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In the state of Tamil Nadu, India was a place known for its beautiful sub-tropical climate and magnificent<br />
hills named Konoor. Here our Patron Saint, the lover of education and one of the founders of TISI “Sevaka<br />
Ratnam” Sadhu Kuppuswamy was born. It was this soil that brought up a man with the vision of liberation,<br />
sense of direction and purpose for people and the provision of “Ikyam” between people of common culture,<br />
tradition, religion and beliefs. Sadhu Swami was inspired by Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi,<br />
Bhagwan Ramana Maharishi, Sri Ram Krishna Paramahamsa and Ramalinga Swamigal. It was through these<br />
saints’ inspiration which Sadhu Ji followed to devote his life to service and sacrifice.<br />
1
What will we name him?<br />
Kuppuswamy<br />
Sadhu Ji’s<br />
father,<br />
Govind<br />
Swamy Naidu<br />
made sure<br />
that Sadhu<br />
Ji possessed<br />
sound Tamil<br />
Knowledge<br />
and moral<br />
values<br />
He was<br />
a Police<br />
Officer in<br />
India<br />
The docking of the magnificent Sutlej III, Bringing many people including Sadhu Ji to<br />
work on the plantations (Date of Arrival; 12/04/1912)<br />
2
In those days the European officers were the<br />
masters and below them were the sardar’s who<br />
would do anything to stay in favour of the Europeans.<br />
The labourers were below the sardars<br />
Also the Tamil people who worked in the<br />
plantations faced language as a barrier as they<br />
did not understand Hindi which was the language<br />
used by the sardars and even by some<br />
of the European officers.<br />
Do the work<br />
Yes sir<br />
Bring the water<br />
?<br />
?<br />
?<br />
Huh?<br />
The labourers were whipped if they did not do the work they were<br />
given or if they were slow and so faced a lot of hardships.<br />
3
After completing his 5 year term in Francis Sahib’s Estate in Balata Tavua, Sadhu Ji<br />
bought a land in Tavua and began farming but gave it up after a short time.<br />
The dry soil and the hot<br />
sun were of no help!<br />
Shortly afterwards Sadhu Ji moved<br />
to Rakiraki for more opportunities<br />
Shortly afterwards, Sadhu Ji met a<br />
western man who offered him a job in<br />
a Melbourne company as a double horse<br />
ploughman.<br />
4
Sadhu ji worked for the Melbourne<br />
company as a double horse ploughman.<br />
Meanwhile Mr. Pillay was facing greater<br />
problems in settling the disputes between<br />
the different South Indian groups and<br />
he came to know about a learned and<br />
cultured<br />
South Indian man who could handle such<br />
crisis.<br />
Mr. Pillay asked Sadhu Ji to be his guru<br />
and after many efforts, Sadhu Ji agreed.<br />
Please be my guruji<br />
Ok Child<br />
Prayers were<br />
conducted by<br />
Sadhu ji and<br />
other members to<br />
promote religion<br />
and virtues.<br />
5
Sadhu Ji’s heart<br />
melted when he<br />
saw members of<br />
his community in<br />
distress. He did<br />
everything he could<br />
to help them out.<br />
Sadhu Ji believed that education was<br />
the weapon with which people can change<br />
their future. Hence, he went from house<br />
to house searching for children to teach.<br />
Distributing food<br />
to the poor<br />
Mr. Pillay and Sadhu Ji taught children in a bure in Mullau Rakiraki at<br />
K.S Raman Estate.<br />
6
The influenza epidemic of 1918 was a sad and catastrophic period for<br />
all the residents of Fiji. People suffered greatly and Sadhu ji helped<br />
however he could. He took them to the Penang Estate hospital for<br />
treatment. In 1919, doctors from New Zealand arrived to relieve the<br />
burden<br />
Vashist Muni arrived from India to report the plight of the Indians in Fiji to the<br />
congress. Vashist Muni was always clad in orange robe and ate food cooked by him, once or<br />
twice daily. Sadhu Swami followed the footsteps of this great Muni who also believed in<br />
education and in service work.<br />
7
Sadhu ji held serveral meetings to<br />
spread the gospel of Sangam<br />
Meeting held under the tree<br />
Meeting<br />
held in the<br />
meadow<br />
Meeting held<br />
in the house<br />
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Mahatma Gandhi<br />
Sri Ram Krishna<br />
Paramahamsa<br />
Ramlinga Swamigal<br />
Bhagwan Ramana<br />
Maharishi<br />
Swami<br />
Vivekananda<br />
My Mentor’s<br />
The one’s whose<br />
Discipline I follow<br />
