொடுக்கிறேன், ஒரு வாரத்தில் மாற்றம் தெரியும் என்று மருந்து கொடுத்தார்கள். என்ன ஆச்சரியம்! மீண்டும் மருத்துவமனை போகவேயில்லை, இன்று அந்த பெண்மணி 3 குழந்தைகளுக்கு தாயாக உள்ளார்.

டாக்டருக்கு உதவியாளரான சகோதரி அன்னபூரணியின் அம்மாவிற்கு மார்பக புற்று நோய் என்று மருத்துவமனையில் கூறிவிட்டார்கள், நம்ம டாக்டர் மருந்து கொடுத்து மிக எளிமையாக சரிப்படுத்திவிட்டர்கள்.

ராமேஸ்வரம் கோஸ்வாமி மடத்தில் ஒருதடவை கிரிஜா சேஷாத்ரி அம்மா வந்தபோது டாக்டரை அறிமுகம் செய்தபோது, அவர்கள் தன்னுடைய கை விரல்களை காட்டி இது என்ன டாக்டர் ? இதற்க்கு என்ன செய்யலாம்? என்று கவலையோடு கேட்டார். பலரிடம் பார்த்து விட்டேன், மாற்றமே இல்லை என்றுகூறினார். டாக்டர் ஒரு மருந்து எழுதிக்கொடுத்தார். சில நாள்கள் கழிந்து சென்னையில் ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துமனையில் மானனீய சூரிஜியை பார்க்க நான் சென்று இருந்த போது கிரிஜா அம்மாவும் அங்கு வந்து இருந்தார்கள். சூரிஜியை பார்த்துவிட்டு நான் திரும்பும்போது எப்படி இருக்கிறது? என்று கேட்டபோது அந்த மருந்து எங்கேயுமே கிடைக்கலை என்றார்கள். டாக்டர் கொடுத்த சீட்டை தன்னுடைய கைப்பையிலுருந்து எடுத்து கொடுத்தார்கள். நான் அதை வாங்கி கொண்டு ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவமனையில் உள்ள மருந்து கடையில் விசாரித்த போது அங்கு இருந்தது. வாங்கி கொடுத்தேன். அடுத்தது ஒரு மாதத்தில் அவர்களை சந்தித்த போது அவர்கள் தன்னுடைய கை விரல்களை காட்டி எனக்கு குணமடைந்து விட்டது. டாக்டருக்கு எனது நன்றியை சொல்லுங்கள் என்று மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியோடு கூறினார் .

டாக்டர் தங்கி பணி புரிந்திட ராமகிருஷ்ண தபோவனத்தின் கிளையான ராமகிருஷ்ண மடத்தில் தங்குவதற்கு தனி அறை ஒதுக்கி கொடுத்திருந்தார்கள். தனது உறவினரான பன்னடிமுத்து கவுண்டர் அவர்களின் வீட்டினை மருத்துவமைய்யம் நடத்துவதற்கு கொடுத்திருந்தார்கள் . பண்ணைக்காடு ஆசிரமத்திலிருந்து மருத்துவ உதவியாளராக பணியாற்றி வந்த திரு குமார் அவர்கள் ராமேஸ்வரம் மைய்யத்தில் உதவியாளராக இறுதிவரை பணிபுரிந்து வந்தார்.

மானனீய. சூரிஜி யின் கட்டாயத்தின் பேரில் டாக்டர் அவர்கள் தன்னுடைய வீட்டிக்கு திரும்பி வந்து ஓய்வு எடுத்து வந்தார்.

குறிப்பு: கோபி அருகில் உள்ள கரளீயம் மலைபகுதியில் மூன்று துவக்கப்பள்ளிகள் துவங்கி நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.

மனப்பூர்வமான ஒரு ‘நன்றி’ சொல்வோம். மனிதம் வாழட்டும்

2017-08-23T01:23:00.002-07:00

ஒரு குட்டிக்கதை...

ஒரு இளைஞன் வெளியூர் சென்று திரும்பும்போது பாலைவனத்தின் வழியே திரும்ப நேர்ந்தது. அப்போது ஒரு சுனையில் நீரை கண்டான்.

ஆவலுடன் ஓடிச்சென்று நீரை பருகியவன், அந்த நீரின் சுவையில் அளவற்ற மகிழ்ச்சியடைந்தான்.

குடிமக்களை சிறந்த முறையில் பரிபாலனம் செய்யக்கூடிய தனது நாட்டு மன்னனுக்கு அந்த நீரை கொடுத்தால் அவர் மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியடைவார் என்று கருதி, தன்னுடைய தோல் பையில் அந்த நீரை கொஞ்சம் நிரப்பிக் கொண்டான்.

நான்கு நாட்கள் பயண முடிவில் தன்னுடைய ஊரைச் சென்றடைந்தவன்,அரண்மனைக்கு சென்று அரசனிடம் அந்த நீரின் அருமை பெருமைகளை கூறி, உலகிலேயே இது போல சுவையான நீர் இருக்கமுடியாது என்று கூறி, அதை அவருக்கு அளித்தான்.

மன்னன் சிறிதும் தாமதிக்காமல் மொத்த நீரையும் குடிக்க ஆரம்பித்தான்.

இதை அருகே அமர்ந்து கவனித்துக்கொண்டிருந்த பட்டத்து ராணி, “எனக்கும் கொஞ்சம் அந்த நீரை கொடுங்களேன்.

எனக்கும் அதை குடிக்க ஆசையாக இருக்கிறது” என்று கூற, அவள் கூறியதை காதில் வாங்கிக்கொள்ளாமல் மொத்த நீரையும் குடித்து முடித்துவிட்டான் மன்னன்.

“பிரமாதம்… உண்மையில் இதுபோல ஒரு சுவையான ஒரு நீரை நான் இது வரை என் வாழ்க்கையில் அருந்தி யதேயில்லை. உனக்கு எவ்வளவு நன்றி சொன்னாலும் தகும். நீ நீடூழி வாழ்க!” என்று வாழ்த்தி பரிசுகள் வழங்கி அனுப்புகிறார்.

இளைஞன் தனது மன்னனுக்கு அந்த அதிசய நீரை கொடுத்த சந்தோஷத்தில் விடைபெற்று சென்றான்.

