Sadhu Kuppuswami
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Sadhu Kuppuswami (1890–1956) was a Fiji Indian religious leader.
He was awarded the title "Sevaka Ratnam" in 1941[1]
Early life
Kuppuswami, the son of Govind Swamy Naidu, was born in the village of Konoor, Tamil Nadu, India in 1890.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He was literate in Tamil and Telugu and was a police officer in India.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He arrived in Fiji on 27 April 1912 as an indentured labourer, abroad the Sutlej III. He served his five years of indenture in Tavua.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He then tried cane farming but soon gave it up to join the Melbourne Trust Company in Rakiraki as a two-horse ploughman.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". His father, an Orthodox South Indian, ensured that his son was given the best to develop his knowledge of South-Indian religion, culture and art in his mother tongue Tamil from a young age.[2][3][4]
Formation of South Indian Organisation
At Rakiraki, he met T.A.J. Pillai, a court clerk, and stayed with his family while teaching Tamil to local children. During the influenza epidemic of 1918, Sadhu Swami did a lot of relief work by transporting the sick to hospital.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He was also impressed with efforts by Vashist Muni to improve the plight of Fiji Indian farmers and workers.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". On 10 January 1926, while celebrating the birth of Swami Vivekananda in Rakiraki, attended by people of all districts, the idea of forming a South Indian organisation was proposed. On 24 May 1926, at a meeting in Nadi, the Then India Sanmargya Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam) was formed with Kuppuswami as its first President.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Propagating his Mission
After the formation of the Sangam, Kuppuswami and others travelled throughout Fiji, setting up schools and temples.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Aware of the need for qualified help in establishing the Sangam in Fiji, he appealed to the Ramakrishna Mission in India who sent Swami Avinashananda to reorganise the Sangam. Swami Avinashananda was replaced by Swami Rudrananda who had great influence in Fiji’s religious, cane farming and political activities.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Everlasting Honour
After many years of dedicated service, Kuppuswami was honoured with the title of Sevaka Rathnam (Jewel of Service) in 1941 by the TISI Sangam.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He died suddenly on 2 August 1956. His remains were interred at the Sri Siva Subramaniya temple in Nadi.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
See also
References
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