Sri Ranganatha Paduka Vidyalaya Trust

[Guest guest]

Dear fellow prapatti members;

 

In keeping with my recent postings on potential focus of a service

organization such as SVTK, I want to bring to attention to this group of a

Sri Vaishnava college in Sri Rangam. I have been contributing

towards its operation and development for a number of years now.

 

The establishment of this college was one of the cherished dreams

of Sri Thirukkundanthai Andavan of the Srimad Anddvan Ashrama. The college

has roughly 30 teachers, mostly Vadagalai, but there are 2-3 Thengalai

scholars and about 2 Smarta vidwans. The students, numbering 60 or so, age

from 6-7 to 17-18 years of age. They are mostly of vadagalai parentage, but

there are a number of children from Thengalai and smarta lineage.

 

The goal of the college is to train students in the Sanskrit, as well as

Tamil Prabhandams. Additionally, upon graduation, a small fellowship fund

has been established to supplement the income of graduates. The stipend is

modest (I forget the exact amount) and is meant to serve as encouragement

of its graduate, mostly children from poor families from villages.

 

Sr Ranganatha Mahadesikan (Sri Moosham Andavan), the present "pontiff"

of the Andavan Ashrama, has taken upon himself to see that a 1 crore

trust fund is established for this college. The interest from this

trust fund will go towards the daily maintenance and runnin go fthe

school. The maintenance includes the feeding, clothing and boarding

of the students, the staff and the operating expenses (such as

books for the library, etc).

 

The sum of 1 crore rupees is roughly $300,000-- a task that no single

individual in our group and meet. However, a collective effort by

all our members to secure funds for this perhpas make this an

attainable goal.

 

In my most recent trip to India, I donated a sum to this Trust Fund.

I had the pleasure of donating this money directly to Srimad Andavan

himslef, who was in Bangalroe for the 25th Anniversary of the Andal

Sandhidhi in Bangalore. He remarked that the 1 crore was a daunting task as

securing funds for this venture was proving difficult, but he felt that

with God's grace, it would eventually by a reality.

 

It would seem that a college such as thise would go a long way in

addressing some of the issues raised by other recently. The money would

go towards an important Sri Vaishnava cause as seen by our religious

leaders, it would support young and scholarly Sri Vaishnavas and would

lead to immediate and tangible results.

 

Although it is clear that I alone cannot meet the financial needs of

such a massive undertaking, I think that a collective effort by a large

number of people can bring about a successful completion of this effort.

 

A sum of $300,000 may seem excessive to some who may feel that this money

could be spent better for other more secular/humanistic endeavours. But I

would remind everyone that a contribution towards religious causes should

not in any way preclude one from giving elsewhere. I would hope that we

could interest 100s if not thousands of invividuals to give a little

(yatha shakti) and these little drops can add up to a sizeable ocean.

 

Some of you have raised concern over the (mis)appropriation of funds sent

from abroad. I have always received receipts for all my donation. These

include both a receipt as well as documents relevant for tax deductions

(though I am not sure if these are acceptable for the US IRS). These

receipts have been mailed to my US address at considerable expense (Rs. 17)

from the college. Additionally, the college has has the personal attention

of the Srimad Andavan himself. When I donated money this time, he took

personal attention in ensuring the funds were properly credited.

 

Anyway, I have more information on this. The Andvan Ashrama has come out

with a colorful brochure which has pictures of the college, the students

and a personal appeal of Srimad Andavan for this effort. I have asked

my wife to bring this from Bangalore upon her return this week (I forgot

to bring it when I came last time). I could have it digitized (that

may take some time because I don't have access to a digitizer) and have

it available for others to read it, download it, etc.

 

Please let me know, either in private, or though this list what you

think of such an effort.

 

Sumanth