அவன் சென்ற பிறகு,

ராணி“இருந்தாலும் உங்களுக்கு இத்தனை சுயநலம் ஆகாது. அந்த நீரை எனக்கும் கொஞ்சம் கொடுத்தால் என்ன குறைந்தா போய்விடுவீர்கள்? என்றாள்.

“இல்லை ராணி … நான் மொத்த நீரையும் குடிக்கவில்லை. அதில் கொஞ்சம் நீர் இன்னும் இருக்கிறது. வேண்டுமானால் நீ கொஞ்சம் குடித்துப் பாரேன்”

அரசன் சொல்ல,ஆர்வமுடன் எடுத்து குடிப்பவள், ஒரு வாய் குடித்ததும்…. “சே… சே… என்ன தண்ணீர் என்ன இப்படி நாற்றமடிக்கிறது?” என்று கூறி அந்த நீரை உடனடியாக துப்பி விடுகிறாள்.

“தேவி… நீ நீரை தான் சுவைத்தாய். ஆனால் நான் அவன் என் மீது வைத்திருந்த அன்பை சுவைத்தேன்.

பாலைவனத்தில் தாகமெடுத்து அலைந்து திரிந்த அவனுக்கு ஒரு சாதாரண சுனை நீரே தேவாமிர்தம் போல இருந்திருக்கிறது. அதை மன்னனாகிய எனக்கு கொடுக்கவேண்டும் என்று கருதி தனது தோல் பையில் நிரப்பி கொண்டுவந்தான். எனவே தோலின் வாடையும் நீரில் ஏறிவிட்டது. நீரின் சுவை முற்றிலும் மாறிவிட்டது.

அவன் இருக்கும்போது நீரை உனக்கு கொடுத்திருந்தால் நீ இப்போது செய்ததைப் போலவே அவன் முன்பு செய்திருப்பாய். அவன் மனம்வேதனைப் பட்டிருக்கும். அன்பைவிட இவ்வுலகில் சுவையானது வேறு எதுவும் இல்லை

நம்மில் பெரும்பாலானோர் பொருளின் மதிப்பைத் தான் எடைபோடுகிறோமே தவிர அதனுள் பொதிந்திருக்கும் அன்பை அல்ல. அப்படி செய்வது, உள்ளிருக்கும் முத்தை அறியாமல் சிப்பியை ஒதுக்குவது போன்று. நீங்கள் வாழ்க்கையில் அது போன்று எத்தனை முத்துக்களை தவறவிட்டிருக்கிறீர்கள் தெரியுமா? இனியாவது விழித்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்!

மனித உணர்வுகளை

நாம் மதிக்க கற்றுக் கொள்ளவேண்டும். நம் குழந்தைகளுக்கும் அவற்றை கற்றுத் தரவேண்டும்.

இதயப்பூர்வமாக தருப்படும் பரிசு இதயங்களின் பரிசேயல்லாமல் வேறு ஒன்றுமில்லை.

அதே போன்று நாம் யாருக்காவது நன்றி தெரிவிக்கும்போது அவை வெறும் வார்த்தையாக நின்றுவிடாமல் செயலிலும் நன்றியை காட்டவேண்டும். அதுவே உண்மையான நன்றி.

அடுத்த முறை உங்களுக்கு யாராவது ஏதேனும் பரிசு கொடுத்தால் அதன் விலை மதிப்பையோ அது எத்தனை பெரிது என்பதையோ பார்க்காதீர்கள். அதன் பின்னணியில் உள்ள அன்பை, அந்த எண்ணத்தை பாருங்கள்.

யார் மூலம் என்ன கிடைத்தாலும் எந்த வடிவில் கிடைத்தாலும் அவர்களுக்கு மனப்பூர்வமான ஒரு ‘நன்றி’ சொல்வோம்.மனிதம் வாழட்டும்.

மலரும் நினைவுகள் - நீதியரசர் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி ரெட்டியார்

2016-04-15T19:38:00.002-07:00

நீதியரசர் கிருஷ்ணசுவாமி ரெட்டியார் அவர்கள் சேவா பாரதி தமிழ்நாடு புரவலராக பல வருடங்கள் வழிகாட்டி வந்தார்கள். ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டத்தில் பணிபுரிந்த அமரர் திரு கோவிந்தன்ஜியின் ஓராண்டு நினைவு தினத்திற்கு வருகை தந்த போது அவர் அந்த மாவட்டத்தில் நடைபெறும் சேவை கார்யங்களை பார்வையிட்டார். குறிப்பாக மீனவர் கிராமமான சின்ன ஏர்வாடி வந்து, அந்த கிராமத்தில் உள்ள குடிசை வீட்டு திண்ணையில் அமர்ந்து இளநீர் குடித்து கொண்டு அந்த கிராமத்து மக்களிடம் சேவா பாரதியின் சேவை பணியினால் என்னென்ன மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என்பதனை விசாரித்து தெரிந்து கொண்டார்.

அன்று மாலையில் நடைபெற்ற பாலர்பள்ளி மற்றும் சேவா பாரதி ஆண்டு விழாவில் கலந்து கொண்டு சேவா பாரதி பணிகளை மிகவும் பாராட்டி பேசினார். கிராம மக்கள் ஒற்றுமையாக இருந்தால் கிராமம் முன்னேற்றம் அடையும். குடி பழக்கத்தை விட்டு சேமிக்கும் பழக்கத்தை நடைமுறைக்கு கொண்டு வரவேண்டும். இதற்க்கு சேவா பாரதி செயல் ஆற்ற வேண்டும் என்று வழிகாட்டினார். ராமநாதபுரம் மாவட்டத்தில் கிராமம் கிராமமாக சேவா பணிகள் விரிவடைந்தததை பாராட்டி பேசினார். அமரர் டாக்டர் செங்கோட்டையன் ஜி அவர்களின் மருத்துவ முகாமிற்காக சேவா பாரதிக்கு நன்கொடையாளர் மூலம் பெற்ற டெம்போட்ரக்ஸ் வண்டிக்கு, டிரைவருக்கான உதவிதொகைக்காக people charity fund என்ற அறகட்டளை மூலம் தொடர்ந்து நிதி ஏற்பாடு செய்து கொடுத்தார்.