Sadhu Ji was a great devotee of....<br />
And he followed their foot steps to<br />
serve mankind<br />
Inauguration of Then India Sanmarga Ikya<br />
Sangam. (TISI) was formed to promote<br />
Sangam culture, religious activities and<br />
education.<br />
The Temple was<br />
opened for all<br />
irrespective of<br />
their religion and<br />
belief. It provided<br />
a place where<br />
people could pray<br />
and worship<br />
The establishment of<br />
Sri Siva Subrahmanya<br />
temple in early 20’s<br />
beside the Nadi river.<br />
9
The first Sangam School was opened at<br />
the Nadi Temple in 1927. It was known<br />
as the largest Indian building in Fiji.<br />
NADI SANGAM SCHOOL<br />
Penang Sangam<br />
Ba Sangam<br />
Navoli Sangam<br />
several other schools were<br />
setup over the time.<br />
Lovu Sangam<br />
Vunisamaloa<br />
Sangam<br />
Nanuku Sangam<br />
10
Thereafter Sadhu Ji was always on the<br />
move. Clad in a white dhoti, white shirt<br />
and white shawl with his black umbrella,<br />
he walked mostly barefoot to spread the<br />
gospel of Sangam.<br />
Sadhu Ji<br />
travelled far<br />
and wide<br />
reaching the<br />
people of Ba,<br />
Tavua, Rakiraki,<br />
Nadi, Labasa<br />
and Levuka.<br />
He outreached from house<br />
to house, settlement to<br />
settlement, village to village<br />
and town to town.<br />
Addressing<br />
people in a<br />
meadow<br />
11
The Then India Valiber Sangam(TIV) was<br />
formed in 1931 to support and motivate<br />
the youth group of the South Indians<br />
The youth club mostly focused on sports,<br />
recreation, music and drama. Evening classes<br />
was also conducted by Mr. Appa Pillai, the<br />
first elected President. Eventually visits<br />
were made between different branches to<br />
exchange ideas and play sports. To date,TIV<br />
is organised annually in a grand scale to<br />
bring the youths together<br />
Swami Ji with other<br />
delegates mounted a<br />
strong campaign in<br />
support of the South<br />
Indian’s education<br />
in year 1937 and<br />
through their will and<br />
influence resulted in an<br />
education amendment<br />
which passed to allow<br />
all Indian children to be<br />
taught in their mother<br />
tongue.<br />
The Suva Sangam<br />
Hall was opened<br />
at Belo st, Suva<br />
in 1939 to<br />
bring the South<br />
Indian community<br />
together.<br />
12
Swami Ji also influenced the women of the South Indian origin to form an organisation<br />
on it’s own named as “ Maathar Sangam” (Women’s Wing) of TISI Sangam. The<br />
women’s wing showed tremendous enthusiasm and with the help of Swami Ji, built a<br />
girls hostel next to the Nadi Sangam School.<br />
GIRLS HOSTEL<br />
The “Maathar<br />
Sangam” women<br />
looked after the<br />
maintenance of<br />
the hostel such as<br />
sweeping, cleaning<br />
and also cooking.<br />
In every South Indian home, when<br />
food was cooked, a handful of rice was<br />
kept aside. This rice was then given to<br />
the girls hostel in Nadi. Such was the<br />
dedication and the devotion of the<br />
women of the South Indian family.<br />
This concept is known as padi rice.<br />
13
Sadhu Kuppuswamy was honoured with the title : Sevaka Ratnam” and became the<br />
life long president of TISI Sangam at the annual general meeting held on 12 – 13th<br />
April in 1941. Mr. M.N. Naidu, his close associate attained the title “ Dhanaveer” for<br />
his philanthropy and exceptionally liberal donation to Sangam.<br />
14
Sorrowfully our patron saint, the founding father of Sangam, Sevaka Ratnam<br />
Sadhu Kuppuswamy became very ill in 1956 and he was admitted at Nadi Hospital.<br />
Welliamma took care of Sahhu Ji at his last stage.<br />
In 1956 Sadhu Ji entered the immortal garden of the lord,<br />
relinquishing his mortal body.<br />
15
Sadhu Ji’s<br />
remains are<br />
still with us<br />
in his special<br />
shrine at<br />
the new Sri<br />
Subrahmanya<br />
temple.<br />
Sangam SKM College – Nadi, then known as Nadi Secondary School<br />
was opened in 1958 to honour Sadhu Kuppuswamy. It Began with a<br />
small structure but through the support of the Sangam people has<br />
become one of the most prestigious school in the nation.<br />
Several other<br />
schools were setup<br />
over the time<br />
as a tribute to<br />
Sadhu Ji. To date<br />
there are five<br />
secondary schools<br />
and twenty one<br />
primary schools.<br />
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