5 February 2008

Original Sree Narayana Disciple
versus
‘Fraud’ Sree Narayana Disciple

This is about two mighty organizations in Mumbai. One is Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), a recent entry to Mumbai region, and the other Sree Narayana Mandira Samithi (SNMS). Sree Narayana Guru (1854-1928) was a great saint and social reformer who stood for one caste, one religion, and one God for man, which embodies the universal brotherhood of man. Guru preached, “Essence of all religions is the same”, “Whatever be the religion of a man it is enough if he becomes virtuous”, Gain freedom through education”, “Gain strength through organization”, “Be prosperous by agriculture, business and industry”. “Act that one performs for one’s own sake should also aim at the benefit of others”. These and many other messages and teachings that Guru gave by words and through his personal life are more relevant today than at any other time.

Sree Narayana Guru founded Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam and now Vellappalli Natesan is the General Secretary of the organization. However, in Bombay Dr. K.K. Damodaran founded Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti 43 years ago to uphold the ideologies and vision of Sree Narayana Guru. A unique, noble and enterprising organization functioning with representation of all communities that cherishes the true ideologies and vision of Guru, one caste, one religion and one God, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam is now hijacking Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti.

Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti is an Educational and Charitable Trust formed 43 years ago to starting educational and charitable institutions in Mumbai city and suburbs and Thane District including Navi Mumbai for the benefits of the public to perpetuate the memory of Sree Narayana Guru and to spread the messages and teachings of the Guru. Membership of the Samiti is open to all irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language. Samiti has now 11800 Life members and 655 Patrons. Samiti has 26 Units and 15 Guru Centres. In Samiti’s Chembur Complex Samiti has Sree Narayana Guru High School (English Medium), Sree Narayana Guru College of Commerce (Junior College and Degree College), Sree Narayana Guru Marathi Medium School, Kumaran Asan Pre-Primary School, Sree Narayana Institute of Information Technology, Guru Mandiram and a multipurpose hall.

More than 4500 students, most of them from economically weaker sections, are studying in Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti Educational Institutions. Samiti promoted Sree Narayana Guru Co-operative Bank Ltd., which is running efficiently for the last five years in Samiti’s Chembur Complex. Samiti has also set up an International Centre for Sree Narayana Guru Studies at Nerul, Navi Mumbai. The main object of the Centre is to spread Guru’s messages and teachings throughout India and the World. The Samiti has received the Holy Teeth of Sree Narayana Guru on11th January 2004 and the Holy Teeth kept in a specially constructed Temple at Samiti’s Gurudevagiri Complex. Barring SNDP in Kerala, Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti is the biggest organization in the world to uphold Guru’s ideologies and vision and it is the one and only principal Sree Narayana Guru Organization outside Kerala. E.P. Vasu is the present General Secretary of SNMS. E.P. Vasu has good social acumen, superb organizing and leadership qualities. Not only SNMS and SNDP members or well-wishers appreciate his hard work, honesty, sacrifice, philanthropy and social work, but also largely by all communities and people of Mumbai and suburbs.

The self-esteem and competition between the members of any organization will pave way for splitting up, decaying, polarization, and shoddy and divulge deeds, which ultimately weaken and destroy the organizations. Now an average Malayali in Mumbai feels that when some leadership aspiring SNMS members with self-motives and stakes approached the SNDP leaders in Kerala sometime back, they should have discouraged them and avoided the spit! It is the common belief amongst SNMS members and the public that the rich, sound and mighty Vellapalli Natesan, the General Secretary of SNDP, was instrumental to chalk out master plans to split the Sree Narayana Mandira Samiti in Mumbai. Many SNMS members opined that the present SNDP Mumbai region leader Harilat Pottath jumped to the wagon to join the band of power and position hungered mediocre leaders. Harilal Pottath is a good organizer, hard worker and has good business acumen and his services would have benefited to strengthen the SNMS. It is pity that the leaders of both the organizations and the mighty Vellappali Natesan are watching the fun instead of calling for the unity.

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripala Yogam Mumbai has many branches in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane District and enjoys the patronage of the parent organization in Kerala. Both organizations stand for a many good to uphold the ideology of Sree Narayana Guru. Nevertheless, the SNDP in Mumbai region has the image of a militant trade union amongst Sree Narayana Dharma followers. They pretend and fight tooth and nail to establish their supremacy as the legitimate and righteous organization who only upholds Guru’s teachings. Guru believed, preached and practiced oneness. However, SNDP is imposing supremacy amongst Sree Narayana Dharma believers and making double-deal in his name. If SNDP Mumbai region is also stands for Guru’s teachings and thoughts and their intention is genuine to serve Sree Narayana Dharma believers, why these competitions like rival trade unions in companies? All trade unions will claim that they are working for the rights and benefits of workers and all of them will exploit the poor workers. Equally, it will be ridiculous if leaders of a new entrant organization at Mumbai region in the name of Sree Narayana Guru fight and compete for supremacy and taking oath to serve to the followers of Sree Naryana Dharma or Sreenarayaneeyar

Sree Narayana Guru preached “one caste, one religion and one God”. Then two organizations are necessary to uphold his vision and ideology? We understand that personal supremacy or egoistic attitudes persisting in SNDP. The present SNDP Mumbai region leadership under Harilal Pottath, who parted earlier from Dr. K.K. Damodaran’s SNMS, is aversely opposing and fearing Dr. K.K. Damodaran and his battalion of Sree Narayana Dharma believers and reluctant to merge with SNMS. Is the parent SNDP organization in Kerala encourages this attitude ? Which SNMS and SNDP rat will bell the mighty Vellappalli Natesan cat that only can be the catalyst for the merger of SNDP Mumbai region with SNMS? Which leader will address this significant issue?

People devoted to Sree Naryana Dharma are in utter confusion and dilemma as both organizations approach them for their support and asking lively participation in their activities. Appeasing both equally at a time is just impossible and unpractical. Since both organizations are approaching them in the name of Sree Narayana Guru’s thoughts and messages, poor Sree Narayana Dharma believers are helpless and much against their wish forced to spare time and money to these two organizations alike.

It is high time and we earnestly request the leaders of both organizations to sit together and discuss the issues and sort out them amicably and merge into a single more strong organization. May Sree Narayana Guru bless you all.
(Lead story published in Sunny News February 1-15, 2008)
For another article written by Sasidharan Nair and to read the discussion board postings about the above article, kindly log on http://www.sunnynewsonline.com/

1 comment:

bengaulee said...

I would like to make a point here, if I may. In a widely spread-out city like Mumbai, it is not practically possible for any one organisation to effectively reach out to every like-minded individual or family residing in various parts of the city. Thus, it should be encouraged that several smaller groups from various pockets of the city are formed of like-minded people interested in Sree Narayana Guru's teachings. All of these groups should owe allegiance to the one unifying organisation which is SNDP and contribute in it's endeavours. This will help in disseminating news and information to and fro between SNDP and the followers through these smaller units which are spread across the city. This is how we used to work in Kolkata and it is so efficient that way. All unit-members contribute in collecting funds from their unit areas and give it to the main SNDP office every quarter, organise the Chadaya Dhinam procession in the city when all unit members come to the main centre and join together in unity to take out a very colourful and strong procession amongst other socially useful activities like helping, medicating and feeding the poor. This model will work and should be introduced in Mumbai too so that bigger units like SNMS will work in tandem with other smaller units to work cohesively for the common goals laid down by Sree Narayana Guru through the formation of S.N.D.P. Please do contact me if i could be of any use in this regard at 9820098857 or binuthankappan@gmail.com Thanks and regards, Binu Thankappan