அமரர் திரு. ராமன் ஜி யுடன் என் நினைவுகள்

2016-04-13T06:06:00.001-07:00

Seva Bharathi, Tamilnadu requests the public to donate for Flood Relief Fund

2015-12-10T00:09:00.002-08:00

Seva Bharathi, Tamilnadu requests the public to donate for Flood Relief Fund

Seva Bharathi Tamilnadu is co ordinating Relief operations in many parts of rain flooded Chennai with volunteers working on the ground.

Flood relief A/c:- SEVABHARATHI TAMILNADU,Andhra Bank,Chetpet branch,Chennai,A/C no:078410011014427,IFS Code:ANDB0000784

MCIR code:600011005

Email: sevabharathitn@rediffmail.com

Appeal from General Secretary Rashtriya Sewa Bharati

2015-12-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

For assistance to flood affected people of Tamilnadu (Chennai) & Andhra Pradesh

The destructive flood in some parts of Tamilnadu (Chennai) & Andhra Pradesh which has gripped these two states in a wave of distress and mourning. All are shocked and saddened by the disaster of the nature. The heavy loss of life and property in these two states is unimaginable. Hundreds have died and are injured and thousands have been rendered homeless. News reports are coming about extensive loss of life. In such difficult situations, it is the natural duty of all Bhartiya citizens to come forward for the assistance to our suffering fellow citizens.

It is a matter of satisfaction that Central Government as well as State government have responded within hours of this disaster. Central Government & State Government are making all efforts to send possible help to flood victims.

All our karyakartas may have started collecting funds to help our own suffering brothers & sisters in their respective areas through our various related organizations and sensitive colleagues of their own to help the flood affected people. The funds collected shall be sent to respective places through Rashtriya Sewa Bharati and Sewa International.

Rashtriya Sewa Bharati has resolved to serve the flood affected people of Tamilnadu (Chennai) & Andhra Pradesh. Our Volounteers and Karyakartas belonging to Sewa Bharathi Tamilnadu & Andhra Pradesh are already among flood affected people serving them tirelessly and trying to reach every victim of this natural calamity.

We are sure that all our sensitive countrymen, voluntary organizations and karyakartas shall immediately take initiative to collect funds for this noble cause.

Dhanyawad,

Rishipal Dadwal

General Secretary

Cell: 0 - 9818976734

(Whatsup also same number)

Appeal from Rishipal Dadwal (General Secretary) Rashtriya Sewa Bharati

Bank Account details:-

For the relief of flood affected people in Tamilnadu & Andhra Pradesh:-

Rashtriya Sewa Bharati – Aapda Pidit Sahayata Kosh

A/C No : 34895627803

IFSC Code : SBIN0009371

Bank : State Bank of India

Branch : Jhandewalan, New Delhi

(General A/c - Inland remittances):-

Rashtriya Sewa Bharati,
A/c. No.: 10080533451

IFSC Code: SBIN0009371

Bank: State Bank of India

Branch: Jhandewalan Extension,

New Delhi – 110055

Foreign remittances:-

Rashtriya Sewa Bharati,
FCRA Account No: 33014624179

State Bank of India,

Jhandewala Extn Branch,

Branch Code: 9371

Swift Code: SBININBB543

IFS Code: SBIN0009371

any doubt ? ... any one can contact my cell no: 0 9443749595

The results of collective thinking

2015-11-15T09:01:00.003-08:00

written by Sundarlakshman

For some time, some people who originally belong to

a village but have now settled in cities due to

jobs or business, have started taking up some

activities for the development of their respective villages.

While going to Mumbai by train recently I came across a person returning from Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) with his family after having darshan of Balaji. He lives in Mumbai but does not own a house. The reason is low income, as he works as a taxi driver. He resides in a rented house at Mulund. Apart from maintaining the family, he has to educate his two kids also. Due to limited income and growing expenses following price rise he was planning to shift to Dombivali so that he could save some money by paying low house rent. Once a year, he goes to his village in Tamil Nadu. When I asked him why he came to Mumbai, he narrated a long story. He said till there was plenty of water in his village there was prosperity in the family.

But since the water availability has come down the agriculture production declined
substantially and for some time it is almost become difficult to maintain the joint family. Then he found no other option but to shift to a city in search of livelihood. And finally he shifted to Mumbai. All of us know why the population of cities especially in Sewa Bastis (slums) is increasing, and number of people living in villages is decreasing. It is due to difficulties in getting employment in the villages. This is the aspect which cannot be ignored while thinking any activity for village development. An effort worth emulating for village development A swayamsevak, Ravindranath Kurup, lives in Perai village under Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. He has developed his village during the last 20 years. He started extending helping hand to the villagers who work in brick kiln or coconut pluckers so that they can live a respectful life.

He visited every house of the village to find out the children who were not going to school. He convinced their parents to send them to school. Those whose parents agreed were admitted to nearby government as well as private schools. Even though he later went to Kuwait for a job, he continuously helped the village children for higher studies. A boy belonging to brick kiln worker’s family got higher education with his help and he is now Deputy Superintendent of Police in Chennai. Shri Kurup has also arranged jobs in Kuwait for more than 14 persons of the village. Now all houses in his village have good roads. After education, Shri Kurup focused on temple associated activities.

He arranged daily pooja, monthly deep pooja, annual festival, etc. He also started a Sangh shakha by sending his two sons to Sangh Shiksha Varga and a daughter to Rashtra Sevika Samiti Varga. They later trained many village youth for Sangh work. To assist the students in their studies, he started weekly tuition classes and also weekly Samskar Kendra. Though he belongs to the caste, which has very limited population, he persuaded the people of majority class to understand the game-plans of the Christian missionaries. He explained them the richness of Hindutva. Through temple committees he imparted training of Pujari and organised regular religious discourses. During the last 15 years, he persuaded more than 4000 people who were attending church prayer to visit temple. He made the temple a centre of all activities like gym for youngsters, yoga for all age groups, counselling centre, legal guidance, financial advising centre, medical guidance and help centre. More than 26 temples have been renovated in the village by restoring daily pooja, weekly Samskar Kendra, monthly deep pooja and annual festival.

He also conducts temple Pujari (residential) training, coaching classes for Maths, Science, spoken Samskrit and English. If the village people face any difficulty in their family they come and discuss with him as a counsellor. He suggests them viable solutions. While doing all developmental activities he overcame all types of opposition from Christian missionaries and also the local communist cadre. Anna (foodgrain), Shiksha (education) and Chikitsa (health) are regarded as three basic needs of the human beings. In my village every individual used to do the first one. Those who were educated imparted knowledge to others, while the Vaidyas looked after the health needs of the people. Now all these things have been commercialised due to western thinking. This mindset needs to be changed if we really want to survive for long. Our Ideal Villages When I was young, I went to my grandfather’s house at Kalloor, 12 km away from Tirunelveli town during vacations. The village had a small canal, small tank, Ganeshji temple under a banyan tree and a Shiva Temple. At one km distance Tamraparni river flew. Surrounding area had paddy fields. The village had around 1500 people with about 300 houses. The village was self-reliant having chekku (oil grinding machines run by bulls), carpenters, masons, barbers, goldsmiths, black smiths, small provision stores, primary school, village Vaidya (village doctor), weavers, village priests, Gram Devata Mandir, Gram Raksha Devata Mandir, etc. Once in 6 months harvesting was done by the villagers. Different types of vegetables, nuts and agricultural products were there.

Due to the presence of different types of trees there were variety of birds in the village. Once a year there used to be bhoomiyajna in villages before the beginning of the rainy season. The objective of the yajna was to invoke the rains in the village. During that activity gram bhoomi was worshiped followed by bhandara (community meals) by people who live in the village without any caste, creed or religious differences. Due to the increase of political influence in the villages, people are divided into groups, hugely disturbing the normalcy. Need of the hour is that the villagers should select village chief and other Panchayat representatives to the Panchayat unopposed. Mera Gaon Mera Teerth For some time, some people who originally belong to a village but have now settled in cities due to jobs or business, have started taking up some activities for the development of their respective villages. Sri Ramesh and his brothers belonging to Thiruvenkatanathapuram in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu are doing a good work by sponsoring activities in their village. They have started various activities through Sivaswamy Trust (formed after his father’s name). The activities include annual temple festival, weekly Samskar Kendra, daily Balwadi, educational help, etc.

The reason of burgeoning population in cities

is decreasing employment opportunities in villages.

This should be the main focus of our

planing for village devlopment.

Similarly Sri Venkatnarayana Reddiyar has also started some activities in Samoogarengapuram under Tirunelveli district. He also runs Balwadi, Samskar Kendra, Deep puja, Mandir Utsav, etc. He is thinking to start a primary health centre after his fathers’ name in the village. Shri Mahindra Singh Dadwal at Gatsankar village in Punjab has started a school and Goushala. There are so many people who live in towns or cities but have started many constructive activities in their respective villages. This experiment can change the picture of majority of our Indian village. Therefore, the experiment needs to be strengthened and more people should be involved in it. Here is an experience of a lady teacher in government school at Sambathrayan Pettai under Arakonam Taluk of Vellor district in Tamil Nadu.

She changed the school atmosphere with love and affection and without getting disturbed by any type of mischief by the students. She says, “First day I entered my class. I saw one student always playing with his cellphone. I asked him to handover the phone. But he refused, He said: “I will not give; you can do whatever you want.” His friend, also in the same class, was sleeping in the class room. Due to the support of external people and involvement in their activities, those students had become very indifferent, arrogant and disrespect. That was a small village in backward Vellore district in the year 2008. I took all care and attention to these students and made them pass class 12th.

There was another student who was always found sleeping. On enquiry I found he works at farms during the night hours. He was economically very backward and nobody was there to support his studies. I promised him assistance in studies. He put lot of efforts and passed 12th. I also found that the girls at the village got married off very early, at about 16 or 15. I made them realise the value of education and job. This made them socially aware of their rights and values. That village never sent a girl to collage before. After I started working all the girls started going to college. I have achieved 78 per cent result in the first year, from previous results of 32%. Now all my previous boy students are doing good jobs and 48 girls are going to colleges. Every year this school achieves a minimum of 98% result in 12th class." This type of devotion and attachment to work is needed by all.

Shakha is a POWERHOUSE

2015-11-15T08:45:00.004-08:00

by Sundar Lakshman

At the time when many of the village girls were not getting married due to the bad practice of unbearable dowry even at the age of 28 to 30 years, a swayamsevak, Rajlinga Raja, married a girl without dowry. This single incident changed the mindset of all villagers. Now every boy or girl of the village is get married at the proper age. There is no question of asking or giving dowry. Not only this, Rajlinga Raja also sheltered some Harijan children at his home and made all arrangements for their education. Some of them have now completed graduation, while some are drawing on handsome salaries from reputed institutions.

Veteran Pracharak Dadarao Parmarth, who started the Sangh work in Tamil Nadu during the 1940s used to say, “The Sangh work begins after the Sangh vikira.” He described the shakha a generator or powerhouse which produces selfless individuals dedicated to the cause of social transformation. Dada was right. The Sangh shakha is a factory which produces persons with high character and integrity. For it some unique techniques are adopted to mould a person from mud to gold, illiterate to literate, ordinary to patriot and a social activist in real sense. In Tamil Nadu, the first Sangh shakha began in border village Maruthancode. Before beginning of the shakha, the main profession of the local people was to illegally transport rice to Kerala on head. But after the beginning of the shakha, this illegal act stopped and majority of them joined rice cultivation in their fields. Under the guidance of Kasturba Kendra, theyalso learnt making candle, handicraft, soaps, spindling, bee keeping, etc.

Some swayamsevaks also started regular coaching classes in the evening. Sanskar Kendra, weekly shramseva in Lord Shiva temple and Krishna temple were also started. Impressed with the outcome, the nearby villages too followed it. Finally, all the Hindus united and a Hindu candidate was elected on the post of Panchayat president for three terms. Later, some self-help groups also began. When some women joined the groups, it proved to be a means of fighting against illicit liquor produced in the village. Caste differences vanished in Thozhicode village under Vilavancode Taluk of Kanyakumari district after a shakha began there.

Apart from it, long pending dispute over temple land title came to an end following unity among the two major local castes. The shakha also transformed individual life of the swayamsevaks. Those who were habitual of drinking liquor abandonedthe bad habit and started working in the fields regularly. Following regular exercises and observing good habits that the swayamsevaks gained from daily shakha in Brahmapuram, about 20 youth of the village joined army, 5 in fire services, 10 in police, etc. Before joining the armed forces, majority of them produced illicit liquors in nearby hills. During the Emergency of 1975, six personsfrom the village were detained under MISA. Thirteen others were kept in jail under Defence of India Rule and 20 others joined the satyagraha against the dictatorship of Smt Indira Gandhi. Mothers happily sent their sons to satyagraha offering them new clothes and putting tilak on their foreheads. In 1980, Shri Yadavarao Joshi, then Kshetra Pracharak, visited the village. About 350 people participated in the function and took oath to eradicate untouchability.

Through the shakhas, a silent social transformation is

taking place throughout the country. Since

majority of the Indian population reside in

villages, there is a dire need to work for education,

social harmony, security, health and selfreliance there.

They tried to follow that oath throughout their life. Near this village, there is one famous Lord Karthikeya temple. During festivals, thousands of devotees gather there every year. From the village, all youth were doing voluntary services in the temple for making queues, distributing Prasad and arranging for annadana during the festival period. At Ezhuchattupathu Shakha, near Kanyakumari, the shakha developed service mentality among the youth. From that Shakha, one youth went to Arunachal Pradesh for serving the people through Vivekananda Kendra. In Kanchipuram, again through shakha, night adult literacy classes were started. The illiterate weavers from the locality learnt reading, writing and counting. They also became good businessmen. Later, some of them held bigger responsibilities like Vibhag and District Karyavah in the Sangh. In Virudhunagar district, a village shakha started. Youth came to the shakha and the work of village development began. Once incidents of theft increased in the nearby villages. Even idols were stolen from the village temple. In that situation, the swayamsevaks from Avudaiyapuram village safeguarded the village and caught three dacoits red handed. Those decoits were basically in the most wanted list of the local police for over 13 years.

The swamsevaks were felicitated by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Ms J. Jayalalithaa. After a shakha began in Pudupatti village near Srivilliputthur in Virudhunagar district, one swayamsevak, Rajalinga Raja, became a role model for organic farmers in the whole block. Also at the time when so many girls remained unmarried even up to the age of 28 and 30 due to high amount of dowry, he married a girl without any dowry. It changed the mindset of the whole village. Thereafter, all girls of the villages were got married in proper age. He kept some Harijan boys in his house, arranged for their education up to graduation and also got employment in good offices. Whenever there is a call for protecting dharma or there is any natural calamity, most of the swayamsevaks immediately come forward. Following a call from the shakha, swayamsevaks turned to offer their life to build SwamiVivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. Their family members and villagers still feel proud of it. In Pavoorchatram village under Tirunelveli district, the local youth formed a group and started chit fund activity. A fund was set up with the profit they earned for a small nursery and bought a land to develop it as a school. They built one school building and now it has 160 students studying up to 7th standard. All these incidents are just a tip of an iceberg.

The life mission of the people who came into contact of the shakha changed from selfishness to patriotic. Through the shakhas, a silent social transformation is taking place throughout the country. Since majority of the Indian population reside in villages, there is a dire need to work for education, social harmony, security, health and self-reliance. These are the five areas, which need immediate attention of the policymakers and the countrymen. Though our goal is to restore the pristine glory of the nation, we will continue to persue our work till the rising of the last man in villages is finished.

We have to weed out evil practices

2015-11-15T08:23:00.001-08:00

“Everybody has to work in the society. But those who had to discharge the responsibility of sweeping were made untouchables. The mother in the family cleans the excreta and vomiting of a sick child, but all are equal there. Then how could the people doing the work of sweeping, be untouchable in the society? The Harijan society has given the saints like Ravidas and Valmiki to the nation, but the devotees of the god are deprived of entering the temples. If somebody of them becomes Christian, we start respecting him, but we do not embrace our own Madhav. These tendencies have to be changed. We have committed many mistakes, which have to be purified.” —P.P. Prof. Rajendra Singh (Fourth Sarsanghachalak of RSS)

Silent revolution among fisher folk

2015-11-15T08:22:00.003-08:00

CHINNA Aravadi is a village under the Karsari taluka of Ramanathpuram district. Our service activities began here in 1992. It has today become an effective centre of social transformation. A woman worker through daily coaching, Samskar Kendra, monthly deeppooja, matri mandali, youth centre, etc., started the project. In the beginning main concentration was laid on education, as nobody in the village was educated more than eighth standard and not only the gents but women also were in the grip of alcoholism. There was no unity among villagers. The village temple was closed for years. But the villagers did not forget to visit the local dargah on every Thursday.

The Hindu fishermen ruined their own boats

due to liquor and started working on the boats of Muslims and Christians. But now the picture has changed. About 60 girls and 40 boys of the village are studying in various schools of adjoining districts. It is with the efforts of Sewa Bharati that 28 youth of the village are pursuing their graduate courses. Seeing this positive change in the village, the people of surrounding villages have contacted the Sewa Bharati to start similar projects in their villages. This process of social transformation has been repeated in various adjoining villages where also the positive results have been registered. The government schools’ inspector when visited the Aravadi village was so much impressed with the positive change among school children that he instructed all the school principals of the region to seek help from Sewa Bharati to improve the results of their schools and also to bring positive change among children. After the beginning of the Samskar Kendra, regular deeppooja has begun in Aravadi village.

People have abandoned alcohol. Putting tilak on the forehead, putting rangoli in the courtyard, visiting temple, celebrating Hindu festivals, proper welcome of the guests and visitors, respect of parents by children and cleanliness in the village have become a regular features in the village. Not only the children but the elders also have attracted to small savings. It has improved the financial condition of the villagers. Now five people of the village have their own boats. People of the village have stopped visiting dargah. Ten Sevavratis from this village are now working on various projects started by the Sewa Bharati. The women Sevavratis after marriage have started Sewa Bharati work in their in-laws’ villages. Various male Sevavratis have also come out for sewa. The people of the villages, situated at the coastal belt of Rameshwaram to Syalkudi, have also requested the Sewa Bharati to start several projects in their villages.

Self-Help Groups in Tamil Nadu - An experiment with economic empowerment

2015-11-15T08:07:00.000-08:00

Self-Help Group (SHG) is a programme implemented in Tamil Nadu about 12 years back by Sewa Bharati. After a decade it has become a silent revolution of economic empowerment and socio-political system of the state. Since 1999, Sewa Bharati has been working in this micro credit delivery system, which has attracted the attention of the entire nation. To start with the scheme has been implemented for women and now it is getting popularity among men too. Sewa Bharati alone is guiding more than 4000 women SHGs throughout the state and above 400 men SHGs.

The scheme SHG is nothing but a small cooperative unit comprising of 20 or lesser number of people. They are organised in a group with a name and three office bearers who manage the group
and maintain the accounts and bank operations. Each member is made to save money on a regular basis and the collected saving money is given as loan to the members at a nominal interest. The entire transaction is transparent and properly audited. After running with their money for six months they are eligible for financial assistance from banks or any other financial institution. The interest on this financial assistance is very low so that the members of the group get rid of their high interest borrowings. The members of groups are encouraged to start their own business or production unit so that they get profit. For this purpose banks are readily extending advances with appropriate subsidies. It has become a regular scene in almost every village in Tamil Nadu. The remotest Vanvasi village in the Western Ghats is not spared. Women sitting in a circle as if they are playing the famous “Passing the parcel” game. It is nothing but the weekly meeting of SHG women, held on the same day of every week, mostly held in the afternoons. For the members of the group the meeting is more important than their favourite TV serials, because it is a path to self-reliance. All the days of dependance have gone and the SHG women having regained the glory of Vedic period. For, the SHG scheme is like a Kalpataru—the epic tree that is capable of giving everything the owner needs. The coming generations will never fail to worship the inventor of this twenty-member “wonder machine”. Economically described as “the micro-credit delivery system”, the SHG scheme is a system, leading to the best form of savings one could have, the best loan facility one could avail, and the best way to improve economic esteem. The interest, the members of the SHG pay for their loans, is the profit they get when the group ripens. In addition SHGs empower women, enlighten them intellectually, and organise them to avail the advantage of functioning as a group. Without SHGs these women might not have excelled the techniques of banking—depositing and and withdrawing money and dealing with the negotiable instruments like cheques, promissory notes etc. The SHG scheme has emerged as an invincible programme to reap the best out of even an uneducated rural or Vanvasi woman, and has attained a culminating point even exceeding the forethoughts and visions of the founding fathers of the scheme.

In a village called Thirparappu, SHG was formed by Sewa Bharati, which comprised of 18 women belonging to one particular caste and two members from another caste. The caste association of that village advised the women of their caste to remove the women belonging to the other caste and run the group. They refused bluntly and firmly. The caste association tempted them with an interest-free loan of one lakh rupees to the group to remove the two women belonging to the other caste. The SHG members turned down this offer and defied any discrimination in the name of caste among them. This trend is getting momentum among the SHG members with amity and benevolence. Organised mode of operation strengthens the society. It has always been a difficult task to organise women of the society but the SHG scheme has made this dream come true. In a remote Vanvasi village called Kodithuraimalai, SHG women resolved to execute a noble idea. After every weekly meet all the members gathered to work in the farm of one member of the SHG without any payment. The owner of the land offered them lunch and evening tea. The next week the same activity happened in the farm of another member. This rotation of work is carried out in the farm of all the members in a regular turn. The resultant yield of self-reliance is promising both materialistically and socially. Alcoholism is a menace in our society and it is very difficult to do away with it. The SHG women achieved a few victories in this field too. In a village called Thenkarai a liquor shop was situated near the only pathway leading to the village. This resulted in a lot of hardships to the school going girls returning from the school in the evening. The women returning from their workplace were put into trouble by the behaviour of alcoholics who used to come to the shop in a large number especially in the evening. The villagers, took up the matter with the authorities concerned, several times directly and through various associations, but the shop was not shifted from the place. The SHG women of that village informed about the difficulties caused by the liquor shop to Sewa Bharati activists. The women were advised to present the matter before the District Collector under the SHG banner in person. The gravity of the problem expressed by the SHG women was appreciated and the District Collector ordered to shift the governmentowned liquor shop to another place. And it is no more an arduous task for women to approach the bureaucratic systems, to derive the needed results in order to eradicate social evils afflecting the society.

The village called Maruthancode withnessed a unique revolution. The SHG women ruined one production unit of spurious liquor under the banner of Ayurvedic medicines established in their locality by some antisocial elements thereby manufacturing large quantities of intoxicating drink called Arishtam, which was sold at a cheaper price. The drink worked as a slow poison for the persons who consumed it resulting in incapacitation. Some persons even died of various unknown ailments caused by it. Since the unit was situated near a temple and a bus stop, the problems created by the presence of the unit to the women going to the temple and waiting for a bus were concerned with their security. Sewa Bharati SHGs for women in the village decided in one of their weekly meetings to root out the menace of the spurious liquor-producing unit. On 22-02-2003 all the members rounded up the unit and staged a demonstration. The owner of the unit locked the building and ran away. The crowd was persuaded by Sewa Bharati organisers to disperse and a complaint was lodged in the Police Station concerned. The police were reluctant to take any action on the ground that the owner possessed a license for the unit. The SHG women with much perseverance and belligerence knocked the doors of local Court and filed a law suit, to unravel the mysteries and mischief in issuing such licenses, and proved the violations of the terms of the license by all such license holders in black and white and managed to get a decree dated 07.01.04, in their favour. This judgement proved to be a yardstick for the entire state of Tamil Nadu. During the entire processes the goondas hired by the owners of the unit threatened the women. Now the village is free from the menace of the spurious liquor, thanks to the efforts of the SHGs and Sewa Bharati. The women are up in arms to fight the social evils. The owners of such units presented the details of this case and a paper regarding the menace of Arishtam before the Madras High Court where the criminal petitions were filed against the District authorities to get a judgement banning the production and sale of Arishtam throughout the entire Kanyakumari district. In the suburbs of Nagerkovil town there is a small village called Sarakkalvilai, wherein one Shanthi aged 23 years who is a widow having a three-year-old female child happens to be the daughter of a member by name Bhathirakali belonging to Buvaneswari SHG. The SHG members took into consideration the future of Shanthi in one of their weekly meetings and decided to arrange for her remarriage. Everything was planned and executed in a fantastic way. On 10.06.03 Shanthi entered a new life with an understanding partner Somalingaom. The SHGs funded and organised the marriage function.

The people of the village were astonished by this activity of the SHG and extended all their support. During the visit of the Sewa Bharati officebearer the mother of Shanthi, Smt Bathirakali, was in tears while describing the incident. In a village called Aramannam near Kulasekaram the incident was even more appalling. One widow lived in Aramannam working as an agriculture coolie and her two adolescent daughters, namely Kalarani and Anitha, worked in a private firm in Andhra Pradesh. She died of cancer leaving behind the two daughters as orphans after spending all her earnings on her treatment. The two daughters who came to take care of their mother in the hospital were left with nothing but the corpse of their mother. There was nobody to help even for the funeral.

In short, the wonder that is Self-Help Group

is creating a niche for itself to attain gender equality,

empowerment and justice preserving our

cultural and traditional values.

The Sewa Bharati SHG members took the initiative and arranged for the funeral after performing all the last rites. They arranged for a safe place for their livelihood with suitable jobs, and took all initiatives to arrange for their marriages. One Panchayet member of the locality took the lead and with the generous contributions from all the SHGs across the District and various other organisations the marriage of Kalarani was arranged with Iyappan on 07.02.02 and that of Anitha with Ganesan on 03.11.03. Many women belonging to Sewa Bharati SHGs attended the functions. Even the minister belonging to the district graced the occasion and also contributed for the function. Helping the needy is another important social change that is happening almost everyday in the district through SHGs. Financial assistance for the sick persons, accident victims, victims of calamities like fire accidents, have become a normal routine for the SHGs.

In a village called Anchukandarai near Kulasekaram one Shri Raju suffering from heart disease was very sick and needed a surgical treatment urgently. The surgery had been arranged at the Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The SHGs in the village resolved unanimously to contribute the needed amount of Rs 5000 from each member belonging to all the ten SHGs of the village. The amount was presented at the annual day function to the eight-year-old daughter of the sick person who received the amount with moist eyes. Raju has survived surgery and is doing well even now. In Thadikkarankonam, a beautiful village situated near Western Ghats, live many plantation workers, some of whom migrated for the sake of employment and have settled there temporarily in huts made of thatched roofs situated in the village. A family comprising of an old widow lady, her daughter, who is also a widow, and her three-year-old daughter, migrated from a distant place and settled in Thadikkarankonam in a thatched roofed hut. The young lady was employed in a local farm and with her meager income they were running the family. The lady joined a Sewa Bharati SHG as a member. On a fateful day, their hut caught fire and they were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. The magic of SHGs worked in the favour of the helpless family. All the members of the SHGs contributed and bought all the needed construction materials, and with their physical help they constructed a new hut for the family within a day. They also provided them with the cooking vessels and a set of dress to each member of the family.

The experience of Seethai, a member of Sree Mutharamman SHG, in a Vanvasi village called Kadapparai near Patchiparrai in the Western Ghats is really thought provoking. This particular village has to be reached only by foot, that too by climbing steep cliffs. Sewa Bharati constituted a SHG in that village. In these villages the people who lend money to those who are in dire need of money, the money lenders, taking undue advantage of their miseries, enslave the Vanvasis in exchange of money. One particular member of this SHG Smt Seethai’s father borrowed Rs 10,000 twenty years back from one Thavasi Muthu, a moneylender. He took away all the agricultural produces of the land owned by this Vanvasi family. After joining the SHG, Seethai wanted to release their land from the clutches of Thavasi Muthu. By this time the Group was ready for getting loan from their bank. The bank sanctioned the loan worth Rs 60,000 to this SHG. Seethai approached Thavasi Muthu, and asked for the account of their loan so that she can settle the account as soon as she gets the loan from the SHG. Thavasi Muthu calculated for three days and said that she had to pay Rs 60,000 for the return of their land again. She informed this in SHG meeting and the members unanimously decided to give away the entire bank loan amount of Rs 60,000 as a loan so that, she is released from the borrower and she again became the owner of her father’s property. Now with the income from the land she is repaying the loan regularly and having surplus money for savings.

These are a few examples of the social engineering that has been possible in the name of Self-Help Groups. Similar incidents are a routine where Sewa Bharati SHGs are functioning. The SHGs have contributed to the service projects carried out by the Sewa Bharati especially in the case of Anbu Illam (an orphanage), which was inaugurates on 02-05-2004 and accommodates 18 children now. Sewa Bharati SHGs have become the rice bowl for the poor and the needy by which these women contribute rice exclusively not only to Sewa Bharati Anbu Illam but also to four other orphanages functioning in Kanyakumari District. This rice comes as a share from the rice taken for cooking by the SHGs women members everyday which is collected at the weekly meets and the scheme is named “Sharatha Devi Pidi Arisi Thittam”. In short, the wonder that is SelfHelp Group is creating a niche for itself to attain gender equality, empowerment and justice preserving our cultural and traditional values.

your duty at present is to go from one part of the country to another

2015-11-15T07:45:00.000-08:00

your duty at present is to go from one part of the country to another, from village to village and make the people understand that mere sitting about idly won’t do any more. Make them understand their real condition and say, ‘O ye brothers all arise, awake. How much longer would you remain asleep.’ Go and advise them how to improve their condition, and make them comprehend the sublime truths of the shastras by presenting them in a lucid and popular way. Also instruct them in simple words about the necessities of life and in trade commerce, agriculture, etc.” — Swami Vivekananda

Villagers should stand on their own legs

2015-11-15T07:42:00.003-08:00

“WHEN I learnt that the villagers have joined together and with their own efforts and a true feeling of emotional unity have laid this road, then itself I had told that I would necessarily come to this village. Your village has progressed by one step. Our country has spread from Rameshwaram to Badri-Kedar, and from Somnath to Puri, and we Hindus are the masters of this land. The foreigners tried to divide us.

Those people sowed the
poisonous seeds of differences of language, province, etc. amongst we brothers. Even after Independence we are quarrelling for power with the new party differences like Congress, Socialist, Shetkari Kam Kari Party (The farmer and labour party), etc. No doubt, every political party has a few good persons, but the self-interest of their party comes in the way. Hence, everybody will be in search of the mistakes of the others, to accuse. How can we develop our country depending upon the foreign help of money or machines? All our sadhus and saints have taught us ‘to depend upon a begging bowl and get burnt is the most shameful life’. The villagers should stand unitedly on their own legs and make efforts for the development of the village. This is the noblest thing to do.” — Shri Guruji

Help from outside will do no good

2015-11-15T07:41:00.001-08:00

“To try to help villagers from outside could do no good. How to kindle a spark of life in them that was my problem. It was so difficult to help them because the people had so little respect for themselves. ‘We are cursed’, they would say, ‘only the whip can keep us straight’.” — Shri Ravindra Nath Tagore

The sense of self-respect has to be instilled

2015-11-15T07:36:00.003-08:00

“Our approach to rural development should not aim at only materialistic development. This type of approach on the part of government agencies and various social organisations has made even the deprived people paravalambi (dependant on others) by concentrating only at their materialistic development. They failed to involve them in their activities resulting in these people not realising the need to achieve self-reliance. Therefore, the feeling of self-respect that we can solve our problems ourselves and will not unfold our hands before others has to be infused into them. The work of rural development has one more dimension. All their hidden talents, qualities and habit of hard work will resurface only when they are motivated as per the traditional Hindu values of life.”

— Ma H.V. Seshadri

Sewa is our way of life

2015-11-15T06:46:00.002-08:00

by Sundar Lakshman

Thirunavukkarasu Nayanmar has said: En kadan pani seithu kidappathe (my duty is to serve the people).Similarly, Vadalur Vallalar, popularly known as Ramalinga Adigal, said: “I become high and dry as and when I see drying plants.” There are many saints who said ‘my heart bleeds at the sight of withering plants’.

Many of our saints lived for sewa and became pioneer in the field of sewa. The principles like Jan Sewa is Janardan Sewa, Nar Sewa is Narayan Sewa and Jeev Sewa is Shiva Sewa, etc run in the veins of Indians. A Shiva devotee washerman, Thirukurippu Thondar, used to wash the clothes of Shiva saints first and then only start the work of washing others' clothes. Through this way only he ultimately became one among 63 Nayanmars of South India.

Kalimalai of Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu,
the Southern tip of Bharat, an old lady serve devotees with purified and boiled potable water. She, at her 80, single handedly collects water and wood to serve thousands and thousands. By seeing this, we can understand that sewa attitude prevails in the mind of even the ordinary people of our land.

Throughout Bharat, Mutts and

Ashrams undertake many

sewa activities in the fields of

education, health and

spiritual empowerment.

For example, Ramakrishna Mission of Kolkata, Ramakrishna Thapovanam of Tamil Nadu, Chinmaya Mission, Mata Amritanandamayi Devi of Kerala, Sivananda Tapovanam of Haridwar, Ashram of Bapu Aasaram in Gujarat, Gayatri Parivar in Haridwar, Swami Narayan sect of Gujarat, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam of Aanaikatti, Tamil Nadu, Satya Dharma Salai of Vadalur, Nandhanar Mutt of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, Shankara Mutt of Kanchi, Tamil Nadu, Sri Sri Ravishankar Guruji’s institutions, Satya Sai Sewa Institutions, so many institutions in the name of Swami Vivekananda, Sewa Samiti centres, many Shiva Mutts, Jain traditions, Sikh Gurudwaras, temple administrations like Tirupati Devosthanam, like Dharmasthala and many centres of our nation are involved in sewa activities.

Even profit making corporate houses like Tata, Birla, Infosys, Wipro, Reliance and many others conduct different kinds of sewa activities. These all express the one great notion that sewa is our national duty.

In Gujarat, Jain and other sewa-oriented people run Panjarapoles to shelter and feed the aged cattle. Seasonally organised “Hindu spiritual and service fair” vehemently advocate that service attitude is everywhere.

Justice (retd) Shri Subhas Desai

of Mumbai has

inspired a unique sewa movement,

'Anam Prem'. It is the organisation,

which neither has any headquarters,

organisational set up, president,

founder, nor any registration,

but is rendering the

exemplary services.

Justice (retd) Shri Subhas Desai, who is popularly known as Dadaji, has been igniting the sewa feeling in the minds of the people he came across for the last 20 years and became a catalyst to spread sewa as people’s movement in so many states. The sewa movement inspired by him is ‘Anam Prem’. It is a unique organisation which has neither any headquarters, organisational set up, president, founder, nor any registration. (For details please go through the separate write-up carried in this issue under Maharashtra). Dharma Yatra Mahasangh of North India and Sabarimala Ayyappa Sewa Samajam and Palani Path Yatra groups of South India cater to the needs of lakhs of pilgrims. This indicates that sewa and life go hand in glove. In many villages, the villagers are looking after the needs of mentally challenged people as their own children or family member. We can see people treating parentless children as their own children. Even today, in villages, one can see benches like permanent elevations for passerby to retire, load carrying stones to keep head loads for a while to give rest for load carrying people, water tank for cattle and ‘aug’ stones for cattle to rub and in urban areas ‘Kabootar Khanas’ to feed birds. But in recent days, we see orphanages and old age homes in increasing numbers indicating that sewa mind is decreasing in the minds of our people. We have to live for others and must strive to blossom sewa in the minds of each and every soul and become example for the world. Global Global Foundation for verse Hindu spiritual organisations and exemplifies the Hindu philosophy of Atmano mokshartham jagat hitaya cha, that is one can attain salvation through service.

Around 160 stalls were put up by various spiritual and service organisations in the fair. Puyja Swami Nirmalanandnath Civilisational Harmony (India), which recently organised a Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2012, is a unique forum that showcases the service activities of diSwamiji of Adi Chunchunagiri Math, Karnataka, inaugurated the fair. Sri Thavathiru Kumaragurupara Swamigal Siravai Aadheenam, Kaumara Math, also blessed it. Ashrams like Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living, Mata Amirtanandamayi Devi’s Ashram, Chinmaya Mission Trust, etc. and traditional Mutts like Vanamalai Mutt, Tirupaanantaal Adheenam, Tiruvadutrai Adheenam, Ramakrishna Mutt, etc. also participated. Large congregation of visitors was seen at the stalls put up by the Tirumala Tirupati Devostanam (TTD), Prajapita Brahmakumaris Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, Shri Satya Sai organisations, Melmaruvathur Adiparasakti Peetham, Sri Narayani Peetham, Vellore, Sewa Bharati and Ayya Vaikundar Narpani Sangam, Kanyakumari. More than 2.5 lakh people visited this Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair.